Thermaltake TR2TT TR2-M4 Cooler - Page 2 of 2 Posted:  September 7, 2003 Author:  JimBowy Manufacturer:  TR2TT Sponsor: Thermaltake After applying a thin layer of Arctic Silver III to my AMD XP2000+ I began installing the TR2-M4.  Installing the TR2-M4 turned out to be an easier process than the older Volcano 7.  The TR-M4 uses all six of the plastic notches around the CPU socket to properly mount to the board.  This helps prevent the TR2-M4 from moving, especially if your computer tower is always on the move, a real bonus for gamers that frequent LAN Parties. Thermaltake has included another great feature in the TR2-M4, a retention clip system that makes it nearly impossible for your screwdriver to slip and pierce your motherboard. As you can see in the pictures below, Thermaltake has included two small bent pieces of metal that prevent your flathead screwdriver from slipping left or right. Pictures of the TR2-M4 once completely installed: Operation/Use: Once the motherboard was placed back into the testing case, a series of benchmarks helped determine how well this heatsink cools the processor.  All temperatures were taken with a room temperature of 72° F (21° C). Full load temperatures were taken directly after running one cycle of FutureMark’s 3DMark03 with Folding@Home running in the background.  Temperatures were read from the diode, socket, and case using Motherboard Monitor v5.3.0.0. Note: To prevent case airflow from affecting temperature readings, test was performed with case open. Below are the results of the Idle Temperatures (4500 RPM vs. 3500 RPM): Load Temperatures (4500 vs. 3500 RPM): As you can see with the fan controller set to the maximum RPM range (4500) the CPU is kept on average 3° C cooler.  For a nice quiet environment I would suggest the 3500 RPM range because the cooler is very comfortable to the ears and still performs well. For gaming however I would recommend maximum speed.  Although your fan can reach 42 decibels at such a high RPM, your speakers will easily eliminate the whine of the fan. Conclusion: The TR2TT TR2-M4 is a great budget CPU cooler.  Although this cooler is not suitable for the serious overclocker, it does a great job with the budget/performance consumer in mind. Installation with this cooler is simple and safe. The retention clip system prevents your screwdriver from slipping and causing any damage to your motherboard.  Available from online retailers for less than $20 (US), the TR2-M4 won’t break the bank and provides great cooling for the price. Overall, the TR2TT TR2-M4 is a great cooler that earns high honors, 4 out of 5 Stars. Pros: • Good cooling performance for price • Great quality and well designed • Simple step-by-step instructions • Safety retention clip prevents screwdriver from slipping Cons: • PCI Fan Controller is located in the back of the case, making it more difficult to quickly change fan speeds on the fly • Not a great cooler for the hardcore overclocker, I would suggest something like the SLK-800U instead Special thanks to Thermaltake for supplying the TR2TT TR2-M4 Cooler to BigBruin.Com for review! Please drop by the BigBruin.Com Forum and feel free to discuss this review. Page 1 | Page 2 | Review Index