Prolimatech Ultra Slim Vortex Performance Review

Prolimatech is well known for their PC cooling solutions, the much endorsed Megahalems and MK-26 has proven to provide top notch cooling performance compared to many. Instead of the gigantic heatpipes, our review today will be covering the Prolimatech Ultra Sleek Vortex fans - great thanks to Prolimatech for sending us the review unit for both Ultra Sleek Vortex 12 (USV12) and Ultra Sleek Vortex 14 (USV14).

Both Ultra Sleek Vortex aka USV fans comes with a thickness of 15mm each, 40% lesser than the 25mm thickness on most conventional cooling fans but does the reduction in size means of reduction in performance as well? 

Specifications

 Prolimatech USV12 - $19.99 (Amazon)

Dimension	120 x 120 x 15mm
Bearing	Double Ball Bearing
Net Weight	91g
Fan Speed	PWM 400 ~ 1300 RPM
Noise Level	7~17 dBA
Airflow	56 CFM
Connector	4 PIN PWM
Rated Voltage :	12 V
Rated Current :	0.12 Max. Amp
Input Power :	1.44 W
Input Current :	0.12 Max. Amp
MTBF :	100,000 h / 35℃ or 60,000 h / 60℃
Static Pressure :	0.9 mmH2O

(Source: http://www.prolimatech.com/en/products/detail.asp?id=2722&subid=2723#showtab)

Overview

Our first look at the front packaging, the image printed seems to be the actual size of the fan itself and there's a small cutout area which reveals the fan blade that seems to be aligned with the image in the front.

The accessories included, 4 pieces of screws and a 4-pin molex connector. 

Last but not least, the fan itself. The USV12 comes with a 4-pin PWM connector that offers more power efficient cooling and the cable is sleeved with black rubber sleeving for a cleaner and tidier appearance.

Compared side by side with a Gentle Typhoon AP-15 with 25mm thickness. 

Prolimatech USV14 - $19.99 (Amazon)

Dimension	(L)140mm X (W)140mm X (H)15mm  (with 120mm mounting holes)
Bearing	Double Ball Bearing
Net Weight	91g
Fan Speed	300 ~ 1000 RPM (±100RPM)
Noise Level	9 ~ 18 dBA
Airflow	98 CFM
Connector	4 PIN PWM
Rated Voltage	12 V
Rated Current	0.19 Max. Amp
Input Power	2.04 W
Input Current	0.19 Max. Amp
MTBF	100,000 h / 35℃ or 60,000 h / 60℃
Static Pressure	0.9 mm H2O  (at 1,000 RPM)

(Source: http://www.prolimatech.com/en/products/detail.asp?id=1906&subid=1907#showtab)

Overview

Just like the USV12, the front packaging of the USV14 comes with the same cutout that reveals the fan blades that seems to be aligned with the fan image printed on.

The accessories included is basically the same, 4 pieces of metal screws and a 4-pin molex connector.

Just like the USV12 but larger in size, the USV14 comes with a 4-pin PWM connector and rubber sleeved cables but, unlike most conventional 140mm fans, the USV14 comes in a round shaped frame instead of  square shaped frame. 

Compared side by side with a Fractal Design Silent Series R2 140mm fan- top view, the USV14 appears to be smaller in size. 

Both USV12 and USV14 has the same thickness of 15mm, but what makes the USV14 special is that there's some additional perks which can be added to the USV14.

Static Booster 14

Cost $7.99 each

Static Booster 14, perks for the USV14 which boast to be able to increase the static pressure of the USV14 after installed. Comes available in white and black, this makes us wonder if the USV14 will be available in white soon as the current USV14 we've seen only comes in Black.

The Static Booster 14 looks like a piece of clip on plastic frame which is very rigid to the touch and the installation is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.

 

Installing the Static Booster 14 adds another 10mm of thickness to the fan. With a total of 25mm, the thickness of USV14 with Static Booster 14 installed is pretty much the same as any conventional 140mm fan.

A demonstration on the screw mounting hole on the USV14, the 140mm fan which can be installed to a 120mm fan mount instead of 140mm fan mount.

Main Benefit of slim fans?

Clearance for fan installation has always been an issue for those who wish to install more fans but their current chassis just don't seems to allow them to do so. As seen from the picture above, conventional cooling fans is unable to reach a desired spot because of clearance issue.

Slim fans on the other hand, is able to reach certain narrow spot without any issue. 

Testing Method
The following configuration is our setup for the performance review:

Test Rig Configuration
CPU	Intel Core i5 3570K overclocked to 4.0GHz
Motherboard	Asus Sabertooth Z77
Memory	Corsair Vengeance 4GB x 4
Graphics	EVGA GTX770 SuperClocked w/ ACX Cooling
Power Supply	Seasonic X660 80+ Gold
Drives	Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB
Cooler	Corsair Hydro Series H80
Chassis	Corsair Carbide Series 300R Windowed

The intake fan for this setup consists 2 pieces of Silverstone AP121 while the exhaust is the fans mounted on the H80 radiator made up of the following pairs with 12V supplied:

- Prolimatech USV14 with Static Booster 14 

- Prolimatech USV14
- Prolimatech USV12

- Bitfenix Spectre Pro 120mm

- Scythe Gentle Typhoon AP-15

CPU stress test is conducted using the Prime95 with the option 'In-place large FFTs' for maximum heat output from the CPU itself and the room temperature where the test is conducted varies from 30ºC to 33ºC. The stress test is done repeatedly for a more accurate result as we're experiencing climate changes during the test and the the numbers we're getting is very uneven. As result, the test too almost 2 month before the final result is concluded. The graphs below shows the final result of the rally of our test carried out throughout these 2 month:

Despite of being slimmer in size, the Ultra Sleek Vortex fans from Prolimatech performs exceptionally well, much better than we have expected. 

With the Static Booster 14 installed, we're able to achieve a result which is very near to the Scythe Gentle Typhoon AP-15 by difference of 1 ºC. Without the Static Booster 14, the USV14 is displaying a lower performance by 2 ºC different while idle and 1 ºC while on load. 

As for the USV12, we're really surprised as it is able to be on par with the Bitfenix Spectre Pro 120mm. We're curious to know what will the result be if there's a Static Booster 12 for the USV12. Much impressive performance from Prolimatech, wow.

Our Verdict

Both USV14 and USV12 performed exceptionally well throughout the review. Even though there's some design issues which slightly affect the compatibility, still there's no doubts that the Prolimatech Ultra Sleek Vortex fans is one of the best slim type fan that we've came across so far. 

USV12
Pros 
- Strong frame that doesn't bend easily
- Slim enough to reach narrow spots
- PWM controlled
- Sleeved cable
- Good performer, on par with Bitfenix Spectre Pro 120mm
- Works well with self-contained liquid cooler with 120mm/240mm/360mm radiator

Cons
- Rubber cable sleeve is harder to clean when dust accumulate on its surface
- Slightly noisy on full load


USV14
Pros
- Strong frame that doesn't bend easily
- Able to mount on 120mm fan mount 
- PWM controlled
- Sleeved cable
- Slim enough to reach narrow spots
- Additional add-on to improve performance (Static Booster 14)
- Works well with self-contained liquid cooler with 120mm and heatsink

Cons
- Very limited option for installation due to it's shape 
- cannot be mounted on 140mm fan mount
- Rubber cable sleeve is harder to clean when dust accumulate on its surface

Without any hesitation, we're awarding the USV12 with our Tech Critter Gold Award and USV14 with our Tech Critter Silver Award and would highly recommend it to those who need some extra cooling performance but with limited clearance for fan installation.  

Malaysia’s Leading Gamers Battle It Out at Alienware Tournament Alienware and Genysis Cyber E-sport Joined Forces for Alienware LAN Championship

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25, 2014– Alienware, a pioneer in specialty high-performance PC gaming systems, recentlyhostedthe Alienware LAN Championship with Genysis Cyber E-sport (GCE), a local organization of gaming enthusiasts and professional administrators working to support the fast-growing e-sports community. 

This inaugural offline tournamentwhich is also co-funded by Intel, took place from 22 to 23 March at Gaming@Brightstar in Plaza Lowyat, brought together 160 of thenation’s gaming enthusiasts to battle it out in two of the most popular gaming titles, Mission Against Terror & Dota 2, in teams of five.

A total of 32 teams took part in this competition to eliminate their opponents in the first person shooting and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games on the Alienware X51 gaming desktops.

Team EDP RoG and Team NaraStack came out victorious from this tournament. The former were crowned champions for Mission Against Terror and the latter emerged as winners for Dota 2. Both winnings teams wereawarded a RM 2,000 cash voucher each and prizes, including the Alienware Tactx Headset and mouse, for their impressive achievement.

Runners-up of this championship also did not walk away empty handed. TeamSoD and Team Genysis who earned the 1^st Runner Up place received prizes and a RM 1,000 cash voucher. 

Meanwhile,PAHLAWAN’ Team A and Team ExTacy Gaming who obtained the 2^nd Runner Up place were rewarded with prizes and a RM 500 cash voucher.

Aside from this tournament, gamers also had the opportunity to try their hand at racing mini games, auctions and lucky draw garnering prizes worth over RM 12,000.

The Second ASUS & NVIDIA Gamers’ Gathering Demonstrates Cutting-Edge Technology Designed for Both Gamers and Tech Enthusiasts

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (21 March, 2014) – On March 16^th, the 2014 ASUS & NVIDIA Gamers’ Gathering (ANGG) saw local Gamers and Tech Enthusiasts coming together to witness some of the latest gaming technology available for the first time here in Malaysia. A total of 45 pre-selected participants, consisting of elite tech enthusiasts and avid PC Gamers attended the closed-door event held in Orange Esports Stadium, Setapak. The exclusive gathering cum sneak preview of cutting edge gaming technology welcomes back Hugo Hsu of NVIDIA who helms NVIDIA’s Desktop GPU Segment Sales. Also gracing the event was Lim Wei Lun, Product Director of IAHGamers.

“The main focus of ASUS & NVIDIA Gamers’ Gathering has always been introducing new technology and innovations to gamers and tech enthusiasts who embrace DIY PC Gaming as their primary gaming kick. Therefore in the second installation of ANGG, we are extremely pleased to have NVIDIA to showcase some of their new products which have yet to be made available locally. One of products were the NVIDIA G-SYNC Technology and Steam Machine powered by NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Card,” said Azy Chua, Country Product Manager at ASUS Malaysia.

           

Live Demonstration of NVIDIA G-SYNC Technology awed Participants

The event was kick-started by the live demonstration of NVIDIA G-SYNC Technology. The demo was carried out using two units of ASUS’ very own gaming display monitors, the VG248QE. In order to showcase the clear advantage of the G-SYNC Technology, Hugo Hsu prepared two rigs with one of the display monitor equipped with the G-SYNC Kit. During his hands-on presentation, he explained that when V-SYNC was activated, it will cause long latency and stutter. On the other hand when V-SYNC was switched off it will cause ‘tearing.’ To overcome the latency, stutter and tearing issues, NVIDIA has specially developed the G-SYNC Technology which continually synchronizes display refresh rates with the GPU, thus eliminating tearing issues and minimizing display stutter and input lag. Although the NVIDIA G-SYNC Technology has been announced some time ago, it is a technology best presented live since the synchronization between the GPU and the display monitor would be difficult to be captured through pictures and videos.

Unveiling of the ROG Matrix GTX 780 Ti Platinum Graphics Card

The evolution of the graphics card in the gaming technology came a peak with the introduction of the ROG Matrix GTX 780 Ti Platinum graphics card. The ROG Matrix GTX 780 Ti Platinum graphics card which was recently launched worldwide on 19^th March was brought to the event for participants to touch-and-feel the new features of the card. The ROG Matrix graphics card which was designed for serious gamers has quickly garnered the reputation of being the coolest, quietest and smoothest graphics card available with the ability to create the perfect balance between spectacular power and out-of-the-box simplicity. It sports a brand new DirectCU II outlook with an all-black heatsink design as well as the new exclusive Memory Defroster technology. The ROG Matrix GTX 780 Ti Platinum graphics card was assembled alongside the ROG Rampage IV Black Edition motherboard and specially selected games were installed to put its performance to test. There were namely Battlefield 4, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Batman: Arkham Origins.

“Having tested numerous graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti is certainly the fastest graphics card in terms of gaming performance. Also, the focus NVIDIA has put on the development and optimization of GeForce Drivers is impressive, as it provides end-users with the best gaming experience. In ANGG, we have decided to present the ROG Matrix GTX 780 Ti Platinum to the participants complemented by their favourite games which they are able to relate to. And of course, we are absolutely confident that the fastest graphics card under ASUS’ Matrix DNA would be able to tame any game available,” commented Juan Chong, the Technical PR at ASUS Malaysia.

Showcasing of the ROG Poseidon GTX 780 Platinum in Air Cooling and Hybrid Cooling Technology

Sharing the same vision and passion in promoting high performance DIY PC, ASUS Malaysia was glad to once again collaborate with Vector the Desk PC provider and A.P.E.S for supporting the water cooling parts. The ROG Poseidon GTX 780 Platinum was presented in a unique way where two rigs were installed in a single Desk PC with each rig equipped with the mentioned graphics card in Air Cooling and Hybrid Cooling mode respectively. In such an arrangement, participants were able to witness the direct comparison between the Air Cooling and Hybrid cooling in the exact same environment. The Hybrid Cooling achieved 31 degree cooler temperature in full load compared to the Air Cooling. Although NVIDIA G-SYNC Technology remained the highlight of the exclusive event, the ROG Poseidon GTX 780 Platinum presentation certainly made the most eye-catching appearance of the day.

NVIDIA’s Maxwell GPUs Provides 135% Better Performance and 2X Lower Power Consumption

In another comparison setup, the ASUS GeForce GTX 750 TI OC graphics card based on NVIDIA Maxwell architecture was pitted against the ASUS GeForce GTX 550 Ti DirectCU TOP graphics card. Through this showcase, participants were presented with the improvement achieved by NVIDIA in both performance and power efficiency throughout the years. 4 years after the Fermi based NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti was introduced, NVIDIA managed to improve its mid-range lineup by 4X better power efficiency and 2X performance upgrade via the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti graphics card. To show the participants a clearer comparison, a Watt Meter was installed in both the rigs as they undergo the FurMark Stress Test. The ASUS GeForce GTX 750 Ti OC clocked 155w power usage compared to 254w of the ASUS GeForce GTX 550 Ti DirectCU TOP.

Steam Machine excites Avid Gamers

Ever since Valve announced its Steam Machine project at the end of 2013, it has created a wave of excited anticipation by both Tech Enthusiasts and Gamers. Its near negligible hardware limitation and the FREE SteamOS has made the news more than well received. A total of 300 high-range Steam Machine equipped with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 was first rolled-out to select beta-testers. In the ASUS & NVIDIA Gamers’ Gathering, Hugo Hsu presented his very own DIY Steam Machine powered by NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti which was specially flown in from Taiwan. In a hands-on demonstration, Hugo Hsu showed the participants the difference between SteamOS and Steam on PC though the game Metro: Last Light. On the other hand, ASUS Malaysia also collaborated with local dealer, C-Zone Sdn Bhd to assemble a ROG Steam Machine. The machine was equipped with ROG MARS 760 Dual GPU graphics card and MAXIMUS VI Impact motherboard.

Premier Test-Play of the Long Anticipated Game, Blacklight Retribution

Blacklight Retribution, developed by Zombie Inc is a free to play sci-fi first person shooter (FPS) game based on an apocalypse warzone. Boasting of intense graphics and combining it with smooth yet tactical gunplay, Blacklight Retribution is a serious contender in the FPS game genre. Thanks to IAHGames the game publisher, participants were given the opportunity to play firsthand the Blacklight Retribution game which has been scheduled to be available in Malaysia around April 2014. Blacklight Retribution was also used as the main game to test GeForce ShadowPlay technology as well. Participants were particularly pleased with the GeForce ShadowPlay feature and would consider using it as their primary gaming recording tool in the future. In a presentation by Chooi Yi Hui of IAHGames, certain unique features of Blacklight Retribution piqued the interest of the participants. The Hardsuit feature is a mechanized suit equipped with weapons of mass destruction and thick defense. The game also allows weapon customization in regards to muzzles, receivers, clips and scopes. To eliminate hack issues, Blacklight Retribution incorporates the Hyper Reality Visor (HRV) feature which allows gamer to see targets through obstacles.

“We are delighted to be able to share the innovation of ASUS products and its exciting technology together with partners such as NVIDIA, IAHGamers, Vector, C-Zone and A.P.E.S who share the same vision and passion for high performance DIY PC and gaming to local Tech Enthusiasts and Gamers in this ASUS & NVIDIA Gamers’ Gathering 2014. We are also extremely pleased and honoured to learn that two participants came all the way from Penang Island to join us in this gathering held in Kuala Lumpur. This piece of encouraging news will definitely motivate us to continue organizing more community-based event in the coming future,” said Jacky Lim, Business Development Director at ASUS Malaysia.

Cooler Master SF-17 and SF-15: Full Force Cooling for Laptop Gaming

Cooler Master, a leading creator, innovator and manufacturer of desktop components and more, today announced two new additions to the extraordinarily cool Strike Force (SF) Series of laptop coolers and gaming hubs, the SF17 and SF15.

Overview

CM Storm SF-15

CM Storm SF-17

Award-Winning Roots
With the release of the award winning SF-19 USB 3.0, gamers and media reviews were soon left awestruck by its raw cooling power and gamer aesthetics. SF-17 and SF-15 carry on this tradition with their complementary ability to create the perfect atmosphere for gaming through their styling, LED lighting strips, and highly effective cooling fans. This makes them ideal for prepping gamers for battle. They boast a proven effective and highly customizable cooling design to ensure laptops are cooled as a gamer specifies.

Specialized Design for Gamers
In order to protect a gamer’s gear while it’s under heavy stress from game play, the SF-17 and SF-15 employ their incredible ability to dissipate excess heat through their perforated surface. SF-17 and SF-15 also have a strengthened mesh that can withstand all laptop sizes up to 19” and 15.6” respectively. Each features a single, large, and adjustable turbine fan (SF-15 is 160mm, SF-17 is 180mm) that is specially engineered to provide unprecedented airflow that keeps laptop components running at optimal temperatures.

Comfortable Gaming Station 
Proper viewing and typing angles can mean the difference between being fully comfortable during a long fire fight and bowing out due to pains. Both SF-17 and SF-15 include multiple height adjustable angles that assist gamers in minimizing stress to their eyes and wrists. In addition, special consideration is paid to mobility in that the SF-17 and SF-15 share effortless transportability via their swift carrying handle.

The SF-17 and SF-15 available in the Singapore market now; will be available in the Malaysia end of this month.

Unboxing & Review - ROCCAT SIRU

ROCCAT gaming mousepad has been receiving a lot of positive reviews from users ranging from home users to gaming enthusiasts. ROCCAT seems to be targeting a group of end users newest gaming mousepad - not soft, not hard, but a knife-edge thin mousepad known as the ROCCAT SIRU, specially design for users who prefer ultra thin mousepads.

Our review today is made possible by Play Interactive, million thanks to them for sending us a review unit of the ROCCAT SIRU. Let us proceed with the review without letting the grasses to grow under our feet - how will the ROCCAT SIRU perform in meeting our expectation?

*Available in 2 color choices, Cryptic Blue & Pitch Black, the SRP for ROCCAT SIRU is 35 Malaysian Ringgit each.

Features

Optimized Gaming Surface	Ensures pinpoint accurate tracking with high glide and control
Knife-Edge Thin	Gives you direct and responsive feedback from your surface
Optimum Size	Perfect battle effectiveness with 340 x 250 x 0.45mm dimensions
Non-Slip Backing	Means pad stays where you put it thanks to solid grip and hold
Easy To Clean	Engineered to last with durable, combat-ready materials
Top-Notch Compatibility	Field-tested with over 80 optical and laser mice

Color Available

ROCCAT SIRU - Pitch Black

ROCCAT SIRU - Cryptic Blue

Overview

Our first look at the packaging, aesthetic enough to caught the attention of almost anyone at first sight. The cutout at the bottom left corner reveals the surface of the mousepad to allow end users to feel the texture of the actual product, a great approach to help end users in decision making.

The back of the packaging shows the features offered in various language and a small cutout that reveals the base of the mousepad.

The texture of the surface feels almost exactly as the surface of the ROCCAT Alumic, but few times thinner. 

While placed on the table, it feels as if it wasn't even there - great choice for those who prefer ultra thin gaming mousepad. 

The base of the mousepad looks like tiny suction cups that spreads through the entire surface, yet it doesn't feels sticky nor rubbery at all. As if magic, it seems to be able to attached to almost any smooth surface as long as the surface is dust free.

Testing Method

Our first attempt having it placed on a box and held vertically, it holds firmly and shows no sign of tearing for the surface.

Another attempt on the side of a desk, the result is the same. 

As long as the surface is smooth and dust free, it'll hold firmly to that surface, even on the door of a closet.

It's even able to stay firm on the surface of a glass door without breaking any sweat, zero worries for any potential slipping during intense gaming session.

While being able to stick on almost any smooth surface, the removal process is as easy as lifting a piece of paper. Another thing that we've noticed is that the tiny cups on the non-slip base is prone to tear and wear overtime, our thoughts is that the ROCCAT SIRU isn't meant for LAN Parties or similar purposes that involves repetitive stick and tear. 

Within hours of usage, we can say that our experience with the ROCCAT SIRU is pretty good. Tested with a Steelseries Xai and CM Storm Mizar, both mice glides well and there's no signs of cursor skipping nor jitters. The only noticeable downside after hours of usage is that there's some dead skin captured on the edge of the mousepad if you're the type of person who has a sweaty palm. 

Final Thoughts

This is our first time coming across gaming mousepad like the ROCCAT SIRU and it turns out to be a pretty unique and decent one, the grip from the base surpassed our expectation, far better than any non-slip base we have came across to date. Still, the durability of the non-slip base is still questionable as we did notice minor signs of wear and tear after numerous tearing from multiple surface throughout our test.

Pros
- Knife-edge thin, as if it wasn't there when placed on a surface\

- Easy to clean surface

- Uniquely designed base that grips firmly to any dust-free smooth surface

- A just-right size, not too large, not too small, just right

- Same smooth surface as the ROCCAT Alumic

- Great value for the features offered

Cons

- Prone to damage due to bending

- The non-slip base will wear out if it's being stick and tear off too often

- Dead skin get trapped easily at the edge of the mousepad if user has a sweaty palm

The ROCCAT SIRU is truly an outstanding value performer gaming mousepad in overall and we will not hesitate to recommend it. Hence, the ROCCAT SIRU deserves a highly Tech Critter Gold award for being an outstanding value performer gaming mousepad.