Introduction
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| Low Profile Orb with Box |
The Thermaltake Orbs are a very popular line of cooling solutions. Its easy to understand why: theyre good performers and their strikingly sharp looks have a pretty high wow factor. Thermaltake is hoping to spread this boom of popularity into other market niches with the introduction of several models, including the Low-Profile Orb which is made for space-confined rackmount servers. The Low-Pro Orb is a shorter version of the standard Golden Orb (the FC0370 model), with a smaller fan.
You may be thinking, Why on Earth would anyone want a smaller Orb? I want to run my processor faster and hotter I want something BIGGER!
If you have the room, by all means buy a Super Orb. For some people, though, that room isnt available and their options are limited especially in the rackmount server market. Despite being smaller, this cooler has to perform on par with the average, standard-size cooler, if not better. It will be interesting to see how the Low Pro Orb holds up.
Specs
General
| Application: | Socket 370 - Rackmount Servers (1U
6U Servers) |
| Dimensions: | 69mm wide, 25mm tall |
| Clip Type: | Twist-on Clip |
| Heatsink Material: | Aluminum 6063 |
| Thermal Interface: | DOW CORNING T-340 GREASE |
| Thermal Resistance: | 1.15° C/Watt |
|
Fans
| Fan Dimensions: | 43x15mm |
| Rated Voltage: | 12V (DC) |
| Air Volume: | 12CFM |
| Rated Speed: | 5000rpm |
| Noise Level: | 26.4dBA |
| Bearing Type: | Ball Bearing |
|
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| Low Profile with Super Orb |
Impressions/Installation
When Thermaltake says low-profile, they mean it: the Low-Profile Orb is a full 2cm shorter than the Golden Orb (I like to think of it as a sawed-off version). Unfortunately, less height means less heatsink, and less heatsink means less surface area. Since the amount of surface area is one of the major factors in how well a heatsink performs, this could have a big effect on how well this cooler dissipates heat. Because the fan is also smaller, airflow over the heatsink is decreased as well. These two things will definitely have a negative impact on this coolers performance, but well have to wait for the test results to find out how much.
One of the strong points of the Thermaltake Orbs is their intense good looks and the awe that these looks provoke among friends (and rivals :] ). The question that comes to my mind is why would anyone need a cool looking thermal solution for a rackmount server that few eyes will ever see? The fancy production process (known as the milled or cut design) is more expensive than standard production techniques, which raises the overall price of the cooler. As long as it performs well, this is easily over-looked.
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