| Best CPU Cooler Performance: Intel Q3-2010 |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Cooling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by Olin Coles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wednesday, 17 November 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Best CPU Cooler Performance: Intel Heatsinks Q3-2010 Motherboard sockets come and go, but processors can always be depended on to create heat. For a short while longer, Intel's LGA1366 socket on the X58-Express remains the platform of choice for hardware enthusiasts and performance overclockers. Heatsink manufacturers haven't made much noise recently, holding back CPU cooler announcements until after Intel's Sandy Bridge LGA1155 socket is launched. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests a few newcomer heatsinks against a collection of solid past performers in this Best CPU Cooler Performance: Intel Heatsinks Q3-2010 article. Enthusiast overclockers demand only the best performance from their computer hardware, which is why the aftermarket heatsink industry is thriving with fierce competition. Using an overclocked Intel Core i7 processor on the X58-Express platform, only the very best CPU coolers will endure. This article introduces the CoolIt Vantage ALC, Deep Cool Gamer Storm, TITAN EVO TTC-NK85TZ/CS2, and Xigmatek Aegir SD128264 to the collection. We overclock our Intel Core i7-930 processor to 4.0 GHz using 1.40 volts to see which CPU cooler can make it into the top with the ProlimaTech Megahalems, Thermalright Venomous-X, and Scythe Mugen 2 heatsinks. With so many dual, quad, and hexa-core processors sold on the open market, it seems unnecessary to overclock for the sake of productivity anymore. Overclocking has transformed itself from a tool to help people work faster, into a hobby for hardware enthusiasts. There's a level of overclocking for every enthusiasts, from simple speed bumps to the record-breaking liquid nitrogen extreme projects. Overclocking is addictive, and before you know it the OC bug has you looking at hardware that might cost as much as a low-end computer system.
Computer hardware is an ever-evolving industry, and since Moore's law only applies to an exponentially growing transistor count then there should probably be another law for cooling products. In the very recent past there have been two major trends which have accelerated the performance potential of CPU cooler. That first development was the use of heat-pipes to directly contact with the CPU surface; which resulted in the Heat-pipe Direct Touch technology. The second development is by no mean a new concept, just new to our industry in specific. For many years now heatsinks have been full of right angles, but very recently companies have begun to recognize the need to disrupt smooth airflow and reduce the laminar skin effect which allows air to travel just above the solid surface. Some manufacturers have used at least one of these new concepts in their product design, and only a few are beginning to incorporate both. Benchmark Reviews will see how much this affects the overall performance as we test a large segment of enthusiast cooling products. Before the Intel Core i7/X58 platform arrived, the Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad processors did their part to separate the cream of the crop from our large collection of LGA775 coolers. In a previous Best CPU Cooler Performance article, Benchmark Reviews retired the LGA775 platform from its testing duties and made room for the up-and-coming LGA1366 socket. It didn't take long to collect several CPU coolers designed for the Intel Core i7 CPU & X58 platform. It's a mistake to think that any LGA775 cooler can do just as well with the new LGA1366/Core i7 platform; primarily because the size and location of processor cores has changed.
Before we inspect each member of our new CPU cooler collection, let's establish that our tests consist of methods we have determined to be the best for our one singular purpose. Our methodology isn't written in stone, and could very likely be changed or modified as we receive justification (and feedback from the community). Our scope is limited to stand-alone products only, meaning those products which can be installed and operated without additional critical components needed or kit construction. This generally excludes most commercial liquid cooling systems, which may potentially offer better performance than the products we test for this article but require components to be assembled from various options and equipment. Suffice it to say, the vast majority of gamers and enthusiasts are using air-cooled solutions and therefore we target this review series towards them. We encourage hardware enthusiasts to utilize the equipment available to them, and select the cooling fan that best suits their needs. Just keep in mind that exceptional cooling performance must begin with the CPU cooler, and end with the cooling fan. It's the foundation of the unit that makes a difference, which is exactly what we're after in this article. CoolIt Vantage ALC VAN-R120Water cooling kits have come a long way over the past few years, far improved from the days when tideous maintenance was a requirement to the point now when a kit can be self-contained. CoolIt has been a big part of that movement, as we proved with their all-in-one CoolIT ECO A.L.C. That cooler helped to shape a more efficient design for their next product series, which they've named the Vantage ALC. This new cooler takes the concept of all-in-one, and makes it more efficient. The CoolIt Vantage ALC begins with a 155x120x25mm aluminum radiator, with a 120x120x25mm cooling fan attached to the barb side (inside) and a spacer frame for mounting on the other. The total depth of the radiator becomes 75~80mm when you take the fan, mounting spacer, and fan guard into consideration. Two flexible tubes travel to and from the CPU Fluid Heat Exchanger, or waterblock to most enthusiasts. Housing the units pump system, the FHE measures a compact 55x91.5x51.4mm overall. The heat exchanger also weighs only 255g, which allows system builders to ship computers with Vantage ALC after installation.
The control system is really the key feature behind CoolIt's Vantage ALC, and does more than the ECO model before it. Mounting screws adjust to universally fit Intel 775, 1156, 1366 sockets, as well as AMD AM2, AM2+ and AM3. The new Vantage control system monitors temperature and auto-tunes the radiator's fan so that cooling performance is delivered with the least amount of acoustic noise. A backlit LCD display gives users six different color settings and four orientation directions, all while displaying CPU temperature, fan speed, and pump RPM. The CoolIt Vantage ALC (model VAN-R120) is available at NewEgg for $106 and FrozenCPU for $115.
Vantage ALC Features
VAN-R120 Specifications
Deep Cool Gamer Storm HeatsinkDeep Cool has been making high-performance heatsinks for many years, but this is their first time on Benchmark Reviews. When we asked Deep Cool for their very best product, they provided us with the Gamer Storm CPU cooler. The entire kit is packaged in an attractive 'collector's box' proudly displaying their unique heatsink, but we're really more concerned with how the contents perform than looks. Given that the Gamer Storm heatsink is designed for up to 150W installations, our tests should prove how well Deep Cool's best product stacks up to the competition.
The heatsink itself feels solid, and certainly looks unique. There are 48 aluminum fins spread across six staggered heat-pipe rods. The fins alternate with each later, and the finished product gives a saw-tooth appearance. Deep Cool has taken a fresh approach to calming fan noise, as the 120mm cooling fan receives a molded rubber design that gives it rigidity as well as anti-vibration qualities. The bolt-through mounting kit is tool-free and fits Intel LGA1366/1156/775 and AMD AM3/AM2+/AM2, but I suggest using a long screwdriver to avoid the sharp edges of the heatsink. The Deep Cool Gamer Storm (cpu-dee-01) kit is available at FrozenCPU for $65, which includes cooling fan and universal Intel/AMD mounting kit.
Gamer Storm Features
Gamer Storm SpecificationsProlimatech Megahalems HeatsinkWhat happens when the best engineers from Thermalright decide that it's time to leave a stagnant company who refuses their ideas? They gather their intellect and begin Prolimatech. Unlike other companies that have formed from the intellect of another, Prolimatech didn't decide to leave their former home and release a mainstream product. The Prolimatech Megahalems offers everything former projects (like the Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme) featured, but then adds new engineering where there were improvements needed. Very recently Benchmark Reviews tested the ProlimaTech Super Mega heatsink directly against the original Megahalems model. In that review, which used the results from two independent tests, the Super Mega trailed behind the Megahalems and reinforced our decision to continue using the original version for future projects.
The Prolimatech Megahalems uses a very dense array of aluminum fins which are split down the middle to form two separate heatsink halves. The Megahalems is comprised of six heat-pipe rods, which span to each side and offer twelve total cooling ends. The nickel-plated copper base secures firmly to the CPU with a proprietary mounting clip system. This mounting system, which I am pleased to report is the most effective clip mechanism I've ever used, offers tremendous contact pressure while completely removing the chance of processor movement or sliding. AMD users must pay an extra $10 for the AM2/AM2+/AM3 mounting kit.
Aside from a very impressive alloy mounting system, each outer fin plate has been shaped to accept a wire fan frame so that up to two 120mm or 140mm fans may be attached. While the fins are no wider than a 120mm fan, the attachments will secure larger fans to the heatsink. Benchmark Reviews has tested the Prolimatech Megahalems with a single Yate Loon high-output fan and two silent Noctua Fans, and it always performs at the top of our results. The ProlimaTech Megahalems revision B is available for $62 without cooling fan at FrozenCPU and NewEgg.
Megahalems Specifications
Scythe Mugen 2 SCMG-2100Scythe has been a premium brand name in the aftermarket cooling industry for many years now, and has earned a reputation among enthusiast and overclockers for their giant-sized cooling solutions. The Scythe Mugen 2 is one of the largest air-cooled heatsinks Benchmark Reviews has tested... at least since the original Scythe Mugen Infinity project. Aside from splitting the heatsink into five smaller groups of fins, these two coolers share almost identical design. The Scythe Mugen 2 includes a single Scythe Slip-Stream cooling fan, but the large SCMG-2100 unit can accommodate two 120mm cooling fans total (presuming the enclosure will support the area needed). Although the Mugen 2 utilizes a high-pressure bolt-through mounting system, the entire LGA1366 socket assembly needed to be removed in order to facilitate heatsink installation.
Similar to other Scythe coolers, the Mugen-II SCMG-2100 is really one heatsink atop another. A solid aluminum heatsink venting up from the base is connected by five large-gauge heatpipe rods to a group of five aluminum finsinks. Each finsink segment helps to separate the heat-pipe rods, and isolate heat distribution. How effective this concept is over the previous design will soon be revealed. The Scythe Mugen 2 SCMG-2100 kit is available at NewEgg for $40 or FrozenCPU for $45, and includes a 120mm Slip-Stream cooling fan. EDITOR'S NOTE: The Scythe Mugen-2 Revision B model SCMG-2100 heatsink is identical to the first version, model SCMG-2000. The only difference is that Mugen-2 Rev. B uses a newly developed F.M.S.B. (Flip Mount Super Back-Plate) for more convenient mounting onto the motherboard. There should not be any cooling performance between these two models, despite marketing hype.
Scythe Mugen 2 Features
SCMG-2100 Specifications
TITAN EVO TTC-NK85TZ/CS2 CoolerHeat-pipe Direct Touch design technology is the standard for most modern coolers, and our collection of heatsinks over the past two years has used this feature extensively. With four 8mm exposed copper heat-pipes rods formed into a "U" configuration, the Titan EVO takes full advantage of its cooling potential. Adding a well-designed, high-pressure bolt-through mounting system secures the TTC-NK85TZ/CS2 model onto any CPU using the Intel LGA1366/1156/775 or AMD AM3/AM2+/AM2 socket. The reinforced backplate requires motherboard removal or backside access for installation, and creates superior contact pressure.
If you've been keeping tabs on CPU coolers, you've probably lost count on the number of products that 'borrow' their design from another manufacturer. The truth is that nobody's really borrowing anything, because most of these companies design their product based on a patent licensed by the creator. Built from the same design that gave us the Sunbeam Core Contact Freezer, SilenX IXC-120HA2, the Titan EVO TTC-NK85TZ/CS2 heatsink is virtually identical to the Titan FENRIR TTC-NK85TZ we previously tested. Unfortunately, just as they had done with Fenrir, Titan makes the same mistake as Sunbeam and Spire and restricts the EVO to accept only one cooling fan.
A very dense array of 52 painted aluminum fins are stacked onto four "U" orientated heat-pipe rods, which span from an anodized black aluminum base. Unlike the ProlimaTech Super Mega which actually uses copper fins in the middle of their heatsink, the Titan EVO's fins are simply painted black or gold. Titan includes a 120mm cooling fan, model TFD-12025H12ZP, which they claim delivers up to 62 CFM of airflow at 2200 RPM.
TTC-NK85TZ/CS2 Specifications
Thermalright Venomous-X RT CoolerFor as long as Benchmark Reviews has tested CPU coolers, the Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme (TRUE) has been a top contender. Although the TRUE leaves behind a very long legacy of revisions and changes, Thermalright has moved on with an improved design that borrows from established technology. The Thermalright Venomous-X is the fruit of those labors, and concentrates six nickel-plated copper 6mm heat-pipe rods into a staggered 'U' layout placed among dense aluminum "bent winglet" finsink plates. There are two versions of the Thermalright Venomous-X: a standard version without any fans, and the $68 Thermalright Venomous-X RT which include one 120mm cooling fan and universal mounting hardware.
Aside from the improved Venomous-X heatsink design, Thermalright has introduced a new high-pressure bolt-through mounting system they call 'Pressure Vault'. This bracket system is only sold with the Thermalright Venomous-X heatsink, but with enough feedback from consumers Thermalright may soon offer it separately for previous heatsink products. The Thermalright Venomous-X RT heatsink support the most current Intel LGA775/1156/1333 and AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3 sockets, while the original (non-RT) Venomous-X version requires an additional $10 for the AMD mounting kit that extends compatibility to Athlon and Phenom processors.
Considerably better than previous TRUE heatsinks, the Thermalright Venomous-X receives a polished nickel finish on the contact base and removes the need for lapping. The extremely high-pressure mounting bracket system that's paired to the flat polished contact surface means that only a thin application of low viscosity thermal paste such as the included Chill-Factor TIM will offer the best results. Because the contact base uses a convex design, Thermalright suggests that enthusiasts avoid lapping the already-polished surface.
Venomous X Specifications
Xigmatek Aegir SD128264Xigmatek first earned their reputation with heat-pipe Direct Touch technology, used in their HDT-S1283 heatsink. It's been a long time since Xigmatek made waves with a full line of HDT cooling solutions, and the Xigmatek Aegir SD128264 (pronounced A-gear) heatsink is their first major enthusiast innovation since the Xigmatek Thor's Hammer S126384 CPU Cooler launched back in early 2009. Xigmatek's D.L.H.D.T. (Double Layer with Heat-pipe Direct Touch) technology is the new buzz word, if you can call it that. The Aegir SD128264 heatsink breaks down the part number: 12CM wide fan profile, 8mm heat-pipes x2, 6mm heat-pipes x4. Aegir is compatibility with Intel Core-i3/i5/i7 (LGA 1156), Core-i7 (LGA1366), LGA775 & AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3.
Included with the Xigmatek Aegir SD128264 kit is a 120mm PLA12025S12M-4 PWM fan, which uses 0.31A at 12 volts. This is the same fan used with the Xigmatek Dark Knight S1283V CPU cooler kit, and good for an operating range of 1000-2200 RPM and maximum 89.45 CFM maximum output. From the side view it's difficult to distinguish the Aegir from the other Xigmatek heatsinks, at least until you examine the heat-pipes. Thor's Hammer was Xigmatek's first heatsink to feature two levels of stacked heat-pipe rods, but Aegir is the first to use mixed size rods on the HDT base. 
Heat-pipe rods on the Xigmatek Aegir SD128264 are spaced apart and positioned directly behind the optimal air current path for most 120mm fans. The staggered design also allows the rods to disrupt currents and break-up laminar air flow around the fins. Lacking a polished chrome finish or ill-placed copper heatsink plates, the Xigmatek Aegir is left to attract impressionable eyes using a 120mm translucent cooling fan that contrasts white LEDs with black fins.
Aegir SD128264 Features
CAC-SXHH6-U02 Specifications
Zalman CNPS10X-Performa CoolerZalman, the company behind years of quiet cooling products, has taken their Zalman CNPS10X-Extreme design, and given it several tweaks to help focus purpose on specific needs. The Zalman CNPS10X-Performa is designed for serious overclocking projects, and in many ways could be a better performer than the CNPS10X-Extreme. Designed to universally fit all Intel LGA775/1156/1366 and AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3 sockets, the Zalman CNPS10X-Performa CPU cooler sells for $40 at NewEgg.
The Zalman CNPS10X-Performa heatsink keeps the five 6mm copper heatpipe rods used for other CNPS10X-series coolers, but improves the finsink design with more aggressive central bands of rippled aluminum fins and allows a second 120mm fan to be mounted on the backside. These ripples reduce laminar airflow, and create a more efficient heatsink.
Included with all Zalman CNPS10X-series coolers is a small 3.5-gram pouch of Super Thermal Grease ZM-STG2M, the very same TIM that topped the results of our 80-way Thermal Interface Material Performance Test mega-article with an 'A' rating.
Features and Specification
Contact Surface PreparationProcessor and CPU cooler surfaces are not perfectly smooth and flat surfaces, and although some surfaces appear polished to the naked eye, under a microscope the imperfections become clearly visible. As a result, when two objects are pressed together, contact is only made between a finite number of points separated by relatively large gaps. Since the actual contact area is reduced by these gaps, they create additional resistance for the transfer of thermal energy (heat). The gasses/fluids filling these gaps may largely influence the total heat flow across the surface, and then have an adverse affect on cooling performance as a result. Thermal Paste ApplicationThe entire reason for using Thermal Interface Material is to compensate for flaws in the surface and a lack of high-pressure contact between heat source and cooler, so the sections above are more critical to good performance than the application of TIM itself. This section offers a condensed version of our Best Thermal Paste Application Methods article. After publishing our Thermal Interface Material articles, many enthusiasts argued that by spreading out the TIM with a latex glove (or finger cover) was not the best way to distribute the interface material. Most answers from both the professional reviewer industry as well as enthusiast community claim that you should use a single drop "about the size of a pea". Well, we tried that advice, and it turns out that maybe the community isn't as keen as they thought. The example image below is of a few frozen peas beside a small BB size drop of OCZ Freeze TIM. The image beside it is of the same cooler two hours later after we completed testing. If there was ever any real advice that applies to every situation, it would be that thermal paste isn't meant to separate the two surfaces but rather fill the microscopic pits where metal to metal contact isn't possible.
After discussing this topic with real industry experts who are much more informed of the process, they offered some specific advice that didn't appear to be a "one size fits all" answer:
The more we researched this subject, the more we discovered that because there are so many different cooling solutions on the market it becomes impossible to give generalized advice to specific situations. Despite this, there is one single principle that holds true in every condition: Under perfect conditions the contact surfaces between the processor and cooler would be perfectly flat and not contain any microscopic pits, which would allow direct contact of metal on metal without any need for Thermal Interface Material. But since we don't have perfectly flat surfaces, Thermal Material must fill the tiny imperfections. Still, there's one rule to recognize: less is more. Surface Finish ImpactCPU coolers primarily depend on two heat transfer methods: conduction and convection. This being the case, we'll concentrate our attention towards the topic of conduction as it relates to the mating surfaces between a heat source (the processor) and cooler. Because of their density, metals are the best conductors of thermal energy. As density decreases so does conduction, which relegates fluids to be naturally less conductive. So ideally the less fluid between metals, the better heat will transfer between them. Even less conductive than fluid is air, which then also means that you want even less of this between surfaces than fluid. Ultimately, the perfectly flat and well-polished surface is going to be preferred over the rougher and less even surface which required more TIM (fluid) to fill the gaps. This is important to keep in mind, as the mounting surface of your average processor is relatively flat and smooth but not perfect. Even more important is the surface of your particular CPU cooler, which might range from a polished mirror finish to the absurdly rough or the more complex (such as Heat-Pipe Direct Touch). Surfaces with a mirror finish can always be shined up a little brighter, and rough surfaces can be wet-sanded (lapped) down smooth and later polished, but Heat-pipe Direct Touch coolers require some extra attention. To sum up this topic of surface finish and its impact on cooling, science teaches us that a smooth flat mating surface is the most ideal for CPU coolers. It is critically important to remove the presence of air from between the surfaces, and that using only enough Thermal Interface Material to fill-in the rough surface pits is going to provide the best results. In a perfect environment, your processor would mate together with the cooler and compress metal on metal with no thermal paste at all; but we don't live in perfect world and current manufacturing technology cannot provide for this ideal environment. Mounting PressureProbably one of the most overlooked and disregarded factors involved with properly mounting the cooler onto any processor is the amount of contact pressure applied between the mating surfaces. Compression will often times reduce the amount of thermal compound needed between the cooler and processor, and allow a much larger metal to metal contact area which is more efficient than having fluid weaken the thermal conductance. The greater the contact pressure between elements, the better it will conduct thermal (heat) energy. Unfortunately, it is often times not possible to get optimal pressure onto the CPU simply because of poor mounting designs used by the cooler manufacturers. Most enthusiasts shriek at the thought of using the push-pin style clips found on Intel's stock LGA775 thermal cooling solution. Although this mounting system is acceptable, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Generally speaking, you do not want an excessive amount of pressure onto the processor as damage may result. In some cases, such as Heat-pipe Direct Touch technology, the exposed copper rod has been pressed into the metal mounting base and then leveled flat by a grinder. Because of the copper rod walls are made considerably thinner by this process, using a bolt-through mounting system could actually cause heat-pipe rod warping. Improper installation not withstanding, it is more ideal to have a very strong mounting system such as those which use a back plate behind the motherboard and a spring-loaded fastening system for tightening. The Noctua NH-U12P is an excellent example of such a design. In all of the tests which follow, it is important to note that our experiments focus on the spread pattern of thermal paste under acceptable pressure thresholds using either a push-pin style mounting system or spring-loaded clip system. In most situations your results will be different than our own, since higher compression would result in a larger spread pattern and less thermal paste used. The lesson learned here is that high compression between the two contact surfaces is better, so long as the elements can handle the added pressure without damaging the components. Heatpipe Directional OrientationHeat-pipe technology uses several methods to wick the cooling liquid away from the cold condensing end and return back towards the heated evaporative end. Sintered heatpipe rods help overcome Earth's gravitational pull and can return most fluid to its source, but the directional orientation of heatpipe rods can make a significant difference to overall cooling performance. For the purpose of this article, all CPU-coolers have been orientated horizontally so that heatpipes span from front-to-rear with fans exhausting upward and not top-to-bottom with fans blowing towards the rear of the computer case. This removes some of the gravitational climb necessary for heatpipe fluid working to return to the heatsink base. In one specific example, the horizontally-mounted ProlimaTech Megahalems heatsink cooled to a temperature 3° better than when it was positioned vertically. While this difference may not be considered impressive to some, hardcore performance enthusiasts will want to use every technique available to reach the highest overclock possible. Heatsink Test MethodologyBenchmark Reviews is obsessed with testing CPU coolers, as our Cooling Section has demonstrated over the past few years. We've solicited suggestions from the enthusiast community, and received guidance from some of the most technical overclockers on the planet. As a result, our testing methodology has changed with every new edition of our Best CPU Cooler Performance series. Because of this, each article is really its own stand-alone product, and cannot be fairly compared to the others. This particular article is a perfect example of that principle, since we're using a fresh methodology. Benchmark Reviews continues to test CPU coolers using the stock included fan (whenever applicable), and then replace it with a high-output fan for re-testing. Manufacturers are not expected to enjoy this sort of comparison, since we level the playing field for all heatsinks by replacing their included fan with a common unit which is then used for every CPU cooler tested. Many manufacturers include fans with their heatsink products, but most 'stock' fans are high-RPM units that offer great airflow at the expense of obnoxiously loud noise levels. By using the same model of cooling fan throughout our heatsink tests, we can assure our results are comparable across the board. This is one of the more significant changes we have made to our test methodology, since many of the benchmark tests we have conducted in the past have compared the total package. Ultimately we're more interested in the discovering the best possible heatsink, and we believe that you'll feel the same way.
Yate Loon S12SH-12 Cooling Fan (Special)Testing was conducted in a loosely scientific manner. Ambient room temperature levels were maintained within one degree of fluctuation, and measured at static points beside the test equipment with a calibrated digital thermometer. Manufacturer-supplied thermal paste was not used in these tests, and a common Thermal Interface Material of our choosing (listed in the support equipment section below) was utilized instead. The processor received the same amount of thermal paste in every test, which covered the ICH with a thin nearly-transparent layer. The heatsink being tested was then laid down flat onto the CPU, and compressed to the motherboard using the supplied retaining mechanism. If the mounting mechanism used only two point of force, they were tightened in alternation; standard clip-style mounting with four securing points were compressed using the cross-over method. Once installed, the system was tested for a baseline reading prior to testing. At the start of each test, the ambient room temperature was measured to track any fluctuation throughout the testing period. Lavalys EVEREST Ultimate Edition was utilized to create 100% CPU-core loads and measure each individual processor core temperatures. It's important to note that software-based temperature reading reflects the thermal output as reported from the CPU to the BIOS. For this reason, it is critically important (for us) to use the exact same software and BIOS versions throughout the entire test cycle, or the results will be incomparable. All of the units compared in our results were tested on the same motherboard using the same BIOS and software, with only the CPU-cooler product changing in each test. These readings are neither absolute nor calibrated, since every BIOS is programmed differently. Nevertheless, all results are still comparable and relative to each products in our test bed (see The Accuracy Myth section below). Since our test processor report core temperatures as a whole number and not in fractions, all test results utilize EVEREST to report averages (within the statistics panel), which gives us more precise readings. To further compensate for this, our tests were conducted several times after complete power down thermal cycles. Conversely, the ambient room temperature levels were all recorded and accurate to one-tenth of a degree Celsius at the time of data collection. When each cooler is tested, Benchmark Reviews makes certain to keep the hardware settings identical across the test platform. This enables us to clearly compare the performance of each product under identical conditions. Careful consideration is made so that ambient room temperature does not fluctuate more than 1°C during testing, to ensure that the thermal delta would not change enough to impact our test results. Benchmark Reviews reports the thermal difference in our test result charts. For the purpose of this article, thermal difference (not the same as thermal delta) is calculated by subtracting the ambient room temperature from the recorded CPU temperature. Intel Test System
Support Equipment
Test NotesIn this review, the heatsinks were tested by two different reviewers to confirm results. The results for each test location will be separately displayed. All of the tests in this article have been conducted using vertical motherboard orientation, positioned upright in a traditional tower computer case. Heatsinks are positioned so that heatpipe rods span horizontally (front to back), and described in our Heatpipe Directional Orientation from the previous section. At the start of our test period, the test system is powered on and EVEREST system stability tests are started with Stress CPU and Stress FPU options selected. For a minimum of thirty minutes. EVEREST loads each CPU core to 100% usage, which drives the temperature to its highest point. Finally, once temperatures have sustained a plateau, the ending ambient room temperature and individual CPU core levels are recorded thus completing the first benchmark segment. The Accuracy MythAll modern processors incorporate an internal thermal diode that can be read by the motherboards' BIOS. While this diode and the motherboard are not calibrated and therefore may not display the actual true temperature, the degree of accuracy is constant. This means that if the diode reports 40°C when it's actually 43°C, then it will also report 60°C when it's truly 63°C. Since the design goal of any thermal solution is to keep the CPU core within allowable temperatures, a processor's internal diode is the most valid means of comparison between different heatsinks, or thermal compounds. The diode and motherboard may be incorrect by a small margin in relation to an actual calibrated temperature sensor, but they will be consistent in their margin of error every time. Heatsink Performance: Stock Cooling FanThis section concentrates on the cooling performance of each kit with the included fan. Manufacturer-supplied stock cooling fans usually offer either extremely high airflow or incredibly low noise, so there's a lot riding on what's packaged with the kit. Sure, there's added importance on the cooler's design and construction, but at the stock level these factors really don't carry tremendous weight. These results best compare products right out of the box. For the purpose of this article, all CPU-coolers have been orientated so that heatpipes span horizontally from front-to-rear with fans exhausting upward and not top-to-bottom with fans blowing towards the rear of the computer case. While the difference may be minimal, performance enthusiasts will want to use every technique available to reach the highest overclock possible. Benchmark Reviews has tested several new products against some proven top-performers from previous tests in this section, all using stock fans on the Intel LGA1366 socket. The average temperature difference (core temp minus ambient temp) is noted beside each heatsink:
Best CPU Cooler: Stock Fan PerformanceLeading the pack is Thermalright's Venomous-X heatsink kit, which adds a basic 120mm cooling fan with the RT version of the kit. After five recorded test runs on the overclocked/overvolted i7-930, the Venomous-X averaged 38.98°C above the 20~21°C ambient room temperature. Next came the Zalman CNPS10X-Performa heatsink, which cooled to 39.32°C over ambient with stock fan and trailed behind by a mere 0.34°C on average. Xigmatek's Aegir SD128264 heatsink was only 1°C behind the leader, cooling to 39.78°C in stock form. Schythe's jumbo-sized Mugen 2 heatsink kept cool using the included Slip-Stream fan, and averaged 41.39°C over. The Titan EVO NK85TZCS2 heatink comes with a fairly powerful fan, and cooled to 41.83°C over ambient on average. The next 'step' in heatsink performance occurs with the Cooler Master N620, a cooler that uses twin 120mm cooling fans in push/pull configuration, and cooled down to 42.95°C over ambient. The Xigmatek Balder recorded 43.18°C over ambient temperatures, nearly matched by the Scythe Ninja 3 at 43.25°C over, and Cogage TRUE Spirit with 43.40°C. The Scythe Rasetsu trailed behind and cooled to 43.98°C over ambient with the included Slip-Stream fan. Set to 'High', the CoolIt Vantage ALC all-in-one liquid cooler reduced overclocked temperatures down to 46.89°C over ambient, and remained extremely quiet during operation. The Deep Cool Gamer Storm heatsink offered very aggressive looks, but the stock cooling fan was silent and didn't stir up much air as a result, giving the Gamer Storm 49.32°C over the ambient room temperature. Taken as a whole, every single heatsink tested here performed very well with our heavily-overclocked Intel Core i7-930 processor running at 1.40 volts vCore. In the next section, we re-test the collection with a pair of Noctua NF-P12 cooling fans in push-pull configuration... Heatsink Performance: Dual Noctua Cooling FansFor anyone who dislikes fan noise, a pair of low-volume fans in a push-pull configuration are great when you're looking for peace and quiet. I've found that the SilenX iXtrema Pro cooling fans offer the best air flow and static pressure while producing miniscule amounts of noise. Thermaltake also makes a great silent fan called the ISGC, which offers decent air velocity. But when it comes to being absolutely silent and delivering just enough wind force to remain inaudible, Noctua commands the market. In this section, Benchmark Reviews combines a pair of Noctua model NF-P12 cooling fans together into a push-pull configuration. The heatsinks have been orientated so that heatpipes span horizontally with fans exhausting upward. This removes some of the gravitational climb necessary for heatpipe fluid working to return to the heatsink base. Each 120x120x25mm fan is rated for 54.3 CFM each, and emits a mere 19.8 dBA noise while using only 1.08W/0.09A power. Using our overclocked i7-930 CPU, each cooler does its best to cool 1.40V without making a sound:
Best CPU Cooler: Dual Noctua Fan PerformanceAt first I was a little skeptical of the performance two silent Noctua fans could produce on a highly-overclocked computer system, but the results were surprisingly impressive. Some coolers actually improved their position in the rankings when the stock fan was replaced with two low-volume silent fans, while others maintained their cooling performance with a lot less noise. The best heatsink of the collection was Thermalright's Venomous-X, which registered 39.73°C over ambient on average. A full degree behind was Titan's EVO NK85TZCS2 heatink, which was trailed closely by the Zalman CNPS10X-Performa, Scythe Mugen 2, and ProlimaTech Megahalems. At 41.99°C, the Xigmatek Aegir proved it could rub elbows with much larger heatsinks, even outperforming it's big brother: Thor's Hammer. Cogage's TRUE Spirit heatsink cooled to 42.59°C over ambient with two Noctua's moving air, while the Xigmatek Balder trailed behind with 43.18°C over. The Deep Cool Gamer Storm produced 43.67°C over ambient, which amounts to nearly 4°C behind the leader. Scythe's Ninja 3 doesn't seem to appreciate the silence, and the 47.16°C temperature over ambient is only exceeded by CoolIt's Vantage ALC which doesn't get new fans but runs on a 'LOW' setting. If you plan to overclock, you'll want to see how all of these coolers performed with a high-volume Yate Loon cooling fan in the next section... Heatsink Performance: High-Output FanOverclockers are known for being picky about their equipment, which is why Benchmark Reviews changes our format with each new project. Although it's impossible to nail-down which cooling fan is the overwhelming choice for overclocker projects, most enthusiasts would agree that fans with the best static pressure and highest airflow are the most appropriate. Because of size and design constraints in most of these products, a 120x120x25mm fan is as large as we can go with our collection of CPU coolers. This section uses the 'special purpose' high-output Yate Loon D12SH-12 cooling fan on each product tested. Most D12SH-12 cooling fans force 88 CFM of air at a moderately noisy 40 dBA, but the clear acrylic version we use (see Heatsink Test Methodology section for image) performs better than the standard version and most other 120x120x38mm fans we've tested. Benchmark Reviews tests our heatsink collection using the same high-output fan for each cooler we test, paired to an overclocked and over-volted Core i7-930 with 1.40V vCore. While some enthusiasts may dare to trespass beyond this voltage, Benchmark Reviews needed our test system to remain functional long enough to complete testing on all products under several different conditions. Please keep in mind that every product must complete testing on the exact same motherboard and processor for our results to be comparable, and if one of these fail all the testing must be redone completely. Benchmark Reviews reveals the results of our Intel LGA1366 CPU-cooler performance tests using high-output cooling fans in the chart below: 
There's less than 1°C separating the top three coolers when a high-output fan is attached, which explains why we continue to find the same coolers outperforming other heatsinks in every new test series. Available at FrozenCPU for $68, the Thermalright Venomous-X RT heatsink kit (36.75°C over ambient) outperforms all the others when tested on the overclocked i7-930 with 1.40 volts applied. In past articles we tested with a slightly less overclocked/overvolted i7-920, and the Venomous-X finished in the top three in those tests as well to prove itself as an established performance leader. Validating our Benchmark Reviews Editors Choice Award, the Scythe Mugen 2 SCMG-2100 produces an impressive 37.02°C over the ambient room temperature while costing only $40. If you don't mind the giant size and installation hassle, this cooler easily offers the best value of the bunch and trails only 0.17°C behind the leader. Unfortunately, not all motherboards will allow the Mugen 2 to attach multiple fans, especially when tall memory modules are used. Very recently Benchmark Reviews tested the ProlimaTech Super Mega heatsink directly against the older Megahalems model. In that review, which used the results from two independent tests, the Super Mega trailed behind the Megahalems and reinforced our decision to continue using the original version for our testing. When a heatsink costs $62 without a fan it had better be really good... and thankfully the ProlimaTech Megahalems really is. Cooling to an average temperature of only 37.66°C over ambient, the Megahalems trails 0.91°C behind the leader on average. Not far behind the Venomous-X, Mugen 2, and Megahalems, Titan's EVO NK85TZCS2 heatsink cooled our overclocked i7-930 down to 37.81°C over ambient. The Zalman CNPS10X-Performa produced 37.97°C over ambient, and trailed only 1.22°C behind the leading heatsink. Xigmatek's Aegir heatsink delivers 38.19°C over ambient on average with a high-output fan, trailed closely by the Cogage TRUE Spirit with 38.93°C. Finishing out the top performers, the Xigmatek Thors Hammer heatsink produces 39.42°C on average over the ambient room temperature. While the results for these first eight heatsinks have all been extremely close, the temperatures rise quickly hereafter. The Xigmatek Balder produces 40.74°C over ambient while Deep Cool's Gamer Storm delivers 40.91°C, both trailing the leader by 4°C. The Scythe Rasetsu heatsink cooled to 42.55°C over ambient and is nearly matched by the Scythe Ninja 3 with 42.79°C, giving both coolers a 6°C difference from the leader. Although not charted, the CoolIt Vantage ALC all-in-one liquid cooler silently reduced overclocked temperatures down to 46.89°C over ambient when set to 'High' without the obnoxious noise of our Yate Loon fan. CPU Cooler Final ThoughtsBenchmark Reviews tries to cover every angle, but sometimes it's just not possible given our time constraints. The initial articles from our 'Best CPU Cooler Performance' series focused on the Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad LGA775 socket design, and while the results are relevant to users owning that series of processor the Core i7 platform is completely different. To the inexperienced enthusiast, a top-performing LGA775 cooler might be (mistakenly) considered worthy for cooling a LGA1366 Core i7 project. This would be a grave error, because not only are the two processors different in overall die size, but they also place the processor cores in different locations. Simply stated: what worked fine on a Core 2 platform may not work very well at all with Core-i7. There is one minor drawback to using the Core i7 or Phenom II processors which affects overclockers: the difference in CPU cooler mounting dimensions. Many overclockers and enthusiasts have grown to cherish their favorite cooler, and trust them to cool the hottest system they can build. The problem is that now many manufacturers are offering free adapter kits, or include an adapter with their current model coolers, which leads to bigger problems because of processor differences. For all of our LGA1366 test products, we used the Xigmatek ACK-I7361 or ACK-I7363 CrossBow bolt-through mounting kits whenever possible. Heatsinks made for the old LGA775 platform are designed for use with a Core 2 (Duo or Quad) or Pentium 4 and D processor with an integrated heat-spreader measuring 28.5 x 28.5mm (812.25mm total area), but the LGA1366 socket requires a much larger 32 x 35mm (1120mm total area) footprint to accommodate the extra 591 'pins'. Then there's the LGA1156 socket, which measure 30mm square for 900mm of area. If you use an LGA775 or LGA1156 cooler on a LGA1366 socket, your missing out on up to 38% (307.75mm) of the contact surface. Additionally, the cores are located in slightly difference locations; the Core 2 Quad is slightly spaced away from the center, while the Core i7 is concentrated there.
The Phenom II processor series from AMD offer a very large 37.31 x 37.31mm (1392.04mm total area) integrated heat-spreader surface, which is the largest processor surface I can recall since the original Intel Pentium (I) days. Compared to Intel's Core 2 Duo and Quad processors which measure 28.5 x 28.5mm, the Phenom II offers over 71% more contact surface area. If you compare the latest Intel Core i7 processors which measure 32 x 35mm, then the Phenom II series offers 24% more contact surface area. For overclockers, this will mean a much larger area to cool, but also much more manageable temperatures. There are a lot of different products out there, and believe it or not we exclude a few from each article because they don't stack up well at all. So this is why you may not see some of the coolers other sites have tested in our results. Because of space and time limitations it's just simply not feasible to review them all, but it's certainly worth mentioning which products should be avoided. So I began to carefully think about it and nearly constructed a real-time chart which places products into different levels of performance. That's when I realized that performance is relative, too, and what performs well today might be considered low-end only a year from now. Perhaps the best method for testing is to use a synthetic system to generate the same exact load for each and every test conducted. This would stand the test of time much better than any computer system or processor platform would, because temperature is a static measurement, but it wouldn't take into account the differences seen between processor model architecture. The synthetic test unit might generate 250W of thermal energy, but every CPU series has a different layout and might not mate perfectly to a particular cooler. This brings me to my final point: there's a cooler for every processor and purpose. The ordinary casual computer user is fine with the included thermal cooling solution that comes with the retail processor kit. Systems built with a Core 2 Duo processor and three-piped HDT cooler (like the HDT-S1283 or Vendetta 2) will not be cooled the same as a Core 2 Quad processor because of where the cores align with the heat-pipes. Likewise, coolers built around the Core 2 LGA775 design may not perform well at all with the Core i7 or Phenom II platforms. This is why the research is so critical, and understanding the product is important. Best CPU Cooler ConclusionIMPORTANT: Although the rating and final score mentioned in this conclusion are made to be as objective as possible, please be advised that every author perceives these factors differently at various points in time. While we each do our best to ensure that all aspects of the product are considered, there are often times unforeseen market conditions and manufacturer changes which occur after publication that could render our rating obsolete. Please do not base any purchase solely on our conclusion, as it represents our product rating specifically for the product tested which may differ from future versions. Benchmark Reviews begins our conclusion with a short summary for each of the areas that we rate. This article offered a few surprises for me, yet none of them came from the new products we tested. Previous articles in this series used an early-production 2.66GHz Intel Core i7-920 processor, which was replaced with a new 2.8GHz Core i7-930 CPU for this project. Using the same testing methodology with higher speeds and temperatures, we witnessed a small change in our overall results. These weren't major changes mind you, especially since the same three cooler dominate the top rankings, but it was the order that these products finished that had changed. In previous tests with the i7-920 at 3.8GHz, the Megahalems consistently out-cooled the Venomous-X while the Mugen 2 trailed them both. This time we used an i7-930 at 4.0GHz, and the Venomous-X beats the Mugen 2 which is trailed by Megahalems. It's madness! I'm actually disappointed by the limited number of new products received for testing in this article, and particularly frustrated with Thermalright for shipping us the Silver Arrow cooler three months after it was repeatedly requested only to arrive the day before an already long-delayed publication of this article. No, this quarters' Best CPU Cooler Performance project wasn't nearly as large and exciting as previous editions in our series, and the upcoming uncertainty surrounding Intel's Sandy Bridge socket didn't help. Fortunately the upcoming Intel Sandy Bridge LGA1155 (socket H2) on P67/H67 motherboards will use the same mounting holes as LGA1156 (socket H) for P55/H55/H57/Q57 motherboards, so no new mounting clip systems will need to be designed. I've also learned that processor architecture can have a huge impact on heatsink performance. I'm not referring to speed or voltages here, because those factors are a given when it comes to cooling. What I'm referring to is how the 45nm Intel Bloomfield Core-i7 is going to have a 'heat signature' area that differs slightly from 32nm Gulftown. In fact, Gulftown's 248mm2 die package is closer to a Lynnfield LGA1156 Core-i7 CPU. Those heatsinks with a larger contact surface (and heatpipe base) will best serve 45nm AMD Phenom-II processors with a 258mm2 die or 45nm Intel Core-i7 quad-core 263mm2 Bloomfield CPU's. Essentially, it's important to research the cooler's physical information in addition to performance results when you're shopping for a CPU cooler. It's not a one-size-fits-all heatsink market, and the biggest cooler doesn't always provide the best performance. With these consideration in mind, I will offer several different product suggestions based on these test results and my past experience. High-Performance Overclocker HeatsinksThese heatsinks are suggested based on quality, value, and cooling potential:
Enthusiast Heatsink ConsiderationsIf you're not planning to increase vCore voltage to your processor, here are some additional recommendations that could fit your build:
A Word About ALC Water CoolersIn this article we tested the CoolIt Vantage ALC, a liquid cooling product available at NewEgg for $106. Much like the CoolIt Domino and ECO coolers we've previously tested, the CoolIt Vantage ALC performed considerably well with nearly no audible noise under full load. Beyond cooling performance, they also added several features not found on other All-In-One Liquid Coolers such as temperature alarms, real-time status information, and color LCD screens. What I find surprising is that most consumers are still fully unaware of the CoolIt product line, and instead opt for re-packaged Asetek clones. I've recommended a lot of air cooling products over the past few years, but I think it's finally time to suggest a few liquid cooling solutions. I like the Corsair Hydro H50 we previously tested, but for $80 this re-branded cooling solution offers none of the monitoring features or functionality that a $65 Domino ALC system does. Although the ECO R-120 is essentially the same as a Hydro H50, but for $72 you get the same performance for less money. It's so frustrating to see consumers purchase their products based on name recognition instead of performance. This appears to be the case with Corsair's Hydro H70 ALC for $105, which is just an H50 with larger radiator and lacks any of the monitoring and feedback display you get with the $106 Vantage. This isn't a company endorsement, it's just common sense. So what do you think we should test in the next CPU cooler article? Leave comments below, or ask questions in our Forum. There are so many cooling products on the market that deserve our attention, so don't think for a minute we've intentionally left someone out. In order for this series to hit the target audience with the most relevant product coverage, Benchmark Reviews needs your feedback. Let us know what you want to see tested, and tell us where to find it!
Related Articles:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comments
Guys where is V6GT? from precedent review was a very good performer,
This is a good one guys. Something that I can link to and refer people to that have questions about CPU cooling solutions. While there is always gonna be someone who brings up questions about why wasn't my 'Blah-Blah Cooler' included, you have a good assortment here and tested them all fairly.
Thank You
in this review was used different hardware...so the results could be different.....anyway ...
Other reviews show it as a good HSF, but will be great to see it included on a comprehensive comparison as this one
:(
Are there any plans to record noise levels? Obviously (based on your review) using two Noctua fans is a silent or near silent solution, and strapping on that Yate Loon is a recipe for distracting the neighbors, but what about the stock fans? I'm willing to spend money on a decent solution (namely the SCMG-2100) but may not have the budget for two super fancy fans at ~$15 a pop. Plus, if spending $30 is only going to get me 2db less than the included Slipstream, it's just not worth it.
Have Fun!
It's been a while since we tested an overclocked i7 CPU with the stock cooling solution... generally because it's too dangerous. Here's an example from the last time we did: /index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=371&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=11
Scythe Mugen 2, default fan at maximum speed
i7 950, 4GHZ, 1.4Vcore
Artic Silver 5
Everest 5.5
Ambient room temp: 23c
Stress CPU and FPU selected and run for 30 min. All temps are from the statistics panel, from the average column and with an ambient room temp of 23.
CPU: 57,6
Core1: 79,9
Core2: 77,3
Core3: 76,4
Core4: 73,1
I don't know how you get your temp 41.39, but I assume you add all core temps, divide by four and subtract ambient room temp? In my case that's 53,7c. That's 12.3c more than your reading. Can that simply be explained by different motherboards?
You've got the right idea: Core1-4 are averaged and then subtracted from the ambient temperature. I don't take the maximum Core readings, however, I allow Everest/Aida64 to average them for the final ten minutes of the test run.
Motherboard sensors and BIOS calibration are different between all motherboards; even those of the same model. Another big difference is voltage regulation, where some motherboards are analog while others (such as MSI) are digital and more precise. This makes it difficult to match results between systems. What's important is scaling between heatsinks tested on the same system.
Scaling between heatsinks then, this might be interesting.
Prime95 blending for 1h (1.33125Vcore, 4GHz) causes a max temp of 94c with my Xigmatek HDT-S1283. With the Scythe Mugen 2 it's 88c. The readings are the max temp for the hottest core. The max temp of the coolest core was 84 with my S1283 and 81 with the Scythe Mugen 2.
6c gained on the hottest core. 3c gained on the coolest core.
That's not really a whole lot gained when you take into account that HDT coolers should be really bad with i7, and Scythe Mugen 2 is the runner up in "Best CPU Cooler Performance: Intel Q3-2010".
Am I expecting too much?
Installation and TIM application play a big role, and if you're using too much paste then your temperatures would be higher than mine. You also need to take into account the heatsink orientation (vertical/horizontal), which makes a considerable difference.
In my second post however I wasn't trying to compare against your results but my own. I used Prime blending to generate the heat, and then noticed the max temps with Real Temp.
The Xigmatek S1283 generated these max temps: 94, 92, 90, 84
The Scythe Mugen 2 generated these: 88, 86, 84, 81
Is that what your would expect?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the fact that my Rampage III Extreme reports temps so much higher than your motherboard, wouldn't that hold my OC back? I mean, you can push your Vcore so much more before reaching TJmax than I, because your temps are reported lower.
Right now with a Vcore at 1.35625 my max core temp is 91, only 9 degrees from max. I'm doubting that I'll be able to reach 1.4v. Now if my reported temps were some 12c lower, that would leave me with some headroom.
But changing motherboard can too.
So my question is: Shouldn't lower reported temperatures result in possible higher OC's? If yes, and you can have lower reported temps by changing motherboard, then it should be possible to reach higher OC's just by changing motherboard.
So manufactures could use the fact that a given product is known for low readings as a sales argument. Seems a little silly.
At any rate, make sure that the heatpipe rods travel as horizontal as possible. You might already have them that way... on the Scythe Mugen 2 the heatpipes should be on the left and right, as should the fans. On HDT coolers it's usually opposite.
Given your findings that different CPU's have different heat signatures
I am not finding any comparative test past the last Q3 2010 and it is June 2011.Did you stop them?
I am looking for a good cooler for the Intel LGA 1055 platform i5 2500K CPU
thnx
While Benchmark Reviews has published several CPU cooler articles, we have not produced another comparitive roundup like the 'Best CPU Cooler Performance' series. This is for two reasons: 1) the latest Intel CPUs (Sandy Bridge) run significantly cooler, and do not require the same high-end heatsink as before, and 2) there haven't been that many new heatsinks introduced.