VR-Zone

Thermal Armor Explored

The TUF Thermal Armor exemplifies "form follow function" - by guiding air flow across mainboard PCB and its various components. However, how well does it really work? I’m going to put it to a simple temperature test.

Testing Methodology:
The thermal armor will be first removed and put into a case which has an adequate amount of airflow going through it. I will then run furmark 1.9 burn in test to stress the GPU, and immediately after that, run SuperPi32m and take a screenshot at the 12^th loop of SuperPi. I can then make comparisons with the temperature with and without the tactical vest. The motherboard was sit to rest for half an hour before putting on the vest to ensure a fairer test. Temperatures were taken with AISUITE II software included in the CD with the motherboard.

Setup:
Cooler Master CM690 Pure Chassis
Intel Corei7-2600k with stock fan
Asus ENGTX470 Reference Card

Results:

Since the Intel stock CPU cooler was used, it blew hot air down into the vest, trapping hot air within the vest. The purpose of the setup was to show if the vest was able to efficiently expel the hot air from underneath, preventing heat from the PCB components to reach upper part of the vest, thus creating a cooler temperature above the vest. From the results shown, the CPU temperature was 6 degrees lower with the vest on, with the same effect on the VRM area. I believe it’s the work of the vest. However, components of the motherboard seemed to have a higher temperature with the vest on, but the PCB temperature remained low with a 3 degrees difference. Since hot and dirty GTX470 was used, the vest has prevented hot air from the graphics to reach the PCB, making it a few degrees lower. The thermal armor has done its job well, but if only if there was better airflow below the thermal armor, things will be much better. This is why Asus has allowed you to additionally install an extra 40mm fan to blow air directly at the motherboard, causing the components to be cooled as well.

In conclusion, the thermal armor has definitely served its purpose, although not shown distinctly in this setup, but sure to see greater temperature difference in an overclocked system. It will work best only when an additional 50mm fan was installed. In fact, Asus should include the 50mm fan inside the package as well, so we will not have the chance to find faults with the motherboard’s thermal armor.