Akasa Revo CPU Cooler

[t_ski]

Akasa has just introduced a new CPU cooler called the Revo, which features their new SilentFlux technology. This cooler utilizes a bubble pump to move the heat from the base through a radiator where it can be cooled by a fan. We put the Revo to the test to see how well this new cooling technology performs.

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[a111087]

wow, what a shame...
I expected better performance...

 

[ktr]

Most of these AIO cooling systems some how come DOA to reviewers. Some sites may say this is a rock solid cooler, other say its a pos. Look at the Coolit...its like 1/3 of there units are duds.

The revo looks sweet, but bummer it didnt work great.

 

[p_o_s_pc]

wow, what a shame...
I expected better performance...

same here

 

[t_ski]

Here is a link to the review of a pre-production Revo that I was speaking of:

http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/AkasaRevoCooler/index.php

They seemed to have a slightly different version than what I had. The base on their unit was flawless, and their performance was noticeably better. It is plausible that there were changes made between that unit and this one.

However, since it was brought up, I checked for other reviews on the internet just now. I found this one:

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.php?/cases_cooling/akasa_revo_thermaldynamic_cpu_cooler/1

They had a unit with a base exactly like mine, and the performance was similar to worse. They however, did not have any issues with the fan noise, so I am assuming that the BIOS was allowed to adjust the fan speed. For consistency purposes, I ran this unit (like all others) at full speed, and I found the unit to me louder than the stock Intel unit.

 

[a111087]

so, need to lap the base and it should be fine?

 

[t_ski]

I don't know if that would be possible. I believe that the base is hollow, and cannot be sure how thick or thin the base is. I would be afraid of weakening the seal around the edge of the base.

EDIT: I had another look at the unit recently and noticed I was incorrect on the seal being on the bottom. The base actually wraps around the sides and seals on the sides, not the bottom. Lapping may be possible.

 

[a111087]

hmm, true, but are reviewers allowed to lap it?

 

[OnBoard]

t_ski: did you notice you applied the TIM wrong way? E6850 is a dual core and you put the TIM like it was quad core.

For Duals it's along the socket closing lever and for quads it's sideways:
http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appinstruct/as5/ins_as5_intel_dual_wcap.pdf
http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appinstruct/as5/ins_as5_intel_quad_wcap.pdf

Anyways, I was hoping to see much more performance as well. While reading the review I though "boy that's one ugly cooler, but at least it performs well", seems it fails both.

Now there is a but, if that E6850 is anything like my E4300, it has a HUGE whole on center aka concave and now that the cooler base is also concave, there is virtually no contact between them. My Ultima-90i cooler was convex and a "good" match for concave Core2Duos, but I had already lapped it, so had to lap the cooler base too (and that was a pain in the butt). Why I said "good" is because it was so convex it literally spinned on top of my CPU, DUOs aren't THAT much concave

 

[t_ski]

hmm, true, but are reviewers allowed to lap it?

They could, but it would be an unfair representation of the product that people would be getting when they purchase one.

@ Onboard: Actually, I did notice that I applied the first compound in the wrong direction, but only after the fact. The Arctic Silver 5 was indeed applied in the correct manner. Good catch

 

[a111087]

They could, but it would be an unfair representation of the product that people would be getting when they purchase one.

It would be fair if you will inform the reader that it was actually lapped

 

[t_ski]

I menat that if would be unfair in that the end user would not get the same performance, unless by some change he was able to lap it the same way as the reviewer.

 

[WarEagleAU]

Good review T_ski as always. I was appalled by the performance. I was expecting a bit better showing to be honest. Seems to me most of the all inclusive coolers, big water, revo, etc...just dont have the gusto one wants when buying a cooler like that.

 

[tkpenalty]

Possibly a faulty unit...

 

[t_ski]

In that case, there may be others out there as well, since other sites have some similar numbers.

I had another look at the unit recently and noticed I was incorrect on the seal being on the bottom. The base actually wraps around the sides and seals on the sides, not the bottom. Lapping may be possible.