Specifications, Availability and Pricing

The chart you just saw starts with the socket compatibility and so will I. I really like that most companies strive to try to keep up with the latest and greatest sockets, unlike the Spire cooler we just saw, this new Frio Extreme will mount to almost any socket. For the Intel side of things this cooler can take on any LGA775 to LGA2011 socket and everything in between. For the AMD side of things the Frio Extreme will mount up to a Socket 745 CPU and the list goes through AM3+ and ends with the latest FM1 processors. Basically the Frio Extreme will mount to anything that has been made in the last five years plus as long as the TDP of the overclocked processor doesn't exceed 250 watts.

The cooler body is a mix of 58 fins on a pair of towers that are press fit over copper heat pipes. In this cooler there are six 6mm heat pipes that get evenly spaced from the time they leave the base and remove the heat from the CPU and deliver it to the fin. These pipes come together at the base and top plate. While both the base and the pipes and copper, Thermaltake added a nickel coating to not only be used as an anti-oxidation coating so the oil in your hands doesn't discolor the cooler after a bit of use, it also makes the cooler a little more attractive since the base, pipes and fins are all relatively the same color.

To cool the Frio Extreme Thermaltake sent a pair of PLA14024S12H fans. These fans will run in the range of 1200 to 1800 RPM and will deliver up to 106 CFM each. The noise rating of 39 dBA is suggestive that this cooler will definitely be audible at full blast, but it will also be delivering 2.34 mmH2O worth of static pressure to get that CFM through the dense fin arrangements. Now we all remember the little twist knob fan controls that Thermaltake came up with and I am glad to say it's gone in this model. It has been replaced with a fan controller that takes a wire from the CPU fan header and powers this pair of fans with some cool options. The first cool option allows a switch to convert the power from the PWM signal and switch it over to manual control. The second cool feature here is the large dial that you will be using for manual speed control of the fans and it all comes in an ergonomic and easy to hold in the hand controller unit.

Finding the Thermaltake Frio Extreme is going to be really easy. Vis Google Shopping I was able to locate 85 locations of e-tailers and e-bay sales. That in mind, the prices vary as much as the locations in a price range of $86 to $110. For most buyers, you will be looking at the $91.99 listings at either Amazon or Newegg. Just flip a coin for these, both list at the same price and both offer free shipping currently. Nothing too shocking with that price tag either, as all of the dual tower coolers runs in this range.

Since we know they are easy to find and fairly priced amongst its direct competition, let's get an actual look at what Thermaltake is offering.