Testing and Results

Methodology

Testing CPU coolers is a fairly simple process. We boot the computer into the operating system and use SpeedFan 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 applications running – except Windows’ needed ones. Once those 30 minutes are over, we run SpeedFan (a CPU temperature monitor utility) and note the CPU’s temperature.

The ‘load’ state is achieved similarly to idle. However, instead of no applications running for 30 minutes, we run a utility called ‘CPU Burn-In’ on each core of the processor. 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 SpeedFan.

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 one piece of equipment is one Tech-Reviews at the moment cannot possibly 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: 20 Degrees Celsius
• Thermal Paste: Tuniq TX-2
• Processor: AMD 7750+ Black Edition
• Stock Speed: 2.7ghz (200*13.5)
• Overclocked Speed: 3ghz (200*15)

Results

Temperatures

From the idle results you can clearly see the Scythe Mugen 2 winning overall in the load temperatures. The Zalman manages to beat it by one degree at idle.

The overclocked results prove that the Mugen 2 is better suited to higher temperatures. It beats all the other coolers tested but manages to draw with the Zalman on idle temperatures.

Noise

In terms of noise the Scythe was the quietest out of them all, this is particularly because of the low RPM Slip Stream fan. I could not hear the fan spinning at all when sitting a couple of feet away.