RoundUP: 23 SuperCoolers tested (extreme TDP, lapping, moding, 250CFM+)

A year ago my friend poparamiro went up on a mountain and locked himself in a cave with a bunch of coolers. He only got out for water and to hunt some food :D. But one day he had a vision and wrote a monstruos article with 51 pages about the best coolers there were and are now....

He tested with stock mountings, modded mountings, with and without lapping, different TDP settings and different fan speeds (dual Delta 250CFM included :p). He did a fantastic job and you can read all about this in his article:

Socket 775 Supercoolers – 23 coolers tested (article in romanian, Google Translate may be required)

Regards,
matose

wow only had a flick through a couple pages (as cba to use translator) but seems really in depth review will be a good read :D

51 pages! :eek: this is going to take some time!

nice going
waaaay too long though

heh :up:

Started reading. Awesome so far. Thanks for the review.

Wow 51 pages is crazy but it seems like a really good review. I think I have to pass on reading it tho.

If you don't have the patience, you can look at the graphs :D

You need lots of time just to look at the graphs even, I can't imagine how much time he needed to do them lol
BTW who is crazy to use a Delta to cool anything?:) If you're not deaf that thing will surely help make you :P

You imagine that Delta is for benching only, right? :)

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Originally Posted by alfaunits

You need lots of time just to look at the graphs even, I can't imagine how much time he needed to do them lol
BTW who is crazy to use a Delta to cool anything?:) If you're not deaf that thing will surely help make you :P

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Me! 6x Delta GFB series 76mm on a 120.3 XSPC rad.

Admittedly, I use another 120.3 with 3x Akasa Ambers for a lot of things too.

But, I wonder if people on here have some weird bat-like hearing. Normal Delta's (Not the twin rotor GFB's) @ 7v are just fine. Trouble is I'm not running 2 Sunbeam fanbus's just to do it, hence the 2 Rad's with Quick Releases on them.

well where are the graphs???
im on page 35 and theres still only pictures and looooaaaads of text :D

EDIT: the graphs start at page 40 for anybody interested :D
EDIT2: thats not the first graph, meh... :/ with an article this massive, only having an idex labeled 1 2 3 4 5 is really a bad idea :stick: :P
at least write an index on the first page to let people know what pages to go to for what info!

EDIT3: nice roundup! :toast:
but seriously... you need an index next time :P

Stuff that for a game of soldiers,someone interpret the results plz..i can't be arsed.
+reps for the workload though. :yepp:

So looks like True Copper >= Megahalems > True as I said.
But nooooo, True fans wouldn't listen... :shakes:
Nice article btw! :up:

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Originally Posted by saaya

but seriously... you need an index next time :P

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So true, my friend! :D

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Originally Posted by alfaunits

You need lots of time just to look at the graphs even, I can't imagine how much time he needed to do them lol
BTW who is crazy to use a Delta to cool anything?:) If you're not deaf that thing will surely help make you :P

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hey dont knock deltas
they are great
:D
i always have a pair of earmuffs handy when i bench anyways :rofl:

There's one guy on HWC/NCIX forums that uses strictly panflos and deltas for his computers
I think one of his watercooling rads had 3* TFB deltas
an e8400 rig had 4x TFBs (the nice beastly 220CFM ones)

Matose, please send the guy big thanks and respects. This is an excellent piece of work, especially for some, that are in the blur. You rock!

nice review

wish ure friend took some english book into that cave while he was at it.. lol..

+1

Very informative review

It was interesting to see the z600 beat the other coolers at low rpm, seems like a great cooler for silent systems.

Felicitari! Mai sunt destule recenzii, dar in cazul de fata se vede ca s-a pus si ceva suflet. ;)

By the way, it's Romanian... sometimes we put even soul in our work, not just brain (and this is a good example). :)

Wow, that is an exhaustive review!! Awesome work.
Makes me appreciate my mugen's price / perf even more ^^
http://lab501.ro/wp-content/uploads/...00-387x580.PNG

Pfff 4 San Ace 260CFM (per fan) on a rad! My temps don't go over 45 degrees! Click sig for videos. :rofl:

Massive review though.

I'm very impressed with the huge amount of work your friend poparamiro did to put this review/article together, great work! I'm definitely bookmarking it for future refernce, thanks for posting it Matose!

http://lab501.ro/wp-content/uploads/...9/DSC_8508.jpg

^ HAHAHAHAHA

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Originally Posted by demonkevy666

<img snipped>[/IMG]

^ HAHAHAHAHA

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How well did the cat perform as a cooler? I couldn't see it in the graphs.

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Originally Posted by zalbard

So looks like True Copper >= Megahalems > True as I said.
But nooooo, True fans wouldn't listen... :shakes:
Nice article btw! :up:

So true, my friend! :D

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yes,but those are extreme conditions,benching only
he states in the review that TRUE copper is benchmark only ,because of it's weight it should only be used on a horizontally mounted mainboard (and it's price too makes it undesirable for normal use)

also,normal TRUE beats Megahalems only in the last test,extreme CFM, and the TRUE was lapped and modded mounting,while the Megahalems was used stock and had the best mounting kit from his opinion

we'll work with him and other guys and see if we can do an acceptable translation

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Originally Posted by mascotzel

yes,but those are extreme conditions,benching only
he states in the review that TRUE copper is benchmark only ,because of it's weight it should only be used on a horizontally mounted mainboard (and it's price too makes it undesirable for normal use)

also,normal TRUE beats Megahalems only in the last test,extreme CFM, and the TRUE was lapped and modded mounting,while the Megahalems was used stock and had the best mounting kit from his opinion

we'll work with him and other guys and see if we can do an acceptable translation

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My point was that Megahalems beats True, nothing more, nothing less.
Which people used to not agree with.
And this review once again proved them wrong.
Sorry for confusion.

awesome collaboration! this definitely helped me pick my cooler for my i5 :)

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Originally Posted by jmke

and should not be a reason to chose one over the other, especially if price is involved.

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Megahalems has better mounting, better base and performs much better than TRUE in low/medium RPM ;)!

One quick question: have they (the reviewers) done remounts for all heatsinks? IMO its something worth the effort...

Am myself surprised the Mega came out on top , would think the True would edge out once it was lapped and properly mounted , in fact i was pretty much convinced , still taking this with a grain of salt .

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Originally Posted by ~CS~

Am myself surprised the Mega came out on top , would think the True would edge out once it was lapped and properly mounted , in fact i was pretty much convinced , still taking this with a grain of salt .

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Did you at least read the name of the thread? It was lapped AND modded...

Awesome work there. BUT: "Supercoolers" and "air" don't belong into the same sentence :p:
Here I was, hoping to find an extensive evap roundup :D :ROTF:

i skipped to the last page ....spoiler alert !!! ...he died !!

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Originally Posted by jcool

Here I was, hoping to find an extensive evap roundup :D :ROTF:

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Now that'd be truly amazing!
Anyone willing to do it? :D

Send me the 'vaps and I will do it =))

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sorry but "beating" means a NONE negligible difference, anything below <5°C is IMHO a wash; and should not be a reason to chose one over the other, especially if price is involved.

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At this level, 2 degrees is all that separates the number one heatsink from the rest of the pack. Of course, it is not a reason to chose one over another, but it helps to know the exact differences between the heatsinks.

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Originally Posted by Monstru

Send me the 'vaps and I will do it =))

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If someone sends me vaps I'll do it as well. :rofl:

If 3C difference isn't significant for you then perhaps you're on the wrong forum...
And testing on P4 isn't very relevant IMO... Or at least i7 would be much better.
After a quick search I found this one:

http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/im...a/q6600_34.jpg

And it goes perfectly well with the review in the OP.

"Fail" :ROTF:

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got a dual core Prescott here which slightly overclocked (not overvolted yet) produces more heat than Core i7

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Bro, we now how hot the presshots were, and they are ok for testing heatsinks, but this is an overstatement at least. Maybe compared to an undervolted D0 they are hotter, but I'll show you some nice sweet miserable clocker i965 ES I have here.....oh boy...No P4 ever got this hot :)

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Originally Posted by zalbard

Did you at least read the name of the thread? It was lapped AND modded...

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Quote:

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would think the True would edge out once it was lapped and properly mounted

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No you my Russian friend did not read my post to well ,"would think " not "think " .

Ponial ?

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Originally Posted by ~CS~

No you my Russian friend did not read my post to well ,"would think " not "think " .

Ponial ?

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Excuses, excuses. :p:

JMKE - I have benched P4's at 5GHz on air (Scythe Ninja). However, a Core i7 965 @ 4,3 on air is killing a True with serious fan on it. C'mon....

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Originally Posted by Monstru

JMKE - I have benched P4's at 5GHz on air (Scythe Ninja). However, a Core i7 965 @ 4,3 on air is killing a True with serious fan on it. C'mon....

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You had a PRESCOTT at 5 GHz on air? :shocked: Maybe the 65 nm variety?

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Originally Posted by IvanAndreevich

You had a PRESCOTT at 5 GHz on air? :shocked: Maybe the 65 nm variety?

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I said P4, not Prescott :).

JMKE - I am not questioning your methodology. I am not going to comment on what you said above, because I totally disagree, just like I disagree with tests done with synthetic load generators. There are a thousand way of testing heatsinks, and I could not say "that is bad" and "that is good". Whatever works for your readers, that is something you know better. Just don't tell me a P4 is hotter then an i7 :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gumballguy

How well did the cat perform as a cooler? I couldn't see it in the graphs.

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Ummm not good! :shakes: Tried the cat cooler and he has roasted chestnuts and is looking at me like I am retarded. I repeat...The cat cooler does NOT work good! :up:

51 pages fed through babelfish

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Originally Posted by jmke

got a dual core Prescott here which slightly overclocked (not overvolted yet) produces more heat than Core i7 ;)

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Clearly you haven't met my w3520. It does 4Ghz Linpack stable at 1,13V or 4,2 at 1,216V, but oh dear, does it get hot (and draw power..). At 1,4V it collapses my SS when priming (which is tuned for 280W load). Imagine giving it 1,5V :shocked: :rofl:

Seriously though, OCed low vid i7's are the most evil chips to date when it comes to power draw. Not even the B3 Kents or the Presshots can top them.

Well, who the heck is doing stock clocks heatsink testing anyway? :)

Didnt know that Zalman made such a good cooler, it is even better than TRUE :D
in low/mid speed fans..

That is just one aspect of a heatsink test :)

how did you get those odd temps for IFX-14?

68.5 C with 2x3000rpm and TRUE 63 C

how did you measure .5 C?

The final temps in the graphs are the sum of the temps on all cores, divided by 4. Ergo, odd numbers like that appear :)

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Originally Posted by illidan

how did you get those odd temps for IFX-14?

68.5 C with 2x3000rpm and TRUE 63 C

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Good question! :up:

:wave:

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Originally Posted by animaN

Good question! :up:

:wave:

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The answer's above you...

great review :)

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Originally Posted by jmke

balance has been tipping strongly in favor of low noise;)

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Um...are you lost... :shrug:
SPCR.com is over here :up:

:rofl:

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Originally Posted by zalbard

The answer's above you...

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ok for .5 but +5 C ifx-14 against true, strange those two where always 1-2 C

Real test conditions lead to real results. Of course, on a stock E8400 or smth like that, the difference between the 2 can be even lower then 2 oC :)

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Originally Posted by illidan

ok for .5 but +5 C ifx-14 against true, strange those two where always 1-2 C

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Might have something to do with fan placement on IFX-14 I guess. It's a pretty odd cooler.

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Originally Posted by zalbard

Might have something to do with fan placement on IFX-14 I guess. It's a pretty odd cooler.

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Oh, no, no, no. This test does indeed go deep. In this graph you can se how the IFX-14 scales with different fan positions :)



http://lab501.ro/wp-content/uploads/...nt-494x580.jpg

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Originally Posted by Monstru

Oh, no, no, no. This test does indeed go deep. In this graph you can se how the IFX-14 scales with different fan positions :)

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OK, ignore me, I'll admit I haven't read all of it, lol. :D
:worship:

i've read it all :)
that's why i said strange temps for ifx-14, those are pretty high temps when u compare it with true for example

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Monstru

Real test conditions lead to real results. Of course, on a stock E8400 or smth like that, the difference between the 2 can be even lower then 2 oC :)

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i know :)
i have true black and yorkfield, and didn't even think about some dual core cpus

Well, I see lots of people tested IFX 14 and had a good opinion about it. poparamiro tested 2 different pieces, to be sure that the one piece he is testing in particular is somehow deffective. Both had the same results. Ergo, IFX 14 is a poor performer compared to the top dogs.

ok :)

thanks again for this awesome test

Please believe that Jon, please. Do not believe a test like this one, and believe that one. And buy the IFX-14, it is the grandfather of all heatsinks. And then do some serious i7 OC-ing on air =))


BTW - page 48 and page 49 contain details about the testing of 2 IFX-14 samples to see if there are differences between them. You can see how they both do (and you can also see the new drop-down menus, so the article is easier to navigate) :D

I do not like to comment other tests, so I will not say anything more about that. But, regarding IFX-14 beeing the best low-noise out there, that is definately a joke. When you have a Z600, Ninja 2 and Megahalems, there can be no other :)

Please do not continue this argument. I really do not want to be mean, and I really do not want to get into an argument about this. IFX-14 is a failure because of it's design, and I REALLY do not cope with any review or review-er that shows me different. Maybe that is how those coolers perform on an Intel Pentium 524, but for the rest of us who want to cool a CPU that has not been around since the days Abe Lincoln was alive, IFX just doesn't have enough juice. You have your opinion, we have ours, you have your test, we have ours, let's just leave it like that :)

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Originally Posted by Monstru

Please do not continue this argument. I really do not want to be mean, and I really do not want to get into an argument about this. IFX-14 is a failure because of it's design, and I REALLY do not cope with any review or review-er that shows me different. Maybe that is how those coolers perform on an Intel Pentium 524, but for the rest of us who want to cool a CPU that has not been around since the days Abe Lincoln was alive, IFX just doesn't have enough juice. You have your opinion, we have ours, you have your test, we have ours, let's just leave it like that :)

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Hey Really great article and an awesome amount of work you have accomplished.

Would you say the ifx14 has a problem from overloaded heatpipes?

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Originally Posted by jmke

Z600 and Ninja 2 and Megahalems don't stand a chance against the pure MASS off the IFX-14;
I only base my posts on facts ;)

http://i37.tinypic.com/33bn5ur.png

Megahalems is a tightly packed fin HSF, needs airflow to excel. decrease airflow and performance drops. Z600 and Ninja 2 have less fins with more space between them, allow for better performance at lower CFM. The Orochi has the MASS and fins, but disappoints if you can't align it exactly right in your case.
IFX-14 has MASS and good setup for low noise; add the IFX-10 and you'll gain a few degrees; don't even need active cooling on the IFX-10 or IFX-14 if you have C2D system!

Passive cooling: IFX-14 has 20°C lead on Z600/Ninja 2... nuff said. That difference will only increase with higher TDP CPU.

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are those idle temps?
what to do with idle temps?

100% load is what matters :)

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Originally Posted by brandinb

Hey Really great article and an awesome amount of work you have accomplished.

Would you say the ifx14 has a problem from overloaded heatpipes?

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Thank you, but my coleague Poparamiro wrote the article. He can explain better what he found in his tests. From my point of view, the IFX-14 is too big with too little mass. You just have to take it in your hand after you hold a Z600 or TRUE or Megahalems, and you will know what I mean. Also, air-flow is really not that good with this design, and has never been.

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Originally Posted by Monstru

and I REALLY do not cope with any review or review-er that shows me different.

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you got your stevie wonders on in regards to the ifx? either that or your post is a massive case of 'toys out the pram'

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/5...glassesnd7.jpg

You work for Xbit or smth? I know what I have tested, I know what my coleague that wrote this article has tested. I know what my other coleague (matose) that will publish a similar round-up (but on LGA 1366) tested. Not on only one sample, not old CPU's, not small load where all heatsinks are the same. 3 different persons, 2 different samples, n different conditions, and IFX still performs poor. Now should I take it that the air in Romania is to blame, or that heatsink is just overated? What would you think if you would be in my shoes?

First of all guys, thank you for any critics, observations and appreciations, i put a lot of passion and "soul" in this test but of course it is far from perfect.

All the coolers have remounted, retested, if necessary lapped, modded for the best performance.

Regards the IFX:

The arhitecture of IFX-14 is not good for top performance nor for the best fannless comportament. Very thin fins and of course very little distance between them is not a good fanless construction, to point few arhitecture problems. The fact that hot air is ventilated from one side to the other in case of dual or trifan configuration is another deficience. I try to bypass this problem and i do this (both fans are blowing in) but the results did not get better.

About his weight: compare the Ifx with Z600 an you will understand what i mean. A good cooler have thick fins, it is essential for a good capacity of thermal absorbtion.

Just do this: take a True and the Ifx, modd them (retention and lapping) and put them on a high tdp configuration (not dual core, not P4), quad or i7 with ~1.5 or more volts. Do a prime 95 or a linx session on a 3000 or more rpm and see the results.

I test the ifx with every configuration possible, i even test two different Ifx's to be soure that is no problems or defects involved.

On low rpm thoug is performs better, the gap between True and him is getting small.

At the end please bear in mind that my coolers are modded, (if there was problems) so you can't compare results with the same coolers but stock.
I try to do the test the best that i can and i like all of them because 90% of the coolers are my personal property, bought from my own pocket.

Thank you again and all the best
With respect
Ramiro

Quote:

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Originally Posted by poparamiro

The arhitecture of IFX-14 is not good for top performance nor for the best fannless comportament.

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Somebody forgot to tell that to Xbitlabs, because they continue to show some incredible performance with that cooler:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/images/coole...diagr(xbt).png
(10/01/2009 @ here)


As for the way the IFX-14 is designed, Noctua found something they liked in it, because the upcoming NH-D14 is very similar to the IFX-14 with its twin towers.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7651/dscf0130big.jpg
(Noctua NH-D14)

@ jmke - if True is not modded and IFX is fully modded the True is still better (at high tdp and high air flow). On the article i specified gains for each cooler so comparrisons can be made.

@ RSC - i will make an article with the best coolers that have ifx arhitecture, Asus Triton 88, Noctua NH-D14, IFX-14 and i hope Thermalright Arrow. Noctua and Asus must arrives soon. My opinion that this arhitecture is not good for top performance will be confirmed or not in this test. The test will contain extensive and detalied tests (including lapping moddind and eficiency tests).

They will be compared wiht top performance coolers and after the test i can draw better conclusions.

As for the IFX issue things are simple: i test and retest IFX and TRUE many times (in all the ways possible, even different exemplares) and no way IFX is the best cooler (as the Xbitlabs present things). Any of you can do a versus between the two and post results. Nobody knows everything and all tests are welcome :)

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Originally Posted by jmke

@Monstru: your colleague just explained to us why his results are different from what others are getting; while his results are mucho interesting for the XS crowd; in unmodded status these HSF perform quite differently;

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Yeap, and still IFX is not that good :)

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Originally Posted by jmke

Z600 and Ninja 2 and Megahalems don't stand a chance against the pure MASS off the IFX-14;


Passive cooling: IFX-14 has 20°C lead on Z600/Ninja 2... nuff said. That difference will only increase with higher TDP CPU.

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I have 2 quick questions: do you work for TR and the second one: are you for real?

I don't think I've seen someone being that wrong in a single post. Z600 is 250 grams heavier than the IFX if by mass you mean weight.

And finally I'm pretty sure I'm not alone on this one but your tests are a joke. Absolutely zero relevance for a modern configuration and the way you defend your tests seems like you're trapped a few years ago and refuse to accept that things have changed.

And since this is XS all this talk about stock and quiet fans is a bit disturbing.

That thing with 20* under load difference for TR is signature material. Passive cooling Z600 is high up there, on podium, followed close by Ninja2 (few * difference). Orochi is also good but is not an all rounder as Z600 is.

Just stop with this silly jokes and SF temperatures for that cooler, it's embarassing.

LE: Or maybe you forgot to mention that CPU cooled by TR was @ idle while the one cooled by Z600 was @ 100% load. This could explain that funny difference.

LE2: Better delete that site rather than insisting with those funny results. Some ppl may actually belive it and you know is not nice to spread wrong (very) information.

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Originally Posted by Monstru

Yeap, and still IFX is not that good :)

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I have to agree completely...I bought a lapped IFX-14 from crazypc.com, along with a 250CFM Delta for benching on air. I was dissappointed with the tempratures and bolted on my trusty Megahelams to compare...I haven't used the IFX since...what a waste :shakes:

Yeah, but some people still don't get the facts, and come with "arguments" who implies unworthy sources. No personal experience, no nothing, just fanatism. If it's called XbitLabs, it's the absolute truth for them. :)

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Originally Posted by miahallen

I have to agree completely...I bought a lapped IFX-14 from crazypc.com, along with a 250CFM Delta for benching on air. I was dissappointed with the tempratures and bolted on my trusty Megahelams to compare...I haven't used the IFX since...what a waste :shakes:

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I tested IFX-14 so many times that i'm getting sick :), here, with dual Delta 250 cfm.

Results do not need any coments, but i don't understand how in some places the IFX is the "supreme" cooler :rofl:

The IFX-14 is crap!

The CPU was Q6600 @ 3600 - 1.38v

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4...minebeasy4.png

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8...minebeavv3.png

Great work Ramiro :).

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Originally Posted by illidan

how did you get those odd temps for IFX-14?

68.5 C with 2x3000rpm and TRUE 63 C

how did you measure .5 C?

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Originally Posted by zalbard

The answer's above you...

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I was pointing on first question ;)

:wave:

Awesome job Ramiro. Excelent work. Finally someone showed that IFX isn't such a good heatsink.

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Originally Posted by animaN

how did you get those odd temps for IFX-14?

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Final temperature = (Tmax core1+Tmax core2+Tmax core3+Tmax core4)/4

IFX temperature at 2x3000 rpm