Volcano 7+ or Vantec Aeroflow

[Blurry]

I'm about to pick up a new cooler for my Pentium 4 this weekend. At this store I go to, they have both the Volcano 7+ and Vantec Aeroflow for $27.
I heard that the Volcano is very loud at highest setting, but which one performs better.
Thanks

 

[boyRacer]

overclockers.com has the Aeroflow rated better than the 7+.

 

[Cesar]

I like both heatsinks but I think the aeroflow is a bit better

 

[JokerF15]

Well,

The Aeroflow is better, however you do have to look at the Aeroflow in a different light. It has more RMAs than any other heatsink that I've worked with. The Reason being no matter how you look at it, the TMD fan has not been perfected. You need to use 'plastic' screws other wise the magnets inside the fan can be thrown off and the unit will vibrate.

The Thermaltake Volcano 7+ is probably the best heatsink that was released by Thermaltake to date. It has good performance and allows you to adjust the fan speed and noise.

Look for which one is cheaper, but have equal pros and cons.

-JokerF15

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: JokerF15
Well,

The Aeroflow is better, however you do have to look at the Aeroflow in a different light. It has more RMAs than any other heatsink that I've worked with. The Reason being no matter how you look at it, the TMD fan has not been perfected. You need to use 'plastic' screws other wise the magnets inside the fan can be thrown off and the unit will vibrate.

The Thermaltake Volcano 7+ is probably the best heatsink that was released by Thermaltake to date. It has good performance and allows you to adjust the fan speed and noise.

Look for which one is cheaper, but have equal pros and cons.

-JokerF15

My aeroflow has been fine... i actually have 3 TMD fans running in all my rigs and theyve been fine. Seems like the problem is when the screws are tightened too much.

 

[JokerF15]

Actually, the problem is with metal screws. . I've experianced a couple myself that have been 'doa' or have had extreme vibration.

There have also been 3 different batches of the same model fan in the past 6months (as far as I can recall). Again, I do love this heatsink myself and recommend it to many people, but you guys should know the pitfalls of this heatsink. The RMA rate is easily double that of any other heatsink.

Again, it is a very well designed and a very good performing product.

-JokerF15

 

[VisableAssassin]

I'd go Aeroflow..........I dont like Thermaltake stuff very much.

 

[Yai]

I used to have Volcano 7+ before upgraded to Zalman 7000AlCu. I think 7+ is still one of the best. I like the speed controller, of course it's loud at highest speed but at night I can set to low. In fact I'd never used highest setting with 7+ just a medium setting (about 4,500-4,900 RPM) and a hot day my system (CPU at 100% load) was still around 50-53C.

 

[Cesar]

I was wrong to go with the aeroflow, Volcano 7+ is better

 

[Peter D]

Originally posted by: VisableAssassin
I'd go Aeroflow..........I dont like Thermaltake stuff very much.

 

[JokerF15]

Originally posted by: Vegetto

Originally posted by: VisableAssassin
I'd go Aeroflow..........I dont like Thermaltake stuff very much.

Well generally that rule works well, but the V7+ is a different product, it was not designed or even produced by Thermaltake. It was relabelled. It does not follow the same pattern as the rest of their 'Volcano Line'. It is a different heatsink design, and a better method (at the time). It uses a skived fin process (similar to what most of the thermalright heatsinks use). And we all know that thermalright heatsinks perform very well.

Surprisingly, this Thermaltake Product DOES perform well, and I would pick it over the Aeroflow.

-JokerF15

 

[een]

That's not even a question. go with aeroflow...
lower noise (and nicer pitch too)
better heatsink design reduces drag...
And better performance of course...
My 2600+ was 61C load, but it is now 45C load even when oc'ed to 2800+

So go with aeroflow...

 

[Blurry]

Well thanks for the input everyone.
Since I couldn't decide, I brought back both heatsinks in order to make up my mind.
Both performed nearly identical, however, I was having a bittle of trouble to install the Volcano 7+ on my computer.
Another problem I had with the Volcano + was that it was too loud for me (although the Aeroflow was really loud too since I have been so used to my passive heatsink.) I finally made up my mind and returned the volcano.

Anyways, I have been able to o/c my 1.8A to 2.6GHz just from switching heatsinks!

 

[Corporate Thug]

aeroflow

 

[Tab]

How the hell can anyone recommend a thermaltake product? They should really be called thermalbreak!

http://www.overclockers.com/articles373/

 

[JokerF15]

Originally posted by: Tabb
How the hell can anyone recommend a thermaltake product? They should really be called thermalbreak!

http://www.overclockers.com/articles373/[/q

Generally yes, BUT the Volcano 7+ is not the AVERAGE Thermaltake product look @ the link that you put up, and look where the Volcano 7+ ranks. It is the same as the Aeroflow, it beats out the Swiftech 462, it beats the Alpha PAL 8045, it beats the thermalright AX478. It is not a bad product. Don't fall for 'brand loyalty' but product performance.

If Thermalright tomorrow comes out with a product that sucks, will all you guys buy it just because TR has a good name? I wouldn't.

-JokerF15

 

[blade]

Thermaltake earned their 'thermalbreak' nickname with such lovlies like the volcano 9. And the fact that most of their heatsinks were difficult to install thanks to a cheapo clip that was usually an improper fit. Plus performance leaved a lot to be desired. Unless you liked noise. It seemed they were more interested in cool looks than actual performance.

But, the Volcano 7+ is a good one and up untill recently, was their best. Though the V7+ only cools well on the high and too noisy speed.


Enter their new Silent Boost and the Volcano/Venus 12. Whooaaa! Still has their patented "cool looks", but those are both well-built and perform very well. Big thumbs up for both.

Maybe they were bought out? New management? Finally got girlfriends? :Q

 

[ZoNtO]

I happen to thoroughly enjoy my Volcano 9 with SmartFan II on it. I had no problems installing the HSF on my 1800+, and it was my first time ever installing a CPU and HSF (I was 16 at the time). What's wrong with Thermaltake stuff? My 9 keeps my 1800+ @ no more than 53 degrees Celsius at like 2500-2900 RPM, and I can't hear it over the rest of my 80mm case fans.

 

[Elcs]

If it was an early V7+, Id have said Volcano 7+. My V7+ was one of the early ones and was superb, visually near perfect finish on the bottom of the sink. My dads was about 1 year after I got mine, you could feel the ridges in the heatsink base.

 

[fdisk2003]

i really like my new vantec aeroflow. for me there was no question to get this fan. i was originally going to go with the zalman but then i read an article that mentioned the fan on the zalman is not replaceable, so if it dies the whole hsf goes to waste. to be fair, i asked on the zalman boards and they said they had plans to introduce a fan 'kit' at some point. but wether the kit will work with existing zalman cnps 7000 hsf's or if they would only work on a newer version i don't know. also, the vantec is in the same 'cooling bracket' according to that overclockers.com link. and finally addthe fact the zalman was more expensive and the vantec aeroflow became the best choice for me. i installed it in my new x-dreamer case with a generic 350w psu and only 2 fans (blowhole, window fan) and so far under gaming load my system has yet to exceed 39c. needless to say, cooling wise i am very happy.