14 DAY TRIAL // In a world where overclocking is the keyword, we got used to pay extensive attention to high-performance cooling solutions to come with a pretty bulky price tag. Sometimes, less is more and the Alpine 7 Pro coolers prove that this is right if you're not an overclocking junkie.
Arctic Cooling may lack the popularity of OCZ or Thermaltake, but their products are impressive, only that they are designed for a different market with different needs. The Alpine 7 Pro cooler is the intelligent option to accompany a new-generation 65W or 45W Intel energy efficient processor. Of course, a monolith of copper, nickel and chromium will look better on top of the CPU, but it is a luxury that would cost you some extra $25 at least. The cooling solution Arctic Cooling it provides is a value-oriented, low noise extruded aluminum heatsink to work with Intel's socket 775 processors.
The Alpine 7 Pro comes with the silver-based thermal compound already applied in optimal quantities. On top of the extruded aluminum heatsink, there is a 92-millimeter fan suspended on rubber shock absorbing posts. The whole cooler, including the fan, weighs 480 grams. The fan uses the Fluid Dynamic Bearings technology that allows it to run quietly at 500RPM; its hiss becomes perceptible at 2000RPM.
One of the most interesting features in a low-cost cooling device is the fact that the fan lets the impeller float above the aluminum heatsink, which reduces both the motor vibrations and the air turbulence. Usually, the fans are firmly clipped or even screw-fastened to the heatsink.
The base finish is very important on both low-end and high-end cooling solutions. The aluminum base is not mirror-finished, as seen on the professional cooling systems, but features a surface roughness of 32 micro-inches, which is good enough even for the professional line.
The Alpine 7 Pro from Arctic Cooling sells for as much as $15, and offers all the benefits of a professional cooler that would have four times its price tag. The low operational noise makes it the best choice if you don't plan to overclock.