Once you get over all the goodies that are included with this hsf, you have to make a choice. How do you want this fan to run? You can run it full out all the time by plugging it straight into the motherboard (very effective but also REALLY noisy). You could choose to use the temperature probe (which allows the fan to control how fast it runs based on temperature). Or you could use one of the 2 fan controllers included with the hsf and set the fan to the speed you desire manually (Our personal choice).
If you choose to go the fan controller route, well you have ANOTHER choice (aren’t choices great!). You can install the controller at the back of your system, out of sight, in a free PCI slot (which to be honest can be difficult to get to depending on how your system is set up) OR you can put it in the 3.5 bay you have in front of your computer (and which is probably empty anyways).
We prefer that method of control due to the fact that you literally have the fan control at your fingertips. Now don’t forget, the lower the fan speed, the quieter it is but the less air it will be capable of moving as well. You will need to find that happy medium between noise and efficiency.
Of course, it also depends on what you are doing. There is no reason to have your fan running full blast when you are surfing the web but if you are a gamer and running your system under full load for hours at a time, well, you want to keep as much air moving as possible. That’s the great thing about fan speed controllers; you decide how fast your fan will run depending on the job at hand.
So, enough talk about all the options the Polo 735 offers. Let’s put this hsf to the test and see what it actually brings to the table. We will be comparing the Polo 735 with the Volcano 12. An hsf we have used for many tests and one that consistently performs well.
Test System:
AMD XP 2600+ 333 MHz
Asus A7N8X
512 Corsair PC2700 XMS
Maxtor 80 Gig 8 Meg cache Hard drive
To establish a baseline at idle, we let the computer run for 15 minutes and took down the temperature. Then, we ran Sandra burn in wizard for 30 minutes and took the temperature down again.
As you can see from the results, the Polo 735 seems to run at just about the same numbers as the Volcano 12. Of course, when you get right down to it, the specs are really quite similar. The only real difference between the two is based on the fact that the Polo has the different mounting options.
In conclusion, the Polo 735 is a solid performer when it comes to keeping your temperatures down. It looks great, moves a fair amount of air, and has a collection of mounting options and enough accessories to keep the most demanding customer happy. Simply put, the Polo 735 is a great hsf to help future-proof your system. As you upgrade your system the Thermaltake Polo 735 can come right along with you. Think of it; never use a stock hsf again!
Pros:
• It’s made of copper.
• 2 fan controller options
• Works with a temperature probe
• Performs very well
• Fits K7, K8 & P4 processors
• It looks good (important if you have a window)
Cons:
• Installing the appropriate bracket can be a bit of a challenge.
• It is noisy ( but so are all equivalent hsf’s)
Index
Tech Spotlight
