Thermaltake TMG-ND3 VGA Liquid Cooler

Introduction:

The Graphics world has really heated up and cooling has become increasingly important. Quite a few graphics card manufacturers have left stock cooling options aside and gone with something more capable, especially when graphics card boasts better overclocking. You can't achieve the best results with the cheapest coolers, so this is a very smart move on their part. However, not every model graphics card has been treated equally and some are still coming out with the cheaper, less efficient option. People with these cards won't be able to get the most out of their card especially if they can't quite afford to upgrade. This is where Thermaltake's TMG L.C.S. (Liquid Cooling System) VGA Coolers can help.

That upgrade may not be completely necessary if you can get a little more performance out of your graphics card. Or, perhaps you really don't like the stock VGA cooler and its often erratic fan noise that will sometimes fail a long the way. Then you will find yourself looking for an aftermarket cooler. Rather than waiting for any of these things to happen, you are better off finding something ahead of time that not only runs cooler, but also affords you some extra performance to get you by when you need it. And who knows, you may actually add some value to your graphics card if you decide to part with it later on to the winning bidder.

There are still plenty of GeForce 6800, 7800, and 7900 graphics cards around still in countless systems. Thermaltake is offering one of their most interesting VGA coolers to date to help reach your Graphics card goals whether it be less noise or more graphics processing power. The TMG ND3 (Liquid Cooling System) VGA Cooler, is their newest liquid cooled VGA Coolers that offers a new look that fall some where between a top notch aftermarket air cooler with a GPU block. Current water cooling users or those looking to officially make the switch now have something that can do their beloved graphics card justice while gaining an extra performance edge while maintaining silence.

Features and Specifications:

Super Silent at 16dBA.

 

• Super quiet 60mm low speed fan .

 

• Unique 60mm fan blade design to optimize the airflow while keeping the noise
  at minimal .

 

Effective cooling for the GPU and the video card memory at the same time.

 

Brazing Pure Copper Waterblock for maximum heat conductivity from

 

heat source.

 

Maximum & Effective Cooling

 

• Pure Copper Base for maximum heat conductivity from heat source.

 

• Advanced Brazing Technology enhances the thermal efficiency.

 

• Effective cooling for the GPU and the video card memory at the same time with
  bundled aluminum memory heatsink.

• Special fan shroud concentrates the airflow and focuses the air to the hotspot

 

Easy Installation

 

• Easy to install

Closer Look:

Thermaltake is probably the foremost creative manufacturer of very many products, especially CPU and VGA Coolers. These guys aren't afraid to try new things and look for new ideas that are reminiscent of days gone buy when we all modified one or more components just to show off or gain a little extra performance. Their TMG series VGA liquid coolers were on display at CES 2007 and were the newest of any VGA coolers on display that blend standard air and liquid cooling under one assembled system. The TMG ND3 is designed for Geforce 6800, 7800, and 7900 series graphics cards.

Front

Back

Specifications

Looking over Thermaltake's packaging for the TMG ND3, you immediately understand that TT is serious about providing this cooling solution to as many as possible. I also noticed that the ND3 isn't air cooled as the blower fan suggested. Instead, the ND3 is meant for liquid or water cooling based systems and comes pretty much preassembled. The only thing you have to do is install it on your current graphics card and connect it to your existing liquid cooling system. The acrylic housing and fan are pretty large in respect to the width of graphics cards it's intended. The acrylic is very clear and pretty light weight in itself.

Shroud Close Up

Fan Close Up

The copper block base is fairly smooth and decently polished. It doesn't quite sport a mirror finish, but does appear to be of good quality. The base doesn't have any specifically designated or lifted area like many blocks have. The only way to tell where the block may make contact with the GPU is by the already applied gray thermal paste covered by the plastic protective cap. This flat design also prevents the copper block from making actual contact with any memory modules. In this respect, thermal pads are included to help cool the memory by closing the gap between the copper base and memory ICs. The kit also includes some standard brushed aluminum memory sinks that utilize sticky tape to stay connected if you find the need for extra cooling like modules on the back of some cards.

Pre-Attached Tubing

Copper Base

Again, this isn't your typical water block in that it has a fan and acrylic housing to hold it place. You might be wondering why there would be a fan on a water cooling block. Remember, that the copper base makes contact via the thermal pads and/or requires the memory sinks to help dissipate any heat under load or overclocked settings. The one thing that makes those sinks perform their best a little extra air, so Thermaltake saw fit to add the fan and acrylic shroud to guide the coolest air over the copper surface and out the back via the vent port. And all while this is happening, the fan is providing a nice blue glow from its LEDs powered by a black, wrapped 4-pin power connector. This is another detailed small bonus often passed over by countless other manufacturers, but not Thermaltake.

Included in the package, directions, a couple case badges, and mounting screws. There is also a polished PCI bracket to add to your case PCI slot and given that it doesn't attach to the ND3 physically it should be pretty easy to figure out. The directions are pretty straight forward and fortunately very simple to follow no matter which model 6800, 7800, or 7900 graphics card you might have. The tubing and ring nuts are already connected so the directions are even that much more simple. And on that note, let's install and check out the TMG ND3 in greater detail.

Card and Contents

Sinks, Barbs, PCI Grill

Easy Directions

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