Conclusion:
As you can see from the test results, the Blue Orb II didn't keep its cool as well as the competitors, but came within just a few degrees. It's great looks are what set it apart from the competition. The unique design of the
Thermaltake Blue Orb II, coupled with a bright blue LED fan, adds a flashy look to any computer system. The installation was relatively simple with only minor issues that were easily resolved. However, the size of the heatsink may be an issue for some motherboards, especially around the memory slots.
A quick
PriceGrabber search for Blue Orb II returns several results with a typical price of $35 to $45 (US). This puts it somewhere on the lower to middle end of the price scale for high end coolers, which will no doubt help its appeal.
Overall I give the
Thermaltake Blue Orb II CPU Cooler a score of 4 out of 5 stars and a final rating of "Recommended".
Final Rating (4 out of 5 stars):
Pros:
• Looks - unique "Orb" design
• Bright blue LEDs
• Silent
• Easy installation
Cons:
• Size - may be too large for some applications
• Back plate covers some resistors
• Mediocre performance when compared to other heatsinks this size
Special thanks to
Thermaltake for providing the Blue Orb II CPU Cooler to Bigbruin.com for review!
