Raidmax Glacier CPU Cooler
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Installation:
Raidmax included a few parts with the Glacier heatsink to help with installation. Some of the parts allowed its use on multiple types of motherboards, including a variety of Intel P4's and AMD Athlon 64's.
![Click Image For Larger View](./reviews05/raidmaxglacier/small/13.jpg)
This next image shows the bracket on the back of the motherboard. Notice the additional holes on the universal bracket that allows versatility with different motherboards.
![Click Image For Larger View](./reviews05/raidmaxglacier/small/14.jpg)
Up next we see how the heatsink just slips over the peg. A brass nut is used to fasten it down here. This would have proven to be a much simpler task if I had pulled the motherboard completely out of its case. The large size of the heatsink made it difficult to reach the back nut, but it is still possible. The image on the right shows the final installation. Notice how far it hangs over the memory slots, which could come in handy when overclocking.
![Click Image For Larger View](./reviews05/raidmaxglacier/small/16.jpg)
After about two weeks of use, the included fan stopped working. I found that by wiggling the wires that it started spinning again and I thought that I just had a loose connection. Later that evening the fan stopped again and wouldn't turn back on even if I moved the plug to a different connector. I pulled it out and replaced it with a different fan I had laying around and haven't had a problem since. Hopefully this is an isolated incidence (more on the likeliness of that, and Raidmax's response, later).
Note: After some more testing I was able to focus in on the problem a little closer. This only happens when the speed is set below 1,000rpm. The fan will slowly come to a complete stop, but if I give it a little "nudge" with my finger it spins for about five more minutes before it stops again. The image shows the fan running happily on low speed at zero rpm with 12.24V on the connection.
![Click Image For Larger View](./reviews05/raidmaxglacier/small/17.jpg)
I have seen fans stop working at extremely low speeds, and perhaps the fan speed controller shouldn't let the speed dip that low, as the fan may need more juice to keep running safely. With the specified range of speeds listed as "800-2400rpm±10%" it is not as if the cooler was being used inappropriately.
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