The Coolest PC on the block, or is it ?
So you have the baddest PC going.  You've got a P2 400mhz with 2 gig sdram, SCSI everything, Dual Voodoo2, DVD,  and all the trimmings.  You have so much PC packed into that case you could have bought a Porsche right?  Because you're a gamer, and gamers need a bad ass system, right?  What about fans?  Fans?  My case already has a fan, right?   Think Again.

Don't you find it strange that a guy will spend $800 on a Pentium 2-400mhz processor and the stick a $10 fan on it.  Or better yet a $300 Voodoo2 card with no fan all.   Well if you are interested in protecting that investment and keeping cool, Read on.

The big question.
Ever since we started our Ask the Tech column, I have gotten tons of questions on whether or not they should invest in something to cool their Voodoo2 card?   The answer, Yes.  You should do everything possible to keep your PC cool.   It's your computer and your responsibility.  Everyone's needs are different.   So what do you do?

Enter 3Dfx Cool.
I had heard of 3Dfx cool through online adds here and there but hadn't paid it much attention.  Then when I decided I needed to write something on fans, I looked them up and was shocked at what I found.  I expected to find a guy that was selling fans designed to cool 3Dfx cards, what I found: FANS, FANS, and MORE FANS.  3Dfx Cool doesn't just sell any fan either, they are very picky about the fans that their name goes on.  Their new case fan for instance they state that they had shopped 10 months before finding one worthy of putting their name on.  I sent off an e-mail and two days later I have a P2HO Pentium 2 Fan and a Voodoo2 Fan to evaluate.

The Voodoo2 Fan.
This baby sports two high output fans that the company claims will "last forever".  It installs with one screw and takes about 30 seconds.  The great thing about this fan is you can use it on just about any card, SCSI Controllers, Voodoo, Voodoo2, VoodooRush, you name it and the Voodoo2 fan will keep it cool.  I have to say I was very impressed with this fan.  How does it work you say?

The Test
In testing the Voodoo2 fan I used my main PC:

Abit LX6 w/ P2-266 & 64mb sdram
Canopus Total 3D 128V
Orchid Righteous 3D II
Adaptec 2940 UW
4.3 gig Seagate Barracuda 1" Form Factor
32X Toshiba SCSI CD-ROM
Yamaha 4X4 CDR
Enlight Case with 1 Case Fan, 1 HD Fan, and fan in the 300watt Power Supply.

Now my PC generates some serious Heat.  My barracuda doubles as our Pancake griddle in the morning, I mean that baby gets HOT.  So my PC makes a good test bed for Fans.

With my PC totally cold I booted up, fired up GameSpy and Joined in on the Hell's Gates server and played deathmatch for an hour (2 Map Cycles with 30 minute timelimit).  I then shutdown, opened my case and then felt the Righteous 3D II.  WOW.  That baby was hot.

Ok now for the Voodoo2 Fan.  I installed the voodoo2 fan which consisted of one screw and plugging in the fans to a spare power connector.  Reassembled the case, and let it set for an hour to cool back down to room temperature.  I then booted up and ran the 1 hour Quake 2 test.  Upon taking the cover off of my PC I was totally shocked, the card was barely warm.  Besides keeping the card cool this fan is also quiet.  You would never know this fan was in there other than opening up the case.

NOTE: I have been asked to NOT photograph the Voodoo2 Fan.  See the FAQ on the 3Dfx Cool site for details.

The P2HO Pentium 2 Fan
OK, I was impressed with the Voodoo2 Fan but how will the P2HO stack up against the $16 CTK Air Tunnel  fan that came with my Motherboard and Processor?  In a word, Great.  When I ran the test on my Voodoo2 card with no fan I also had my CTK Air Tunnel Fan installed (impressive name isn't it).  After the test the Heatsink (Air Tunnel) was so hot I had to let it cool down before I could take out my processor.   That right there is telling me that the air tunnel is not getting rid of the heat.   On the second test with the Voodoo2 Fan and the P2HO fan installed, the Heat sink on the P2HO was slightly warm, but no where half the heat of my nifty named Air Tunnel.

Conclusion
If you care about your computer, which I am sure you do, it is up to you to do everything you can do to keep it comfortable.  This time of year(summer) it is even more important to keep good airflow going through your computer and most importantly keep those peripherals that you've spent your hard earned dollars on cool.  3Dfx Cool has done a great job of selecting High Quality fans and superior products that do what they say they will, keep your PC cool. Top that off with a Lifetime warranty on  the CPU fans and 1 year on the Voodoo2 fan and add to that the price and you have one great product.  With the Voodoo2 priced at $24 that is about 10% the cost of your voodoo2 card and well worth the price to protect your investment.  And don't forget the Voodoo2 fan will cool any card out there so you might want to grab two of them.

So what are you waiting for get on over their and order some fans.  3Dfx Cool

Review by: William Gall
Date: June 28,1998

Still not convinced? Check out this review at Fast Graphics

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