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Core 2 CPU Cooling Roundup February 01, 2007 Jake Lenin22 Ratner |
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Summary: Did you just pick up a shiny new Core 2 or Athlon 64 X2 CPU and now you're wondering which aftermarket heatsink would be best to take your processor to new heights? If so, today's article is for you. Lennin takes a look at 12 different heatsinks from 6 companies. See which coolers performed best with our overclocked Core 2 CPU in this article!
 Introduction | Page:: ( 1 / 23 ) |
CPUs today keep getting hotter and more power hungry. Some CPUs, like Intel’s Prescott core, and AMD’s FX chips have pushed to about 120W of power consumption. Even now, even when CPUs consume less power, their thermal densities (process size) increases their heat output. Unless you buy an OEM CPU (just the CPU in a plastic box), all CPUs come with a heatsink and fan designated to cool it. Over time these get better as the CPU gets hotter. However, these cooling solutions are usually the minimum to cool a CPU, or extremely loud, or even both. This is why third party manufacturers have created quieter, more efficient heatsinks to alleviate the problems of a stock cooler.The two main uses for an aftermarket cooler are to either to reduce noise in the computer, or provide overclocking headroom while at the same time lowering the temperature at full load. HTPCs (Home Theater PCs) especially need a very quiet or fanless cooler. This would provide fewer distractions while using the pc. Overclocking benefits greatly from aftermarket cooling. With a stock cooler you will most likely not reach your CPUs maximum. Temperatures will get too high because of voltage increases and you will have to stop. This is because the stock CPU cooler is only designed to handle the CPU at stock speed and voltage.
Adding an aftermarket cooler will greatly increase the speed and voltage limit of your CPU. This way, for only a $30-$50 investment, you have a good chance of overclocking your CPU to the level of CPUs that are worth double or triple the price you paid for your processor.
We tested 12 heatsinks from 6 different companies. They range in price from $30 to $50.
They vary from having 10 heatpipes down to none. Their bases are mirror-coated and very dull. Turn to the next page to see the featured heatsinks.
| Aerocool X-Fire | Page:: ( 2 / 23 ) |
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The X-Fire from Aerocool is our first heatsink. Like most of the heatsinks you will see in this article, it has a 120mm fan for optimal air movement and noise. This 120mm fan also has 4 white LEDs for aesthetic purposes. The fan is mounted horizontally, which is good for cooling the components around the CPU socket. From the nickel plated base comes 4 heatpipes that occupy two separate finned sections.
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As you can see from the reflection of the penny, the base isn’t very well polished. This will definitely affect this cooler’s performance, even if it is only a degree or two. The mounting hardware that comes with the X-Fire is the Intel 775 mechanism, the AMD 939 clip, thermal paste, and a set of instructions.
Installation
We are only going to show installation for the Intel Socket T (775) socket because the Core 2 Duo CPUs are wildly popular right now, especially for overclocking.
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Place the 775 mounting clip over the base. The heatsink is standing on some Legos because the clip doesn’t attach to the base. Once the heatsink is on the CPU, press the black stumps on the clip down and they will secure on the back of the motherboard. Make sure that you hear a click, guaranteeing the best attachment. This is the most common type of mounting procedure for the 775 socket. It is not the greatest, because you sometimes have to use considerable force to push the black stumps through the plastic white bottoms. This method does not always give you the tightest attachment possible either. Lastly, plug in the fan.
| Aerocool HT-102 | Page:: ( 3 / 23 ) |
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The next cooler from Aerocool is the HT-102. It has been around for a while, and is one of the first heatsinks to utilize heatpipes. It has six heatpipes and is made entirely of copper, which absorbs heat better than aluminum. There is a plastic cover on it to direct air over the fins and provide mounting holes for two fans. One 80mm fan is included, but there are enough mounting screws for both if needed.
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Our nickel reflects very well against the almost mirror finished base. This will help transfer heat from the CPU to the heatsink more efficiently. This cooler has the most mounting hardware included to span the most sockets. There is a backplate, two Intel 775 mounting brackets, an AMD 754/939 clip and screws, socket 478 clips, and an AMD Socket A clip (shows how long this cooler has been around). Thermal paste and installation instructions are standard as well.
Installation
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The installation of the older HT-102 is much simpler than the newer X-Fire. You will need the two 775 clips, 4 long black screws for the fan, and the backplate. First mount the fan onto the outside plastic shell. Next, unscrew two black screws on the bottom of the base. Remove the little heatsink on the top of the base (it does nothing except hold the mounting clips between itself and the base). Place the two mounting clips at the side of the base and make sure their holes line up with the holes on the base. Screw the little heatsink back on the base with the clips on the middle. Now place the HT-102 on the CPU socket and screw the whole assembly onto the base beneath the motherboard. Make sure you tighten evenly for the best contact. Remember to plug in the fan.
| Aerocool GT-1000 | Page:: ( 4 / 23 ) |
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Think of Aerocool’s GT-1000 as an updated HT-102. Both of these coolers have the same dimensions and characteristics. The GT-1000 has six heatpipes, an outer shell supporting two 80mm fans, and the unproductive little heatsink on top of the base.
The main difference between the HT-102 and the GT-1000 is that the GT-1000 is gold plated. Gold conducts heat worse than copper, so this addition should be purely aesthetic, and could actually hurt performance because it does not dissipate heat as fast. It also has a custom colored fan to match.
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The GT-1000’s base is just as reflective as its twin’s, however as we noted before, the gold plating doesn’t help pull heat off of the CPU. Rather, it actually slows down the process. The mounting hardware included with the GT-1000 is exactly the same as the parts included with the HT-102. There are mounting parts for sockets 775, 939/754, 478 and 462 (A). Once again, a tube of thermal paste and instructions are supplied.
Installation
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Since the mounting hardware and overall shape of the GT-1000 is similar to the HT-102, then obviously the installation procedure should be similar. All you need are four screws for mounting the fan, the two socket 775 clips, and the backplate. Unscrew the two small black screws on the bottom of the base and place the two clips between the small heatsink and the base. Then line up the holes on the clips with those on the base and screw the little heatsink and clips to the base. Line up the screws on the clips to the motherboard and evenly screw them in. Connect the fan to the motherboard and you’re done.
| Cooler Master Hyper 6+ | Page:: ( 5 / 23 ) |
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The Cooler Master 6+ is an improved version of the old Hyper 6. In short, the Hyper 6 is larger, with a larger fan and a thicker base. More surface area resulted in a positive performance boost for the Hyper 6+. This cooler sports a very unordinary 100mm size fan, therefore replacing it for a quieter or more powerful fan would be hard. It has 6 copper heatpipes that lead to aluminum fins with jagged edges.
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The base on the Hyper 6+ isn’t finished very well. You can barely make out our nickel in the photograph. This will slightly reduce the cooling potential of the Hyper 6+. Included is the clear 100mm fan and matching grill, and numerous mounting plates for all current sockets.
Installation
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This cooler’s installation is slightly different from the ones we tested earlier in this article. You need lots of different pieces and a steady hand. First, make sure you have everything you need to attach the heatsink to the motherboard. You will need 4 long screws to attach the fan to the heatsink, 4 plastic washers with small holes, 4 rubber washers (they have white rings on them) with large holes, 4 nuts, one screwdriver adapter, 4 thick short screws and 4 tiny screws. Next, attach the 4 rubber washers to the 775 mounting bracket. They should fit right over the protrusions on the base ends. Next use the four tiny screws to attach the 775 bracket to the base with the rubber washers facing away from the heatsink.
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Next screw the 4 short screws to the 775 bracket from the other side. You have to screw counter clockwise, unlike normal screws. Next, apply thermal paste and stand the heatsink upside down. Flip the motherboard over (We told you the installation is out of the ordinary!) and guide the motherboard’s mounting holes onto the screws of the heatsink. Then, while holding the motherboard, use the nuts to tightly and evenly attach the heatsink to the motherboard. You may use the provided adapter for the nuts, or a matching key if you have one. You can now flip over the motherboard. This installation method may seem out of the ordinary, but it gets the heatsink to make very good contact with the base compared to other methods, such as the X-Fire’s. Attach the fan connector and you’re good to go.
| Evercool Sharks | Page:: ( 6 / 23 ) |
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Evercool is not very well known in the enthusiast cooling market, but you will later see that their Sharks cooler is a very good start. As it says on the box, you can switch the fan speed from 12V (full speed) to 5V (very quiet) using a switch on the top of the cooler. The fan on the Sharks cooler is only 80mm, so it has to spin fast (and loud) to provide the same amount of air as a slow and quiet 120mm fan. Four nickel plated copper heatpipes stem from a very thick copper base. The aluminum fins are small, and the cooler itself takes up little space, therefore it would be good for smaller cases.
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The base on the Sharks heatsink is very well finished, as you can see from our nickel’s clear reflection. The Sharks is bundled with a 775 mounting bracket, a backplate, a 939/754 clip, three sets of screws, thermal paste and instructions.
Installation
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For socket 775 installation you will need the backplate, mounting bracket, the bag of screws labeled ‘For 775’, and the bag of large screws. This installation process is the simplest of all the coolers tested today. First, mount the 775 bracket using the small screws to the heatsink. Then stick the backplate though the motherboard holes, so you can see the ends.
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Next apply thermal paste and guide the heatsink and finally screw on the large screws tightly with a Phillips head screwdriver. Attach the fan connector and set the desired fan speed. We tested both speeds.
| Scythe Andy | Page:: ( 7 / 23 ) |
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Scythe has been has been both a performance and low noise leader for about a year now. The Andy cooler is their newest addition to the high power team. All of Scythe’s coolers feature quiet 100mm (or larger) fans, many of which can be easily replaced because they are held together by wire clips |(the only exception is the Scythe Mine). The Andy has six heatpipes and many fins spaced in groups of three stemming from the base up.
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The large base is very well finished since you can see every detail of our nickel. Included with the cooler are 775, 754/939/AM2 and 478 clips, as well as instructions and some thermal grease in cheap plastic.
Installation
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On the sides of the Andy, there are four notches, two on each side. In there fit the 775 mounting clips. Press them into the notches with the white ends facing way from the heatsink until it clicks. Then place the heatsink assemble over the motherboard and press down on the black stumps until they click and secure the cooler onto the base. This is a short process, but as we noted before sometimes, the black stumps won’t go down, and you must adjust them. This can get quite annoying if you do this more than a couple of times.
| Scythe Infinity | Page:: ( 8 / 23 ) |
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According to Scythe this is their highest performing cooler. The Infinity is a fairly recent cooler that sports 10 heatpipes with many fins. There is also a thick aluminum heatsink at the base of the cooler to pick up any additional heat off the heatpipes and the copper base plate which rests above the CPU. At the top of the cooler you can see eight small grooves. Like the Andy cooler from Scythe, the 120mm fan that comes with the Infinity is mounted by wire clips which go into these grooves.
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The base of the Infinity is perfect, like all premium coolers should be. Included with the heatsink is a 120mm fan, mounting clips for sockets 775, 654/939/AM2 and 478, wire clips for the fan, thermal paste, and instructions.
Installation
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Like the Andy, the Infinity has small notches on the sides of the heatsink. In there you would stick the appropriate mounting clips. Next, mount the fan by sticking the ends of the wire clips in the whole where a screw would usually occupy. Then pull the wire clips over the grooves on the heatsink one side at a time. Finally place the heatsink over the CPU socket, line up the cooler’s clips to the holes on the motherboard and push the black stumps through until you hear a click, securing the heatsink to the motherboard.
| Scythe Mine | Page:: ( 9 / 23 ) |
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Scythe’s Mine is cheaper than the other Scythe coolers we tested, but it does not lack in the quality department. It has 6 heatpipes with aluminum fins spread out over two separate sections. In between them is a 100mm fan. We saw this fan size on the Cooler Master Hyper 6+. The way this fan is mounted though, it was designed not to be replaced with another fan. You can see that at the base there are notches like the ones on the Andy and Infinity coolers. Scythe keeps an easy mounting scheme going by incorporating the method into all of its coolers.
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Despite being cheaper than the other Scythe coolers, the Mine has the same high quality polished copper base that we saw with the premium class Infinity cooler. The same exact package is included with the Mine as the Infinity and Andy. You get mounting clips for the 775, 939/754/AM2 and 478 sockets. Instructions and the same meager portion of thermal paste are included as well.
Installation
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Like the previous two coolers, getting the heatsink securely fastened to the CPU takes two easy steps. First attach the mounting clips to the heatsink via the grooves on the sides. Next, apply thermal paste, align the heatsink over the mounting holes, and press down on the black plastic stumps. Their ends will go through the motherboard, and secure to the back.
| Scythe Ninja | Page:: ( 10 / 23 ) |
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We tested the boxed version of the Ninja, but before it used to come fanless. Because it is so large, its fins have a huge surface area. It (and the Infinity too) can be used in a fanless mode. This is ideal for those who do not overclock, and those with the need for a very quiet PC. The Ninja is a behemoth. It has a record 12 heatpipes, three stemming from each side. From the top it is perfectly square and perfectly symmetrical. Although each fin touches all 12 heatpipes, there are four cut out sections and a whole in the center. On the edges you can see two grooves on each side. Like the Infinity and the Andy, the Ninja’s fan is mounted with wire clips that go in these grooves.
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To make the most of its amazing amount of heatpipes, the Ninja’s base is well finished to transfer the most heat from the CPU to the heatsink. The mounting hardware included with the Ninja is different from the other three Scythe coolers we looked at. AM2, 939/754 and 775/478 mounting brackets are included along with a 120mm fan, fan wire clips, and two bags of screws.
Installation
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Since heatpipes extend from all four sides of the Ninja, there was no way Scythe could incorporate its notches at the bottom of the heatsink, found on the other three Scythe coolers. They had to change the mounting mechanism and came up with something along the lines of what Cooler Master invented for their Hyper 6+ and Evercool made for their Sharks. The only thing they kept is the standard 775 mounting mechanism with the black stumps going to the back of the motherboard. They sometimes do not go all the way down and you have to readjust them.
First, using the set of 4 small screws, attach the 775 mounting plate to the base. Next, attach the fan by putting the ends of the wire clips in the screw holes on the fan and pulling the clips over the edges of the heatsink and into the grooves. Finally push down on the black stumps until they click to secure the CPU to the motherboard.
| Silverstone NT05 | Page:: ( 11 / 23 ) |
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Silverstone is a very well known maker of premium computer cases. The recently entered the cooling field and we have two coolers from them. The NT05 is the smallest cooler we tested in this roundup. It is ideal for small cases and tight space. However its small size reduces the surface area of the fins and minimizes the amount of possible heatpipes. The NT05 has the smallest fan of any heatsink we tested. Its 70mm cannot match the amount of air pushed by the 120mm fans of other premium coolers. The NT05 has three ‘U’ shaped heatpipes (which makes it 6 because they extend from the left and right.).
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The NT05’s base isn’t finished very well. Our nickel is very blurry compared to other coolers we already discussed. This deficiency will hurt its performance on top of its already puny size. The NT05 comes with a backplate and screws for it to be mounted on sockets 775 and 754/939/AM2 motherboards. It also includes a hex key because the screws on the NT05 are not the standard Phillips head. Silverstone supplies a tube of thermal paste and instructions. A bonus with these coolers is a fan speed regulator that mounts in an expansion slot bay. Even though it would get tedious to reach behind your PC and tweak fan speeds, it is a nice touch nonetheless.
Installation
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The installation of Silverstone’s NT05 is very simple. All you need is the cooler itself, the backplate and the hex key. Place the backplate under the motherboard and make sure the holes line up. Next place the heatsink on the CPU, line up the screws with the holes on the motherboard and use the hex key to tightly screw down the heatsink.
Even though the NT05 is the smallest heatsink we tested it has a rather large footprint, larger than some of the mammoth sized heatsinks. So make sure you have space around your CPU socket. Our EVGA 680i motherboard barely allowed the cooler to fit, leaving only 1-2mm from the cooler to the power regulators.
| Silverstone NT06 | Page:: ( 12 / 23 ) |
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Silverstone’s NT06 contrasts the NT05. It is much larger with smaller footprint and more cooling capacity. It features three heatpipes that connect to a massive top with many fins. The top holds a large 120mm fan. In fact, Silverstone includes the largest 120mm fan of any other heatsinks we tested. It is 32mm thick, versus 25mm like all other 120mm fans. This allows thicker and more curved fins for pushing more air.
Unfortunately there was a strange friction in the bearing and our supplied fan never worked. Instead we used the fan off of the Thermaltake Big Typhoon because it had the most similar specifications.
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Just like the NT05, Silverstone fails to finish the base. Our nickel looks dull, and the performance results will be dulled too. The NT06 comes with various mounting plates for sockets 775, 478, and 754/939/AM2. Like the NT06, it comes with a fan speed controller. It mounts to an expansion bay opening. Instructions and a tube of thermal paste are included as always.
Installation
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The NT06 is very easy to mount, but it requires a lot of different small steps to do so. First collect your appropriate materials. For the 775 socket, you will need 775 brackets, the universal backplate, four silver screws, four black screws for the fan, four gold nuts and 4 thumbscrews. Replace the stock universal mounting brackets on the heatsink with the 775 brackets. Make sure the ends point out.
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Next assemble the backplate. Fit the 4 silver screws upward through the far holes of the backplate. Guide the motherboard over the screws, because you cannot lift the backplate, since the screws aren’t fastened. Secure the backplate by screwing on the nuts. Next, apply thermal paste and guide the heatsink over the screws. Tighten the heatsink with the four provided thumbscrews. This is the a hassle free installation method, seen on the sharks and Hyper 6+ coolers.
| Thermaltake Big Typhoon | Page:: ( 13 / 23 ) |
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The Big Typhoon is Thermaltake’s most popular cooling product. It lives up to its name very well. Even though it has a very small footprint, its upper portion with the actual heatsink and fan is very thick. This is very good however, if you have a case that will accommodate its height. Our Antec Sonata 2 midtower allowed the Big Typhoon to fit with a couple of inches clearance. The 6 long heatpipes take the heat far from the base.
Attached to the 120mm fan is a tiny fan controller. This is a very useful asset when you tweak fan speeds out side of a case. However, in a closed case, it is very impractical to open the side each time you need to adjust your fan speed.
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The Big Typhoon’s base isn’t very big in terms of quality. The base is not finely polished, and you can barely make out the nickel. There isn’t much included with the Big Typhoon, but there’s enough to mount the cooler on sockets 775 and 754/939. Thermal paste and instructions are in the box as well.
Installation
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Securing the Big Typhoon to the CPU involves three easy steps. First apply thermal paste evenly and place the heatsink on the CPU. Next, place the 775 clip between the two elevations in the middle of the Big Typhoon’s base. Finally, push down on the black stumps on the clip to drive their ends through the motherboards mounting holes. After you hear the click from each stump, you’re done.
| Zalman CNPS9700 | Page:: ( 14 / 23 ) |
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Zalman’s CNPS9700 is simply an enlarged version of the CNPS9500 we reviewed last year. Instead of a 92mm fan, the 9700 has a larger 110mm fan. The fan can only be replaced for the same exact one, because it has a unique mounting mechanism with no standard frame around it. With a larger fan come larger fins as well. You must be careful, because these fins are exposed, very thin and sharp, unlike the fins of other heatsinks tested. Overall however, the basic ‘Aero Flower’ shapes stays. Three heatpipes make a figure 8 with fins radiating away from them.
Because the heatpipes start on one side of the base and end at the other side, the Zalman CNPS9700 has 6 heatpipes. At the top of the base is a protrusion where mounting mechanisms are secured to.
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The thick base of the 9700 has a mirror finish, something that must be expected of premium coolers. Packaged with the cooler are a universal backplate, mounting bracket, and clip, as well as a very generous sized bottle of thermal paste, and instructions. The Zalman Fanmate 2 speed controller is present on all CNPS products. Because of its long wires, it can be placed anywhere in the case, or even outside of the case for easy access.
Installation
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You will need the backplate, bracket and clip, as well as two short gold screws and four long silver screws to mount this cooler on the 775 socket. First, place the backplate underneath the motherboard and the bracket on top, with the feet pointing down and fasten the two together with silver screws, sandwiching the motherboard in between.
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Next, stick the 775 clip (the one with two circular holes) in between the heatpipes. Apply thermal paste and place the cooler on the socket. Very slightly screw in one side of the clip to the bracket with a gold screw, just enough to hold the clip and the bracket. Then do the same to the other side. You will need some force to do this, so make sure you apply force slowly, so nothing cracks. After both sides of the clip are secured to the bracket, tighten them all the way.
Let’s move on to testing and see how well these top of the line coolers perform!
| Test Setup and Methods | Page:: ( 15 / 23 ) |
System Specifications:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 @ 3.52GHz, 1.42V
EVGA 680i SLI Motherboard
1GB Corsair PC2-6400
BFG 7900GTX
Samsung 250GB SATA
Procedure
The coolers were tested in a closed case. Even though we show installation on a table, the motherboard was installed into a case before running tests, and removed afterward. A hardware diode was attached at two points on the motherboard. One end was attached on the back of the motherboard, in the middle of the socket. The other end was attached to the heat spreader of the CPU. Another temperature reference used was nVidia’s nTune program. We just wanted to make sure our hardware diodes were working right. All readings are taken from hardware monitors, not software.
To heat up our CPU we ran two instances of Prime95. This program maximizes the load of any CPU, therefore forcing the CPU to expel the most heat. To measure noise results, we used a digital sound pressure level meter (SLP meter) with a background noise of 20db on an open testbed. We also shut off other fans, including the chipset fan, and video card fan before recording noise levels.
Let’s move on to the results!
| Temperature and Noise Results | Page:: ( 16 / 23 ) |
| Ballistics Report : Aerocool Products | Page:: ( 17 / 23 ) |
Aerocool Xfire
Pros
120mm Fan – The X-Fire’s 120mm fan generates a fairly low amount of noise because it can spin slowly thanks to its size. It has 4 white LEDs for those who like the ‘bling’ in their case. Also, it is removable, so you can replace it with a quieter or higher performing fan if you wish.
Low Price – At only $30 at the time of writing, the X-Fire is a good alternative for a 3rd party cooler at a low price. It is ideal for quiet operation, not overclocking.
Cons
Poor Quality – Aerocool X-Fire’s base wasn’t finished very well. It lacked the luster of the bases of other coolers, such as the Evercool Sharks, which is in the same price range.
This is probably why it didn’t perform too hot either.
Poor Performance – The Aerocool X-Fire finished at the bottom of both the Idle and Load charts. Its poorly finished base, only 4 heatpipes which are also aluminum, not copper also contributed to its lackluster performance.
Aerocool HT-102
Pros
High quality, all copper construction – The HT-102 was the first cooler to use heatpipes. It is composed entirely of copper, the best metal for conducting heat besides silver, which is very expensive. Its base is well finished with a good reflection
Easy Installation – Installing the HT-102 is a breeze. Unlike the X-Fire, no force is required. All you need is a Phillips head screwdriver. The HT-102’s assembly method guarantees better attachment than the X-Fire’s traditional 775 mounting system. Also, the HT-102’s bundle allows installation on more platforms than other coolers, partly because it is an older cooler.
Cons
Poor Performance – The HT-102 is definitely showing its age. Despite its solid copper construction, 6 heatpipes, a well finished base, and easy installation, the HT102 finished at the bottom of the pack on the Idle chart, and in the middle of the pack on the full Load chart.
High Price - Its less than average performance doesn’t justify its price. At $50 at the time of writing, the HT-102 is very expensive, and better performance should be expected. It is priced similarly to the Scythe Infinity, but doesn’t perform anywhere near that level.
Aerocool GT-1000
Pros
High Quality Finish – The Aerocool GT-1000 is essentially identical to the HT-102, so it has the same pros and cons. The cooler is constructed of solid copper, and has a very high quality mirror finished base. There are no sharp fins, and it is packaged very well.
Easy Installation – Since the HT-102 and the GT-1000 share the same mounting mechanisms, the GT-1000 too has an easy method of mounting.
Cons
Gold Plating – Even though the gold plating was supposed to increase performance, it actually lowered the performance of the GT-1000. Gold transfers heat worse than copper, so its performance was lower than that of the HT-102.
Rather High Price – Even though it was initially priced higher than the HT-102, the GT-1000’s price is now $39 at the time of writing. Even at this performance level, you might as well get the X-Fire, which returned similar cooling results for $9 less.
| Ballistics Report: CoolerMaster Hyper 6+ | Page:: ( 18 / 23 ) |
Pros
Great Performance – The Cooler Master Hyper 6+’s performance landed it at the top of both Idle and Load performance charts. It also produced the second lowest change in temperature at only 18 degrees C.
Amazing Value – At only $32 at the time of writing, this cooler is undoubtedly the best cooler for the money. It performed up to par with coolers costing almost $20 more, so if you’re short on cash, the Hyper 6+ is definitely the smartest choice out now.
Cons
Odd Installation Procedure – Many small parts and putting the motherboard on the CPU (not vice versa) is not something you want to deal with. You could risk damaging your motherboard and CPU if you’re not careful. This is a minor imperfection of the cooler’s design however, because the mounting procedure did pay off in the end.
| Ballistics Report: Evercool Sharks | Page:: ( 19 / 23 ) |
Pros
Good Performance – On the Idle chart, the Shark’s cooler performed only average, but at full load, it did not hit 60 degrees Celsius at high speeds. At high speed it did not hit a 20 degree temperature increase. In silent mode, it still performed very well, despite cooling a highly overclocked CPU.
Low Price – At only $33 at the time of writing, this cooler is a great value. It performed close to coolers that were $15-$20 more expensive. The Sharks and the Hyper 6+ are the best value of any coolers in this roundup.
Easy Installation – A well crafted backplate allowed very simple installation. The Sharks’ small size allows it to be installed on almost any motherboard.
High Quality – A thick, mirror finished base, topped with a clever fan speed switch and thick heatpipes make this cooler superb. The fan cable was also a good length, there was no extra cable lying around. There were no sharp edges either. Nothing was overlooked when Evercool designed this heatsink.
Cons
Loud at full Load – To achieve its great performance, you must use the ‘Overclock” mode on the Sharks. This will allow more air to flow by the fins. However, the noise level increases dramatically. You cannot really solve this issue, because only a 15mm thick 80mm fan fits.
| Ballistics Report: Scythe | Page:: ( 20 / 23 ) |
Scythe Andy
Pros
Good Performance – The Scythe Andy’s performance stayed in the middle of the Idle and Load charts. These results are still very acceptable for such highly overclocked CPU
Low Price – At $35 at the time of writing, the only thing keeping the Andy out of our ‘Best Value’ category it costs slight more than the Evercool Sharks, yet performs slightly worse. If you need a very quiet cooler though, this is the one for you.
Quiet – The Scythe Andy’s fan is extremely quiet, recording 36db. This placed the Andy at the very top of the noise level chart, even if it wasn’t the best.
Cons
Installation Mechanism – This is a very minor con, and it’s only here because we couldn’t find anything else negative to say about the Andy. The traditional stump method of the 775 can be annoying because the stump may not go down and the pin on the bottom won’t secure to the back of the motherboard. Make sure you test that out before trying to mount the cooler.
Scythe Infinity
Pros
Best Performance – The Scythe Infinity finished highest on the Load chart, and was at the very top of the Idle chart. It also produced the lowest Delta T of only 17C. If you want the very best performance you can get, there’s nothing better than the Scythe Infinity.
Quietest – Scythe Infinity’s fan ran quieter than any other tested in this roundup. It registered 35db with a 20db background.
Relatively Low Price – At $43 at the time of writing, the Scythe Infinity costs less than many other coolers tested today, yet it outperforms them all.
Cons
Large Size – The Infinity’s large size may not allow it to fit on some motherboards. It is also very tall, so make sure your case is wide enough to fit it.
Poor installation methods – Even though the Infinity’s installation is tool-less, its large size doesn’t help the already annoying traditional Socket 775 mounting method found on all Scythe coolers.
Scythe Mine
Pros
Good Performance – The Scythe Mine stayed in the middle of the pack for both Idle and Load tests. For its low price, this is more than just average.
Low Price – At $30, the Scythe Mine is at the bottom of the price range for coolers in our review. It performed much better than that though, staying in the middle of the pack. This makes the Mine a good value.
Cons
Irreplaceable Fan – If you ever want to get a higher performing fan, you’re probably not going to find one. The 100mm fan on the Mine is not a standard size.
LGA-775 Mounting System – If Scythe could change the mounting system from the stumps to something like what Evercool’s Sharks does, or even Cooler Master Hyper 6+’s mounting system, then they would be unstoppable.
Scythe Ninja Plus Revision B
Pros
Great Performance – The Scythe Ninja finished second in both the Idle and Load tests, second only to the Infinity at load, and Big Typhoon on idle. Its 12 heatpipes helped the Ninja achieve such low temperatures.
Low cost – At only $36 at the time of writing, the Ninja is a great value. The only thinkg keeping it from reaching the ‘Best Value’ category is its large size, poor mounting, and a slightly higher price than the Hyper 6+ and Sharks coolers.
Cons
Large Size – The Ninja is huge, even without the fan. This makes it hard to reach under it and push down the pins on the mounting hardware. Its large size also affects the motherboard compatibility. It barely fit on our EVGA 680i board because of the large footprint and won’t fit in many cases. Check the dimensions carefully to make sure it will fit in your PC.
Poor Mounting System – Scythe insists on sticking with the stock mounting mechanisms for its premium coolers. There are lots of other methods of mounting coolers on the 775 platform that are superior, yet Scythe does not look into this.
| Ballistics Report: Silverstone | Page:: ( 21 / 23 ) |
Silverstone NT05
Pros
Small Size – The NT05 is the smallest cooler we tested. This is great for small cases, and even SFF cases. If you’re not overclocking, then this cooler would be ideal for a use in a compact environment.
Easy Installation – This cooler needs no assembly to stick it on the motherboard. All you need is the provided hex tool, the backplate and the heatsink itself.
Cons
Horrendous Performance – The Silverstone NT05 is not meant for overclocking. It was dead last on both temperature charts, and did not even finish the full load test at low fan speed.
Loud – Because of its small fan size, the NT05’s 70mm fan had to spin very fast to provide enough airflow for the heatsink. At full speed it produced 62dba, louder than any other cooler. We couldn’t even lower the fan speed, because temperatures got too high.
High Price – At $33 at the time of writing, the Silverstone NT05 is a very poor value. Every cooler outperformed it by miles, yet they all cost about the same. If this heatsink sold for $10-$15 less, then it would be a better value.
Silverstone NT06
Pros
Average Performance – The Silverstone NT06 stayed at the middle of the chart in the Idle and Load tests. It also maintained a low Delta T too, never rising more than 19 degrees. No other CPU cooler with multiple speed settings was able to do this.
Cons
Quality Issues – Not only was the base not finished very well, but the fan also came dead. Some may say that ‘it happens’, but no other cooler came with dead fans. So this is definitely a strike on Silverstone.
High Price – The NT06 costs $53 at the time of writing, making it the second most expensive cooler we tested today, behind the Zalman CNPS9700. For $20 less you can get better cooling. If this cooler was half the price, it would be a good value.
| Ballistics Report: Thermaltake and Zalman | Page:: ( 22 / 23 ) |
Thermaltake Big Typhoon
Pros
Great Performance – The Big Typhoon finished first on the Idle chart, and third on the Load chart. It is definitely a premium grade air cooling system.
Good Value – At just below $40 at the time of writing, the Big Typhoon is a great value, even if the Scythe Ninja both outperforms it, and costs a bit less. However, the Big Typhoon has a much smaller footprint, and will fit on many more motherboards than the Ninja.
Cons
Tall – The Big Typhoon doesn’t have a large footprint, bit it is tall and wide at the top. So make sure it will fit inside your case.
Zalman CNPS9700
Pros
Great Bundle – What we found somewhat amusing is that the CNPS9700’s bundle was better than the cooler itself. Zalman’s famous thermal grease, as well as easy installation brackets were included. The legendary Fan Mate was bundled in as well. Too bad the cooler didn’t live up to its bundle.
Cons
Poor Performance – Considering the CNPS9500 we reviewed earlier performed so well, we though this one would be even better because it is larger. At full load however, this cooler only managed to make it to the middle of the pack, and even that was achieved only at full speed.
Extremely High Price – At $62 at the time of writing, the Zalman CNPS 9700 is a very poor value. Coolers that are half its price performed better. Even if the price of the CNPS 9700 were cut in half, you could find a better performing cooler.
Irreplaceable Fan – The 110mm fan is not only an odd size, but also lacks an outside frame. This means you cannot replace it for anything but the same exact fan.
Sharp Fins – Just like the Zalman 9500, the 9700 has sharp fins. Be careful when you’re trying to secure it to the motherboard, as you can cut yourself. This may be a trivial con, but we don’t want to lose blood to any cooler, especially considering the price and middling performance of the 9700.
| Conclusion | Page:: ( 23 / 23 ) |
Our greatest surprise came from the Evercool Sharks cooler. Evercool isn’t known for high performing CPU coolers, but the Sharks cooler definitely assured us that Evercool wanted a notch in the market. The Sharks cooler was only one of five others to not hit the 60 degree load barrier. The Sharks cooler featured extremely easy installation and superb build quality. The Evercool Sharks wins our prestigious Bulls Eye award.
Bull's Eye Award: Evercool Sharks
Another great cooler that presented an amazing value because of its great price and tremendous performance is the Cooler Master Hyper 6+. It is a great improvement over the much smaller Hyper 6. For only $32 you get a cooler that will perform up there with the greatest on the market. Not only that but it will also maintain a fan noise lower than 38db. The Cooler Master Hyper 6+ cooler is the second cooler to win our Bullseye award.
Bull's Eye Award: Cooler Master Hyper 6+
Undoubtedly, Scythe is the best choice when it comes to premium air cooling. Both the Ninja and Infinity finished in the top three positions of both Idle and Load charts, as well as the Noise chart. It is the Infinity that goes above and beyond and wins three of four tests performed in this article. It yielded the lowest load temperature of 53 degrees Celsius and at the same time produced the lowest noise of only 35db from the fan. It also had the lowest the DeltaT of 17 degrees and comes in third in the idle category.
This dominance earns the Scythe Infinity our Editors Choice award, for being the best of the best.
Editor's Choice Award: Scythe Infinity
The biggest disappointment of this roundup is Zalman’s CNPS9700. It was by far the most expensive cooler, almost $20 more than the Scythe Infinity, yet the Zalman only performed average at best. We may have gotten a defective unit because our CNPS9700 performed worse than the older 9500, but until we can verify this, we will stick to our current conclusions. We have never had anything but praise to say about Zalman’s products, but this new cooler was a huge disappointment.
Another huge disappointment is the whole collection of Aerocool products. They all ended up at the bottom of the performance charts. They’re all offered at different price points, but performed poorly in comparison to other coolers in their price ranges.
Another company that disappointed us was Silverstone. In our testing, their NT05 performed abysmally yet costs more than the Cooler Master Hyper 6+ and as much as the Evercool Sharks. In light of its performance, the NT06 was also overpriced. It sells for $10 more than the Scythe Infinity, yet performed average at best in our test. It also came with a dead fan. Silverstone’s coolers would gain more attention if they were priced more competitively.