A new company is born and already they look destined to take on our performance crown. Can Phanteks really challenge the mighty Noctua and Thermalright?
Product on Review: Phanteks PH-TC14PE
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Phanteks courtesy of CaseKing
MSRP: 79.90€/84.90€ for coloured edition
Computex is a time for companies to divulge their latest products to the world, however weird and wonderful these might be. Most of the time, these are merely working progress of innovative concepts and thus never end up in the market. But while many focus their attentions on established marquees, many new companies go unnoticed, Phanteks being one of them. This is mostly likely down to the fact that Phanteks have only revealed their entry into the CPU cooling market publically today, shrouding themselves in secrecy as they designed a cooler to rule them all. Phanteks today are not only unveiling their brand to the world but also their latest cooler, the PH-TC14PE. While not as catchy as Thermalright’s naming scheme or as short and sweet as Noctua’s product codes, the PH-TC14PE promises to become a house hold name within the enthusiast realm. In my years of doing CPU cooler reviews and seeing new companies appear, I have yet to see one plan their launch in such secrecy and with such intent on championing the market. It’s a big risk on their behalf as anything less than a spectacular product release could lead to their demise. So can the PH-TC14PE be the revolutionary product we have all been waiting for?
So what exactly is Phanteks’ mysterious PH-TC14PE? To start with, the PH-TC14PE is a brand new dual radiator cooler. These types of coolers are no stranger to us as they have been successfully implemented by Noctua with the NH-D14, and Thermalright with their Silver Arrow. The two are currently our two best performing and beating them isn’t exactly an easy task so Phanteks have designed their PH-TC14PE to feature the former two coolers’ best aspects in their bid to claim the performance crown. As such, the PH-TC14PE boasts some of the best specifications of any coolers we have seen to date. The dual radiator cooler employs five 8mm copper heat pipes each ends going through separate linearly aligned upright towers, a dense aluminium fin array with patented technologies to boost thermal conductivity and increase cooling performance in the form of C.P.S.C and P.A.T.S respectively, and two premium 140mm 1200RPM fans to ensure optimal thermal transfer at low noise levels. Perhaps the cooler’s best feature and one that enthusiasts will rejoice to hear about is the range of colours the PH-TC14PE comes available in; white, blue, orange and red (being reviewed here today). One of the complaints we see countless times with Noctua’s NH-D14 and Thermalright’s Silver Arrow is the companies’ somewhat stubborn choice of fan colour, and immediately we see Phanteks addressing this issue with not just one colour scheme but an array of them.
On initial impressions, Phanteks appear to be on the right path for cooling supremacy combining the best features of other competitive products and fixing some of their shortcomings. Can all this hype transfer successfully to the real world?
A bit about Phanteks:
Phanteks, is a company with more than 20 years international experience in providing thermal solutions. From specialists in providing thermal solutions we have now expanded to a company offering multiple product solutions.
With our thorough technical skills and marketing expertise, we fully optimize the products with thermal possibilities and capabilities. We have always been able to achieve the maximum due to our passion in finding and discovering new technical developments. Phanteks design team which has a base in Europe situated in Holland, consists of creative researchers, designers and developers have always been successful in spotting the exact needs of gamers. This results in our quality products.
Our expertise means no job is impossible, and that every customer is given a professional and personal service that is rare in today’s marketplace. We meet our customers’ expectations with superior products, customer service and industry knowledge.
Phanteks, is a company with more than 20 years international experience in providing thermal solutions. From specialists in providing thermal solutions we have now expanded to a company offering multiple product solutions.
With our thorough technical skills and marketing expertise, we fully optimize the products with thermal possibilities and capabilities. We have always been able to achieve the maximum due to our passion in finding and discovering new technical developments. Phanteks design team which has a base in Europe situated in Holland, consists of creative researchers, designers and developers have always been successful in spotting the exact needs of gamers. This results in our quality products.
Our expertise means no job is impossible, and that every customer is given a professional and personal service that is rare in today’s marketplace. We meet our customers’ expectations with superior products, customer service and industry knowledge.
Despite only announcing their product line today, Phanteks have a wealth of expertise in this domain adding another credential to their line-up of features. Let’s see if they can take on the challenge set by Noctua and Thermalright.
Features & Specifications
What Phanteks have to say about the PH-TC14PE:
Phanteks PH-TC14PE (Premium Edition) twin tower thermal radiator design uses the latest aerospace technology. By using P.A.T.S* to increase cooling performance and C.P.S.C Technology** to enhance thermal conductivity, heat will easily dissipate, creating an opportunity for greater overclocking. Combined with Dual Phanteks PH-F140 Premium 140mm Fans, easy-to-install SoliSku mounting kit and PH-NDC thermal compound, Phanteks PH-TC14PE with unique colour is setting the new standard of today’s CPU cooling.
Phanteks PH-TC14PE (Premium Edition) twin tower thermal radiator design uses the latest aerospace technology. By using P.A.T.S* to increase cooling performance and C.P.S.C Technology** to enhance thermal conductivity, heat will easily dissipate, creating an opportunity for greater overclocking. Combined with Dual Phanteks PH-F140 Premium 140mm Fans, easy-to-install SoliSku mounting kit and PH-NDC thermal compound, Phanteks PH-TC14PE with unique colour is setting the new standard of today’s CPU cooling.
Features:
•Patented P.A.T.S *(Physical Antioxidant Thermal Shield) will greatly increase the cooling performance and reliability while deflecting other thermal radiation from other heat sources, such as the GPU, South Bridge, North Bridge, etc. P.A.T.S ran at a long period, will display significantly better results in an enclosure, closed environment, than a tech station, open environment. In extreme conditions, P.A.T.S is able to withstand temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius. P.A.T.S is environmentally friendly and non-toxic.
•Patented C.P.S.C *(Cold Plasma Spraying Coating Technology) use a brand new technologic forming deposit that displaces heat onto corresponding metals at a quicker rate. With this technology, the Phanteks PH-TC14PE enhances thermal conductivity on the soldered surfaces of the heat-pipes through the copper deposits.
•Designed with dual tower radiators; the PH-TC14PE has five 8mm heat pipes linearly aligned to ensure optimal cooling. This cooler is made to have the least amount of air and thermal resistance.
•Phanteks PH-F140PE premium 140 mm fans use Updraft Floating Balance (U.F.B) bearing, nine Maelstrom Vortex Booster (M.V.B) blades, to achieve massive airflow and perfect dynamic balance to reduce noise level, the fan emits a low dBA with the support of the acoustic rubber damper and rubber-bar to help eliminate vibration.
•The SoliSku universal mounting kit provides an easy-to-install rotational backplate for Intel LGA 1155/1156/1366/775, AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3 (stock backplate required).
•The PH-NDC is a superb quality thermal compound for heatsinks. It is made of high-purity nano diamond-like particles to improve the thermal conductance between components. The generated heat caused by the CPU will transfer to the heatsink, without reduction in efficiency and resistance.
•Patented P.A.T.S *(Physical Antioxidant Thermal Shield) will greatly increase the cooling performance and reliability while deflecting other thermal radiation from other heat sources, such as the GPU, South Bridge, North Bridge, etc. P.A.T.S ran at a long period, will display significantly better results in an enclosure, closed environment, than a tech station, open environment. In extreme conditions, P.A.T.S is able to withstand temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius. P.A.T.S is environmentally friendly and non-toxic.
•Patented C.P.S.C *(Cold Plasma Spraying Coating Technology) use a brand new technologic forming deposit that displaces heat onto corresponding metals at a quicker rate. With this technology, the Phanteks PH-TC14PE enhances thermal conductivity on the soldered surfaces of the heat-pipes through the copper deposits.
•Designed with dual tower radiators; the PH-TC14PE has five 8mm heat pipes linearly aligned to ensure optimal cooling. This cooler is made to have the least amount of air and thermal resistance.
•Phanteks PH-F140PE premium 140 mm fans use Updraft Floating Balance (U.F.B) bearing, nine Maelstrom Vortex Booster (M.V.B) blades, to achieve massive airflow and perfect dynamic balance to reduce noise level, the fan emits a low dBA with the support of the acoustic rubber damper and rubber-bar to help eliminate vibration.
•The SoliSku universal mounting kit provides an easy-to-install rotational backplate for Intel LGA 1155/1156/1366/775, AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3 (stock backplate required).
•The PH-NDC is a superb quality thermal compound for heatsinks. It is made of high-purity nano diamond-like particles to improve the thermal conductance between components. The generated heat caused by the CPU will transfer to the heatsink, without reduction in efficiency and resistance.
Specifications:
Model: PH-TC14PE
Type: Heatsinks & Fans
Compatibility: Intel Socket LGA1155, 1156, LGA1366, LGA775, and AMD AM2/2+/AM3 (stock backplate required)
Material: Copper (Base and 8mm diameter x5 heat pipes), Nickel plated.
Aluminium (Cooling fins / top cover) with Patented P.A.T.S (Physical Antioxidant Thermal Shield) to increase cooling performance.
Patented C.P.S.C Technology (Cold Plasma Spraying Coating Technology) to enhance thermal conductivity.
Heatsink Dimension without fans: 134x140x160mm (LxWxH)
Heatsink Dimension with fans: 159x140x171mm (LxWxH)
Heatsink Weight without fan: 970g
Heatsink Weight with fan: 1100/1250g (Single/Dual fan)
Package Dimension: 220x175x200 (LxWxH)
Warranty: 5 years
Scope of Delivery:
-1x PH-TC140PE
-2x PH-F140 Premium fans
-6x Rubber bars
-12x Fan clip adaptors
-6x Fan wire clips
-16x Acoustic Rubber Damper
-1x Quiet-Speed-Adaptor (Q.S.A)
-SoliSku mounting kits for Intel Socket LGA1155, 1156, LGA1366, LGA775, and AMD AM2/2+/AM3 (stock backplate required)
-1x Y fan splitter
-1x PH-NDC thermal compound
-1x PH-TC14 User’s manual
The features and specifications list is very comprehensive, not surprising given that Phanteks are likely to take this opportunity to showcase their unique technological prowess. What is interesting to note is the sheer attention to detail they have put into the product to ensure the best performance, for instance the P.A.T.S and C.P.S.C patented technologies which mean that the design of the heatsink is more efficient. When coupled with a dense fin array and five 8mm heat pipes, Phanteks have the perfect recipe for the best performing air cooler on the market today, on paper anyway.
Apart from the application of unique technologies, the PH-TC14PE heatsink conforms to a regular copper and aluminium construction; copper for the base and heat pipes and aluminium for the fins. Like all other high end coolers, the copper is nickel plated for a more attractive and durable design. Like the Thermalright Silver Arrow, the PH-TC14PE bundles two 140mm fans with 120mm fittings thanks to their octagonal shapes.
A major concern for all dual radiator coolers is their size and weight. The Phanteks is no exception to the rule so let’s compare it to the Noctua NH-D14 and Thermalright Silver Arrow. Without fans, the PH-TC14PE is 970g in weight, 70g more than the NH-D14 and a substantial 145g more than the Silver Arrow. With a single fan, the weight of the Phanteks cooler increases to 1100g, 30g more than the Noctua and 135g more than the Thermalright. With both fans, the Phanteks is 1250g in weight. This is a mere 10g more than the Noctua and 145g more than the Thermalright. While it is heavier, the mounting kit is specifically adapted for it as we will see later.
Size wise, it is as tall as the other two dual radiator coolers at 160mm although installing the fans may increase this depending on their position. In terms of depth/length, the Phanteks is only 1mm more than the NH-D14 so we can expect the same issues of memory clearance. Let’s take a closer look at the fan specifications…
Fan Features & Specifications
Phanteks PH-F140TS 140mm premium fans are designed using the unique Maelstrom concept technology. With its nine blades and MVB feature, it’ll produce powerful yet silent downdraft airflow. Long lifespan and rotation stability is made possible with the UFB bearing, composed by MOSS and SSC systems. Speed adjustments can be done using the QSA adapters. The stylish octagon frame allows for 120mm fittings. PH-F140TS is setting a new standard of performance and compatibility.
Features:
MVB (Maelstrom Vortex Booster)
The nine blades are positioned in a way that it provides powerfully controlled airflow. The MVB produces a downdraft vortex allowing air passage through the surface to produce a significantly better performance while keeping the noise level down.
UFB Bearing (Updraft Floating Balance Bearing)
Phanteks’ UFB bearings are composed by MOSS and SSC system. MOSS has an effective fan hub-blade ratio to achieve a dynamic balance, thus floating the axis for minimal air noise. SSC increases the bearing life span to ensure that the fan axis is consistently operating without mechanical noise.
Polarity Auto-Restart Protection
Phanteks’ unique fan circuit design provides a Fan Polarity Auto-Restart feature. The sensor inside of the fan will constantly send a series of rectangular signals to your PC motherboard indicating that the fan is working correctly. The unique restart feature provides optimal support and protection.
Speeds settings by unique Q.S.A adapters and Anti-acoustic kits
Phanteks PH-F140TS comes with unique Q.S.A adapters for 1200, 900, 750RPM speed setting flexibility. Anti-Vibration compensators and rubber pads eliminate the buzzing sound and absorb the vibration noise.
Patented Thermal Bracket
The Thermal Bracket enhances the thermal convection inside of the PC case and helps reduce the dust gathering on the GPU, motherboard and other components. Phanteks Thermal Bracket with the PH-F140TS fans is the only solution for the GPU thermal convection issue. The Thermal Bracket is designed to fit any expansion slots with washers for silent and solid uses.
MVB (Maelstrom Vortex Booster)
The nine blades are positioned in a way that it provides powerfully controlled airflow. The MVB produces a downdraft vortex allowing air passage through the surface to produce a significantly better performance while keeping the noise level down.
UFB Bearing (Updraft Floating Balance Bearing)
Phanteks’ UFB bearings are composed by MOSS and SSC system. MOSS has an effective fan hub-blade ratio to achieve a dynamic balance, thus floating the axis for minimal air noise. SSC increases the bearing life span to ensure that the fan axis is consistently operating without mechanical noise.
Polarity Auto-Restart Protection
Phanteks’ unique fan circuit design provides a Fan Polarity Auto-Restart feature. The sensor inside of the fan will constantly send a series of rectangular signals to your PC motherboard indicating that the fan is working correctly. The unique restart feature provides optimal support and protection.
Speeds settings by unique Q.S.A adapters and Anti-acoustic kits
Phanteks PH-F140TS comes with unique Q.S.A adapters for 1200, 900, 750RPM speed setting flexibility. Anti-Vibration compensators and rubber pads eliminate the buzzing sound and absorb the vibration noise.
Patented Thermal Bracket
The Thermal Bracket enhances the thermal convection inside of the PC case and helps reduce the dust gathering on the GPU, motherboard and other components. Phanteks Thermal Bracket with the PH-F140TS fans is the only solution for the GPU thermal convection issue. The Thermal Bracket is designed to fit any expansion slots with washers for silent and solid uses.
Specifications:
Model: PH-F140TS
Type: CPU Cooler and Case Fan
Fan Dimension: 140x140x25mm
Bearing Type: UFB bearing (Updraft Floating Balance Bearing)
Blade Geometry: 9 blades design with M.V.B (Updraft Floating Balance Bearing) design
Input Current: 0.15A
Rate Voltage: DC 12V
Input Power: 1.8W
MTBF: > 150,000 hours
Speed Sensor: 3 pins
Cable length: 400mm
Fan Speed: 1200+/- 10% RPM, 900+/- 10% RPM with Q.S.A, 780+/- 10% RPM with Q2.S.A
Max Airflow: 78.1 CFM, 60.1 CFM with Q.S.A, 45.1 CFM with Q2.S.A
Acoustical Noise: 19 dBA, 15.2 dBA with Q.S.A, 13.4 dBA with Q2.S.A
Static Pressure: 1.21mm H2O, 0.69mm H2O with Q.S.A, 0.45mm H2O with Q2.S.A
Scope of Delivery:
-1x PH-TC140PE
-1x Patented Thermal Bracket
-2x Screws with plastic washers for Thermal Bracket
-1x Quiet Speed Adaptor (Q.S.A)
-1x Ultra Quiet Speed Adaptor (Q2.S.A)
-1x 3:4 Pin Adaptor
-4x Fan screws
-4x Anti-Vibration Compensators
-8x Anti-Vibration Rubber Pad
Warranty: 5 years
Once again, we have a very comprehensive break down of the Phanteks fan’s features. The PH-F140TS features some very unique technologies to increase airflow. One of its major advantages is its octagonal shape which creates a 140mm fan that is compatible with 120mm mounting, not dissimilar to Noctua NF-P14 and Thermalright’s TR TY-140s. Unlike the TY-140, the Phanteks fan is more regular in shape. The fan uses a unique UFB bearing that aims to increase lifespan, reduce mechanical noise and maintain performance. MVB is there to create more direct airflow. In some ways, it is akin to Silverstone’s Penetrator fans and thus creates a better wind tunnel effect. This is advantageous when directing air through the heatsink without “leakages” to the side. Somewhat similarly to Noctua, the fans are bundled with Q.S.A/Q2.S.A adapters to reduce the voltages at which the fans operate. In comparison, Noctua employs L.N.A/U.L.N.A but then again this isn’t unique to the marquee.
What is unique to the PH-F140PE is a patented thermal bracket that allows the fan to be mounted to the side of PCI slots in order to cool expansion cards like hot running GPUs. This is a brilliant concept as it is compatible with all cases. In retrospect, it has the same benefits and use as Lian Li’s BS-06 with none of the drawbacks of case compatibility.
In terms of fan speed, the PH-F140PE is again very similar to Noctua NH-D14. Both operate at 1200RPM and have their speed reduced to 900RPM at 7V. At 5v, the Phanteks operates at 780RPM as opposed to 750RPM but the discrepancy is negligible.
Packaging and Content
The packaging
The packaging used by Phanteks for their PH-TC14PE is a standard cardboard box 220x175x200mm is size. On appearance, it seems very compact given the size of the cooler. The box is littered with a wealth of information concerning the features and specifications. We can see that the graphics art is very neatly finished and the black and white theme is certainly very attractive. On the front, a teaser of the cooler in white is illustrated as well as the different coloured alternatives. In the top right corner is the Phanteks logo and model name.
The back of the box
At the back is a short summary of the PH-TC14PE repeated in 9 other languages suggestive of the brand’s global outreach. As mentioned Phanteks are European based like a lot of other successful brands including Noctua. We see a continuation of the black and white colour theme at the back.
The features
On one side of the box, all the features are listed with a description on how they help improve performance. The key features are the dual radiator design and inclusion of two 140mm fans. Phanteks’ unique technologies, P.A.T.S and C.P.S.C are also described. More information is available on our features and specifications page.
The specifications
Phanteks have also provided a very in-depth break down of the cooler and fan specifications with information about the design/construction of the heatsink, its weight, and dimensions. The fan speeds are also listed so users have a better idea of performance. For buyers looking to buy this in retail stores, the content is also listed for convenience.
Inside the box
Inside we see that the heatsink sits snugly within the packaging. When opening the box, a specially cut out foam piece sits on top and at the bottom, we see the same thing. The base of heatsink is secured by the white cardboard fold out. On either side of the heatsink are the Phanteks PH-F140TS fans, and in the middle of the radiators is the accessories box.
The bundle
The bundle and accessories is fairly extensive. Included are:
-1x PH-TC140PE
-2x PH-F140 Premium fans
-6x Rubber bars
-12x Fan clip adaptors
-6x Fan wire clips
-16x Acoustic Rubber Damper
-1x Quiet-Speed-Adaptor (Q.S.A)
-SoliSku mounting kits for Intel Socket LGA1155, 1156, LGA1366, LGA775, and AMD AM2/2+/AM3 (stock backplate required)
-1x Y fan splitter
-1x PH-NDC thermal compound
-1x PH-TC14 User’s manual
Phanteks have nicely packaged their mounting kit into separate bag for Intel and AMD systems respectively. What is interesting to note is that their packaging is strongly reminiscent of Noctua’s packaging as are the components for the SoliSku mounting kits. The provided socket screws, studs, black fan clip adapters, case fan screws are exactly the same as what Noctua bundles. The rest of the SoliSku components share similar traits to Noctua’s SecuFirm mounting kit. The only thing missing is a screwdriver. However, Phanteks have to be commended for their inclusion of 6 fan wire clips instead of just four. This means three fans can be installed without issues. Typically dual tower heatsinks only bundle four wire clips to support two fans. Anti-vibration rubber strips and pads are also provided.
The fan packaging
If bought separately, this is the packaging the Phanteks PH-F140TS fan comes in. It uses a very sleek black and white design with a clear plastic cut out to showcase the colour and design of the fan blades. Again, we see a strong resemblance to Noctua’s packaging.
The fan features
At the back, all the specifications are listed and there is also a panel that opens to reveal more information on the features such as Maelstrom Vortex Booster and unique UFB bearings. The panel is attached using Velcro pads.
Closer Look
The red Phanteks PH-TC14PE
The Phanteks PH-TC14PE is a visually striking cooler, not surprisingly because of its unique red coated finish. The cooler comes in four different colours; white/silver, orange, blue and red to appeal to a bigger audience. With the surge of people now getting all black motherboards, it would be good to see Phanteks create a black variant. Onto the heatsink, we can see its monstrous size as a result of its dual radiator design. Despite that, the cooler is very attractive and boasts quality. The construction feels very solid and the perfectly stacked fins give the cooler a clinical finish. What surprised me is that the red coating never got damaged during installation even after knocking it with my screw driver several times.
The front face of the radiator
A single radiator on the PH-TC14PE is built up of 44 stacked laminar fins perfectly parallel to each other. This is akin to Noctua’s design as opposed to Thermalright’s, who design theirs with bent winglets to generate more turbulence. In total, the heatsink is made of 88 fins 49x140mm in size with each separated by 2.5mm. This makes the total surface area of each fin 6890mm squared. In comparison, the Thermalright Silver Arrow is built of 110 fins each with a 5145mm squared surface area, whereas the NH-D14 features 84 fins with approximately the same surface area as the Phanteks. In practice, the Phanteks boasts the largest surface area for heat dissipation. To maintain structural rigidity, each stacked fin is interlocked with the adjacent ones at the side and in the middle.
The side profile and dual radiators
From the side, we can see more clearly that each fin is laminar and the radiator columns are linearly aligned. The Phanteks doesn’t have the same asymmetry as the Noctua NH-D14 in its heat pipe positioning so both radiators are equidistant from the centre of the base. This means that the PH-TC140PE may protrude further above the memory slots. There is a 33mm gap between the radiators to accommodate a 25mm thick fan with enough extra space to manoeuvre it in. The gap is a mere 28mm for the NH-D14 although the Silver Arrow has a 42mm gap to house 38mm thick fans.
At an angle…
The Phanteks PH-TC14PE features Physical Antioxidant Thermal Shield patented technology which aims to increase the cooling performance while deflecting thermal radiation for other nearby sources. This is perhaps derived from aerospace technology but without being part of the development team, it is hard to determine how much of it is marketing spiel and how much is innovative technology. We will give Phanteks the benefit of the doubt here but as usual, the proof is in the performance. I’ll say now that all those tiny attention to detail have made the Phanteks a truly exceptional cooler. The ends of the heat pipes have the tough job of supporting a radiator on each end. Thankfully, the robust construction ensures perfect stability.
The aluminium top plate engraved with the Phanteks logo
At the top, the ends of the heat pipes have been covered by aluminium plates that act as extra cooling fins. Engraved onto them is the Phanteks logo highlighting the brand’s attention to details in their bid to improve performance and aesthetics. The plate is nicely polished to create a reflective surface, albeit not a mirror one like Thermalright’s Silver Arrow. The advantage is that it’s not a thumb print magnet.
The fina arry
Let’s take a closer look at the fin. Again we see very strong resemblances to the Noctua NH-D14 fins. The edges are serrated to generate more turbulence which when coupled with the focussed airflow of the PH-F140TS fans improve heat transfer. Those serrations are more rounded on the Phanteks than they are on the Noctua which may increase the desired effect of turbulence. Another observation when we look at the base of the fins is that they are made of two halves soldered/connected along the centre seam.
The five 8mm heat pipes
One of the most significant features of the PH-TC14PE is the implementation of five 8mm thick heat pipes. Traditionally high end coolers feature either 6x6mm heat pipes (Noctua NH-D14) or 4x8mm heat pipes (Thermalright Silver Arrow). In this case, Phanteks have adopted the Silver Arrow’s design and added an extra heat pipe for faster heat transfer. These copper heat pipes are soldered to the nickel plated copper base plate so that heat can spread more efficiently from the CPU.
Contact with the CPU
One worry with numerous thick heat pipes is that they may not overlie the actual CPU and thus be wasted. To alleviate the problem, a copper block housing the heat pipes becomes more efficient as heat from the CPU can spread out regardless of its size. This is a far more efficient and flexible design than direct heat touch technology in such situations. Some may argue that the contact between the heat pipes and the base won’t be perfect and may create gaps but this is why Phanteks employ C.P.C.S technology. Nonetheless, let’s take a look at the size of the PH-TC14PE’s base and the largest CPU on the market currently; the Westmere based Core i7 990X. The base of the heatsink is 44.5x42mm. The corresponding dimension of the CPU HIS is 32x34mm despite the CPU itself being 42x45mm. Although we observe that the two end heat pipes don’t fully overly the CPU HIS, the base plate is more than big enough to make good contact and spread the heat. It is because of varying sized heatspreaders that some coolers tend to perform differently with different CPUs and the reason why we at Vortez test the most demanding chips to highlight the performance delta between coolers.
The heatsink base
The base of the heatsink is flat but lacks a mirror finish as demonstrated above. All five heat pipes are directly soldered to the base copper base plate.
Closer Look (Continued)
Not quite so flat base
The base of the cooler is ever so slightly convex. When installing the cooler however, it did an excellent job spreading out the thermal paste after applying a tiny blob. This tells us that the heatsink makes excellent contact with the CPU to maximise heat transfer.
Mounting hole
At the top of the base plate are two grooves and a single hole in the middle. The purpose is to place the centre pressure bracket and to secure it in place for subsequent installation. Unlike the Noctua, the mounting bracket doesn’t come attached to the heatsink by default.
Side fan grooves
Along the side of the fin array are grooves to clip in the fan wire clips. Two sets of grooves on each side of the radiators provide greater flexibility for fan installation and positioning, such that even three fans can be installed.
The PH-F140TS fans
The bundled Phanteks PH-F140TS fans are octagonal in shape, the corner edges being more rounded. The nine bladed fans are 140mm in diameter and similarly to Thermalright’s TR TY-140 and Noctua NF-P14s, the fans use 120mm mounting holes. Unfortunately, no 140mm mounting adaptors are provided even when bought separately. The fans feature a number of new technologies such as UFB bearings and MVB. The Maelstrom Vortex Booster refers to the notches on each blade that help generate a powerful focussed airflow. This is attained by producing high pressure vortices which then cause a downdraft as surrounding air is encouraged to flow through the heatsink. At the back of the fan, we see the 3 triangular strands supporting the rotor and fan to the frame.
The fan features a 3 pin fan connector so speed control can only be achieved using the Q.S.A and Q2.S.A voltage adapters. The cable is very nicely braided boasting a dense weave that perfectly hides the three cables inside. The cable has a rubberised texture for durability. At each end, the braiding is tied using heat shrink and one end is clamped at the edge of the fan to make sure the braiding cannot be pulled off. Furthermore, the cables themselves are white for a perfectly neat finish.
Fan adaptors
When installing the fan, a black rubber fan adaptor has to be inserted in each corner. This is akin to Noctua’s implementation and work very well as it secures the metal wire clip to the fan prior to installing it onto the heatsink. This is superior to other methods where users end up fiddling with wire clips that fail to stay in place when installing the fans. Next to the mounting holes are two oval shaped depressions into which rubber dampers can be placed. Phanteks provide enough for two fans.
Installing the fan
To mount the fan, simply insert the ends of the wire clips into the rubber fan adaptors and clip the centre handles onto the side heatsink grooves. The best way I found to insert the wire clips into the rubber adaptors was to have the ends facing inwards and sliding them into the holes, followed by 180 degrees rotation into place. The process was very simple and worked slightly better than Noctua’s method despite the two being similar. I found it much easier to clip/unclip the wires onto the heatsink than with the NH-D14. One complaint is that the rubber adaptors were too small when inserted into other fans so the mechanism is limited to fans with closed end and with thin outer casing. As such during testing, elastic bands had to be used to secure Noctua 120mm NF-P12s and Coolink’s SWiF-120P.
The cooler with two fans…
Finally we see what the end product looks like with both fans attached. The wire clips allow the height of the fans to be adjusted based on your requirements, whether it be to fit inside a narrow case or to create more clearance above memory modules.
…And a third fan.
And Phanteks were kind enough to send a few more fans so we were obliged to install a third one…
Closer Look (Size Comparison)
Installed on the motherboard
Installed on the already sizeable ASUS Rampage III Extreme, the Phanteks PH-TC14PE dominates the upper part of the motherboard towering high and mighty. Those worried about the weight hanging off the motherboard should not worry as the SoliSku mounting kit has been specially designed for this purpose and works well. The red colour scheme also closely matches the ASUS board although there is a slight shade of pink on the Phanteks.
A third fan…
And this is what the PH-TC14PE look like with a third fan. The third fan overhangs the rear motherboard chipset heatsink but there were no height conflicts.
Heatsink memory clearance
In terms of memory compatibility, the slightly deeper dimensions and symmetrical offset from the centre causes the heatsink to protrude forward slightly more than the Noctua NH-D14 so the front radiator overhangs 1 memory slot and a fraction of the second. It has to be noted that the distance between the CPU socket and the memory modules is shorter on the Rampage III Extreme than on other boards so the heatsink would only overhang a single slot.
Fan memory clearance
The fan covers an additional three slots so tall memory modules will not fit. It is possible to shift the fan upwards. However, this increases the overall height of the cooler to over 170mm at which point the distance to the side case panel has to be taken into account. My advice would be to buy low profile memory modules.
Phantek PH-TC14PE vs. Noctua NH-D14 without fans
The Phanteks and Noctua NH-D14 side by side represent the ultimate in air cooling. Unfortunately we didn’t have the Thermalright Silver Arrow to add to this comparison since it leads our charts alongside the Noctua. It is immediately apparent that Phanteks’ dual tower radiator is a good performer judging on its design and form factor.
Phantek PH-TC14PE vs. Noctua NH-D14 height comparison
Looking at the front face of the two heatsinks, we see the similarities they share in terms of fin array density and design, the Phanteks boasting an extra two fins in this case. Both heatsinks have laminar fins with serrated edges. There are some subtle differences such as the Phanteks fins being comprised of two parts instead one being just one piece, and the interlocking joints running down the centre and sides. Phanteks have also places an extra fin and top plate at the top to make the most of the heat pipe ends. Both heatsinks end up the same height.
Phantek PH-TC14PE vs. Noctua NH-D14 length comparison
Both heatsinks are 140mm wide and can easily be accommodated into cases without affecting expansion slots.
Phantek PH-TC14PE vs. Noctua NH-D14 width comparison
The gap between the two towers on the Phanteks is 33mm, 5mm more than on the NH-D14 meaning fans can be more easily accommodated but at the detriment of further memory overhang. The thicknesses of the Phanteks and Noctua radiators are the same at 49mm.
Phantek PH-TC14PE vs. Noctua NH-D14 with fans
One of the major complaints from potential NH-D14 buyers is the beige/brown colour scheme employed by Noctua. Phanteks must have been listening carefully as they have addressed this issue with a range of colour schemes. The red and white colour scheme compliments many current motherboards and even the most remote colour schemes such as that of the Gigabyte X58-OC is nicely complimented by the orange PH-TC14PE variant.
Test Setup
CPU – Intel Core i7 920 – 2.66/4.0GHz
RAM – 6GB (3x2GB) OCZ Platinum DDR3 1333MHz
Motherboard – ASUS Rampage III Extreme
Graphics card – XFX HD5870 1024MB
Power Supply – Enermax Revolution 85+ 850W
Hard Drive – OCZ Vertex 2E 120GB
Case – Lian Li B25B
Samsung F1 320GB
Samsung F3 1TB
Drivers – ATI Catalyst 11.7
CPU Coolers:
Phanteks PH-TC14PE including tests using 3 Phanteks PH-F140TS, 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Alpenföhn Triglav including tests using 1 stock fan, 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Antec KÜHLER H2O 620 including tests using 1 stock fan, 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Antec KÜHLER H2O 920 including tests using 2 stock fans, 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Prolimatech Genesis including tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s, 2 SWiF2-120Ps and 2 Prolimatech Blue Vortex 14s
NZXT Havik 140 including tests using 2 NZXT fans, 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Alpenföhn Matterhorn including tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s, 2 SWiF2-120Ps and 2 Föhn 120 Wing Boost fans
Prolimatech Super Mega including tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s, 2 SWiF2-120Ps and 2 Prolimatech Blue Vortex 14s
Noctua NH-C14 (U.L.N.A and default speed) including tests using 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Thermalright Silver Arrow including passive and tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Thermalright HR-02 including passive and tests using Noctua NF-12/NF-P14s and Thermalright TR TY-140
Thermaltake Frio (Low/med/high speed) including tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s
Corsair H50 including tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
CoolIT ECO A.L.C including tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Thermalright Venomous X using 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Coolink Corator DS including tests with dual fan setups
Tuniq Propeller 120(High speed fan)
Noctua NH-C12P SE14
Prolimatech Megahalem
Noctua NH-D14 (U.L.N.A and default speed)
Noctua NH-U12P SE1366
Thermolab Baram (with 2 Noctua NF-P12 fans)
CoolIT Domino A.L.C
Sunbeam Core Contact Freezer
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus including test with 2 Noctua NF-P12 fans
Alpenföhn Nordwand including test with 2 Noctua NF-P12 fans
Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme (Low/med/high speed)
Program Suite:
Core Temp 0.99.5
LinX stress Test
CPUID HWMonitor
How I tested:
Testing will be based on temperatures recorded by Core Temp and PC wizard after 20 passes of LinX stress test. The absolute temperatures recorded in the tables are averages of the 4 cores and the delta value provided for a fair comparison, taking into account ambient temperatures. The test will be run at stock speed and at an overclocked speed of 4GHz.
Installation
Installing the Phanteks PH-TC14PE is an easy and straightforward task thanks to the intuitive SoliSku mounting kit. Those familiar with Noctua’s SecuFirm 2 kit will find a lot in common between the two methods. In the next few steps, we will detail installation on an LGA1366 motherboard.
1. Identify the back plate and the appropriate mounting holes which are labelled at the back for LGA1366, LGA1155/1156, and LGA1366.
2. Insert the 4 socket screws in each corner ensuring they are flush with the sides.
3. Install the back plate onto the back of the motherboard.
4. Place a black stud on each socket screw.
5. Secure the back plate using the two strip adapters and the nuts. Make sure the socket holes on the strip adapters line up inwards towards the centre i.e. the LGA1366 holes are on the outside. To mount the heatsink in an east-west position, install the strip adapters along the top and bottom of the socket area (The adapters should be perpendicular to the radiator alignment).
6. Install the middle mounting plate onto the base of the heatsink and use the mounting plate screw nut to secure it.
7. After applying thermal paste on the CPU, line up the spring loaded screws to the screw threads on the strip adapters and screw them by doing each a bit at a time for even loading. Do so till it reaches a natural stop.
The main differences between Phanteks’ SoliSku and Noctua’s SecuFirm are the slightly different strip adapters and the fact that the mounting plate isn’t pre-installed to the PH-TC14PE. The two heatsinks are not compatible with each other’s mounting mechanism. In principle, the method is not dissimilar to other manufacturers such as Prolimatech and Thermalright.
Results (Grouped)
The results have been arranged in terms of the fan configuration that yields the best results for each cooler. However, it is important to take into account that many coolers come with their own fans and changing those increases the costs significantly, so the “out of the box” cooler configurations have been highlighted in red each group.
Stock
The Phanteks PH-TC14PE gets off to a very remarkable start. It might not be at the top due to its best configuration being slightly behind Noctua’s and Antec’s coolers but the results themselves are very impressive. Before we break down the results further, let’s look at how different fan setups work on the Phanteks. Immediately we see that in its default configuration, it produces a delta of 30.5C or 30.25C if the bundled thermal paste is used. Adding a third fan reduces the temperature by 1C whereas using a single mid fan raises the delta temperature by 1C instead. Using the two fans with Q.S.A adapters dropped the fan speeds to 780RPM rather than the supposed 900RPM suggesting that they were in fact Q2.S.A adapters. Nonetheless performance was still impressive with a delta temperature of 32C, 0.5C higher than with a single fan at full speed. Switching to Noctua’s NF-P14s resulted in the same load delta temperatures as Phanteks’ own PH-F140TS. The delta temperatures generated by the NF-P12s on the Phanteks cooler were marginally than the default configuration, whereas the faster SWiF2-120Ps were marginally better by 0.25C.
Results (Ascending order)
Stock
Now let’s see just how well the PH-TC14PE compares to other coolers. The results generated concentrated mostly at top of our charts battling against the likes of Noctua, Prolimatech and Thermalright. All the different fan configurations yielded very close results and as such matched the likes of the Prolimatech Genesis, Super Mega and Noctua. However, it is important to note that the Phanteks produced the same results as the Prolimatechs using lower RPM fans. In its stock configuration, the Phanteks cooler is comparable to the Noctua NH-D14. With a single fan, the Phanteks still kept up with the likes of the Thermalright Venomous X and even the default Silver Arrow setup. The most impressive results were yielded by the cooler running passively with no fans. These were comparable to the likes of the NH-C14, the ALC units and even bettered the Thermalright Archon in its out-of-the-box configuration.
Results (In-depth analysis)
In the next comparison, we look at the default cooler performance as they come out of the box with their bundled fans. Coolers that come with no fans have been coupled with Noctua’s NF-P12 or fans that the manufacturers intended their coolers to be used with.
Looking at the default configurations all the coolers come in, the Phanteks goes straight to the top by matching the Noctua NH-D14 under load and being marginally better at idle (0.25C). Even with the fan speed reduced, the PH-TC14PE held up well, being a mere 0.5C behind the Thermalright Silver Arrow and matching the likes of the Frio with its substantially faster and louder fans.
The heatsink proves to be highly efficient by generating the best results when coupled with two of Noctua’s NF-P12s. The Thermalright Venomous X follows by a substantial gap.
With two SWiF2-120Ps, the Noctua still proves to be king but the Phanteks is still a very good performer.
With NF-P14s, Noctua once again retains its lead followed very closely by the Phanteks.
Passively, our previous champion the Thermalright Silver Arrow loses its crown to the Phanteks PH-TC14PE which leads by a delta of 0.75C. It also generates very impressive idle temperatures, low enough to bring many other coolers with fans to shame.
Results Overclocked (Grouped)
The results have been arranged in terms of the fan configuration that yields the best results for each cooler. However, it is important to take into account that many coolers come with their own fans and changing those increases the costs significantly, so the “out of the box” cooler configurations have been highlighted in red each group.
4GHz
The overclocked CPU at 4GHz was easily tamed by the PH-TC14PE. The Phanteks cooler claims some of the most impressive results in our table commanding the best cooler configuration when teamed with three PH-F140TS. A temperature delta of 50.75C makes the Phanteks our new leader and we observe the same results with the two SWiF2-120P fans. In its default configuration, the delta temperature is 51.75C or 51C using Phanteks’ own thermal paste. Using only a single fan increases the delta to 52.75C, still enough to match out top end coolers. Under Q2.S.A, the fan speeds reduce to 780RPM and performance is slightly worse at 55C. We also see that the performance from two Noctua NF-P12s is comparable to a single PH-F140TS. We also observe that the NF-P14s perform slightly better than Phanteks’ own fans here. Passively, the cooler yields a delta of 61C and 60.5C with and without the bundled thermal paste respectively.
Results Overclocked (Ascending order)
4GHz
Taking a look at the results here, yet again we see the results concentrating towards the top of our table. In its default configuration, it is easily ahead of the competition even managing to better the Silver Arrow with three TY TR-140 fans. Adding a third fan generated the best performance without the cost of noise whereas the other high end coolers relied on faster RPM Coolink fans to get anywhere close to the Phanteks’ outstanding results. Even with a single fan or with two NF-P12s, the cooler is comparable to the default Silver Arrow and NH-D14 configurations, an amazing feat by this new manufacturer. Using Q2.S.A, the result was 2.5C better than Noctua’s U.L.N.A and 3C better than the Silver Arrow with its fans reduced to 850RPM. Passively, the Phanteks is comparable to the likes of the Noctua NH-C14, Prolimatech Megahalem and Alpenföhn Matterhorn.
Results Overclocked (In-depth analysis)
In the next comparison, we look at the default cooler performance as they come out of the box with their bundled fans. Coolers that come with no fans have been coupled with Noctua’s NF-P12 or fans that the manufacturers intended their coolers to be used with.
The Phanteks is easily the best cooler on our list and even with the fan speed reduced to a mere 780RPM, the heatsink proves to be very efficient in keeping up with the likes of the Prolimatech Super Mega.
The Phanteks PH-TC14PE demonstrates the best efficiency with Noctua’s NF-P12 beating the Silver Arrow by 1C.
With two higher RPM SWiF2-120Ps, the Phanteks still leads the Silver Arrow albeit by just 0.25C this time. It is possible that the Phanteks design favours lower RPM fans.
And once again, the PH-TC14PE claims the crown by outperforming the Silver Arrow by a whole degree.
Passively, it still produces the best results and topples our previous leader which already led the NH-D14 quite significantly. It also generates the lowest idle delta temperatures.
Other Observations
Thermal Paste
As always, we test our coolers with Thermalright’s ChillFactor II thermal paste but it is always interesting to see the performance of bundled thermal paste, especially when we consider that manufacturers are opting for more premium quality ones nowadays. At stock CPU speed, the Phanteks PH-NDC was marginally ahead of Thermalright’s compound in one situation. Similarly, we find the PH-NDC paste outperforming the ChillFactor II by 0.75C when the cooler is coupled with its two fans. However, under passive conditions, the ChillFactor II turned out to be better. We realise that the performance of the thermal compounds are independent of the fan setup so this observation highlights the error margin in our tests.
The PH-F140TS Fans
In our performance charts, we observe that Noctua’s NF-P14s performed marginally better than Phanteks’ PH-F140TS at 4.0GHz by 0.5C. When testing them in the open air, I observed that Phanteks’ fan pushed more air through very subjective tests of putting a piece of paper in front of both fans. Despite this unscientific approach, it was very evident than Phanteks’ fans produced more airflow. This prompted me to question how the NF-P14s could be giving better results. The explanation is apparent when we look at both fan specifications. The NF-P14 has better static pressure (1.29mm H2O vs. 1.21mm H20) whereas the PH-F140TS generates more airflow (78.1CFM vs. 64.9CFM). Since the tightly packed fin array favours higher static pressure, performance was higher with the Noctua fans unsurprisingly. Nonetheless, we shouldn’t discredit the Phanteks fans as they strike a good balance between static pressure and airflow to promote their capabilities as case fans. What this test highlights is the importance of static pressure and not just airflow figures.
Noise
This is where we tend to rely most on subjective observations. The PH-F140TS were very quiet units, on par with Noctua’s NF-P14s acoustically. There was no distinguishing mechanical or rotor noise even at full speed, and the fan was inaudible above my other systems fans namely my Scythe S-Flex and GPU fan. Using Q.2.S.A made the fans almost silent and yet produced some excellent results.
Conclusion
Choosing a cooler has become a very difficult task. Many different factors have to be taken into account; performance, acoustics, size, aesthetics, and price being the key ones. Let’s start with performance. Previously, the Noctua NH-D14 and Thermalright Silver Arrow were the two main options for the absolute best in performance. Whereas the NH-D14 is better at stock speed and marginally ahead of the Thermalright in their default fan configurations, the Silver Arrow proves to be more efficient with different fans, generates less noise and is available for much cheaper. The Phanteks PH-TC14PE makes matters somewhat easier performance wise. Throughout most our tests, it comes out top proving to not only be effective in its out-of-the-box configuration but also with all the different fan combinations.
Acoustics and fans; at 1200RPM the Phanteks PH-F140TS fans are quiet units on par with Noctua’s own fans. The various features the fans boast such as UFB bearings and Maelstrom Vortex Booster go a long way at ensuring optimal airflow without the cost of noise. When we see the likes of ALC units opting for noisy high RPM fans to generate good performance, it is refreshing to see air coolers achieving the best results without making any such compromises. Thermalright’s TR TY-140s are still superior fans since they perform slightly better at lower acoustic levels than Noctua’s NF-P14s which in turn lead the PH-F140TS by a mere 0.25C delta, but the difference is negligible at best. The PH-F140TS fans strike a perfect balance of airflow and static pressure allowing them to be used effectively as case fans.
Size has never been the strong point of recent air coolers; the reason being that performance is strongly dependent on heatsink surface area. In reality, size should not be an issue and it is only people’s negative perceptions that mare their popularity. To start with, the Phanteks is very easy to install, following the footsteps of Noctua and Thermalright in this department. The SoliSku kit is perfectly adapted to support the weight of the PH-TC14PE with its two fans so again no issues there. At 160mm tall, or slightly taller with the fans attached, the cooler should still fit in most modern mid or full tower cases. All cases with a 120mm exhaust fan to the side of the motherboard I/O area should be able to accommodate the cooler without problems as long as side panel fans are not installed. The other worry with these dual tower radiators is of course memory clearance. This isn’t the Phanteks’ strong point as the heatsink itself hangs over the adjacent memory slot and the fan overhangs 3 more slots. My advice to buyers would be to simply opt for low profile memory modules to not limit their choice of coolers because no alternative will currently match the Phanteks PH-TC14PE’s cooling performance.
In terms of aesthetics, Phanteks are onto another winning feature. The cooler is unique in that it comes in a selection of colours to please a wider audience and to match a range of components. There is no doubt that Phanteks were hoping to avoid the negativity that Noctua faces daily regarding their somewhat risqué choice of colour. Our red PH-TC14PE complimented my own Rampage III Extreme very well. Colour scheme aside, there is a lot to like about the dual radiator design, its engraved top aluminium plate and the octagonal fans.
The Phanteks PH-TC14PE does not come cheap and this is perhaps its main downfall, albeit not a major one if supreme performance is what you are after. At 79.90Euros (£70) for the silver edition and 84.90Euros (£75) for the coloured variants, the Phanteks is one of the most expensive coolers currently on the market. Against the likes of Prolimatech’s Genesis (60Euros/£60), it represents good value since two quality fans are already bundled and even against the Noctua NH-D14 (72.90Euros/£65), the price difference is small. Certainly the extra premium warrants the performance benefits and aesthetics. However, once again Thermalright proves to be a worthy challenger with its Silver Arrow. At 49.90Euros/£50, it is a mere fraction of the Phanteks’ price whilst still delivering the majority of the performance. In terms of value for money, the Thermalright Silver Arrow remains untouched so it remains to be seen how Phanteks aim to tackle that. Nonetheless, the PH-TC14PE is still appropriately priced and with a 5 year warranty to back it up, you get what you pay for.
There’s not a whole lot to hate about the Phanteks PH-TC14PE. It excels in all areas and most importantly of all; it is our new cooling king. If I had complaints, the first would be that I would have liked to see a bit more originality in its design and the second is that another fan installation mechanism is needed for traditional 120mm fans due to the rubber adaptors not being fully compatible. The other perspective is that it builds on established designs to deliver consumers the best.
Pros
+Absolutely stunning performance
+Very well packaged
+Two quality 140mm fans included
+Quiet
+Rich bundle
+Support for Intel and AMD sockets
+Ease of installation
+Aesthetics
+Choice of colours
+Innovative technologies
+Highly efficient
+Passive performance to match other coolers
+5 years warranty
Cons
-Cost
-Wire clips and rubber adaptors not compatible with traditional 120mm fans
-Little clearance for tall memory modules
+Absolutely stunning performance
+Very well packaged
+Two quality 140mm fans included
+Quiet
+Rich bundle
+Support for Intel and AMD sockets
+Ease of installation
+Aesthetics
+Choice of colours
+Innovative technologies
+Highly efficient
+Passive performance to match other coolers
+5 years warranty
Cons
-Cost
-Wire clips and rubber adaptors not compatible with traditional 120mm fans
-Little clearance for tall memory modules
The Phanteks PH-TC14PE deserves nothing less than our GOLD and ELITE awards. Special thanks to CaseKing who have given us this exclusive opportunity to test a sample prior to release. Browse their site here.
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
