Twin Frozr II & DirectCUII Cooler Comparison GeForce GTX 560 Ti Linus Tech Tips
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Description
ncix.com By popular demand. Here is a video comparing the reference cooler against a couple of the better aftermarket cooled cards from ASUS and MSI.
Linus Tech Tips presents a three-way thermal and acoustics comparison of the GeForce GTX 560 Ti across three cooling solutions: the reference cooler, the ASUS DirectCU II cooler, and the MSI Twin Frozr II cooler. The host explains the testing approach, noting that FurMark is used and that the GPU throttle behavior is acknowledged, since the software patch from Nvidia can affect load behavior. He compares load temperatures and fan noise across all three cards, detailing observed deltas relative to room temperature and the influence of room conditions on absolute readings. The stock reference card runs around 75 C under load with a modest fan curve, while the ASUS DirectCU II and MSI Twin Frozr II deliver significantly improved cooling, with the DirectCU II showing a dramatic reduction in delta temperature due to its heatsink and dual-fan design. The Twin Frozr II achieves competitive, lower noise levels and lower temperatures as room conditions rise, illustrating how different cooling strategies perform under the same GPU silicon, room temperature, and test load. Throughout the test, the presenter provides qualitative notes on acoustic levels, and concludes that all three cards are viable options with tradeoffs between noise and cooling performance. He also invites viewers to subscribe for more hardware content and previews the end-of-video audio samples for direct sound comparison.
Topics · hardware · technology reviews · gpu cooling · consumer electronics · computing
Questions answered
- What GPUs were compared in this video, and which cooling solutions were tested?
- The video compares three GTX 560 Ti cards: the reference cooler, the ASUS DirectCU II cooler, and the MSI Twin Frozr II cooler.
- What testing method was used to evaluate performance, and what caveats were noted?
- FurMark was used to load the GPUs, with a caveat that the test does not represent ideal temperatures due to throttling and room conditions; the goal was to compare the three cards under similar load and throttle behavior.
- Which cooler produced the lowest delta temperature relative to room temperature, and how did noise compare?
- The ASUS DirectCU II cooler produced significantly better temperatures with a smaller delta, while the Twin Frozr II also reduced temperatures but with noticeable noise; overall, DirectCU II had higher fan speeds contributing to noise, whereas Twin Frozr II offered a balance of cooling and acoustics.
- What practical tips did viewers suggest for improving cooling or measurements?
- Suggestions included reapplying thermal paste, ensuring good case airflow, and using a sound level meter for objective noise measurements.