Gelid Solutions GC-2 and GC-Extreme Thermal Compound
GELID Solutions might not be as aggressive as other brands in terms of marketing, but there isn’t a senior enthusiasts that doesn’t knows the name GELID Solutions especially when it comes to PC cooling. We have GELID Solutions GC-Extreme and GC-2 arrived at our test lab for performance review, courtesy of Tech Armory and GELID Solutions.
Thermal compound plays an important role when it comes to PC cooling. As we all know that most thermal compound is made of thermally conductive but non-electric conductive material to fill in small, micro-level surface pits and imperfections between a heatsink and heat source to improve the thermal dissipation.
The packaging is kept simple and both shares identical specifications, well almost.Basically it’s almost the same description as what you would’ve seen on premium thermal compound – non-corrosive, no bleeding, non-electrical conductive, no curing.
Both GC-2 and GC-Extreme comes with a spreader in case if you prefer to spread the thermal compound manually.
We’ve done a quick test on the viscosity of both thermal compound with the rice grain method to see how much it expands under pressure.
We take one of the most commonly used thermal compound by the local enthusiasts here in Malaysia, the Arctic Cooling MX-4 as a reference in this test.
The bleed level of the GC-2 is pretty darn close to the Arctic Cooling MX-4 but judging by the traces of hairline traces, we see that the viscosity of the GC-2 is a little lesser compared to the Arctic Cooling MX-4.
All of 3 thermal compound used in this test doesn’t spreads much under slight pressure but we can clearly see that GC-Extreme oozes way much lesser compared to the GC-2 and Arctic Cooling MX-4.
We’ve conducted the test with the AMD FX-8320E, Intel i7 4770K and 4790K running on 4.6GHz using a Corsair h200 hydro series CPU liquid cooler and the grain of rice application method. The system is then stressed by running the System Stability Test utility from AIDA64 Extreme.
Temperature reading is then recorded and presented in the graph as below:
As both Gelid GC-Extreme, GC-2 and Arctic Cooling MX-4 were among the list of high quality thermal compound available, the minimal difference in temperature is somewhat expected. Both GC-2 and MX-4 performs pretty much on par after a long run, while the GC-Extreme takes the lead by a difference of 1°C ~ 2°C.
The notable difference is that each thermal compound behaves a little different in terms of temperature build up. The initial heat build up of the MX-4 relatively fast, but it turns to a steady raise upon reaching approximately 60°C~63°C. The GC-2 on the other hand, builds up heat in a much faster pace than the MX-4 and slowed down upon reaching approximately 66°C~68C°. The GC-Extreme exhibits the most stable temperature build up, though the final temperature reading is pretty much near to others in the end.
The advertised ‘No-curing’ doesn’t seems to be accurate though, as the initial highest temperature peaked at around 2°C higher that the final temperature reading obtained – not really an issue here as the temperature does gets better after a few more run on the stress test.
If price per gram were to taken into account, we consider the GC-2 as the best bang for the buck thermal compound among the 3. Paying RM25 for a 7g GC-2 syringe that has relatively the same as performance the 4.5g MX-4 that cost roughly around RM28 – you pay less, but get more. The GC-Extreme has a very consistent performance comes a little expensive at the price of RM35 for each 3.5g syringe, still a worthy thermal compound to investment in if you’re looking for a good thermal compound with consistent performance.
It’s true that high quality thermal compound does gives better advantage with observable difference in performance behavior e.g. heat build up compared to most low cost thermal compound. At the end of the day, majority of people still cares more on final temperature reading – which in our case, doesn’t shows too much of a difference. One of the most important factor that many has neglected is the application method; some just spreads it around the IHS of the CPU like nobody’s business and ended up in a mess and not getting the temperature right even though the thermal compound used is one of the market’s best, whereas those who did it correctly gets a very decent result even with branded but inexpensive thermal compound.
Pastes: Gelid Solutions, Noctua, And Phanteks — Thermal Paste Comparison, Part Two: 39 Products Get Tested
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Pastes: Gelid Solutions, Noctua, And Phanteks
Gelid Solutions GC-2
We’re going to start with Gelid’s most budget-oriented solution. Its thermal results are respectable, landing it in the vicinity of Arctic’s MX-2, MX-4, and Arctic Silver 5. But it’s also noticeably thicker, making it harder to manipulate at room temperature. Nevertheless, this is a solid product that sells for less than $1/g, making it the price/performance leader.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Gelid Solutions GC-2 | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 3. 8 W/(m*K) |
| CPU Water Cooling, High Pressure | 32.7 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, High Pressure | 36.5 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, Low Pressure | 37.7 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| GPU Cooling | 66.5 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| Electrically Conductive | No |
| Viscosity | 6 (1-10, lower numbers mean easier to use) |
| Ease of Use | 4 (1-10, higher numbers mean easier to use) |
| Application Hints | The paste can be spread more easily if you warm it to 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit in a pot of water, sealed in a water-tight pouch. |
| Price (approximate) | $6.50 (7 grams) |
Gelid Solutions GC-Extreme
GC-Extreme is the best thermal paste in our round-up, maintaining a slim lead over the runner-up as long as you’re using a heat sink with high mounting pressure.
If this compound was a little softer, it’d be even more ideal and wouldn’t require warming before application. Heating it up a bit does pay off though, and we recommend it for overclockers and enthusiasts. Due to its high viscosity, it’s perhaps less ideal for beginners.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Gelid Solutions GC-Extreme | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 8.5 W/(m*K) |
| CPU Water Cooling, High Pressure | 31.8 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, High Pressure | 35.3 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, Low Pressure | 36.7 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| GPU Cooling | 65.0 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| Electrically Conductive | No |
| Viscosity | 6 (1-10, lower numbers mean easier to use) |
| Ease of Use | 5 (1-10, higher numbers mean easier to use) |
| Application Hints | The paste can be spread more easily if you warm it to 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit in a pot of water, sealed in a water-tight pouch. |
| Price (approximate) | $11 (3.5 g) |
Noctua NT-h2
This paste is almost a classic by now, and it still gets widely recommended. Rightfully so? Our testing reveals that its price/performance ratio is almost as good as Gelid Solution’s GC-2, and its thermal parameters are even better. Noctua’s solution ends up in the upper mid-range of our contenders, and a low price makes it hard to pass up unless you’re a hardcore overclocker.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Noctua NT-h2 | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | Data not available |
| CPU Water Cooling, High Pressure | 32.2 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, High Pressure | 36.1 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, Low Pressure | 37. 1 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| GPU Cooling | 68.0 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| Electrically Conductive | No |
| Viscosity | 4 (1-10, lower numbers mean easier to use) |
| Ease of Use | 8 (1-10, higher numbers mean easier to use) |
| Application Hints | The paste can be spread more easily if you warm it to 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit in a pot of water, sealed in a water-tight pouch. |
| Price (approximate) | $6 |
Phanteks TH-NDC (Paste Bundled With Phanteks Coolers)
The paste that Phanteks includes with its heat sinks contains nano particles of diamond, approaches the thermal performance of Gelid’s GC-Extreme, and can be applied as easily, if not more so. It is somewhat similar to Cooler Master’s Extreme Fusion X1, but can be applied even by novices.
A big shout-out to Phanteks for bundling TH-NDC with its coolers.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Phanteks TH-NDC (Paste Bundled With Phanteks Coolers) | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | Data not available |
| CPU Water Cooling, High Pressure | 32.0 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, High Pressure | 35.6 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, Low Pressure | 37.0 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| GPU Cooling | 65.5 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| Electrically Conductive | No |
| Viscosity | 4 (1-10, lower numbers mean easier to use) |
| Ease of Use | 6 (1-10, higher numbers mean easier to use) |
| Application Hints | The paste can be spread more easily if you warm it to 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit in a pot of water, sealed in a water-tight pouch. |
| Price (approximate) | N/A |
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Review JVC ADIXXION GC-XA1BE | Reliable reviews
pluses
- Waterproof and durable
- Streaming transmission via Wi-Fi, including Ustream
- Good image quality for the action camera
Minutes
Key features
- Review price: £298.80
- 5-megapixel CMOS
- Video format MP4 with a resolution of up to 1080 / 30p
- Waterproofness up to 5 m
- Pro-resistant when falling from a height of up to 2 m
- Set of fasteners in a set of
- ,0005 Streaming
9000
Introduction
JVC has never been afraid to do things a little differently.
JVC was the first to install a hard drive in a consumer camcorder with the original Everio line, and also often puzzled over the design of the chassis, such as the GC-PX10, which pretended to be a digital camera. So while JVC has already tried out a rugged camcorder with the PICSIO GC-WP10A, it’s no surprise that the company now has a much more unusual rugged camcorder in the form of the enticingly named JVC ADIXXION GC-XA1BE.
design
The ADIXXION is truly unlike any other rugged camera on the market. Although it’s about the size of two matchboxes stacked on top of each other — measuring just 74 x 53 x 35mm — it still fits into a very small 1.5″ LCD color display, which means you can change settings using the menu system and actually see what the camcorder will be like. shooting, unlike almost all bullet-type combat video cameras.
JVC calls the ADIXXION design «Quad-Proof» because it’s waterproof to 5m, shockproof to 2m, dustproof and freezeproof. The construction is certainly very solid, and the single lid closes with a smart double action switch, so there is very little chance of you opening it by accident.
JVC also ships a pair of screen protectors and two plastic lens protectors in the box so you can keep your device running in extreme conditions.
Specifications
Rugged action cameras usually come with a variety of attachments, such as Dogcam Bullet HD Wide and Dogcam MiniDVR HD. JVC’s ADIXXION doesn’t include the full range of mounts that come with Dogcams, but there’s still plenty of gear in the box for a wide variety of activities.
Kit includes two adhesive base plates, but only one fastener. Presumably the idea here is that you leave the base plates attached and move the mount between them. There is also a belt mount that requires the belt mount to be screwed onto the mounting plate. A roll beam mount and a floating belt are also available, but only as accessories. The ADIXXION itself has two conventional screw mounting positions, bottom and side, further increasing shooting flexibility.
ADIXXION is based on a 5 megapixel CMOS sensor of unknown size.
The maximum video resolution is 1080p Full HD at 30 frames per second. You can also shoot 720p at 30fps and 60fps, and there’s a curious 960p option as well as WVGA (848 x 480), both of which run at 30fps. It’s not quite the 4K of the recently announced GoPro Hero 3, but for most users it will be more than enough. The video is recorded to the SD card through the slot under the aforementioned cover. With a maximum transfer rate of around 15Mbps, a 16GB SDHC card will last for approximately 140 minutes of video recording.
Although the ADIXXION has a menu system with some user-configurable functions, there are not many manual settings for the camcorder. There is image stabilization, but only digital, although it’s better than nothing. The 5x zoom is also digital only, presumably as much for reliability as it is for the small size of the camcorder body. You can choose between auto white balance, two fluorescence options, tungsten, and underwater blue and green settings. There’s a slow-motion feature that captures a frame every one or five seconds, as well as a self-timer that starts recording ten seconds after the button is pressed.
Image inversion flips the image, which is useful if the camera is mounted upside down.
Wi-Fi interface and streaming
The JVC ADIXXION GC-XA1BE is much more than just a rugged action camera. It also comes with built-in Wi-Fi. To set this up, you need to install the included software, which is different here from the one used with Everio WiFi cameras like the GZ-GX1. Instead of the last sync, Everio is provided with an app called WiVideo, which is not just a redesigned skin, but a completely different software.
WiVideo installs on your desktop PC or laptop directly from your camcorder when you connect the ADIXXION via USB cable. You can then use the app to transfer video files to your computer and set up WiFi on the ADIXXION, although unfortunately the automated process only works from PCs with WiFi. Otherwise, you will have to enter the SSID and password manually. You can also use this software to upload footage to YouTube, Facebook, Picasa and TwitVid. A driver is included so you can use the ADIXXION as a wireless webcam on Skype and MSN.
There are also WiVideo apps for iPhone and Android. They allow you to remotely control the camcorder, including digital zoom and start recording, as well as view the saved video in the camcorder’s memory. However, the most interesting is the integration with USTREAM. Again, desktop software is used to create an account and upload settings to ADIXXION. But then you can use the built-in menu to enable USTREAM mode and your video will be streamed wirelessly to your USTREAM channel page. Flip was planning something similar for its next product, which unfortunately didn’t see the light of day when Cisco discontinued the brand in April 2011. The upcoming GoPro Hero 3 will also have built-in Wi-Fi. But for now, the Adixxion is one of the few camcorders with this capability, which makes it an exciting prospect for live guerrilla video. The only downside is that the Wi-Fi features won’t work if the battery is below a certain level, and you can’t connect the device to an external device without opening the lid.
Performance and image quality
With its small fixed lens, the ADIXXION cannot match the image quality of conventional camcorders. But still not bad. Color is true, if not stunningly vibrant, and there’s a reasonable level of detail. The relatively high bit rate means that this granularity is not overcome by artifacts from aggressive compression. Image stabilization is only moderately effective, but it’s still better than nothing if you’re into bumpy activities. Low-light performance is also surprisingly good, which will be especially useful if you take advantage of the ADIXXION’s underwater capabilities. In this regard, this camcorder is noticeably ahead of most action cameras, which often fail in poor lighting conditions. The ADIXXION is a much more versatile camcorder due to its resilience to variable lighting conditions.
Verdict
JVC’s Adixxion GC-XA1 is a relatively expensive action camera, costing around £300. But it’s also a quality build with lots of useful features.
It has generated a fair amount of interest in professional circles as a tool for capturing extreme sporting events from the perspective of the participants. If you’re more focused on motorsports, the Dogcam MiniDVR-HD with an optional recorder might be a better option. But for extreme sports, especially in a space where USTREAM’s Wi-Fi capabilities can be used, this action camera has a lot of flexibility.
Image processor
Image sensor 5-megapixel CMOS image sensor, quantity 1
Lens Features
Optical zoom (x) 0x Digital zoom (x) 5x
Video recording
Video capture media SD card MP4 Maximum video resolution 1920 x 1080 Image stabilization Electronic
General features
LCD screen size (inch) 1.5 inches, built-in memory (GB), built-in microphone, stereo, 0 GB
A/V ports
HDMI Mini` USB 2.0 Yes Audio/video output No Audio/video input No
Physical specifications
Overview JVC ADIXXION GC-XA2 | Reliable reviews
Plus
- Built-in LCD-display
- A shooting 720p at a speed of 120 frames per second
- Connection to Wi-Fi, including Ustream
Minutes
Highlights
- Review price: £249.
95 - 1/3.2″ 8MP CMOS
- MP4 video format up to 1080/60p and 720/120p waterproof
- Drop resistant up to 2m
- Flexible mount included
- Wi-Fi video streaming
What is the JVC ADIXXION GC-XA2?
The JVC GC-XA2 is the second incarnation of JVC’s ADIXXION extreme sports lineup. So, this is a rugged waterproof camcorder with built-in Wi-Fi, designed for cycling, surfing, snowboarding and all kinds of crazy activities. But the new version has a number of improvements over the original JVC GC-XA1. In addition, it is very expensive compared to many of its competitors.
JVC GC-WA-2 design and features
The action camera market is starting to get a little crowded and GoPro has
has quickly become the Hoover brand in the area. JVC is trying to fit in with the
action camera market trends by introducing the new
ADIXXION in a box with a transparent plexiglass top showing the
product in all its glory at the top, similar to {linkout:
https://www.
trustedreviews.com /ion-air-pro-2_Camcorder_review iON Air Pro
2} and
GoPro HERO3. However, this is much more than just a product for me.
The camera itself is very similar to the previous model, with significantly updated internals. For starters, while the previous model included a 5MP CMOS sensor, the JVC GC-XA2 bumps it up to 7.99MP and adds a backlight, and 1/3.2″ is pretty decent for such a small camcorder. The video processing engine has also been clearly improved, as a number of new shooting modes are available.
For starters, you can now take high-speed footage. The frame rate of Full HD 1920 x 1080 has been increased to 50p or 60p (depending on the selected TV standard), whereas previously it was only available at 720p. For the latest resolution, you can now record at 100p or 120p for smooth slow motion. You can also shoot single frames at intervals of 0.2 to 60 seconds.
However, 4K shooting is still not available, although GoPro cannot shoot at full frame rate in this mode.