Thermaltake SpinQ Heatpipe CPU Cooler Review

Thermal Results

Well it’s quite easy to see that the Thermaltake SpinQ holds quite an advantage over the stock cooler. Even at the lower speed setting, the SpinQ managed to keep the CPU in our test rig 12% cooler then the stock block at idle and 16% at load. Ramping the speed of the fan up to high made an even bigger impact, with a jump of 21% in performance at idle and 25% at load. These are impressive numbers, and only seem to be dwarfed by the two water cooling rigs I’ve reviewed, the Corsair H50 and the CoolIT Domino A.L.C. Funnily enough, those two coolers are in the same price range as the SpinQ making the choice between a Ninja Gaiden inspired cooler vs an advanced self contained water cooling system a little more difficult (or easier depending on how you look at it).

Noise Levels

Noise is always a concern with air coolers. Sure you could get absolutely amazing performance from an air cooler, but you could also get it sounding like a jet engine. For the good performance provided by the SpinQ, it certainly doesn’t produce a lot of noise. At low speed, the noise from the fan in the SpinQ is near imperceptible over the din of the rest of the system. Cranking the fan speed up to high did produce and audible effect, but only caused my testing equipment to jump 1.5dBA according to our trusty noise level meter.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

The Thermaltake SpinQ Heatpipe CPU Cooler is a very good cooler for those looking for maximum performance with a unique design, and quiet operation. The design of the cooler is both eye-catching, and functional. With the fin design and radial fan, the CPU is able to be kept cool with minimal noise and effort. The large number of independent heatpipes ensure even cooling and efficient heat transfer. The design also cools adjacent components. The mounting options provided don’t disappoint either, and even the little extras like the fan controller add value.

The SpinQ isn’t without it’s flaws, be they minor or major. The first one I’d like to point out is the price. This cooler is around $15 to $20 more expensive than the competition. It is a great cooler, but the price combined with a couple of minor noted quirks make this a bit of an issue. First is the lack of an external fan speed controller. Thermaltake has provided this feature to other coolers before, and at this price point I would expect it to make an appearance. The second is a bit of an after-though, but one of personal safey.

You see, when I compared this cooler to a ninja shuriken, I wasn’t kidding. The fins on these are sharp, and have lot’s of protruding edges. You’ll want to be slightly more careful when installing this cooler compared to other high end coolers.

In the end, the SpinQ is all about performance using air. The numbers produced show that. There’s a few minor bugs to work out and add on in another revision, but overall I could see myself using this cooler if I needed something that was an air cooler, looked interesting, and provided good performance.

Pros