GlacialTech Igloo 5750 Silent CPU Cooler Review

Subjective Tests

These test are the main tests I do on any aftermarket part that I am planning on using in a build. If they don’t sound or feel "right" I bin them and use alternatives. Whether that means a completely different brand or just another one from a different batch greatly depends on the priorities of the build (i.e. noise vs. performance vs. longevity vs. style vs. cost).


Finger Spin Test

Just as the name suggests I give the unplugged fan a quick spin with my right hand index finger while holding it vertically in my left. This is done to see how much friction a fan produces (via the length of time it takes to stop and perceived speed at which it rotates); but mainly it is done to feel how well balanced the fan is. If the fan feels unstable then it is most likely unbalanced. This fan may have a drastically reduced life expectancy and may catastrophically fail taking other computer parts with it.

The GlacialTech fans produce a fairly muted whirring/clicking sound that is common in ball bearing fans. This noise is not very pronounced but it was certainly was present. However, it did not have any wobble or make any loud obvious noises that signify an unbalanced or poorly made fan. While it sounded better than a lot of ball bearing fans I have heard it was not anywhere near as good as a true sleeved bearing fan. Overall it felt well balanced but not overly smooth. I do have to wonder how well it will work when hot, dirty and for extended periods of use.


Noise and Vibration

While holding the fan in my left hand, I plug in the fan into a 3 to 4 pin molex adapter (in this case letting the 4 pin “hang over”) and then turn on the computer. This way the fan is running at full speed and I can easily feel for any vibration it creates and listen for any noise. I do this while holding the heatsink in the orientation that it will be when installed. In this instance, I held it horizontally (both “up” and then “down”).

Considering the speed at which these fans run the Igloo 5750 was quiet but it did create some felt vibrations. Overall it did not feel like a sleeved bearing fan, rather is felt like a poorly implemented ball bearing fan. While the amount of vibrations was small, one does have to wonder what accumulative effect these vibrations will have on integrity of the unit in the long term.


Tap Test

While holding the heatsink and fan in my left had I gently “tap” both the heatsink and then the fan. In the case of the heatsink it allows you to hear and feel how well made it is. In this instance the unit felt fragile and too flexable to me. I am sure that the heatpipes are more than robust enough for their intended purpose but extra attention was taken during installation. The Igloo 5750 felt like if it was dropped or knocked off the side of the case then it would become damaged or break into two pieces.

The fans themselves didn’t have much “slop” or forwards and backwards motion to the rotor assembly, which is good as it should help keep the spinning fan from becoming off balanced. Overall they felt and acted like a good sleeved bearing design. As long as loose, “hanging down” wires are not an issue I am sure that the fan blades are more that adequate for their intended purpose. They did however exhibit a lot of flex when tapped and overall felt and looked cheap.

There was a surprisingly large amount of flex when the fan and fin assembly was tapped. This flex was of course the heatpipes themselves flexing and it certainly was not a reassuring sight to behold. I truly doubt that they will break from someone using the fans and fin assembly to position the base properly or “rotate” the TIM in place, but I wouldn’t completely trust it to not break either.

The fins themselves also feel less than sturdy but as they are enclosed on all sides by either fans or metal this is moot point. They are more than strong enough not warp under heat and that is the only criteria that they have to meet. Overall, the approximately 40 fins are more than adequate for the job and should me more than durable as well to meet the demands placed upon them.


Weight and Construction

This test consists mainly on how it "feels" in your hands.

The Igloo 5750 has a very striking to look to it. It is flashy and is a unique enough design that it will look very good in a windowed case. This would be doubly true if you swap out the fans for fans with LED’s. However, its construction did leave a lot to be desired. Yes it is lighter than a lot other down draft fans, it is by no means a light weight. It does still weigh over pound and most of its weight is in the fan and fin assembly. Relying on the heatpipes to support the fan and fin assembly’s full weight does not instill confidence and it screamed “corner cutting” and “cost overruns”.

Overall it felt and looked like a CPU cooler that the engineers had to make too many compromises on to keep it in its intended price range.