• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Hardware Secrets

Hardware Secrets

Uncomplicating the complicated

  • Case
  • Cooling
  • Memory
  • Mobile
    • Laptops
    • Smartphones
    • Tablets
  • Motherboard
  • Networking
  • Other
    • Audio
    • Cameras
    • Consumer Electronics
    • Desktops
    • Museum
    • Software
    • Tradeshows & Events
  • Peripherals
    • Headset
    • Keyboard
    • Mouse
    • Printers
  • Power
  • Storage
Home » Prolimatech MK-26 VGA Cooler Review

Prolimatech MK-26 VGA Cooler Review

[nextpage title=”Introduction”]

The Prolimatech MK-26 is a video card cooler with six heatpipes and can be installed with two 120 mm or 140 mm fans. Let’s test it and compare it to some of the best VGA coolers we have tested so far.

Like the CPU coolers from Prolimatech, the MK-26 doesn’t come with fans. Its relatively small box is shown in Figure 1.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 1: Package

Figure 2 shows the accessory kit that comes with the MK-26: manual, heatsinks for memory chips and voltage regulator transistors, power adapter, and installation hardware.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 2: Accessories

Figure 3 displays the Prolimatech MK-26.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 3: The Prolimatech MK-26

This cooler is discussed in detail in the following pages.

[nextpage title=”The MK-26″]

Figure 4 reveals the front view of the cooler, where you can see the name of the cooler printed. Notice the tips of the six heatpipes.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 4: Front view

The side of the cooler is shown in Figure 5.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 5: Side view

In Figure 6, the rear of the heatsink is displayed.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 6: Rear view

[nextpage title=”The MK-26 (Cont’d)”]

As you can see in Figure 7, the MK-26 is actually made by two independent heatsinks: a smaller piece at the left, connected to the base by three heatpipes; and a big one at the right, which uses another three heatpipes to receive the heat from the base.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 7: Top view

Figure 8 shows the bottom of the heatsink.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 8: Bottom view

In Figure 9, you can see the base of the Prolimatech MK-26, with the pair of brackets compatible with our video card screwed on it.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 9: Base

[nextpage title=”Installation”]

In order to run a performance test, we installed the Prolimatech MK-26 on our Point of View GeForce GTX 460 video card. Figures 10 and 11 show the card with and without its stock cooler.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 10: GeForce GTX 460

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 11: GeForce GTX 460 with the cooler removed

The MK-26 comes with a backplate, but it can only be used on video cards with square hole distribution. In cards like ours, with rectangular hole geometry, you must use the stock backplate (if your card has one).

Figure 12 reveals the MK-26 installed on our GeForce GTX 460.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 12: Cooler installed

Figure 13 shows the solder side of our GeForce GTX 460 with the MK-26 installed.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 13: Solder side

[nextpage title=”Installation (Cont’d)”]

The Prolimatech MK-26 is bigger than our video card in both length and height, as you can see in Figure 14.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 14: Front view

Figures 15, 16, and 17 show the MK-26 installed on our video card.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 15: Side view

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 16: Front view

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 17: Rear view

Figure 18 reveals the MK-26 with the fans installed. For our benchmarking, we installed two Xigmatek XLF-F1453 (140 mm, 1,000 rpm) fans on this cooler. Using 25 mm-thick fans (the most common type), the video card will use four slots of your motherboard and computer case.

Prolimatech MK-26Figure 18: Fans installed

[nextpage title=”How We Tested”]

We tested this VGA cooler with a Point of View GeForce GTX 460 card with 1 GB RAM. The GTX 460 GPU has a TDP of 160 W. In order to get 100% GPU usage, we ran the [email protected] GPU client.

We compared the Prolimatech MK-26 to the VGA stock cooler, the Arctic Accelero Hybrid, the Arctic Accelero Xtreme III, the Arctic Accelero Twin Turbo II, the Gamer Storm Dracula installed with two Xigmatek XLF-F1453 fans (140 mm, 1,000 rpm), and to the Deepcool V6000 VGA cooler.

Room temperature measurements were taken with a digital thermometer. The core temperature was read with the SpeedFan program (available from the GPU thermal sensors). During the tests, the left panel of the case was closed.

The sound pressure level (SPL) was measured with a digital noise meter, with its sensor placed at the side of the case. We reduced the rotation of all the other fans so they wouldn’t interfere with the results. This measurement is only for comparison purposes, because a precise SPL measurement needs to be made inside an acoustically insulated room with no other noise sources, which isn’t the case here.

Hardware Configuration

  • Processor: Core i5-2500K
  • CPU Cooler: SilverStone HE01
  • Motherboard: ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z
  • Memory: 6 GB OCZ (DDR3-1600/PC3-12800), configured at 1,600 MHz and 8-8-8-18 timings
  • Hard disk: Seagate Barracuda XT 2 TB
  • Video card: Point of View GeForce GTX 460 1 GB
  • Video resolution: 1920×1080
  • Video monitor: Samsung SyncMaster P2470HN
  • Power supply: Seventeam ST-550P-AM
  • Case:  Cooler Master HAF 922

Operating System Configuration

  • Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1

Software Used

  • SpeedFan
  • [email protected] GPU Client

Error Margin

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

[nextpage title=”Our Tests”]

The table below presents the results of our measurements. We repeated the same test on all coolers listed below. Each measurement was taken with the GPU at full load.

Cooler Room Temp. Noise GPU Temp. Temp. Diff.
GamerStorm Dracula 11 °C 47 dBA 45 °C 34 °C
Arctic Accelero Xtreme III 13 °C 42 dBA 49 °C 36 °C
Arctic Accelero Twin Turbo II 11 °C 41 dBA 54 °C 43 °C
Deepcool V6000 11 °C 50 dBA 57 °C 46 °C
Stock cooler 11 °C 58 dBA 85 °C 74 °C
Arctic Accelero Hybrid 15 °C 43 dBA 50 °C 34 °C
Prolimatech MK-26 12 °C 42 dBA 43 °C 31 °C

In the graph below, you can see how many degrees Celsius hotter the GPU core is than the air outside the case. The lower this difference, the better is the performance of the cooler.

Prolimatech MK-26

[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]

The main specifications for the Prolimatech MK-26 VGA cooler include:

  • Application (AMD): Radeon HD 3850, 3870, 4830, 4850, 4870, 4890, 5830, 5850, 5870, 6790, 6850, 6870, 6950, 6970, 7750, 7770, 7850, 7870, 7950, and 7970
  • Application (NVIDIA): GeForce 7800, 7900, 8800, 9500, 9600, 9800, GT 130, GTS 150, GTS 240, GTS 250, GTS 450, GTX 460, GTX 460 SE, GTX 480, GTX 550 Ti, GTX 560 Ti, GTX 560 SE, GTX 560, GTX 570, GTX 580, GTX 660, GTX 670, and GTX 680
  • Dimensions: 5.7 x 8.6 x 1.8 inches (146 x 219 x 45.6 mm) (W x L x H)
  • Maximum TDP: 320 W
  • Fins: Aluminum
  • Base: Nickel-plated copper
  • Heat-pipes: Six, 6-mm
  • Fan: Two 120 mm or 140 mm (not included)
  • Nominal fan speed: NA
  • Fan air flow: NA
  • Maximum power consumption: NA
  • Nominal noise level: NA
  • Weight: 1.29 lb (583 g)
  • More information: https://www.prolimatech.com
  • MSRP in the U.S.: USD 75.00

[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]

Most CPU coolers from Prolimatech that we’ve tested to date presented excellent performance, and the MK-26 video card cooler was no exception. The MK-26 outperformed all the VGA coolers that we tested so far.

Probably, the secret of the MK-26 is the size of the heatsink, not in length like most conservative designs, but in height. The only problem with this design is that it is “high profile” and will not fit computer cases with less than 6.7” (170 mm) of internal width.

Because of its extremely good performance, the Prolimatech MK-26 VGA cooler receives our Golden Award.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, this site may earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions on purchases from other retail websites.

car service

Why Is Fleet Maintenance Important?

If you have a fleet of vehicles you use within your business, it’s crucial you keep up with their

Playing Fifa on Play station 4

Tips for Recycling Your Gaming Consoles and Devices

These days, it seems like almost everybody is gaming. As great as this is, it’s also creating a

Business planning

How to Develop Your Venture Capital Business

Venture Capital (VC) is a type of private equity investment in which investors provide funding to

Footer

For Performance

  • PCI Express 3.0 vs. 2.0: Is There a Gaming Performance Gain?
  • Does dual-channel memory make difference on integrated video performance?
  • Overclocking Pros and Cons
  • All Core i7 Models
  • Understanding RAM Timings

Everything you need to know

  • Everything You Need to Know About the Dual-, Triple-, and Quad-Channel Memory Architectures
  • What You Should Know About the SPDIF Connection (2022 Guide)
  • Everything You Need to Know About the Intel Virtualization Technology
  • Everything You Need to Know About the CPU Power Management

Copyright © 2023 · All rights reserved - Hardwaresecrets.com
About Us · Privacy Policy · Contact