For testing purposes I’ll be using my main rig at both default speed and voltage as well as at the overclocked settings that I run it daily at. Basics of the system are: AMD 1800+ XP cpu running both 1.53 GHz @ default voltage and 1.7 @ 1.89v Iwill XP333R rev. 2.1 mainboard ( Ali Magik 1 revision C chipset ) Kingmax PC2700 DDR333 memory Windows XP Pro

Bear in mind that all temps were recorded using Ali Hardware monitor and without the use of any cpu idle cooling progs. With the test system running at default speed ( 1.53 ) and voltages I achieved the following results…….

Now we move on to some overclocked settings. System is punched up to 1.7 GHz and the voltage is raised from default 1.75v to 1.89v in order to get some heat going on, not to mention, to insure system stability.

Interesting to note that the Dr. Thermal stays pretty much even with the SK-6 even with the latter using a Delta 7K earbender! What’s interesting though is that while I can run my system stable @ 1.745 GHz with the SK-6 / Delta, it locks due to heat with the Dr. thermal at anything above 1.71 GHz. I think this is due to the 70mm fan not being able to push the air in as dense a column as does the 60mm Delta. Another note about the temps here is that my PC room is pretty small and gets pretty hot in that I have 2 PCs and 3 monitors ( big fat CRTs ) that give off a lot of heat. In addition, my main rig is consigned to a place in the room that has the heat register in close proximity, thus the relatively high temps. So that may have an impact on temps that you see here as well.

In conclusion, the Dr. Thermal holds up pretty well against a stalwart performer. The construction of the unit is of high quality and the clip mechanism is top notch. One gripe I have is that the contact area of the cpu is just a tad off center from the copper core’s center(see above pic). That’s something I think they should, and likely will, address in the future. That being said, what we have here is VERY capable cpu cooler that finds it’s niche just below the loud, high priced coolers. While it may not be for the hardcore overclocker who demands every last MHz from his cpu, it is a cooler that many of us would be very happy with in that it provides strong cooling performance, is easy to install, and is decibal friendly. I give the Dr. Thermal Ti- V77 an 8.5 out of 10 and the PCA seal of approval. I have a feeling this fan/HS combo will be residing in the VidmanII residence for a good while.

Thanks goes out to Elaine at Thermal-Integration for sending us this fine cpu cooler for review and testing. Many good online dealers like HighspeedPC and Crazy PC carry one model, the TI-V77L. And according to Elaine their main distributor and the only one that carries the full line of Dr Thermal heatsinks is a place called CoolMaxUSA. We're not at all familar with that company but Elaine spoke well of them.