Thermaltake Volcano 7 Heatsink/Fan

Manufacturer: Thermaltake Technology Co., Ltd
Supplied by: Thermaltake Technology Co., Ltd
Price: TBA

by Dean Barker  10/31/2001

Introduction 
  
Eighty millimeter heatsink/fan action is heating up quickly.  I don't know if it was the appearance of the fandapter or what that made people start to look away from the high speed 60mm fans to the lower speed (and less noisy) 80mm fans.  All while not really taking a hit in the air flow department.  So far, the only players that have stepped up to the plate have been the Swiftech MC-462 and the Alpha PAL8045.  Both of these products are VERY FINE heatsinks.  Even though these two products are the closest comparisons it is still comparing apples and oranges with these two and the Volcano 7.  Thermaltake is attempting to address the performance / noise issue with the first temperature controlled, variable speed heatsink/fan.  This is to be a true "active cooling solution."  Special thanks to Kenny over at Thermaltake Taiwan for sending us this heatsink to review.  

One of the big reasons for the emergence of the fandapter was to keep air flow high and sound down.  The Swiftech and Alpha utilize the 80mm fan to deliver more air, as in much more and with it, much more noise.  Most people using one of these sinks have either a 80mm Delta or a 80mm Sunon that can range from 45 to 50 dBA.  They kick ass performance wise but they also can give you an Excedrin headache.  The most powerful Delta, the 80mm Delta FFB0812 EHE weighs in at 52.5 dBA.  It is just too loud for me to even consider putting in my box.  What's a guy to do?  Enter the Tt Volcano 7.  The Volcano 7 squarely address this issue and go a step further.  The fan on this sink has  variable speeds available depending on your case temperature.  Thermaltake's product literature states that 25 degrees Celsius (77 F) has the fan in 'low gear' turning 2,900 RPM and moving 46CFM at a very civilized 27dBA.  Once the case temperature hits 35 degrees Celsius (95 F) the fan up shifts to run at 5,000 RPM now moving 53CFM at a noticeable 39dBA.  In the picture below where the wiring is coming out of the fan you will notice a green colored sensor.  This is what and where the temperature readings are measured that control the fan speed and performance.  

Still on the Volcano 7's fan.  Thermaltake utilizes a RPM cable when they got around to the fan wiring part of the sinks development.  The purpose of a RPM cable is to be able to monitor the RPMs of a fan while powering that same fan off the PSU instead of a header on your mainboard.  This is great thinking here.  Too bad they didn't carry it all the way through and have the fan's power wire be a 4 pin Molex rather than a 3 pin job that needs an adapter.  Get ready for another wire in your box.

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