Inexpensive Coolers for AMD Processors

Part 1. ASUS, Foxconn, GlacialTech, Thermaltake, and Titan

Titan Data Cooler DC-K8J825Z/N/G and DC-K8H925Z/N

The last coolers to be reviewed here are budget Data Cooler products from Titan - DC-K8J825Z/N/G and DC-K8H925Z/N.

Titan Data Cooler DC-K8J825Z/N/G and DC-K8H925Z/N

The DC-K8J825Z/N/G copies the leading idea of Foxconn NBT-CMAM23B-C - it's equipped with an aluminum heat sink (77x77x38 mm, 77x37 mm at the base) of practically the same configuration with a U-shaped carrier. However, the on-board fan is different - an "inverted" fan (plain bearing, 2200 rpm). Besides, fin parameters have been slightly modified as well (trapezoid fans, 0.7 mm at the base and 0.3 mm at the tip, placed at 2 mm steps, the total heat exchange surface of about 800 cm²).

However, the DC-K8J825Z/N/G cannot offer anything new. This product is outperformed by the NBT-CMAM23B-C both in thermal and noise parameters. It shows a worse efficiency/noise ratio (to all appearances, the open impeller of the fan fails to pump air through the dense finning, it does more harm than good).

It has a negative effect on the technical image of the cooler - the DC-K8J825Z/N/G fails to get a good score even with its preinstalled thermal grease and user-friendly retention module. So it slides down to the bottom of our ratings.

The other budget cooler from Titan, the DC-K8H925Z/N, looks more optimistic. It's based on the low-profile aluminum heat sink (88x89x32 mm, 77x45 mm at the base), it's equipped with an "inverted" fan (92x92x25 mm, plain bearing, 2200 rpm) and a toolless retention module.

Possessing low-profile dimensions, the DC-K8H925Z/N is not shy of being short and demonstrates a good set of fin parameters (trapezoid fins, 0.7 mm at the base and 0.3 mm at the tip, placed at 2 mm steps, the total heat exchange surface of about 900 cm2), spiced up with an additional catalyst of thermal efficiency - alternating fin height. That is we get a well-ventilated heat sink, where the entire fin surface works efficiently.

Indeed, the DC-K8H925Z/N demonstrates acceptable thermal efficiency and competes well with other budget products. But the situation with noise is not that peachy - this cooler generates a relatively high noise level, crossing the ergonomic mark of 40 dBA. As a result, the DC-K8H925Z/N is outscored even by the weak DC-K8J825Z/N/G. So it inevitably moves to the bottom of our ratings.

We have examined all main contenders of our today's shootout. It's time to have a look at the test results!

Note: our shootout also includes some more budget coolers, which haven't been examined here. In particular: