ThermalTake Frio OCK CPU Cooler

Thoughts and Conclusion

Properly installing a large tower heatsink can sometimes be a chore; the size and bulk of the cooler itself can get in the way of the mounting hardware. Such was not the case with this cooler, due in large part to the removable fan shroud. The mounting hardware was clearly labeled, and everything screwed together with no trouble. The spring-loaded screws help to avoid over-tightening, and required no finger gymnastics to get to.

Installation was swift, simple, and trouble-free. I did have to move my ram modules down one slot to allow the fan shroud to snap on completely, but this was mainly due to the tall heat spreaders on the DIMMs. Standard-height ram should not interfere at all. The fans plugged into a single 4-pin header on my motherboard, with speed controlled by a simple potentiometer plugged into the line.

Overall, I am very impressed with this cooler. The performance is top-notch, the look is distinctive without being garish, and installation is both swift and simple. With an average online price of $75 plus shipping, the Frio OCK is definitely on the expensive side. That said, if you need a high performance, low frustration cooler, this one will serve you well.

Pros:

• Good performance
• Distinctive look
• Easy installation

Cons:

• Expensive
• Fans can be noisy at full speed

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