Conclusion:

After seeing the performance of the Thermaltake V1 and MaxOrb CPU Coolers under some of the most extreme situations, I was impressed. Being able to keep the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor temperatures well under control even with a large overclock on them is nothing short of outstanding. The V1 was clearly the best choice out of the three coolers when it came to performance, and it was also easy to install and nearly silent.

The MaxOrb performed well too, but the awkward installation method would have me stray away from this cooler. It may work fine, but you could possibly run into issues with it at some point in time.


Overall I would say Thermaltake's new line of coolers is above par. They are not only manufacturing aesthetically pleasing coolers, but they are obviously high performance coolers, as well. If you are looking for a cooler to perform well under load, as well as make a statement at that next LAN party, then the Thermaltake V1 and MaxOrb CPU Coolers are just what the doctor ordered.

A search of PriceGrabber shows that the MaxOrb can be purchased for about $47 (US) and up, while the V1 will cost just slightly more at about $54 (US). Neither cooler comes with a bargain price, but compared to other high end coolers on the market, they are priced competitively. For those interested in the Big Typhoon VX, the price on this slightly older model is still up there, available for $45 (US) and up.

Given the innovative designs and extreme performance, I award the Thermaltake V1 and MaxOrb CPU Coolers the award of "Recommended".


Pros:

» Nearly silent
» V1 is easy to install
» Attractive
» Great performance

Cons:

» MaxOrb is awkward to install
» Weight
» Size

Special thanks to Thermaltake for providing the Thermaltake V1 and MaxOrb CPU Coolers to Bigbruin.com for review!