Print this article

Vizo Propeller Dual Fan Card System Cooler


Date
: 12/23/08 – 05:31:17 AM

Author
:

Category
: Cooling

Page 1 : Index

Manufacturer
: Vizo Technology Corp.

I think by now we are all quite familiar with Vizo Technology as a producer of cooling products. They were established in 1992 but I have only recently heard of them. This is the third Vizo product I'm reviewing and it too has a theme, just like the others.

I remember back in the day when I tied a couple of fans to a PCI bracket in order to provide extra cooling for my ATI Radeon 9000 Pro. If only the
Vizo Propeller
had existed back then! The Propeller is basically a more refined, better looking version of ‘two fans on a PCI bracket’. Read on to see the details.

Page 2 : Package, Features & Specifications

The Vizo Propeller is packaged in a unique way. The oddly shaped package showcases the actual cooler and it's two 70mm fans thanks to a clear window. I'm not sure why Vizo chose to call it the ‘Propeller’ but I guess I can see a resemblance to perhaps a propeller on a boat?

Turning to the back reveals a product description, list of features, specifications, and package contents.

I went to Vizo's website to get the details.

Description:

Features:

Specifications:

Package Contents:

Page 3 : Package Contents & Installation

Making our way into the package, we are greeted with a bag with one screw. The Propeller is powered by a 4-pin Molex connector.

The cooler itself is designed very well and looks elegant and sturdy. The fans seem to be secured very well. There is a small clip-like protrusion at the bottom that plugs into the expansion slot itself to help secure the cooler. The outside portion of the bracket has a slider that allows you to set the fan speed from High to Low.

Installation is as easy, if not easier, than plugging in a new video card. Just line up the bracket with one of your expansion slots, make sure the plastic protrusion goes into the port itself and use the included screw to secure the Propeller. Don't forget to supply power!

Page 4 : Testing & Performance

Testing will consist of installing the Vizo Propeller next to a GeForce 8600GT video card and measuring the card's and the case's temperatures under different conditions and comparing it to the same temperatures without the cooler.

Temperature measurements were taken under different conditions using Lavalys Everest Home Edition 2.20. Idle measurements were taken with the computer idling at the desktop for 2 hours and no CPU or hard drive intensive programs, such as antivirus software, running. Load temperatures were taken while running Futuremark's 3DMark06 3 times and taking the maximum. The ambient temperature was maintained at 24°C (75°F).

To maximize the results, I left the fan at the ‘High’ setting.

Curiously, the video card's temperatures were not affected much. Perhaps a video card with an exposed heatsink, unlike my GeForce 8600GT, would benefit more from the Propeller's increased airflow.

Here we have a different story. The case temperatures decreased noticeably when the Propeller was used.

Obviously, at the lower fan speeds, the difference won't be this great. At the ‘High’ setting, the fans were somewhat loud but this could be easily masked by other case fans. However, at the ‘Low’ setting, the Propeller was essentially silent although I did not test the effectiveness of the cooler at this setting since the video card results did not show any difference even at the ‘High’ setting.

Page 5 : Conclusion

I was pleased with the performance of the Vizo Propeller. Extra cooling never hurts, especially when it is quiet. Although my video card's temperatures did not show any noticeable drop in temperature, the overall case temperature dropped significantly.

The Propeller is well-designed and would make a great addition to your case if you are looking for a little extra airflow. It only takes up one slot and is extremely quiet at the ‘Low’ setting. At the ‘High’ setting, the sound is bearable and the cooling is very noticeable.

If there's one gripe I have about the Vizo Propeller it has to be the fact that I could not find it at some of my favorite online retailers. I think there is a market for this product if supply is created. In fact, I would have bought one five years ago if it had existed instead of having to resort to my ‘fans on a PCI bracket’!

Advantages:

• Cools well

• Manually adjustable fan speeds
• Well-designed, low profile

Disadvantages:

• Limited availability

Overclockers Online would like to thank Vizo Technology for making this review possible.