Xigmatek Venus XP-SD1266 Cooler Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging3. Xigmatek Venus XP-SD12664. Installation5. Testing Methodology and Performance results6. Acoustic Performance7. Closing thoughts8. View All Pages

The installation of the Venus Xp-SD1266 is a relatively easy process. We have to position the included black plastic backplate and then attach the the 4 threaded posts with washers to prevent any shorting issues.

Once the 4 posts are screwed into the backplate we then position the 2 AMD mounting brackets in place and secure them using the 4 provided threaded nuts.

After securing the mounting brackets we use the flat retention bar with the XIGMATEK insignia on it.  There are 2 holes drilled in the retention bar that sits over the base of the cooler.  When we lower the cooler in place the holes line up with the 2 threaded posts on the AMD mounting hardware. Once the cooler is in place, we secure it by screwing the 2 appropriate silver colored nuts to the 2 posts on the mounting brackets.

One thing worth mentioning is that the mounting hardware limits the orientation of the cooler. The bracket is designed so that the fan blows towards the rear of the chassis rather than out of the top of the chassis. Because of this orientation, certain motherboards may lose the ability to use all available ram slots.

Xigmatek have supplied rubber mounts to attach the fan to the cooler.  The mounts have a slit cut in them that fits over the edge of  an aluminum fin.  The mounts also have a thick rubber post on one end that fits into the groove cut out of the fins. Installing the rubber mounts the first time was frustrating due to a lack of instructions, but after taking the time to study them they we not very difficult to install.  The mounts will help to absorb vibrations and they seem to support the fan quite well.

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