ZEROtherm BTF90: Sting like a Butterfly?

ZEROtherm BTF90

APACK packages the BTF90 in an attractive matte silver windowed package with an unusual slant to the top of the package. The packaging is professional looking and doesn't scream with the garishness we sometimes see in Asian accessories. All the information you need to make a buying decision is on the box - specifications, included accessories, CPU compatibility, etc.


The unique attributes of the cooler are detailed on the package, along with the cooler specifications. Much is said about silence innovations like the 4-pin fan connector to a variable speed magnetic levitation 750-2500 RPM 92mm fan. This fan size is smaller than the more common 120mm fan we are seeing on almost all of the current top-line air coolers. Inside the package is a clear plastic molded clamshell that protects the individual components.


The cooler itself is clearly designed to look like a butterfly. The BTF90 uses a plastic butterfly body and antennae that are part of the fan insert.


The plastic butterfly "body" is actually part of the molded fan clip. The maglev fan is easily removed for mounting the cooler, and access to the mounting screws is much easier with the fan removed. The fan has no guard to protect fingers, but it is somewhat protected by being recessed in the "tails" of the butterfly-wing-shaped cooling fins.

The mirror-polished copper base is protected by a peel-off film. Our sample left residue on the base plate and required cleaning with a solvent to remove the excess glue left behind. Once cleaned it was easy to mount the clip for Intel socket 775.


The slanted top holds a box with the accessories and mounting clips inside. Accessories include a mounting base for under the motherboard and a top plate with spring loaded screws for Intel socket 775 and a complete clip for AMD sockets 775/939/940/AM2. There is no cage or backplate for AMD, but the provided clip should fit the existing mounting cage on recent AMD/AM2 motherboards. Mounting of either Intel or AMD processors is very simple. Also included is a small tube of premium thermal paste and installation instructions.


Mounting is simple and very secure with either 775 or AMD. However, you will have to remove the motherboard to install the cooler on Intel 775. While the motherboard is removed, place the base plate through the 4-holes in the 775 motherboard and start the four spring screws. You can finish tightening the spring screws once the board is mounted. When the system is turned on the BTF90 is illuminated by red LEDs behind the fan.

APACK provides sparse installation instructions for both Intel and AMD. If you need more information you can generally find it at the ZEROtherm website. The BTF90 is both smaller and lighter at 678g than most recently tested top-of-the-line air coolers. However, 678g is still heavier than recommended by Intel for mounted coolers, so the secure mounting methods and solid metal backplate are welcome in the mounting kit. The BTF90 was very secure on Intel 775; the rigidity of the mount with AMD/AM2 is dependent on the rigidity of the motherboard cooler mounting system.

The ZEROtherm BTF90 is not readily available in the US, but you can find it for around $45-$50 at a few locations. It is also available at www.newegg.com, which is currently running a $10 rebate which lowers the price to around $35.

Specifications

Our test system is Intel socket 775, but the BTF90 will also mount on any recent AMD socket as well - including 754/939/940 and AM2. The kit includes a mounting clip for AMD processors, but not a backplate or mounting cage. The clip is designed to work with stock motherboard cooler mount systems for AMD/AM2.

ZEROtherm BTF90 Specifications
Heatsink
Dimensions	108(W) X 81 (D) X 128(H)mm
Weight	678g
Material	Mirror-Polished Copper Base and Copper Fins
Heatpipes	Eight (four looped) sintered copper heatpipes
Heat Dissipation Area	4.404 cm2 (682.6 in2)
Cooling Capacity	Over 150W
Fan
Fan Size	92x92x25mm (Not interchangeable)
Fan Type	Magnetic Levitation
Fan Speed	750-2500 RPM
Airflow	Maximum 42.8 CFM
Connector	4-pin (PWM)

The BTF90 is both smaller and lighter than the 120mm fan air coolers we have recently tested. However, it is unlikely the BTF90 will fit rack mount systems or the smaller HTPC cases that are popular with video enthusiasts. The embedded fan makes reaching the mount screws difficult when installing the BTF90, so it is easiest to remove the fan core before mounting the cooler. You do this by removing the two black screws in the plastic butterfly center on the top of the cooler. It is easy to orient the cooler in any of four directions, which those with unusual case cooling designs will like. We mounted the cooler with the fan blowing through the cooler toward the back of the case.

The EVGA 680i is a difficult to fit board due to the copper-finned heatsink and fan cooling the Northbridge. You would expect the smaller and lighter ZEROtherm BTF90 to be an easier fit than the large coolers we have tested with 120mm fans. This is true in depth, but the added width of the Butterfly tails requires about as much mounting space as a 120mm fan cooler. Still, the BTF90 fit comfortably on the EVGA 680i. Installation was also an easy task on the ASUS Striker and ASUS Commando, and on the two new P35 boards - the ASUS P5K Deluxe and P5K3 Deluxe. The P5K3 Deluxe will likely become a fit test for any motherboard, since the heatpipes completely circle the CPU socket and connect various cooling heatsinks around the CPU socket.