Directory  Reviews Cooling Reviews |
| Vantec Vortex Hard Drive Cooler Review |
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| Thursday, 30 August 2007 | |
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Page 4 of 6 Installation The installation of this drive is smooth as silk. The only preparation needed is to insure that the drive bay space actually meets specifications. The cooler takes up as much space as the standard allows, which makes it a tight fit. The removal of any burrs and some mild hammering might be called for to ensure smooth insertion in some older cases. A #2 Philips screwdriver will suffice for all tool requirements. The accessory bag is a thoughtful addition to the package, tying up what would normally be a string of loose ends for the user. 
Opening the Vantec Vortex hard drive cooler is as easy as removing the four screws located on either side of the cover. Once the screws are removed, the cover slides back to reveal the engineering Vantec put into the cooler. Placement of the hard drive is simple, and the use of the clear tape will attach the temperature sensor to whatever location is desired. Allowance for customization is always a good addition for enthusiasts. The drive fits snuggly into the allotted space and rests on the four rubber mounts. There is a small notch in the left rail of the drive bed that allows the wiring for the thermometer to reach the bottom of the drive. This welcome addition makes the process a smaller ordeal when compared to other installations. Vantec definitely took some time and paid attention to detail.      Securing the drive utilizes the bottom four holes on any standard drive, and an included set of screws. This is a solid method of retention using the rubber mounts to provide as little contact as possible with enclosure itself. Following the installation of the hard drive, the cover slips back over the unit. Compared with other coolers, Vantec did an excellent job of designing this unit. Many other drive coolers are less than obvious about what attaches where. This is because Vortex skipped the drive heat-sink design and solely relied on broad airflow. The benefits are debatable, but the installation interface can definitely stand tall in a shadow of doubt.          Sliding the Vantec Vortex hard drive cooler into the case is headache free when the proper clearance is available. One gripe is that the cooler is long in comparison with other coolers on the market. In smaller mid-tower cases, the space between your power supply and the coolers will become a hot commodity. If one of those elongated 1kw power supplies resides in the case, be sure to check for clearance. In a tight space, it is inconvenient to hook up the drives and does not fare too well for the intended airflow rates. In this particular test case, the coolers mildly conflict with PSU cabling. It is advisable to avoid this if a standard name brand computer is involved. Those cases have little space in the first place.       |