t_ski
10-19-2007, 04:03 PM
[page=Introduction]
Introduction
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/logo.jpg
I would like to thank Zerotherm (http://www.zerotherm.co.kr/) for supplying the review sample.
Features:
Efficient 8-line heat pipe effects
Creative & cool design
Silent innovations
Killer performance
Compatibility:
Intel Socket 775: Pentium 4, Pentium 4D, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Extreme
AMD Socket 939/940/AM2: Opteron, Sempron, Athlon 64, Athlon 64 X2 Athlon 64 FX
Specifications:
<blockquote><table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="ramtable" width="450">
<tr>
<th scope="row">Dimension:</th>
<td scope="row">108 x 81 x 128 mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Heatsink Material:</th>
<td scope="row">Copper Base, Fin and Heat Pipe (sintered type)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Heat Dissipation Area:</th>
<td scope="row">3623.5 square cm (561.64 square in)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Cooling Capacity:</th>
<td scope="row">Over 150W</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Size:</th>
<td scope="row">92 x 25 mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Speed:</th>
<td scope="row">1000 ~ 2800 RPM +/- 10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Acoustic Noise:</th>
<td scope="row">Under 37.2 dB +/- 10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Connector:</th>
<td scope="row">3-pin</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Operating Voltage:</th>
<td scope="row">12V</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Consuming Power:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Max 3.84W</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Airflow:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Max 53.58CFM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Weight:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">610g (without optional components)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Fan Controller Range:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">5V - 11.5V</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Extension Cable:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">1000mm (39.37in)</td>
</tr>
</table></blockquote>
About Zerotherm
From the Zerotherm website:
<blockquote>ZEROtherm is engineered for the objective of decreasing noise into the “ZERO” range while effectively addressing thermal issues. ZEROtherm products are optimized cooling solutions to reduce both noise and heat. Our core thermal packaging technology (including heat pipe technology and micro electro mechanical technology) is the basis for all ZEROtherm products.
We seek to exceed consumer expectations by developing, designing, and producing “best-of-breed” solutions from our extensive technological and engineering capabilities.
</blockquote>
[page=Packaging & Contents]
Packaging & Contents
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-01sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-01.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-03sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-02.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-03sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-03.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-04sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-04.jpg)
The Zerotherm BTF92 Overclocker Edition comes in a metallic silver package with color images and detailed specifications listed all around the box.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-05sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-05.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-06sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-06.jpg)
Inside the box the BTF92 is held inside a plastic clam-shell. Included inside is a large box for all the accessories.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-07sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-07.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-08sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-08.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-09sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-09.jpg)
Inside the accessory box is a full-color installation sheet with directions in multiple languages. The mounting hardware consists of a clip-on frame for the AMD CPUs and a backplate and screw-type bracket for Intel CPUs. Zerotherm has included a small syringe of thermal compound and a fan controller, which has a very long cable.
[page=A Closer Look]
A Closer Look
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-10sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-10.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-11sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-11.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-12sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-12.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-13sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-13.jpg)
The BTF92 uses Zerotherm's classic "Butterfly" design. The fins, the base and the heatpipes are all made out of copper. There are four sets of heatpipes that start at the base, go up, loop around and come back down to the base for an effective eight pipes all together.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-14sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-14.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-16sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-16.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-18sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-18.jpg)
When removed from the package, the BTF92 will have a plastic film over the base to protect it. Upon removing the film the base can be seen to have some minor rippling as a result of the milling process. The base is almost flat, with a slightly convex shape.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-19sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-19.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-20sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-20.jpg)
There are 46 copper fins on each side of the cooler, for a total of 92 fins. The fins are very thin and they are prone to bending. As seen in the second picture above, there are several bent fins along the tips at the front of the cooler. This is probably either a result of shipping or perhaps a slightly under-protective package. However, it is possible to bend all the fins back into shape if the user is willing to take the time.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-21sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-21.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-22sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-22.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-23sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-23.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-15sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-15.jpg)
The fan used on the BTF92 is a proprietary one that slides into a groove on the plastic separator for the fins. The fan includes a 3-pin connector for use with motherboard headers or the included fan controller. There are even a couple small blue LED lights to give the fan a cool glow.
[page=Installation]
Installation
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-24sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-24.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-25sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-25.jpg)
To install the Zerotherm BTF92 the correct mounting bracket must be installed on the heatsink's base. Using the four small, black screws in the package, the Intel bracket was fastened into place.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-27sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-27.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-26sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-26.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-28sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-28.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-29sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-29.jpg)
To mount the heatsink on an Intel CPU the motherboard must be removed from the system. The backplate has a thin paper film on it which can be removed for installation ease and a more permanent mounting. Since many heatsinks are tested on this system, the paper was not removed to make it easier to take the backplate out of the system. (In this case the heatsink should be installed before placing the motherboard back in the system, or else the installation will be slightly more difficult.) With the backplate in place the motherboard was flipped over and the CPU was cleaned to remove all the previous thermal compound residue.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-30sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-30.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-31sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-31.jpg)
The included thermal compound was used and I applied a thin line across the CPU heat spreader. With the fan removed from the heatsink, the unit can be placed on top of the CPU. Using an "X" pattern the screws were tightened a little at a time until they were snug.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-33sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-33.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-34sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-34.jpg)
Immediately after installation the heatsink was removed to inspect the thermal compound contact area. The included compound was thicker than most other compounds, but it did spread fairly well. At this point it is easy to see how much bigger the base of the heatsink is than the CPU heatspreader.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-35sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-35.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-36sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-36.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-32sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-32.jpg)
With the heatsink reinstalled, the fan can now be slid back into place. Since the BTF92 is based on a 92mm fan, there are absolutely no clearance issues around the socket.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-37sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-37.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-39sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-39.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-38sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-38.jpg)
The fan can be plugged directly into the motherboard header, or used with the included fan controller. When installed in the system there should be no problems with the heatsink coming too close to the top on the motherboard.
[page=Performance]
Performance
The system being used to test the heatsink is as follows:
<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="ramtable" width="450">
<tr>
<th width="100" scope="row">CPU:</th>
<td scope="row">Intel E6850 Core2 Duo</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th width="100" scope="row">Clock speed:</th>
<td scope="row">9 x 333 MHz = 3.0 GHz, Memory at DDR2-667</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Motherboard:</th>
<td scope="row">Asus P5W DH Deluxe</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Memory:</th>
<td scope="row">2 x 1GB G.Skill F2-6400CL4D-2GBHK</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Video Card:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Sapphire HD 2900XT PCI-e</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Harddisk:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">4 x 250 GB Seagate 7200.10 in Matrix Raid 0/5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Power Supply:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">ThermalTake ToughPower 750W</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Case:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Lian Li PC-A10B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Software:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Windows XP Pro SP2, Catalyst 7.10</td>
</tr>
</table>
Ambient temperature was kept to 22 degrees Celsius (+/- 1 degree) and was measured by a standard mercury thermometer.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/graph1.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/graph2.gif
With the CPU at stock speeds the Zerotherm BTF92 was able to keep the processor almost as cool as the Thermaltake Bigwater 760i, even with the BTF92's fan set on low speed.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/graph3.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/graph4.gif
When the CPU gets overclocked and the voltage is increased, the Zerotherm has a harder time keeping up on low speed, but full speed is within a degree of the Bigwater. Pretty impressive results for an air cooler with a 92mm fan.
Fan Noise
To measure fan noise we used an IEC Type 2 sound level meter on the dbA setting. Measuring distance was 10 cm from the heatsink fan hub. The short distance of 10 cm is necessary to get proper readings with very silent fans. All fans were tested outside of the case at 12V supplied by a lab PSU. On fans that come with a fan controller or allow control of fan speed in any other way, "low" and "high" indicate the settings on the fan controller.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/fannoise.gif
Zerotherm includes a fan controller with the BTF92. When the controller is set to low speed, the BTF92 has the quietest fan tested so far. When turned all the way up to high, the fan becomes a lot louder. Fortunately for the BTF92, there are other fans that are louder still.
[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 Zerotherm BTF92 Overclocker Edition sells for about $44 USD after a $10 rebate.</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Solid performance for a 92mm based heatsink
8 effective heat pipes
Cool blue LED fan
Fan is very quiet on low speed
Included fan controller
Unique butterfly design
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Heatsink base was not totally flat
Fan is loud at full speed
Proprietary fan not easy to replace
</td></tr>
<tr><th>8.4</th>
<td>
The Zerotherm BTF92 Overclocker Edition is a solid performing heatsink based on a 92mm fan. It has an extremely unique style and is loaded with copper throughout its construction. Amazingly Zerotherm has managed to work the heatpipes into eight effective pipes and still could fit it in a compact base. The included fan controller has a long cable on it that lets the user mount it anywhere it is needed, and the controller helps to keep the fan down to a quiet level when high performance is not required.<br />
<br />
When the fan controller is turned up to high the story changes a little. The fan becomes very noisy, although it is still not the loudest fan in the test group. Another issue with the fan is that it is a proprietary fan that uses a special bracket to mount to the BTF92. If the fan were to quit working a traditional fan could not be used in its place. Also, the shiny copper base was not quite flat due to the milling process used to produce it. I would gladly have traded the shine for a more flat base, which would mean more improved contact area.<br />
<br />
Overall the Zerotherm BTF92 Overclocker Edition is a stylish heatsink that performs great. If you love an all-copper heatsink and need a smaller 92mm sized one, this cooler should be on your list.
</td></tr>
<tr><th></th><td>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/recommended.gif</td></tr>
</table>
Introduction
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/logo.jpg
I would like to thank Zerotherm (http://www.zerotherm.co.kr/) for supplying the review sample.
Features:
Efficient 8-line heat pipe effects
Creative & cool design
Silent innovations
Killer performance
Compatibility:
Intel Socket 775: Pentium 4, Pentium 4D, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Extreme
AMD Socket 939/940/AM2: Opteron, Sempron, Athlon 64, Athlon 64 X2 Athlon 64 FX
Specifications:
<blockquote><table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="ramtable" width="450">
<tr>
<th scope="row">Dimension:</th>
<td scope="row">108 x 81 x 128 mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Heatsink Material:</th>
<td scope="row">Copper Base, Fin and Heat Pipe (sintered type)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Heat Dissipation Area:</th>
<td scope="row">3623.5 square cm (561.64 square in)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Cooling Capacity:</th>
<td scope="row">Over 150W</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Size:</th>
<td scope="row">92 x 25 mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Speed:</th>
<td scope="row">1000 ~ 2800 RPM +/- 10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Acoustic Noise:</th>
<td scope="row">Under 37.2 dB +/- 10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Connector:</th>
<td scope="row">3-pin</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Operating Voltage:</th>
<td scope="row">12V</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Consuming Power:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Max 3.84W</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Airflow:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Max 53.58CFM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Weight:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">610g (without optional components)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Fan Controller Range:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">5V - 11.5V</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Extension Cable:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">1000mm (39.37in)</td>
</tr>
</table></blockquote>
About Zerotherm
From the Zerotherm website:
<blockquote>ZEROtherm is engineered for the objective of decreasing noise into the “ZERO” range while effectively addressing thermal issues. ZEROtherm products are optimized cooling solutions to reduce both noise and heat. Our core thermal packaging technology (including heat pipe technology and micro electro mechanical technology) is the basis for all ZEROtherm products.
We seek to exceed consumer expectations by developing, designing, and producing “best-of-breed” solutions from our extensive technological and engineering capabilities.
</blockquote>
[page=Packaging & Contents]
Packaging & Contents
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-01sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-01.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-03sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-02.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-03sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-03.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-04sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-04.jpg)
The Zerotherm BTF92 Overclocker Edition comes in a metallic silver package with color images and detailed specifications listed all around the box.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-05sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-05.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-06sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-06.jpg)
Inside the box the BTF92 is held inside a plastic clam-shell. Included inside is a large box for all the accessories.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-07sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-07.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-08sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-08.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-09sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-09.jpg)
Inside the accessory box is a full-color installation sheet with directions in multiple languages. The mounting hardware consists of a clip-on frame for the AMD CPUs and a backplate and screw-type bracket for Intel CPUs. Zerotherm has included a small syringe of thermal compound and a fan controller, which has a very long cable.
[page=A Closer Look]
A Closer Look
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-10sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-10.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-11sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-11.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-12sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-12.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-13sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-13.jpg)
The BTF92 uses Zerotherm's classic "Butterfly" design. The fins, the base and the heatpipes are all made out of copper. There are four sets of heatpipes that start at the base, go up, loop around and come back down to the base for an effective eight pipes all together.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-14sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-14.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-16sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-16.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-18sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-18.jpg)
When removed from the package, the BTF92 will have a plastic film over the base to protect it. Upon removing the film the base can be seen to have some minor rippling as a result of the milling process. The base is almost flat, with a slightly convex shape.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-19sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-19.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-20sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-20.jpg)
There are 46 copper fins on each side of the cooler, for a total of 92 fins. The fins are very thin and they are prone to bending. As seen in the second picture above, there are several bent fins along the tips at the front of the cooler. This is probably either a result of shipping or perhaps a slightly under-protective package. However, it is possible to bend all the fins back into shape if the user is willing to take the time.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-21sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-21.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-22sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-22.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-23sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-23.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-15sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-15.jpg)
The fan used on the BTF92 is a proprietary one that slides into a groove on the plastic separator for the fins. The fan includes a 3-pin connector for use with motherboard headers or the included fan controller. There are even a couple small blue LED lights to give the fan a cool glow.
[page=Installation]
Installation
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-24sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-24.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-25sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-25.jpg)
To install the Zerotherm BTF92 the correct mounting bracket must be installed on the heatsink's base. Using the four small, black screws in the package, the Intel bracket was fastened into place.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-27sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-27.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-26sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-26.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-28sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-28.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-29sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-29.jpg)
To mount the heatsink on an Intel CPU the motherboard must be removed from the system. The backplate has a thin paper film on it which can be removed for installation ease and a more permanent mounting. Since many heatsinks are tested on this system, the paper was not removed to make it easier to take the backplate out of the system. (In this case the heatsink should be installed before placing the motherboard back in the system, or else the installation will be slightly more difficult.) With the backplate in place the motherboard was flipped over and the CPU was cleaned to remove all the previous thermal compound residue.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-30sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-30.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-31sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-31.jpg)
The included thermal compound was used and I applied a thin line across the CPU heat spreader. With the fan removed from the heatsink, the unit can be placed on top of the CPU. Using an "X" pattern the screws were tightened a little at a time until they were snug.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-33sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-33.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-34sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-34.jpg)
Immediately after installation the heatsink was removed to inspect the thermal compound contact area. The included compound was thicker than most other compounds, but it did spread fairly well. At this point it is easy to see how much bigger the base of the heatsink is than the CPU heatspreader.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-35sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-35.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-36sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-36.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-32sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-32.jpg)
With the heatsink reinstalled, the fan can now be slid back into place. Since the BTF92 is based on a 92mm fan, there are absolutely no clearance issues around the socket.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-37sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-37.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-39sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-39.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-38sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/zbtf92-38.jpg)
The fan can be plugged directly into the motherboard header, or used with the included fan controller. When installed in the system there should be no problems with the heatsink coming too close to the top on the motherboard.
[page=Performance]
Performance
The system being used to test the heatsink is as follows:
<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="ramtable" width="450">
<tr>
<th width="100" scope="row">CPU:</th>
<td scope="row">Intel E6850 Core2 Duo</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th width="100" scope="row">Clock speed:</th>
<td scope="row">9 x 333 MHz = 3.0 GHz, Memory at DDR2-667</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Motherboard:</th>
<td scope="row">Asus P5W DH Deluxe</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Memory:</th>
<td scope="row">2 x 1GB G.Skill F2-6400CL4D-2GBHK</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Video Card:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Sapphire HD 2900XT PCI-e</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Harddisk:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">4 x 250 GB Seagate 7200.10 in Matrix Raid 0/5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Power Supply:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">ThermalTake ToughPower 750W</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Case:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Lian Li PC-A10B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Software:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Windows XP Pro SP2, Catalyst 7.10</td>
</tr>
</table>
Ambient temperature was kept to 22 degrees Celsius (+/- 1 degree) and was measured by a standard mercury thermometer.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/graph1.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/graph2.gif
With the CPU at stock speeds the Zerotherm BTF92 was able to keep the processor almost as cool as the Thermaltake Bigwater 760i, even with the BTF92's fan set on low speed.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/graph3.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/graph4.gif
When the CPU gets overclocked and the voltage is increased, the Zerotherm has a harder time keeping up on low speed, but full speed is within a degree of the Bigwater. Pretty impressive results for an air cooler with a 92mm fan.
Fan Noise
To measure fan noise we used an IEC Type 2 sound level meter on the dbA setting. Measuring distance was 10 cm from the heatsink fan hub. The short distance of 10 cm is necessary to get proper readings with very silent fans. All fans were tested outside of the case at 12V supplied by a lab PSU. On fans that come with a fan controller or allow control of fan speed in any other way, "low" and "high" indicate the settings on the fan controller.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zerotherm/BTF92/images/fannoise.gif
Zerotherm includes a fan controller with the BTF92. When the controller is set to low speed, the BTF92 has the quietest fan tested so far. When turned all the way up to high, the fan becomes a lot louder. Fortunately for the BTF92, there are other fans that are louder still.
[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 Zerotherm BTF92 Overclocker Edition sells for about $44 USD after a $10 rebate.</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Solid performance for a 92mm based heatsink
8 effective heat pipes
Cool blue LED fan
Fan is very quiet on low speed
Included fan controller
Unique butterfly design
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Heatsink base was not totally flat
Fan is loud at full speed
Proprietary fan not easy to replace
</td></tr>
<tr><th>8.4</th>
<td>
The Zerotherm BTF92 Overclocker Edition is a solid performing heatsink based on a 92mm fan. It has an extremely unique style and is loaded with copper throughout its construction. Amazingly Zerotherm has managed to work the heatpipes into eight effective pipes and still could fit it in a compact base. The included fan controller has a long cable on it that lets the user mount it anywhere it is needed, and the controller helps to keep the fan down to a quiet level when high performance is not required.<br />
<br />
When the fan controller is turned up to high the story changes a little. The fan becomes very noisy, although it is still not the loudest fan in the test group. Another issue with the fan is that it is a proprietary fan that uses a special bracket to mount to the BTF92. If the fan were to quit working a traditional fan could not be used in its place. Also, the shiny copper base was not quite flat due to the milling process used to produce it. I would gladly have traded the shine for a more flat base, which would mean more improved contact area.<br />
<br />
Overall the Zerotherm BTF92 Overclocker Edition is a stylish heatsink that performs great. If you love an all-copper heatsink and need a smaller 92mm sized one, this cooler should be on your list.
</td></tr>
<tr><th></th><td>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/recommended.gif</td></tr>
</table>