Review: Scythe Kama Angle - Overclock.net

Swiftes · 03-30-09

Scythe Kama Angle Review

Simple but clever design: Using the unique angle-shape and concept co-developed by Scythe and Quiet PC, Kama Angle can be used to optimize the airflow through the system. 4-way mounting of the cooler is possible and the silent PWM fan can be installed in three different positions.

An Angle cooler? Seems a very unique and unheard of idea, after all, aren’t most enthusiast coolers these days your standard 3 or 4 heat pipe affair with either a 92mm or 120mm fan?
The idea and magic behind the cooler is very clever, have your standard “leaf blower” (Or not in Scythe’s case) at the front, with the air being drawn across the fins and heat pipes before being exhausted. With the KA (We’ll refer to it as that to save time and trouble) the exhausted air is drawn out the back of the case by the rear exhaust fan (120mm is ideal for this), as well as out of the top via the PSU fan or in my Antec 900-2’s case (No pun intended) the top 200mm exhaust fan!

Let’s get down to the piccies shall we?

The box, with its description and multi-lingual text.

The included accessories and mounting equipment, notice the 478 Retention clips, the 775 Push-Pins (Yuckk!) and the 939/AM2/AM2+ Retention Bracket. Also included is some Thermal Paste, the Fan Clips, the 4 Screws to attach the different retention devices and the instruction booklet.

The Bundled 120mm Scythe Fan, pushes a nice amount of air and the noise range is good, from the ultra silent 6db to the still very quiet 24db.

Scythe Logo on the fan, looks very cool!
The depth of the fan is 25mm/2.5cm, the standard. Dimensions are 120mm by 120mm

The cooler from the top view, notice the top fastenings for the heat pipes. Nice industrial looking design mixed with a stealthy ninja like twist!

The base of the Heatsink, where the heat pipes run into and create the finished glossy look.

The base, with the protection sticker on. I was amazed at how flat and shiny the base of the cooler is, it was as if Scythe had pre-lapped it themselves!

The heat pipes in all their copper-nickel glory!

With all the goodies out the box, I just had to get the fan attached and I was pleasantly surprised out how easy it was to hook it up. Looks cool and is less hassle than anti vibration mounts, but as they say, the proof will be in the pudding!

Looks very cool and I am sure it will perform very well!

This concludes the pictorial part of the review, now on too the testing and performance!

Swiftes · 03-30-09

Performance Testing:

Specification:

Intel Pentium Dual Core E2160 @ 1.8Ghz/3.2Ghz
Gigabyte X48-DS4
Corsair XMS2 PC2-6400 @ 800Mhz 5-5-5-18/2T/1:1
Sapphire HD4850 DS 650/1000
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500Gb
Scythe Kama Angle/Xigmatek S1283 [Both Fans at 1300RPM]
Corsair VX450 PSU
Antec 900-2, All fans on Medium

Lets get to it shall we?

All Speedstep, C1E and Thermal Downclocking features from within the BIOS and Windows were turned off for the duration of the testing of this product (Not that I had them on anyway!)

All idle temperatures are recorded by leaving the system in the BIOS Idle for 2 Hours. The temperatures are also recorded with temperature probes I have inside the system. If results are more than marginally different between the two, then an average is drawn up based upon ambient temperature.

All Load temperatures are recorded by setting Intel Burn Test (Linpack 32-bit) to do 5 Passes. These temperatures are then recorded from within Coretemp and HWMonitor. Again, if there is severe fluctuation between Probe temps and BIOS temps then a suitable conclusion is drawn between the two.

E2160 - Stock

E2160 - Overclocked

Conclusion:

Interestingly enough the Kama comes extremely close to the S1283 in almost every aspect, Price, Size, Performance, but loses out by only a few points. Note that I did not have my Bolt-Thru kit on my Xigmatek for the duration of the testing, It would have been like comparing apples to oranges and created yet more variables. So as much as I hate them, I used Push-Pins for both coolers on this test.

Should you buy the Kama Angle? Yes. Why? Because it provides a good strong and upgradeable cooler for both new pc builders and experienced users alike. The fact that you can also add 2 more fans to the fins on the cooler means that it has the potential to become a star. With that add Scythe’s Bolt-Thru kit and perhaps another Kaze fan and you really are onto a winner. However in the economic downturn is price likely to affect people’s decision for an aftermarket cooler? Propably not, as your average Joe who is looking for a PC won’t even be Overclocking or be worried about the cooler. If they did, this thing is spot on!

Scoring:

Aesthetics:

[Solid looking cooler with meaty pipes and shiny flat base]
Ease of Use:

[Push-Pins were simple and easy to install, and adding the default fan or even 2 more would be as easy as pie!]
Performance:

[Nearly on par with my Xigmatek S1283, and the angle design is a real winner too]
Value for Money:

[A fairly cheap cooler for £30, but the Xigmatek S1283 Dark Knight can be found for £5-10 more and it includes a Bolt-Thru kit and 1366 Compatibility]

Overall Score:

A Brilliantly good cooler for your money and a worthwile investment for mulnaz cooling (Silent) and/or headroom for some beasty overclocking. The cooler held out well, as I was pumpong 1.475Volts through my E2160 to get 3.2Ghz on 400FSB

Recommended!