Disassembly:
Always a modder at heart, taking apart the new top fan unit of the AeroFlow 2
was high on my list. The first thing noticed when taking a look at the top is
the screws. They are not traditional Phillips head screws, nor are they
flathead. Vantec opted to use Torx-head screws to secure the grill to the fan
and the fan to the bracket. Torx-head screws are not used very often in
mainstream computer parts (I have not seen one since I worked on a PI Compaq). I
asked my contact our Vantec about the screws.
ET: What is the reasoning behind using Torx-head screws as opposed to
flathead or Phillip’s head on the fan / grill assembly?
Vantec: The main reason is to prevent people from taking the grill/fan
off the heatsink. The hardcore user should either already have the tools to
remove the fan/grill or be knowledgeable enough to know where to get the proper
tool. The use of a Torx screw should not be too much of a hassle for them.
However, the Torx screw does prevent the average user from removing the grill or
fan and somehow damaging the assembly. It is also something of a theft deterrent
as there were many returns of the previous unit with the heatsink replaced with
a different heatsink.
It makes perfect sense, and the Torx-head screwdriver I own
came with a very basic tool set I received a while ago.
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| (10) Top shot |
(11) Screws |
The original AeroFlow did not have any sort of fan grill,
most likely to show off the sharp-looking T.M.D. fan. The AeroFlow 2 has a
three-dimensional silver fan grill, made out of plastic. It looks nice in
pictures and from a distance, but feels flimsy and cheap upon close inspection.
A metal grill of the same design would most likely increase the price, as it
would be a custom design and size (70mm). Considering that the new 70mm fan
rotates at about 4400 RPM, a grill is necessary, but a traditional steel wire
grill would have looked a bit better in this case.
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| (12) Fan grill |
Under the fan grill is a 70mm fan, but not of the T.M.D.
variety. You will recall in my previous review of the original AeroFlow, I
touched on some of the problems plaguing the T.M.D. design. The AeroFlow 2 still
uses a 70mm fan, but it is the traditional center-hub design. I asked our
contact at Vantec about the fan switch as well.
ET: What were the reasons for the decision to use a Bi-Sonic
‘standard’ 70mm fan over the previously used Y.S. Tech T.M.D. fan in the
original AeroFlow? Were the initial problems and bad publicity given to the
T.M.D. fan and its over-tightening motor failure a factor in moving away from
the T.M.D. design?
Vantec: You are correct on both accounts. While the TMD fan performed
splendidly when it worked properly, it had a failure rate higher than we could
afford. End users cannot be worried that their fan could die on them at any
moment, and after the horror stories about the TMD fan, many are sure to shy
away from heatsinks that utilize it. Rest assured that we are not sacrificing
performance by changing fans. Our heatsink has been tested with the TMD fan as
well and yielded numbers very similar to the traditional fan. The 70mm fan we
are currently using is also a few decibles quieter than the original Aeroflow.
The new fan is manufactured by Bi-Sonic, and has an AeroFlow
2 sticker on the fan side.
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| (13) Bi-Sonic label |
(14) Overall fan shot |
Heatsink:
The actual heatsink looks quite large, but is not exceedingly
heavy because the majority of it is aluminum fins, as opposed to being one large
block of metal. There is a copper slug in the middle of the heatsink that is
designed to draw heat up to the fan coverage area while also radiating outwards
through the aluminum fins. My particular review unit has some mild discoloration
on both sides of the copper slug. I assume this was an unintentional byproduct
of the machining process, as I noted no temperature different between the
heatsink when left discolored and when I lightly sanded the discoloration away.
The base of the heatsink was protected by a sticker.
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| (15) Overall heatsink shot |
(16) Top of copper slug |
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| (17) Base with sticker |
(18) Through fins to fan |
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| (19) Base of heatsink |
The contender:
I was originally going to pit the AeroFlow 2 against
my gigantic Zalman Aluminum / Copper flower cooler, but the price and size
difference made it an unfair match. I settled on my lapped Thermalright AX-7,
which was the inexpensive but well-equipped heatsink that I further improved by
lapping in a previous review. I selected an 80mm fan for the AX-7 that had an
almost identical CFM rating as the AeroFlow 2 fan, and the fight was on.
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| (20) AX-7 and AeroFlow 2 |
Continue on for the results and the conclusion.
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