NZXT Respire T20 CPU Cooler
Overview
Hardware: CoolingWHAT WE LIKED:
Great price, great performance, super easy install and no need to worry about RAM clearance!WHAT WE DISLIKED:
Fan pretty loud on full blastDiscuss in the Forum
Conclusion
NZXT outdid themselves with the Respire T20. The price is absurdly low for a cooler that performs like this. Surely the $25 price tag gave me some doubts, but it proved to cool even an OC’d 3770k reasonably well. Would I run this cooler 24/7 at that speed? No. But then again most people who are running these CPU’s at those speeds will have an AiO cooler, high-end air cooler or a custom liquid setup. This cooler would be perfectly suited to a low-end quad core for 24/7 use where budget comes to mind.
The cooler performed well beyond my expectations, due to a combination of factors. The tightly-packed heatpipes in the HDT arrangement along with a large 8mm pipe and a high CFM fan all come together to make the Respire T20 perform as well and better than some more expensive coolers we’ve come across. The tradeoff for this performance though is the noise. Without the adapter, the fan is downright loud (as suggested by the 34dBA rating). With the adapter, it’s still loud but much more manageable. A 4-pin PWM fan would make automatic adjustment possible but i suspect it would have also driven up the cost.
The cooler is compact and suffers slightly in the performance department, but it comes with the upside of no RAM clearance issues. In fact, mounting RAM with tall heatsinks in front of this cooler will help keep your RAM slightly cooler as the CPU cooler’s fan will draw air through the RAM’s cooling fins.
For only $25 from NewEgg the Respire T20 is perfect for those on a budget who don’t want to settle with the stock cooling solution. You won’t get much more bang for your buck than this, and it easily earns a PureOverclock Great Value Award!
