OCZ XTC Memory Cooler

[funkflix]

[Page=Introduction, Packaging]
Introduction

We all know OCZ for their high performance memory modules and good power supplies, but they have a lot of useful accessories for overclockers and modders, too.

Today I want to introduce you to one of their newest products in cooling, the XTC Memory Cooler. Even though it is designed specifically for the new XTC heatspreaders on the OCZ memory modules, you can use that cooler for all other memory too.

OCZ Technology, an innovator in high performance memory, makes cooling and enhancing your memory easier than ever. Expanding on OCZ’s proprietary XTC (Xtreme Thermal Convection) heatspreader technology, the new XTC Cooler air-cools your modules, improving memory performance, stability, and longevity to allow enthusiasts to tweak their memory more freely due to superior active cooling.

The XTC Cooler attaches to your motherboard's DIMM socket retention levers. While the fans cool your system memory, glowing LED fans illuminate your memory subsystem.

Specification

From OCZ website:


Cools DDR1 or DDR2 memory modules
Improves overclocking performance on all memory modules
Optimized for the OCZ XTC* heatspreader design
2 60mm ultra-low noise fans deliver superior cooling
Blue fan LEDs
Aluminum-based
OCZ 1 Year Warranty


I used may Akasa fancontroller to measure the RPM of the fans and at 12V it was around 3700 RPM and at 5V around 1900 RPM.

Packaging

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_front_package_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_front_package.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_back_package_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_back_package.jpg)

Box contents:

XTC Memory Cooler
Two different mounting kits
Quick Installation Guide


http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_packungsinhalt_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_packungsinhalt.jpg)

The Cooler
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_single_front_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_single_front.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_single_back_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_single_back.jpg)
The cooler looks really precious with its shiny surface. The two fans are transparent and every single fan has four blue LEDs installed. Those LEDs light up with the voltage you supply to the fans, so you can adjust the intensity of the light with a fan controller etc.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_installed_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_installed.jpg)
Finally a pic while the cooler is in action. Personally I think the LEDs are a bit too bright, but that's just my opinion.

[pagE=Installation]
Installation
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_installation_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/xtc_installation.jpg)
This is the quick installation guide from the package. Not really extensive, but it covers all you need to know.

In the package there are two different kinds of screws. Two normal screws, when installing the cooler with enough space around for a screwdriver and two screws that you can turn in with your hands.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images//xtc_install_problem_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images//xtc_install_problem.jpg)
On some mainboard/gfx combinations you will have a problem with the space between the cooler and the graphics card, as I have on my system. I used one normal screw on the side of the cooler before I installed it, then I used the other screw for the other side and it worked fine.

[PAGE=Performance]
Performance

<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="ramtable" width="450">
<tr align="center">
<th colspan="2" scope="row" style="font-size:larger;text-align:center">Test System</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th width="100" scope="row">CPU:</th>
<td scope="row">Intel Core 2 Duo E6600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Motherboard:</th>
<td scope="row">ASUS P5B Deluxe (full modded)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Memory:</th>
<td scope="row">4x 512MB Micron D9 Fatbodies</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Video Card:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">NVIDIA 7900GX2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Harddisk:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">WD Raptor 74GB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Power Supply:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Amacrox Frei Erde 550W</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Software:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Windows XP SP2</td>
</tr>
</table>

For the full specifications and more pics of the setup, visit the case gallery - http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/572

First I installed a temperature sensor between two of my memory modules and plugged in the sensor into my Akasa fan controller. To heat up the modules I used MemTest 3.1 for Windows. First I ran the program for about 15 minutes, with the XTC Cooler off, until the temperature stopped rising and wrote down the resulting temperature. Then I used my fan controller to set the fan speed to 1500 RPM and waited until the temperature stopped falling. The final step was the XTC Cooler on maximum speed, until the temperature stopped falling.

I used two settings for the tests. First 423 MHz 4-4-4-8 at 2.2V and the second one was 423 MHz 4-4-4-8 at 2.5V. These are the results:

Ambient = 19.0°C | Case = 25.0°C

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/graph1.gif

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/graph2.gif

And finally I tested if lower temperatures yielded improved overclockability of my sticks. I tested with the XTC Cooler off and the XTC Cooler at highest RPM. Selected timings were 4-3-2-8 at 2.4V VDimm to get my sticks to the maximum. I started with an FSB of 423 MHz and waited until SysTool reported an error.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/graph3.gif
The temperature was measured at the end of the tests.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/max_with_2.4V_xtc_off_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/max_with_2.4V_xtc_off.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/max_with_2.4V_xtc_full_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images/max_with_2.4V_xtc_full.jpg)

Really impressive to be honest.

[page=Value & Conclusion]
Value and Conclusion
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="result">
<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
The OCZ XTC Memory cooler costs about 20$, which is great price for that piece of cooler.
</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Excellent performance
Very easy to install
Great Price
Looks nice
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Maybe a bit to loud for sensitive people
</td></tr>
<tr><th>9.6</th>
<td>Again OCZ built a great performing and nice looking cooling product, which is coupled with a really good price.<br />
As you can see on our performance charts, the XTC Memory Cooler can drop the temperature under full load close to 20°C, really impressive. Also the maximum overclock of my memory modules increased by about 10 MHz, which is quite a lot, especially at those timings.<br />
There is not much to complain about, only the bright LEDs which are a bit too bright and perhaps the fairly loud fans could be a problem for people who want a silent PC. But most overclockers can live with some increased noise if it increases their overclocks.</td></tr>
<tr><th></th><td>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/editorschoice.gif</td></tr>
</table>

[Yin]

[QUOTE=funkflix;264442]
In the package there are two different kinds of screws. Two normal screws, when installing the cooler with enough space around for a screwdriver and two screws that you can turn in with your hands.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images//xtc_install_problem_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/XTCMemoryCooler/images//xtc_install_problem.jpg)
On some mainboard/gfx combinations you will have a problem with the space between the cooler and the graphics card, as I have on my system. I used one normal screw on the side of the cooler before I installed it, then I used the other screw for the other side and it worked fine.

could we get a side shot? because i would really like to buy one of these just i am very worried about it touching my v-card

[funkflix]

could we get a side shot? because i would really like to buy one of these just i am very worried about it touching my v-card

Sorry, missed u post.. :o

Not enough space for a shot from the side, but i had no problems with installing the cooler. Which gfx do u use?

[Yin]

Sorry, missed u post.. :o

Not enough space for a shot from the side, but i had no problems with installing the cooler. Which gfx do u use?

hehe no worries :toast: well i got an Nvidia 6800 GS there is about like 6-7mm between the gfx card and the memory clip.

[JUDAS3]

i installed mine last night and it touches the heatsink screw for the graphics card. I have seperated them by a piece of thick clear plastic so they never touch. I will try to take a picture for you at the weekend.

Ill keep you posted............cheers

[DrunkenMafia]

Good post... I was ummmmin n arrrrrin about getting this cooler because of the clearance with the cfx3200 board and my vc. I might just go out and get one now...

Good on ya's

[Yin]

i installed mine last night and it touches the heatsink screw for the graphics card. I have seperated them by a piece of thick clear plastic so they never touch. I will try to take a picture for you at the weekend.

Ill keep you posted............cheers
I'll be looking forward to it :) :) :)
I hope that cooler works on my ram n mobo too, I need it ram voltage is at 2.8 and i wanna go higher :D , but it heats up too much

[funkflix]

Here u can see the space between the gfx and the dimm-sockets. I think it is less then 1cm too, but didn't mesured it. Maybe i will do that later. :)

http://www.funkflix.de/pcseite/7.jpg

[otero51]

I was planning on getting the OCZ cooler for my system (love the grill and angled setup) but could not find it local. I also heard that the Dominator fans don't work well with regular RAM heatsinks (plus fans are smaller than OCZ's and it cost like 7 dollars more). So I had to use some imagination and couple of old HW I had and come up with my home made cheap looking memory cooler. Pretty much 2 80mm Antec fans with 1 dollar grills and a couple of screws.
Haven't checked how well they work though. Need a therm monitor.