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Vantec Vortex Review

4.  This step it optional. Because I have an Antec case, I had to install drive rails which will hold the Vortex in the 5 ¼” drive bay.

5.  Insert the Vortex into an empty 5 ¼” drive bay and screw it into place. Then, take Molex connector shown in the picture below and plug it into an empty connector. You are now ready to turn on your computer.

 

6.  When you turn on your computer, the Vortex’s fan is by default off and the display displayed in degrees Celsius. Holding down the large square button for five seconds will change the temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit. Pressing the large button once will turn the fan to high. Pressing it one more time will turn the fan to low and pressing it more time will turn the fan off.

Testing

Testing will be done over a period of an hour and a half. The time will be divided up into six sections; each period of time will be 15 minutes. The temperature at the end of the 15 minutes will be taken for each of the tests (idle – High, Low, off; load – High, low, off)

Test Platform

  • AthlonXP-M 2600+ @ 2.5 GHz

  • Abit NF7-S

  • (3) Western Digital 80 GB hard drives

  • 1 GB of RAM

Performance

           

Analysis of the temperatures:

Idle temperatures with the fan off were 114 o F. When the fan was turned to low, the Vortex took 14 o F degrees off of the hard drive temperature. When the fan was turned on high, the hard drive temperature dropped another two degrees to 98 o F degrees. Keep in mind the ambient temperature is 84oF. In other tests, turning on the Crossfan on high has lowered my temperatures by up to 30 oF.

Some issues: 

  1. The door of the Vortex is somewhat flimsy and difficult to close.
  2. While Vantec never claimed that the Vortex would be quiet at full speed, it isn’t silent, but barely noticeable in a case full of fans.

Conclusion:           

Vantec has successfully merged the need for performance and ascetics with the introduction of the Vortex. It looks great, performs well and is priced quite well. If you are looking for a good hard drive cooler that looks great the Vortex is for you.

Pros:

  • Good performance

  • Good price

  • Looks great

  • There is a dust filter which will prevent dust from dirtying your hard drive.

  • Great value

Cons:

  • The units main power wire could be longer as it feel stretched

  • Fan is somewhat loud (personal preference)

  • The front door of the Vortex is somewhat weak.

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