[Update] 18 CPU Coolers Roundup: Mega Shadow Takes the Crown
Benchmark platform and settings
How we test?
Equation 1:
Ψca = Ψcs + Ψsa
Ψca = Case to local ambient thermal resistance
Ψcs = Thermal resistance of processor case to heatsink
Ψsa = Thermal resistance of heatsink to local ambient
Equation 2:
Ψca = (Tc – Ta) / Pd
Tc = Processor case temperature
Ta = Local ambient temperature near the heatsink
Note: Pd refers to the actual power consumption of processor, instead of TDP value.
Ψca = (Tc – Ta) / Pd
Ψca = Ψcs + Ψsa
We calculate the Ψca by gaining the Tc、Ta and Pd from our test, and measure the cooler’s performance.
According to Intel, Ta refers to average temperature of the four points (3-8mm before the fan).
We monitored the temperatures of those four points, and found they’re almost the same, so we decided to measure one point of them (pictured below).
We used Everest utility to record CPU temperature and power consumption, and regarded the average CPU temperature as Tc value, as we don’t have a more accurate measuring method for now.
We have the system full loaded, and recorded the average temperature after the system had worked steadily for a while.
Take the above figures as an example: Tc = (73.0+68.6+67.3+65.8)/4 = 68.7℃, Pd = 134.46W. Let’s assume the Ta is 22.8℃, then:
Ψca = (Tc – Ta) / Pd = (68.7-22.8)/134.46 = 0.341℃/W
Maybe you have no idea about the difference between 0.3℃/W and 0.35℃/W, so we transfered it to CPU temperature accordingly.
Introduction
Thermalright Ultra 120E
Thermalright Ultra 120E Rev.C
Cogage True Spirit
Thermalright IFX-14
Prolimatech Megahalems
Prolimatech Mega Shadow
Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme
Tuniq Propeller 120
PCCooler HP-1216X
Xigmatek Thor’s Hammer
Noctua NH-U12P SE2
Zalman CNPS10X Extreme
CoolerMaster V8
CoolerMaster Hyper Z600
Thermaltake ISGC-300
Thermaltake SpinQ VT
DeepCool Killer Whale Premium
DeepCool Ice Blade Pro
Benchmark platform and settings
LGA775 platform (800RPM)
LGA1366 platform (800RPM)
LGA775 platform (1200RPM)
LGA1366 platform (1200RPM)
LGA775 platform (1500RPM)
LGA1366 platform (1500RPM)
Best cooler for LGA775 platform
Most cost-effective cooler for LGA775 platform
Best cooler for LGA1366 platform
Most cost-effective cooler for LGA1366 platform
Editor’s Recommended Award
Best cooler for your money
Editor’s Choice Award
Installation easiness
Thermalright Ultra 120E Brief Conclusion
Thermalright Ultra 120E Rev.C Brief Conclusion
Cogage True Spirit Brief Conclusion
Thermalright IFX-14 Brief Conclusion
Prolimatech Megahalems Brief Conclusion
Prolimatech Mega Shadow Brief Conclusion
Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme Brief Conclusion
Tuniq Propeller 120 Brief Conclusion
PCCooler HP-1216X Brief Conclusion
Xigmatek Thor’s Hammer Brief Conclusion
Noctua NH-U12P SE2 Brief Conclusion
Zalman CNPS10X Extreme Brief Conclusion
CoolerMaster V8 Brief Conclusion
CoolerMaster Hyper Z600 Brief Conclusion
Thermaltake ISGC-300 Brief Conclusion
Thermaltake SpinQ VT Brief Conclusion
DeepCool Killer Whale Premium Brief Conclusion
DeepCool Ice Blade Pro Brief Conclusion
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November 29th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Very interesting review
Great job and congrats!
Suggestion for a follow up article, of low profile coolers for HTPC and m-itx builders.
One question, did you test the heatsinks with a common fan or the included fans?
November 29th, 2009 at 12:46 am
At the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme you say it has no support for LGA1156. It does. There are mounting kits for it. I think you should remove that con from Editors Choice award etc.
November 29th, 2009 at 1:40 am
LOL the Mega Shadow is a weapon of planetary destruction from the TV show Lexx
November 29th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Cogage True Spirit is good, but I want this damn thing on my phenom.
November 29th, 2009 at 2:45 am
What about Scythe Mugen 2? Or Orochi?
November 29th, 2009 at 3:45 am
Nice review guys! Keep up the good work
November 29th, 2009 at 4:40 am
I already have Xigmatek’s Thor’s Hammer, I thought about bying different heatsinks, but I stopped it in the end. It is because it is so easy to mount on an AMD board, a very big and important plus for me. And it can run passively, even on my “low” X4-620 CPU.
All coolers here tested by Expreview.Com actually deserve to be winners because they all run very well, I mean, not one of them is bad at all and it is the truth. They all depend on your needs and budget.
November 29th, 2009 at 7:09 am
Passive cooling testings and I’ll consider this the only site where to find information about CPU heatsinks
November 29th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
@The elchemist,
Sorry for forgetting to mention the fan part. We used Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F for all the heatsinks and had it operating at three different speeds(800/1200/1500RPM) with the help of Sunbeam Digital Thermal Controller, plus the included fan, we got four figures.
Thanks for your support,
Sue
November 29th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
@you dont know,
We tried to contact Scythe about the sample, but were told that they don’t send samples to China-based media for some reason. And you know, there’re no Scythe coolers available here in China either. I also feel it’s a pity not to include their products in this review.
Thanks for your support,
Sue
November 29th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Good job. I wish you had tested Noctua NH-D14 as well there is a very high chance that it may beat this review’s top performer. There are a couple of Noctua NH-D14 reviews out aleady.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:21 am
@SupReme,
I’ve confirmed again that U120E does not include mounting kit for LGA1156 processors. You’ll need to buy LGA1156 mounting kit separately for all the coolers offered by Thermalright except for MUX-120.
Thanks for your support,
Sue