Thermaltake Dragon Orb 3 Performance Results

[cooldrum3]

Since almost nobody seems to have actual real world performance reviews of this heatsink, I finally decided I would do it. The test machine is an AMD K6-2 550. I removed a 4800 RPM GlobalWin fan and stock aluminum heatsink I had on previously, and after a little modification to the retaining clip and pushing a capacitor on the MOBO out of the way, managed to fit this beast of a heatsink onto the CPU. (I had to trim some of the excess metal off of the retaining clip in order to clear capacitors and a 3 pin connector on the MOBO.) I did not put the thermal grease on yet because I am going to be removing it to sandwich a 52 watt peltier in between and want to use Arctic Silver II, which I do not have right now. SIDE NOTE: DO NOT USE THIS HEATSINK ON AN ASUS P5A UNLESS YOU ARE HANDY WITH A HACKSAW!


The specs on the heatsink and fan are as follows from the back of the package:

Fan Dimensions- 60x60x25 mm
Rated Voltage- 12VDC
Started Voltage- 7VDC
Current- 0.5AMP
Power Input-6.0W
Fan Speed- 7000 +/- 10% RPM
Airflow- 38CFM
Noise- 37dBA
Interface Material- Bergquist 225U
Dimensions- 69 dia mm x 79 mm tall
Bearing System- Ball Bearing
Life Time- 50,000 HOURS
Connector- 3 Pin (Note 4 Pin Supplied, I recommend)


Now the results:

NOTE: THESE RESULTS WILL BE EVEN BETTER WITH THE USE OF THERMAL GREASE OR BETTER YET, WITH ARCTIC SILVER II.

All temperatures were taken with Motherboard Monitor 5. With the old heatsink fan combo, CPU idle temp was 42C. After installing the Drorb 3+, idle temp dropped to 33C. CPU temp under load before was 48C. After the Drorb 3+, it was lowered to 38C. All in all, not a bad way to spend $25.00...9 degrees cooler under idle and 10 degrees cooler under load! :)

[rogue1979]

Yeah, I got one on my kids Duron 750@1064MHz. While not the best, it does give good performance, about the same as my Golden Gate.

[Sonny]

Some people do have REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE with it:rolleyes: How do you expect people to trust your test. Non-conventional, no mention of temp monitoring equipment, modified mounting which was not explained, no thermal compound(your reason does not make up for it) & a lot more variables that need to be taken into consideration. You also need to check your specs or your not actually testing a Dragon Orb3+(the "+" is for the 7000rpm fan);)

I do apologize if I sound too direct. I use this HSF & do not wish more inconsistent data to either back it up or slam it down.

[cooldrum3]

I just edited the post and believe I covered most, if not all, of your concerns. I wasn't aiming for a highly scientific experiment here...I have neither the money nor the time (I'm a college student) to do the kind of review like is given on the site for the other major brand heatsinks. I'm just trying to give people an idea of what kind of real-world performance they can expect. When I was looking on this board for reviews of the Drorb 3+, I couldn't really find anything that gave me this kind of info. I took a chance when I bought it and lucked out. I'm just passing my experience with it along to others so they can make a more educated decision.

[Sonny]

Originally posted by cooldrum3
Interface Material- Bergquist 225U
Isnt it Copper? I swear that orange looking metal thing on the base was copper:D

Let me apologize for being rude with my first reply but I do hope you understand were I'm coming from.

Now back to the DOr3Cu+. It's a really good HSF even if all the other members here think it sucks. Overclockers has done a review of this cooler & has shown that it can cool better than a few of the popular choices.

Welcome To The Forums:beer:

[cooldrum3]

Yep, it is copper. I don't know what Bergquist 225U even is! Those are just the specs they supplied. Maybe the little packet of thermal grease that came with it? I don't know, but it definitely is copper and one heck of a large chunk of it at that!