coolmiester
29-06-2006, 04:49 PM
My first impressions were how thin and light in weight they are compared to the older BIX.
The GT Stealth weighs in at 645g and measures 29mm thick compared to the BIX at 1045g and 43mm.
The fin density has been openly debated but this is how it looks in comparison the BIX.
And as you would imagine, build quality is identical......very nice bit of kit that is going to make fitting rads into confined spaces a lot easier :cool:
Both have G1/4 thread so can take either Perfect seal or the new G1/4 Hi-Flow Barbs in either 3/8" or 1/2"
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/new/gt_stealth_1.jpg
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/new/gt_stealth_2.jpg
Well i've made a start at doing a direct comparison between....
Stock Air Cooled >>> Single Black Ice Extreme >>> Single GT Stealth
Basically i've put a computer together consisting of the following parts which i've run stock air cooled and then fitted a single BIX which i'll follow up with a single GT Stealth in due coarse
System Spec:
DFI NF3 250GB Board
AMD 3000+ Socket 754
Gainward 6800Ultra GS
2x 512MB Corsair 3200
80GB Maxtor Hard Drive
TDX A64 Block
NV-68 Block
DDC-1 Plus
Plexi Res Top
BIX & GT Stealth with Papst 120mm Fan @ 7volt
As usual, this won't be the most scientific experiment but more something that anyone could duplicate at home using equipment readily available.
I've used Sisoft Sandra to measure CPU temperature and nVidia control panel for GPU temperature which granted not the most accurate when used on their own but should give a good and fair direct comparison.
For stock temperatures i started the PC and let it run idol for 30 minutes and for stress i ran 3dMark 06 twice back to back
First of all i ran the system with the stock air cooling (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/stock_air.jpg) in place with the following results...
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/air_graph.jpg
Followed by a single BIX (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix.jpg) which obviously gave some better temps but i will tress the Gainward 6800Ultra GS does run hot even with watercooling as i'm sure many can vouch.
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix_graph.jpg
I'll do my best to get the GT Stealth fitted tomorrow and follow up with the findings :cool:
Quick update!
Before fitting the GT Stealth i decided to strap the noisiest fan i could find which happened to be a 120mm YS-Tech fan to both the BIX (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix_ys-tech.jpg) and the GT Stealth (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/gt_ys-tech.jpg).
Guaranteed, this will be a major talking point around many a forum and that's before i actually get to compare the two radiators temperature wise.
I ran both radiators with the same YS-Tech fan at both 7volt and 12volt and the noise difference is incredible - just wish i had something to measure it by!
At 12volt on the BIX the noise was understandably fairly loud which decreased considerably at 7volt but still fairly loud.
However the GT Stealth at 12volt was nowhere near as loud as the BIX and at 7volt, i wouldn't say it was inaudible but a drastic decrease over the BIX
A clear winner in the noise department - time to get it fitted and see how it fairs in the heat stakes :)
And Finally
Here's the concluding bit of information that brings this simple test into context.
I've put all the graphs together to make it easier compare.
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/gt_graph.jpg
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix_graph.jpg
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/air_graph.jpg
Had the GT Stealth give better performance in terms of temperature over the Black Ice Extreme i would honestly have been amazed but i did have a slight doubting feeling about the end result purely down to it's physical size.
Having said that, the GT is not far behind the BIX to warrant any sort of concern and if you take into consideration the huge noise reduction and the benefits of its size it certainly makes it a creditable contender...............and it looks good as well :cool:
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/gt_back.jpg
Watercooled Stealth GT:
CPU Stock @ 28° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/stealth_gt/cpu_stock_gt.jpg)
CPU Stressed @ 31° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/stealth_gt/cpu_stress_gt.jpg)
GPU Stock @ 54° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/stealth_gt/gpu_stock_gt.jpg)
GPU Stressed @ 57° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/stealth_gt/gpu_stress_gt.jpg)
Watercooled Black Ice Extreme:
CPU Stock @ 26° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix/cpu_stock_bix.jpg)
CPU Stressed @ 28° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix/cpu_stress_bix.jpg)
GPU Stock @ 51° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix/gpu_stock_bix.jpg)
GPU Stressed @ 53° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix/gpu_stress_bix.jpg)
Stock Air Cooled:
CPU Stock @ 36° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/air/cpu_stock.jpg)
CPU Stressed @ 39° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/air/cpu_stress.jpg)
GPU Stock @ 60° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/air/gpu_stock.jpg)
GPU Stressed @ 71° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/air/gpu_stress.jpg)
The GT Stealth weighs in at 645g and measures 29mm thick compared to the BIX at 1045g and 43mm.
The fin density has been openly debated but this is how it looks in comparison the BIX.
And as you would imagine, build quality is identical......very nice bit of kit that is going to make fitting rads into confined spaces a lot easier :cool:
Both have G1/4 thread so can take either Perfect seal or the new G1/4 Hi-Flow Barbs in either 3/8" or 1/2"
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/new/gt_stealth_1.jpg
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/new/gt_stealth_2.jpg
Well i've made a start at doing a direct comparison between....
Stock Air Cooled >>> Single Black Ice Extreme >>> Single GT Stealth
Basically i've put a computer together consisting of the following parts which i've run stock air cooled and then fitted a single BIX which i'll follow up with a single GT Stealth in due coarse
System Spec:
DFI NF3 250GB Board
AMD 3000+ Socket 754
Gainward 6800Ultra GS
2x 512MB Corsair 3200
80GB Maxtor Hard Drive
TDX A64 Block
NV-68 Block
DDC-1 Plus
Plexi Res Top
BIX & GT Stealth with Papst 120mm Fan @ 7volt
As usual, this won't be the most scientific experiment but more something that anyone could duplicate at home using equipment readily available.
I've used Sisoft Sandra to measure CPU temperature and nVidia control panel for GPU temperature which granted not the most accurate when used on their own but should give a good and fair direct comparison.
For stock temperatures i started the PC and let it run idol for 30 minutes and for stress i ran 3dMark 06 twice back to back
First of all i ran the system with the stock air cooling (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/stock_air.jpg) in place with the following results...
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/air_graph.jpg
Followed by a single BIX (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix.jpg) which obviously gave some better temps but i will tress the Gainward 6800Ultra GS does run hot even with watercooling as i'm sure many can vouch.
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix_graph.jpg
I'll do my best to get the GT Stealth fitted tomorrow and follow up with the findings :cool:
Quick update!
Before fitting the GT Stealth i decided to strap the noisiest fan i could find which happened to be a 120mm YS-Tech fan to both the BIX (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix_ys-tech.jpg) and the GT Stealth (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/gt_ys-tech.jpg).
Guaranteed, this will be a major talking point around many a forum and that's before i actually get to compare the two radiators temperature wise.
I ran both radiators with the same YS-Tech fan at both 7volt and 12volt and the noise difference is incredible - just wish i had something to measure it by!
At 12volt on the BIX the noise was understandably fairly loud which decreased considerably at 7volt but still fairly loud.
However the GT Stealth at 12volt was nowhere near as loud as the BIX and at 7volt, i wouldn't say it was inaudible but a drastic decrease over the BIX
A clear winner in the noise department - time to get it fitted and see how it fairs in the heat stakes :)
And Finally
Here's the concluding bit of information that brings this simple test into context.
I've put all the graphs together to make it easier compare.
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/gt_graph.jpg
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix_graph.jpg
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/air_graph.jpg
Had the GT Stealth give better performance in terms of temperature over the Black Ice Extreme i would honestly have been amazed but i did have a slight doubting feeling about the end result purely down to it's physical size.
Having said that, the GT is not far behind the BIX to warrant any sort of concern and if you take into consideration the huge noise reduction and the benefits of its size it certainly makes it a creditable contender...............and it looks good as well :cool:
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/gt_back.jpg
Watercooled Stealth GT:
CPU Stock @ 28° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/stealth_gt/cpu_stock_gt.jpg)
CPU Stressed @ 31° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/stealth_gt/cpu_stress_gt.jpg)
GPU Stock @ 54° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/stealth_gt/gpu_stock_gt.jpg)
GPU Stressed @ 57° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/stealth_gt/gpu_stress_gt.jpg)
Watercooled Black Ice Extreme:
CPU Stock @ 26° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix/cpu_stock_bix.jpg)
CPU Stressed @ 28° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix/cpu_stress_bix.jpg)
GPU Stock @ 51° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix/gpu_stock_bix.jpg)
GPU Stressed @ 53° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/bix/gpu_stress_bix.jpg)
Stock Air Cooled:
CPU Stock @ 36° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/air/cpu_stock.jpg)
CPU Stressed @ 39° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/air/cpu_stress.jpg)
GPU Stock @ 60° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/air/gpu_stock.jpg)
GPU Stressed @ 71° (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Stealth_GT/air/gpu_stress.jpg)