Nexus VCT-9000 CPU Cooler Review

[nextpage title=”Introduction”]

Today we are going to analyze VCT-9000 CPU cooler from Nexus, which has a very unique design, with a tower heatsink with an inclined fan. But will this design result in a good performance? Check it out!

The box is very fancy, with a window that allow you to see the cooler and its inclined fan.

Figure 1: Box.

Inside the box we found the cooler with the fan installed, manual, installation hardware and a vacuum-sealed tube of thermal compound.

Figure 2: Box contents.

In the next pages we will analyze this cooler in detail.

[nextpage title=”Nexus VCT-9000″]

In Figure 3 you have a front view of the cooler. Note the heatpipes tips on the base. The 120 mm fan is made of dark transparent plastic.

Figure 3: Front view.

In Figure 4 we see clearly how different is VCT-9000 design. Note that the heatsink is not touching the base, but drifted from it.

Figure 4: Side view.

On the rear side of the cooler you can check the positon of the heatpipes and the presence of a small auxiliary heatsink on the base.

Figure 5: Rear view.

[nextpage title=”Nexus VCT-9000 (Cont’d)”]

In Figure 6, you can see VCT-900 from above.

Figure 6: Top view.

In Figure 7 you see the base of the cooler. The heatpipes touch directly the CPU. Note that the middle heatpipe is thicker than the others, with 8 mm in diameter, while the others have 6 mm. The base is not very smooth, looking like it was finished with a coarse sandpaper. There are gaps between the heatpipes, which means you must use a good quantity of thermal compound in order to fill them.

Figure 7: Base.

In Figure 8, you can see the syringe of thermal gray compound that comes with the cooler. This compound is not easy to apply because it is too hard. The plastic spatula that comes with the cooler can’t even spread it. The quantity of this thermal compound is also too little to give a good contact between the base of the cooler and the CPU. We had to use another thermal compound in order to assure a good thermal contact.

Figure 8: Thermal compound.

[nextpage title=”Installation”]

In Figure 9, you can see the base of the cooler with the holding clips for Intel CPUs in place. These clips are similar to the ones used on the Intel stock cooler, but it fits sockets 775, 1156 and 1366.

Figure 9: Intel clips.

In Figure 10, you can see the cooler installed on our motherboard. It was a very hard installation, because access to the clips is too narrow for the fingers. Even with no backplate, it is virtually impossible to install this cooler if you don’t remove the motherboard from the case.

Figure 10: Installed on the motherboard.

In Figure 11, you can see the cooler installed in our case.

Figure 11: Installed on case.

On other reviews we go straight to the test methodology and results after this page, but with this cooler we had an unpleasant surprise, which we explain in the next page.

[nextpage title=”Installation Issues”]

We turned on our system in order to perform the tests (in Figure 12 you can see the fan turned on) but our computer turned off by itself after a few seconds. We discovered through the motherboard setup that our CPU was reaching 110 °C, and we were not running any programs! So we removed the motherboard from the case for an analysis of the cooler assembly.

Figure 12: Fan glowing.

We found that in the position we installed the cooler (which is the position recommended in the manual), the heatpipes were touching the capacitors of the motherboard voltage regulator circuit, avoiding the base of the cooler of touching the whole CPU. We tried other positions, but the only one we could install the cooler was the one shown in Figure 13. This was the position we ran our tests.

Figure 13: Cooler reinstalled.

Unfortunately, in adition to almost burn our processor on the first installation, the heatpipes also smashed the capacitors from the voltage regulator circuit, as you can see in Figure 14. Luckly our motherboard survived (at least by now).

Figure 14: Smashed capacitors.

[nextpage title=”How We Tested”]

We are adopting the following methodology for our CPU cooler reviews.

First, we chose the CPU with the highest TDP (Thermal Design Power) we had available, a Core 2 Extreme QX6850, which has a 130 W TDP. The choice for a CPU with a high TDP is obvious. To measure the efficiency of the tested cooler, we need a processor that gets very hot. This CPU works by default at 3.0 GHz, but we overclocked it to 3.33 GHz, in order to heat it as much as possible.

We took noise and temperature measurements with the CPU idle and under full load. In order to achieve 100% CPU load on the four processing cores we ran Prime95 with the "In-place Large FFTs" option, and three instances of the StressCPU program, all at the same time.

We also compared the reviewed cooler to the Intel stock cooler (with copper base), which comes with the processor we used, and also with some other coolers we have tested using the same methodology.

Temperature measurements were taken with a digital thermometer, with the sensor touching the base of the cooler, and also with the core temperature reading (given by the CPU thermal sensor) from the from the SpeedFan program, using an arithmetic average of the four core temperature readings.

The sound pressure level (SPL) was measured with a digital noise meter, with its sensor placed 4" (10 cm) from the fan. We turned off the video board cooler so it wouldn’t interfere with the results, but this measurement is only for comparative purposes, because a precise SPL measurement needs to be made inside an acoustically insulated room with no other noise sources, which is not the case here.

Hardware Configuration

• Processor: Core 2 Extreme QX6850
• Motherboard: Gigabyte EP45-UD3L
• Memory: 4 GB G.Skill F2-6400CL5S-2GBNY (DDR2-800/PC2-6400 with 5-5-5-15 timings), configured at 800 MHz
• Hard drive: 1 TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 (ST31000528AS, SATA-300, 7200 rpm, 32 MB buffer)
• Video card: PNY Verto Geforce 9600 GT
• Video resolution: 1680×1050
• Video monitor: Samsung Syncmaster 2232BW Plus
• Power supply required: Seventeam ST-550P-AM
• Case: 3RSystem K100

OS Configuration

• Windows XP Professional SP3

Software Used

• Prime95
• StressCPU
• SpeedFan

Error Margin

We adopted a 2 °C error margin, i.e., temperature differences below 2 °C are considered irrelevant.

[nextpage title=”Our Tests”]

On the tables below you can see our results. We ran the same tests with the coolers shown on below tables. Each test ran with the CPU idle and the with the CPU fully loaded. On BigTyp 14Pro, TMG IA1, NH-U12P and ISGC-300 the tests were done with the fan at full speed and at minimum speed. The other coolers were connected directly to the motherboard and it controls the fan speed based on CPU load level and temperature on PWM models. ISGC-400, iCEAGE Prima Boss, Megahalems Rev. B, Thermaltake SpinQ VT, Zalman CNPS10X Flex, Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme and Tuniq Propeller 120 were tested at minimum speed on idle test and at maximum speed on full load test.

CPU Idle
Cooler	Room Temp.	Noise	Fan Speed	Base Temp.	Core Temp.
Intel stock	14 °C	44 dBA	1000 rpm	31 °C	42 °C
BigTyp 14Pro (min)	17 °C	47 dBA	880 rpm	29 °C	36 °C
BigTyp 14Pro (max)	17 °C	59 dBA	1500 rpm	26 °C	34 °C
Akasa Nero	18 °C	41 dBA	500 rpm	26 °C	35 °C
Cooler Master V10	14 °C	44 dBA	1200 rpm	21 °C	26 °C
TMG IA1 (max)	16 °C	47 dBA	1500 rpm	22 °C	30 °C
TMG IA1 (min)	16 °C	57 dBA	2250 rpm	21 °C	30 °C
Zalman CNPS10X Extreme	16 °C	44 dBA	1200 rpm	21 °C	29 °C
Thermaltake ISGC-100	18 °C	44 dBA	1450 rpm	35 °C	49 °C
Noctua NH-U12P (low)	15 °C	42 dBA	1000 rpm	20 °C	30 °C
Noctua NH-U12P	15 °C	46 dBA	1400 rpm	20 °C	28 °C
Noctua NH-C12P	17 °C	46 dBA	1400 rpm	23 °C	28 °C
Thermaltake ISGC-200	21 °C	43 dBA	1100 rpm	31 °C	35 °C
Schythe Kabuto	22 °C	42 dBA	800 rpm	29 °C	34 °C
Arctic Cooling Alpine 11 Pro	20 °C	43 dBA	1500 rpm	32 °C	39 °C
ISGC-300 (min)	18 °C	42 dBA	800 rpm	26 °C	30 °C
ISGC-300 (max)	18 °C	46 dBA	1400 rpm	24 °C	26 °C
SilverStone NT06-E	21 °C	66 dBA	2600 rpm	30 °C	41 °C
Zalman CNPS9700 NT	22 °C	48 dBA	1700 rpm	28 °C	35 °C
Scythe Mugen-2	17 °C	41 dBA	700 rpm	25 °C	30 °C
ISGC-400 (min)	17 °C	44 dBA	850 rpm	24 °C	30 °C
Cooler Master Vortex 752	20 °C	48 dBA	1700 rpm	32 °C	44 °C
iCEAGE Prima Boss (min)	22 °C	42 dBA	1000 rpm	29 °C	36 °C
Evercool Buffalo	17 °C	51 dBA	1850 rpm	22 °C	29 °C
Scythe Big Shuriken	20 °C	42 dBA	900 rpm	31 °C	39 °C
Cooler Master Hyper TX3	21 °C	44 dBA	1700 rpm	30 °C	39 °C
Titan Skalli	20 °C	43 dBA	1200 rpm	27 °C	34 °C
Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. B	21 °C	40 dBA	800 rpm	28 °C	32 °C
Zalman CNPS9900 NT	23 °C	45 dBA	900 rpm	30 °C	34 °C
Cooler Master Hyper N620	21 °C	44 dBA	1200 rpm	28 °C	34 °C
Nexus LOW-7000 R2	23 °C	46 dBA	1400 rpm	33 °C	42 °C
Evercool HPK-10025EA	20 °C	54 dBA	1900 rpm	27 °C	34 °C
Evercool HPH-9525EA	23 °C	50 dBA	1900 rpm	38 °C	49 °C
iCEAGE Prima Boss II	23 °C	42 dBA	1000 rpm	29 °C	35 °C
Thermaltake SpinQ VT	24 °C	45 dBA	950 rpm	32 °C	39 °C
Titan Fenrir	21 °C	42 dBA	950 rpm	29 °C	35 °C
Zalman CNPS 10 Flex	23 °C	40 dBA	800 rpm	32 °C	39 °C
Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme	24 °C	43 dBA	1100 rpm	30 °C	37 °C
Gelid Tranquillo	22 °C	41 dBA	850 rpm	29 °C	36 °C
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus	20 °C	45 dBA	1200 rpm	27 °C	35 °C
Spire TherMax Eclipse	20 °C	58 dBA	2300 rpm	25 °C	34 °C
Tuniq Propeller 120	20 °C	43 dBA	1050 rpm	24 °C	33 °C
Nexus VCT-9000	20 °C	44 dBA	600 rpm	28 °C	37 °C

CPU Fully Loaded
Cooler	Room Temp.	Noise	Fan Speed	Base Temp.	Core Temp.
Intel stock	14 °C	48 dBA	1740 rpm	42 °C	100 °C
BigTyp 14Pro (min)	17 °C	47 dBA	880 rpm	43 °C	77 °C
BigTyp 14Pro (max)	17 °C	59 dBA	1500 rpm	35 °C	70 °C
Akasa Nero	18 °C	48 dBA	1500 rpm	34 °C	68 °C
Cooler Master V10	14 °C	54 dBA	1900 rpm	24 °C	52 °C
TMG IA1 (max)	16 °C	47 dBA	1500 rpm	27 °C	63 °C
TMG IA1 (min)	16 °C	57 dBA	2250 rpm	25 °C	60 °C
Zalman CNPS10X Extreme	16 °C	51 dBA	1900 rpm	24 °C	50 °C
Thermaltake ISG-100	18 °C	50 dBA	1800 rpm	58 °C	93 °C
Noctua NH-U12P (low)	15 °C	42 dBA	1000 rpm	28 °C	59 °C
Noctua NH-U12P	15 °C	46 dBA	1400 rpm	25 °C	54 °C
Noctua NH-C12P	17 °C	46 dBA	1400 rpm	37 °C	76 °C
Thermaltake ISGC-200	21 °C	48 dBA	1900 rpm	42 °C	68 °C
Scythe Kabuto	22 °C	47 dBA	1200 rpm	38 °C	63 °C
Arctic Cooling Alpine 11 Pro	20 °C	51 dBA	2300 rpm	49 °C	85 °C
ISGC-300 (min)	18 °C	42 dBA	800 rpm	36 °C	64 °C
ISGC-300 (max)	18 °C	46 dBA	1400 rpm	31 °C	56 °C
SilverStone NT06-E	21 °C	66 dBA	2600 rpm	39 °C	96 °C
Zalman CNPS9700 NT	22 °C	56 dBA	2600 rpm	34 °C	63 °C
Scythe Mugen-2	17 °C	46 dBA	1300 rpm	28 °C	54 °C
ISGC-400 (max)	17 °C	47 dBA	1400 rpm	36 °C	69 °C
Cool er Master Vortex 752	20 °C	55 dBA	2300 rpm	48 °C	92 °C
iCEAGE Prima Boss (max)	22 °C	53 dBA	2000 rpm	35 °C	59 °C
Evercool Buffalo	17 °C	51 dBA	1850 rpm	32 °C	67 °C
Scythe Big Shuriken	20 °C	50 dBA	1500 rpm	51 °C	85 °C
Cooler Master Hyper TX3	21 °C	53 dBA	2700 rpm	39 °C	66 °C
Titan Skalli	20 °C	47 dBA	1550 rpm	37 °C	69 °C
Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. B	21 °C	61 dBA	2600 rpm	30 °C	51 °C
Zalman CNPS9900 NT	23 °C	56 dBA	2000 rpm	34 °C	54 °C
Cooler Master Hyper N620	21 °C	50 dBA	1650 rpm	32 °C	56 °C
Nexus LOW-7000 R2	23 °C	53 dBA	1900 rpm	45 °C	74 °C
Evercool HPK-10025EA	20 °C	54 dBA	1900 rpm	39 °C	69 °C
Evercool HPH-9525EA	23 °C	50 dBA	1900 rpm	58 °C	100 °C
iCEAGE Prima Boss II	23 °C	56 dBA	2100 rpm	32 °C	56 °C
Thermaltake SpinQ VT	24 °C	52 dBA	1500 rpm	40 °C	68 °C
Titan Fenrir	21 °C	50 dBA	1600 rpm	33 °C	58 °C
Zalman CNPS 10 Flex	23 °C	61 dBA	2600 rpm	33 °C	59 °C
Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme	24 °C	56 dBA	1900 rpm	35 °C	60 °C
Gelid Tranquillo	22 °C	46 dBA	1450 rpm	31 °C	60 °C
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus	20 °C	52 dBA	1900 rpm	32 °C	64 °C
Spire TherMax Eclipse	20 °C	58 dBA	2300 rpm	29 °C	73 °C
Tuniq Propeller 120	20 °C	55 dBA	1900 rpm	36 °C	68 °C
Nexus VCT-9000	20 °C	50 dBA	850 rpm	43 °C	88 °C

The next graph shows how many degrees Celsius the CPU core was hotter than room temperature during our idle tests.

 

The next graph gives you an idea on how many degrees Celsius the CPU core was hotter than room temperature during our full load tests.

[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]

Nexus VCT-9000 main features are:

• Application: Socket LGA775, 1156, 1366, AM3, AM2+ and AM2 processors.
• Fins: Aluminum.
• Base: Aluminum, with heatpipes in direct contact with the CPU.
• Heat-pipes: Five copper heat-pipes.
• Fans: 120 mm.
• Nominal fan speed: 1,600 rpm.
• Fan air flow: Not informed.
• Maximum power consumption: Not informed.
• Nominal noise level: 22 dBA.
• Weight: 1.46 lbs (635 g).
• More information: https:
  //www.nexustek.nl
• Average price in the US*: USD 70.00.

* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.

[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]

What can we say about a cooler that is expensive, has a poor cooling performance and can even damage your motherboard?

The only strong point on Nexus VCT-9000 is its looks, unique and nice. Actually, we could also say it has a very quiet fan, even at full speed. But there’s no advantage on a pretty and quiet cooler if it does not fulfill its primary function: to cool down the CPU.

Besides that, its holding system needs to be completely redesigned by the manufacturer. The heatpipes that come out of the base should turn upwards near the base, which is not the case. So, they touch (and force) the motherboard capacitors and, in our case, avoided a good contact between the base of the cooler and the CPU, and even smashed those capacitors. We were lucky of not losing our motherboard.

So, we have just one thing to say about Nexus VCT-9000 CPU cooler: avoid it.