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INTRODUCTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

silverstone td02 ea

   From time to time some of you have asked us about what we believe is the best CPU cooling solution currently in the market and although I’ve said numerous times that things are not black and white still that question seems to land in our inbox quite often. Personally i think that getting any CPU cooler requires making some compromises so as i always say it comes down to what you really want and/or need and how much you're willing to spend. For example towers with good airflow levels will do fine with just a regular air cooler while small mini-ATX/ITX cases will probably be better off with a AIO liquid cooler and if you happen to want the best of the best then a custom water cooling loop or a Freon solution are the obvious choices. Since however AIO liquid CPU coolers combine the best of both worlds and don't cost nearly as much as a custom water cooling loop it doesn't really come as a surprise that they've become the number 1 choice for gamers, overclockers and enthusiasts all over the world so with that in mind today we're taking a look at the brand new Tundra TD02-E by SilverStone.


   Founded in 2003, SilverStone is an established leader in its field, with an elite team of engineers; we started our quest of providing products that create inspirations. We have since expanded the lines of products as well as types of products we produce, giving our customers a wide selection of choices. With distribution centers in different areas of the globe, SilverStone products can be seen all over the world, not just for computer users but also for home entertainment use. Providing leisure with integration of advanced technologies that is functional and making them enjoyable to use. Here at SilverStone Technology, we continue to pride ourselves in providing the highest level of standards in designing and manufacturing computer enclosures, power supplies, and accessories. Our pursuit for the first class aesthetic appeal is relentless; our teams of devoted engineers are constantly searching for the best technologies that suit end-users with different needs and will make our products as technologically sound as they are beautiful.


   As the name clearly states the Tundra TD02-E is an updated version of the Tundra TD02 model which we reviewed roughly a year ago and is also the flagship model by SilverStone right above the TD02-Lite which also passed through our lab a couple of months ago. The two very obvious changes between the TD02 and the TD02-E is the thinner radiator (27mm vs 45mm) and the tubings since SilverStone has begun to use flexible PA (Polyamide) ones instead of the much harder FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene). The interior of the waterblock is also slightly modified to increase cooling efficiency (and there are no screws at the bottom) but unfortunately although i was expecting a different pump model roughly 4 years after the release of the TD02 according to the specs provided by SilverStone they've not only used the same high-speed one (2500RPM) but they've also used the exact same 120mm PWM fans (2500RPM/92.5CFM/35dBA). With that in mind i don't know how better the TD02-E can be compared to the TD02 but with roughly 4 years between them i expect it to be there.

 


 

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

featspecs


 

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Just like the original Tundra TD02 the TD02-E arrived inside a colored box with a large product picture at the front, the mainboard compatibility and its main features.

 

 

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The specifications table is placed at the top of the box.

 

 

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The features list is also printed at the rear of the box in 9 languages.

 

 

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At the base of the box SilverStone has placed a total of 4 pictures used to showcase the main product features.

 

 

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Packaging is typical for this kind of product so no surprises here.

 

 

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Inside the box you will find the Tundra TD02-E, two high speed 120mm PWM fans, Y-fan cable, Molex to 3 pin fan adapter, thermal paste tube, user manual, backplate, 8 long fan screws and all the necessary bits and pieces to mount the product onto Intel LGA775/1150/1155/1156/1366/2011/2011-3 and AMD AM2/AM3/FM1/FM2 compatible mainboards.

 


 

THE TUNDRA TD02-E

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The TD02 featured a nice black, silver and white color combination but just like the TD02-Lite the TD02-E follows the all-black theme (aside the silver of the base that is).

 

 

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When we received the TD02-Lite I thought that it had a thinner radiator than both the TD02 and the TD02-E. Well I was wrong since the TD02-E also comes with a 27mm thick radiator (this time however it features pieces of clear plastic on both sides).

 

 

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Again just by taking a look at what radiators we can use with custom water cooling loops I still haven’t figured out why noone has produced an AIO kit with a really thick one as the 56mm one in the above picture.

 

 

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The extra plastic pieces used to cover the left and right of the radiator extend on both sides and provide rubber anti-vibration pads for the fans.

 

 

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Whereas both the TD02 and the TD02-E feature excellent quality brazing fins the TD02-Lite does not which is why it’s considered to be the entry level model of the new Tundra line (this is the answer to my earlier question).

 

 

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Just like with the TD02-Lite the TD02-E comes with two 310mm long PA (Polyamide) rubber tubes.

 

 

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According to SilverStone the internals of the waterblock used in the TD02-E are different compared to those of the TD02 but that aside both pump/water block combos are identical in size (60x55x33.5mm) and smaller compared to that of the TD02-Lite (there's also a blue LED at the top).

 

 

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The two rubber tubes can rotate roughly 120 degrees from the base.

 

 

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Unlike the one used in the TD02-Lite the all-copper base of the TD02-E has no screws (although it has more machine marks).

 

 

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Just like with the TD02 and the TD02-Lite SilverStone has bundled two 120mm PWM 2500RPM sleeve-bearing fans (92.5CFM/35dBA) that feature a special aerodynamic fin design at the edge of their blades.

 

 

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With the fans installed the radiator now measures 52mm in height/thickness.

 


 

TEST BED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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TESTING METHODOLOGY



   We always take things quite seriously when it comes to work so just like with the previous LGA1366 database we will not be testing each CPU Cooler on its own and with different ambient temperature levels and thus we can actually have yet another valid CPU Cooler database. Testing a CPU Cooler automatically means that you need to know where it stands against the immediate competition and to accomplish that we have spent both money and time through the years, something that we plan to continue to do so in order to get the most accurate results for the end consumers who read these lines. Every CPU cooler in this database is tested with the bundled 140mm/120mm/92mm/80mm fans while working at both idle speed and 100% of their speeds for all the temperature tests. CPU Coolers that do not come bundled with a fan/s are measured using a Noctua fan (size dependent on the model) to test for the temperature tests but due to the lack of a stock fan dBA level tests are obviously skipped. Single (120/140mm) watercooling solutions are tested with the radiator mounted at the rear of our test rig while dual/triple/quad (240/260/280/360/420/480/560mm) solutions with the radiator mounted at the top. For the dBA tests every cooler in the database was measured both while on idle mode or with the fan controller in the minimum setting and while on extreme load or with the fan controller all the way to the highest possible setting (PWM fans do that on their own without our intervention). Every single test takes place in a temperature controlled room of 23 degrees Celsius Ambient Temp with the help of two AC units placed diagonally inside the room. The Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste is used with every CPU Cooler in our latest LGA2011 database (although initially this was not the plan we had to change things to get the most accurate results). Finally it's very important to point out that just because a CPU Cooler is better than another when tested with our test rig that does not necessarily mean that the same performance differences will apply 100% for other CPU models and in other situations (such as different ambient temps and system configurations).


     To successfully record the load temperatures we use the latest OCCT application for around 6-10 minutes to push the processor to its limits and after that is done and the temperatures are recorded we wait for about 10-20 minutes for the CPU to cool down and record the idle temperatures. This is done to allow time for the thermal conductive material to achieve the optimal performance level. Same procedure is then repeated with the Passmark BurnIn Test as a failsafe just in case the OCCT results are wrong. This procedure takes a lot more time than the usual peltier/thermometer tests but this way not only can we deliver real world results to our readers based on real CPUs but we can also triple check the results using a variety of programs. Last but not least the temperatures were recorded using both the latest versions of AIDA64 and RealTemp while the noise level tests are performed using a high precision ExTech HD600 Decibel Meter placed about 10-15cm above the CPU Cooler. Still although the same testing procedure applies to all units do take into consideration that unlike the official numbers which are measured in special noise isolated labs with just the fans here we also have both the rest of the cooler and the rest of the system (although all system fans are turned off when recording noise levels).

 


 

TEST RESULTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CONCLUSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

silverstone td02 eb

   It's just not there. That’s what I thought after testing the TD02-E for the largest part of a day. Of course I’m talking about its performance compared to both the original TD02 and the TD02-Lite since it’s roughly half a degree beneath the first and slight over a full degree above the second. Sure things could be better in another system and I can’t deny that I didn’t expect it to land this close to the TD02 due to its much thinner radiator but I also didn’t expect it to land this close to the TD02-Lite. Certainly from my point of view the difference in quality (especially fin quality) between the TD02-E and the TD02-Lite is well worth the extra difference in price but I just can’t say the same when it comes to performance. Does that mean the TD02-E is a bad AIO liquid CPU Cooler? Not even at the slightest since I can go as far as to call it one of the best out there. Still I have to admit that we were all expecting something more (perhaps had SilverStone used a more powerful pump and a thicker radiator we’d see that).


   At the time of this review you can all find the Tundra TD02-E AIO Liquid CPU Cooler by SilverStone for just USD89.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 100Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk) a price tag which is roughly 10-15% higher than that of the TD02-Lite and 15-20% beneath that of the TD02. With that in mind I’d say that the Tundra TD02-E is a very well balanced solution for gamers, enthusiasts and overclockers and since it’s without doubt one of the best AIO models in the market currently it gets our Platinum Award.

platinumPROS


- Excellent Build Quality
- Radiator Thickness (27mm)
- Very Good Cooling Efficiency (Less Than 1 Degree Beneath The TD02)
- Relatively Low Noise Levels
- Rubber Tubes (Compared To the TD02)
- Price (For Some)

 

CONS


- No Pump/Fan Control Software
- Plain Looks (Compared To the TD02)