CPU Cooler Deepcool Ice Blade Pro v2.0 Review

Deepcool can be boldly attributed to the manufacturers that are constantly improving their mastery is the elaboration of hardware components. The company’s second revision of CPU cooler Ice Blade Pro is a bright confirmation of this statement. Codenamed Ice Blade Pro v2.0, this product is supposed to exceed its predecessor in performance, noise level and consumer appeal. But let’s start its reviewing from technical peculiarities.

Technical Peculiarities

Deepcool Ice Blade Pro v2.0 features the following specifications:
— dimensions: 161x125x70 mm (+fan(s) 120 mm), ultimate weight – 981 g;
— compatibility: Intel Socket LGA 2011/1366/1156/1155/775, AMD Socket 939/FM1/FM2/AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+;
— heatsink: tower framework consists of 49 aluminum plates, 4 heatpipes and a base supporting Core Touch technology;
— fan: dimensions — 120x120x25 mm, type of bearing – fluid-film bearing, nominal/startup fan voltage – 12/7 V, maximal power consumption – 3 W, fan rotational speed – 900-1500 RPM, produced airflow – 60.3 CFM, noise level – 21-32 dB;
— additional peculiarities: support of PWM technology that adjusts fan rotational speed, availability of additional fixtures for the installation of the second fan.

Framework

An updated version of Ice Blade Pro cooler is a typical representative of tower-like products. It is based on a large heatsink, connected with four heat pipes. Each heatsink plate goes with a cuneal notch and a pair of small-sized selvages at both sides. The implemented heat pipes pierce the heatsink in pairs; herein, the utmost pairs are diluted from the central ones. This is called to optimize the work of the cooler. The base supports Core Touch technology that efficiently removes hot air from central processor and its surrounding.

This model is delivered with a single 120 mm fan with half-transparent nine-blade structure. Its operation is monitored with the help of PWM technology that provides for an automatic adjustment of speed to optimize its work. Each edge of the fan’s plastic frame is equipped with blue LED backlights. It should be mentioned that Deepcool gives all users a chance of integrating one more fan, if there is such a necessity. Thereby, the manufacturer included a pair of supplementary mounting frames for its fixture.

Upon the whole, the distance between the lower heatsink plate and the motherboard (after the cooler is up) makes up 55 mm. The fan hangs out 5-7 mm lower, although neither power elements nor RAM modules on the motherboard are obstructed by it.

Cooling Efficiency

Efficiency tests at the maximal fan rotational speed gave some errors, driving CPU thermal condition up to 86 degrees. On voltage increase from 1.24 V to 1.245 V the cooler didn’t show proper efficiency, making thermal index rise up to 88 degrees. The increase of voltage index to 1.25 V led to a more dramatic increase of CPU temperature. Such unsatisfactory results might witness either about the nonconformance of cooler to CPU and its overclocking facilities or about loose contact of the base with the CPU heatspreader. The following conjuncture required an alteration of cooler localization towards the heatspreader. And this gave its beneficial results: Ice Blade Pro v2.0 efficiency rose 10 times without any failures or errors.

Noise Level

Noise level tests have been conducted over the whole fan speed range. Hence, noise level stays at the lowest point at 900 RPM speed and remains comfortable at 1100 RPM. The increase of speed results in the increase of noise, still its level remains appropriate for such type of coolers.