MaximumPC 2007 112

I

t’s hard to find much innovation in the exciting world of air cooling. At some

point, cooling potential is defined by a simple equation of heat pipes, fan

speeds, and block materials—increase the efficiency of any of the above, and

you’ll see lower temperatures.

At least, that’s the theory. Kingwin’s Revolution RVT-9225 cooler isn’t

exactly the Eva Peron of CPU devices, but it does a respectable job of bringing

our test bed CPU back from the inferno. If only this device were easy to install.

Its locking mechanism is better than some we’ve seen, but only if we’re com-

paring it to the very bottom of the barrel. You insert the AMD retention system

into a notched groove on the flip side of the CPU block, which is awesome for

guidance, but it means the cooler can face only one of two directions, limiting

your ability to modify your case’s overall airflow.

The challenging locking clasp

on the RVT-9225 provides our biggest

complaint. When applying pressure to the clip to secure the cooler to the CPU,

you’ll think you’re breaking the device—we sure did—as it takes a Herculean

effort to mount this cooler.

We were happy with the performance of this mildly loud device. It doesn’t

top the ear-splitting cooling of our champ, Zalman’s CNPS9700, but it certainly

comes close. The three-heat-pipe design dropped our CPU by six and 12

degrees on our idle and burn-in tests, respectively. While it’s not the kind of

bone-chilling performance we expected from a cooler that runs its heat pipes

directly alongside the base of the CPU block, it’s nice to see that the device can

hold its own against the best—and loudest—we’ve seen.

The RVT-9225 has proven itself as one of the better devices in the

midrange cooler market, especially considering it’s cheaper than dirt.

Just try not to break your fingers

during the installation.

—DAVID MURPHY

Kingwin Revolution

RVT-9225

What it gains in cooling, it loses during installation

Z

alman is no stranger to gigantic external liquid-cooling devices. We’ve become

so accustomed to seeing its huge, tower-like Reserator coolers that we nearly

choked when the 15-pound Reserator XT arrived in our Lab. For starters, it’s not a

large, awkward-to-carry cylindrical column. The rectangular apparatus is compa-

rably compact and sleek, more akin to a subwoofer than a home-theater speaker.

While the rectangular device works wonders as a doorstop—even better

once you dump 1.25 liters of fluid into its aluminum bay—it serves far better as an

external cooler for your CPU, provided you don’t mind a little bit of a setup, that is.

We expect a bit of a construction process when we cross the line from

snap-and-clip air cooling to where-are-the-napkins liquid kits. The Reserator XT

tested our patience by riding the delicate balance between annoying and infuriat-

ing. Instead of priming the machine by pouring liquid into the reservoir, you must

jostle the whole device back and forth (while turning it on and off, while a beeping

alarm is blaring) just to get fluid into the special “degassing” tube. Attaching the

water block to the Reserator XT forces you to pry the special no-spill nozzles off

of the ends the degassing tube (not fun)

and reattach them to the virginal 3/8-inch

tubing. Apparently, the concept of giving you two extra nozzles didn’t cross

Zalman’s mind.

As for the cooling, the chart says it all. This thing poured a pitcher of

rock-out all over our air coolers, beat all the lame, preconstructed water-cool-

ing units we’ve encountered, and even rivaled our favorite peltier coolers in

terms of degrees cooled. Our only hesitation comes from the lack of a differ-

ence in performance when the fan is running silently versus cranked.

That’s awesome for those who like quiet low temperatures, but it

would have been nice to see increased performance when

the device is at full power.

—DAVID MURPHY

Zalman Reserator XT

Cooling with a cost—be prepared to spend some time

with this device

 MAXIMUMPC december 2007

L?Pi?QM Tes Ted. Reviewed. veRdic Tized

8

zalman reserator xt

7

kingwin revolution

$30, http://www.kingwin.com

$450, http://www.zalmanusa.com

Borrowing a page

from car enthu-

siasts, the RVT-

9225 comes with

a spoiler that you

manually insert

into the posterior

of the device.

The Reserator XT’s front panel does an amazing job of telling

you just how fast its fan is spinning.

stock cooler kingwin rvt-9225 zalman cnps9700

benchMARks

Idle (C) 31  25  22.5

100% load (C) 54.5   42.5    38

Idle temperatures were measured after 30 minutes of inactivity, and full-load temps were measured

after running CPU Burn-in for one hour.

stock cooler zalman reserator zalman reserator zalman cnps9700

xt (low) xt (HigH)

benchMARks

Idle (C) 32  20  19  22.5

100% load (C) 54     35.5    33  37.5

Idle temperatures were measured after 30 minutes of inactivity, and full-load temps were measured after running CPU Burn-in for one hour.