US – Approx. $87 – SilverStone Tundra TD03-E on Amazon
PH – Approx. Php4250 – DynaQuest PC
The 120mm radiator variant is by far the most cost-effective variant of AIO watercoolers and they present the most compact for the same also. Traditionally, radiator designs have been primarily the same way most radiators in any industry have been made but with SilverStone entering the AIO liquid cooling game they brought some revolutionary design choices that make their product quite an interesting line-up. The Tundra series of AIO coolers from SilverStone feature the company’s famed build quality and with the new revision of the Tundra AIOs receiving some enhancements over their predecessors, this is by far the best SilverStone has yet.
In the labs today we have the SilverStone Tundra TD03-E 120mm AIO liquid cooler, a member of the Tundra series of AIOs and we’ll see how it performs with both an overclocked i7-7700K and a Ryzen 7 1800X processor. Read on!
Features
- Easy installation with aluminum clips and steel back-plate
- Maintenance free, no refill required
- Dual auto adjustable 120mm PWM fans included
- Durable alloy water-block for improved reliability
- Patented brazing fins radiator increase cooling efficiency by 40%
- Socket LGA775/1150/1155/1156/1366/2011/AM2/AM3/FM1/FM2
Closer Look
SilverStone packages the Tundra TD03-E in a primarily white and blue, full-colored print box. An obligatory product shot is displayed on the front as well as the model with some details listed on the lower portion. At the back of the box are multi-lingual features as well.
Inside the package we have a baggie of accessories as well as two 120mm fans, the backplate, a manual, AMD block mounting brackets, a MOLEX to fan header and the TD03-E cooler AIO cooler itself.
A shot of the mounting kit included with the SilverStone Tundra TD03-E. The square piece is for LGA775 mounting and the sticker sheet is for AMD to insulate the backplate.
UPDATE
The new bracket for the Tundra series compatible with AMD’s new AM4 socket is now available. For instructions on how to receive your upgrade bracket, kindly see the end of this review.
Here’s a shot of the AIO.
The SilverSTone Tundra TD03-E includes two 120mm fans which are rated for up to 2500RPM and has a 92.5CFM with 3.5mm/H2O pressure.
The SilverStone Tundra TD03-E features a uniquely design radiator that features heatsink fins instead of the typical thin film fins on most radiators. SilverStone states that this improves performance overall. You really need to feel it on your hand to realize just how substantial and well-made the radiator is.
The TD03-E waterblock features an all metal body and just like the radiator, also feels significantly well-made and has legitimate mass to it. It doesn’t really add anything to performance theoretically but in terms of sheer build quality, it scores extra points. Do note that on newer models, the SilverStone logo is illuminated with white LEDs.
Another departure from the norm by SilverStone on the TD03-E is the use of a full copper base with no screws.
The TD03-E features a 27mm radiator design which is its main difference from the original TD03. The two 120mm fans are 25mm and are standard thickness fans. They are non-LED fans.
The tubing on the TD03-E are 31cm long but are quite firm and will a bit hard to work tight bends with without kinks.
Installation
Setup of the SilverStone Tundra TD03-E starts with the backplate. Insert the long mounting screws on the socket you’re using. For AMD sockets, it’d mostly be the same but for Intel, you alignment for LGA775, 115x and 1136 specifically. For LGA2011, there are supplied mounting screws that screw in directly to the socket threads.
You’ll need to use the spacers provided to secure the backplate in place.
By default, the Intel bracket is connected to the waterblock and you can proceed to secure the block using the screw locks. Aligning them could be a bit fiddly as the mounting screws aren’t locked in place and may move around unintentionally. You can hold the mounting screw on the back to make things easier. Hand tight is fine but we recommend a few twist with a screw should really improve contact.
On AMD mounts, you’ll need to replace the mounting bracket on the waterblock by unscrewing the two screws on the block. You’ll need to remove the pre-installed AMD cooler mount to install the backplate and connect just like the Intel steps.
Performance Testing
INTEL SYSTEM
Processor: Intel Core i7 7700K (relidded, using CLU)
Motherboard: ASUS Maximus IX APEX
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z DDR4-3200
GPU: ZOTAC GTX 1080 AMP
Storage: Intel SSD 750
PSU: Seasonic P1000
AMD SYSTEM
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 1800X
Motherboard: ASUS Crosshair VI Hero
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3000
GPU: ZOTAC GTX 1080 AMP
Storage: Intel SSD 750
PSU: Seasonic P1000
So we’re compiling a new set of cooling performance reviews and with new platforms comes new tests and in this review we’re going to be focusing on the Intel Core i7 7700K and the new AMD Ryzen 7 processor. We’re using AIDA64 stress test to generate more realistic temps rather than other heat-generating stress test, this makes sure we’re showing real-world values rather than extreme scenario that will be rarely experienced by users. Noctua NT-H1 is used as our TIM of choice. Pre-applied TIMs are removed for uniformity.
NOTE: Our Core i7 7700K has been relidded with a Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra. Performance WILL vary on stock chips.
First up we have the Intel Core i7 7700K overclocked to 5Ghz. All CPUs in this test used the Noctua NH-T1 thermal compound with the fan speed set to auto for the best out of the box data comparison. All tests were done in an open test bench. Ambient case temps will affect results so do take note.
wpDataChart with provided ID not found!Moving over to the AMD Ryzen 7 results, we had to wait for updates from our software to get proper readings of the temps and as noted by AMD there is a 20*C offset on its Tctl.
wpDataChart with provided ID not found!Do note that the SilverStone Tundra TD03-E does not include an AM4 bracket for use with new AMD RYZEN motherboards and our ASUS ROG Crosshair VI Hero has legacy AM3 socket holes for backwards compatibility. This may not be present if many AM4 motherboards.
Results for both processors look good especially for a 120mm rad model, the 3*C or so difference in default dual-fan settings kept the SilverStone Tundra TD03-E competitive with the larger models.
User Experience & Conclusion
While overall performance is quite admirable and the build quality just incredible, SilverStone could’ve done a better job on its mounting option. With the mounting screws having a narrow flat end that lines up with the backplate, its meant to secure it in place but as you see in our case, there will be cases where that just isn’t enough to lock the mounting screw in place and will prove to be an issue when trying to remove the screw locks.
UPDATE: The new backplate resolves the aforementioned issue and while it still not as ideal as I would like, it does address some of the initial concerns which is a good thing.
Aside from that minor issues, there’s really nothing to fault on the SilverStone Tundra TD03-E unless you obsess over RGB on the blocks and fans. Otherwise, the build quality and performance really set it off for the TD03-E and its simply one to consider when you want a daily cooler for even the most demanding consumer processors and want to make use of your space if you don’t have a 240mm radiator mount.
All in all the, SilverStone Tundra TD03-E is a well-built and decent-performing cooler and while it may be priced a touch higher than most of its competitors in the 120mm space, do know that you’re getting some extra in terms of build quality and while that may not translate directly in terms of looks, the performance and maintenance benefits more than makes justifies the price.
US – Approx. $87 – SilverStone Tundra TD03-E on Amazon
PH – Approx. Php4250 – DynaQuest PC
SilverStone backs the Tundra TD03-E with a 1-year warranty. We give it out B2G Recommended Award!
You can email SilverStone for an AM4 mount here.