Alright, my little comparison: Aquagate Mini 120 vs Big Typhoon...

[GRAFiZ]

Quick run down:

DFI NF4-SLI DR
AMD 4400+
2 x 512 GSkill LE
Keizer ATI X300 @ 500/440 (passive heatsink, lol)
2 x 74g Raptors Raid 0
Power PC & Cooling 510 SLI

I should mention, I'm using the Cooler Master Stacker and I have quite a few fans in my case. I'm using a 120mm fan on the front, two 120mm fans on the the side, a 60mm on top, and a 120mm on the rear.

I'm currently running the 4400+ at 2.6ghz 1.425v:

Ok, the Big Typhoon was installed using Arctic Silver 5 (grain of rice) and is using an old 120mm Panaflo pushing around 70cfm.

Room Temp: 26c

Idle: 28c

Load (Two instances of Prime 95 for 20 min): 38c

Now with the mini 120:

Installed using Arctic Silver 5 (rice grain), also, I am using an old 120mm Panaflo on the radiator instead of the stock fan, pushing around 70cfm, nice a quiet. This is important to note though as it makes all the difference... the radiator is mounted to the FRONT of my computer case, allowing the fan to blow fresh room air over the fins, DO NOT install the radiator on the back of the case as suggested in the instructions, I found my temps were easily 5c higher when the fans were pushing warm case air over the fins.

Room Temp: 26c

Idle: 26c

Load (Two instances of Prime 95 for 20 min): 38c

So, as we can see, my motherboard is reporting to my that the CPU is sitting at ambient room temps when in idle, 2c less then the Typhoon. However, I am rather sure that is wrong as I doubt the mini 120 could do such a thing. Like I mention my case is well cooled, but still.

Anyhow, take those results as not actual temps, but instead, look at them as only a way to compare the two coolers.

With that in mind, the Typhoon is AMAZING, being able to run equal with the mini 120 at load and running only 2c higher at idle... I was shocked.

So, lets crank up the juice a little:

Now the 4400+ is running at 2.7ghz 1.525v

Big Typhoon:

Room Temp: 26c

Idle: 29c

Load (Two instances of Prime 95 for 20 min): 45c

Now with the mini 120:

Room temp: 26c

Idle: 27c

Load (Two instances of Prime 95 for 20 min): 44c

So again, we see the Typhoon holding in there at only a degree or two more.

With the increase in voltage the Typhoon sat at 2c higher at idle and only 1c higher at load.

Let me add this though...

With the Typhoon the temp increase was slower then the mini 120, what I mean is, with the mini 120 it would hit 44c almost seconds after starting Prime, where as with the Typhoon it would take around 30 seconds to peak.

Also, with the mini 120 temps were rock solid, they didn't fluctuate at all, but, with the Typhoon sometimes the temps would drop to 43c for a second and also bounce up to 47c for a second, the average was 45c and that was what it stayed put on for the vast majority of the time.

Again, let me make note of the probable inaccuracy in the reported temps by the motherboard... the results I got we're almost too good to believe, however, when I tossed my XP90 on there I hit 56c under load, so perhaps the results are as they should be?

Anyhow, I hope this helps those who asked, it's a tough call as the mini 120 is almost $40 more then the Typhoon, so even though it does keep the chip a little cooler, it's not much of a difference.

My suggestion, get the Big Typhoon, a nice quiet high CFM 120mm fan and pocket the difference.

[chinkgai]

haha, someone requested and you answered. you are dah man!

nice job!

[D_o_S]

Hi GRAFiZ, as chinkgai already said you are dah man! Thanks for fulfilling my request once again, looks like I'm headed for the TT Big Typhoon (oh, btw you haven't tested the Zalman 9500 have you)

Thanks again.

[MaxxxRacer]

Typhoon beats out the Zalman.. The CSP9500 isnt all its cracked up to be...

[GRAFiZ]

Thanks all, I'm certainly not the man, just a guy looking for a good cooling solution. ;)

Anyhow, I must add to this review, when I overclocked my video card some more I saw the temp at load on the Big Typhoon increase by 1c, where as the mini 120 did not increase at all...

Telling me that the mini 120 is less controlled by internal temps as the Big Typhoon is... makes sense really.

However, a good cooling system in your case should remove that problem.

Again, I am impressed by the big typhoon, for an air cooler it is the BEST I've ever used.

And I've used MANY MANY MANY air coolers.

As for the Zalman, I wouldnt mind giving it a go, but as mentioned above by MaxxxRacer, the Big Typhoon always seems to best it by a few degrees, so I would imagine it wouldnt best either of these tested solutions.

Anyhow, glad you enjoyed it, like I said, there aint nothing scientific about it, just reporting what Smartguardian told me.

Good luck with your choices guys.

[tomati]

thanks,

really interresting , aircooling have still some good days!

And what about the noise ? BT or Aquagate ?

[GRAFiZ]

thanks,

really interresting , aircooling have still some good days!

And what about the noise ? BT or Aquagate ?

Aha... this is another odd part, actually, the Big Typhoon is more quiet then the mini 120.

I know hard to believe, however, using the same Panaflo fan I found the noise that is created with the mini 120 to be louder, I assume it's because the radiactor fins are more dense then on the Big Typhoon so there is more resistance.

The difference is of course not much and I would imagine it's not enough where either would bother anyone, but, the Big Typhoon was indeed more quiet.

[corvus_corax]

Great report GRAFiZ. Thanks!!

Typhoon rocks indeed!

[madmaxx]

if i read correctly you used software to monitor temps?

[Ugly n Grey]

He said software several times. :stick:

Thanks dude, I suspected as much but it's nice to see the BT holding it's own time after time. For a mid price cooler, it's definitely worth every penny.... now if I could only get one to work on a video card........