Silverstone NT06 CPU Cooler Review

[One4yu2c]

Silverstone is commonly known among enthusiasts as a company that puts out products that are not only sharp looking, but high performing as well. Looking back at their Nitrogen series of coolers, they have not been afraid to create different designs in an attempt to balance performance, acoustics, and compatibility with different enclosures and motherboards. The Nitrogen NT06 is the latest release in the Nitrogen series, and an attempt to improve all areas with a single cooler. As we dive into checking out the NT06 we are left wondering what areas were truly improved. Is this cooler going to be high class upgrade or will the NT06 end up being a fancy paperweight?
Matthew Page

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[gvblake22]

WOW, pretty impressive little cooler with only three heatpipes and minimal fin surface area. I was especially pleased to hear that it actually performed reasonably with no fan underneath the PSU in your SG03! Thanks for the review Matt!

[Yellowhello]

Wow, excellent review!! Looks like a great little cooler! For something that small, it preformed very well, IMO.

[Telexen]

Nice review.

It's funny to watch what they keep coming up with for heatpipe HSFs.

[PrOLifIC_onE]

Yeah, it wasnt too shabby. It cooled great as a passive cooler and HSF but the fan was ridiculously loud. Also, with many of my recent cooler reviews, I have been really surprised that companies have poorly placed or poorly engineered the included fan controllers... on the fan, on a 3 inch wire or, like the NT06, on an expansion slot bracket. The issue for the NT06 bracket was that the knob was too big for some cases. I think the best place for a single fan controller would be one that could fit in the 3.5" external bay (that is rarely used anymore, what is a floppy anyway). Not only would it still be small and somewhat out of the way, but it would be in the front of the case, for easy access.

I wait with anticipation...

[Telexen]

Originally Posted by PrOLifIC_onE

Also, with many of my recent cooler reviews, I have been really surprised that companies have poorly placed or poorly engineered the included fan controllers... on the fan, on a 3 inch wire or, like the NT06, on an expansion slot bracket. The issue for the NT06 bracket was that the knob was too big for some cases. I think the best place for a single fan controller would be one that could fit in the 3.5" external bay (that is rarely used anymore, what is a floppy anyway). Not only would it still be small and somewhat out of the way, but it would be in the front of the case, for easy access.

No kidding. They haven't caught onto that yet. Most of us use front panel devices for fan control already.

The worst are the ones with the controller directly on them.

I think I'd like to see designs for modular front panel devices that can accommodate both case fans and fans from HSFs like this (where they have their own controller for speed control, but the knob is ported to the front)

[One4yu2c]

Hey Matt, out of curiosity, what case is depicted in the review where the knob was too big?

[PrOLifIC_onE]

An old Powmax Demon Case, similar to this but with a painted interior and rear, like this one. It is a standard/basic mid-tower with a paint job and lights that some people might like.

[Quakindude]

Very well done!


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