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Testing

Test Rig

Methodology

Testing CPU coolers is a fairly simple process. We boot the computer into the operating system and use Core Temp to measure the processor’s temperature – at idle and load. The CPU cooler which gives the lowest temperature is obviously the better one in terms of cooling performance.

The ‘idle’ processor state is achieved by running the system in the OS for 30 minutes with no processors running – except Windows’ needed ones. Once those 30 minutes are over, we run Core Temp and take an average across all four cores.

The ‘load’ state is achieved similarly to idle. However, instead of no applications running for 30 minutes, we run a utility called ‘Prime95’ with the “In-place large FFTs” torture test running. This puts the CPU under the highest stress threshold and therefore outputs its highest possible temperatures. The temperature is recorded again, after 30 minutes and by using Core Temp.

A low temperature is not only what makes a CPU cooler better than another. More importantly – especially in today’s world of HTPC’s – noise is an important issue to take into account. Unfortunately though, measuring the noise output from CPU coolers needs very expensive sound recording equipment. And because the coolers usually generate less than 30dBA, the price tag for a piece of equipment is well over anything we can afford. Therefore, the only way for us to give you a verdict on a CPU cooler’s sound output is for us to use our God given human ears and compare the cooler in testing with other competitor models. This result is by no means scientific, but it’s certainly a good representation of how quiet a cooler is in relation to other competitor models.

Throughout the testing of this CPU cooler and the other ones mentioned in the results, the current testing variables were as follows:

• Ambient (testing environment) temperature: 21 Degrees Celsius
• Thermal Paste: Arctic Silver 5
• Processor: i7 920
• Stock Speed: 2.67ghz (133*20)
• Overclocked Speed: 3.36GHz (160*21)

Related posts:

1. Thermaltake MeOrb Heatsink Review
2. Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU Cooler
3. Cooler Master Hyper N520
4. Asus Axe Square CPU Cooler
5. Coolermaster Hyper Z600 CPU Cooler Review

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