Intro
This is the full collection of the results in the 2011 CPU Block Roundup and when new results go up, this post will be updated. In this compilation post, the overall performance overview will be slightly simpler, with the full in-depth look available in the individual reviews. Things like installation procedures, block photographs, and the full write-ups will also be in the individual reviews.
This post will be used as a single stop to get caught up on all the blocks tested and the core test results. You'll see charts with all the latest data. You'll see a quick written summary of each block. You'll see the upcoming schedule of blocks. You'll find links to all the individual reviews and supplements conducted.
To read the how/what/why of our testing, please read any of the reviews. To get our full impressions of any specific block, please read the review for that specific block.
The quick version of how I test: 7 mounts with Arctic Cooling MX-2, 7 mounts with AquaTuning Silver Grease, 7 mounts with stock TIM, 2 Indigo Xtreme mounts (each with 9 pump settings tested). Each run/mount is 2.5 hours long, first 30min are warmup, last two hours are averaged to get the final value. All probe temperatures are logged every second (4 CPU sensors, 12 water probes, 12 air probes). CPU sensors are linearized to the 24 Dallas One-Wire probes (hugely important); all 24 DOW probes are calibrated to each other. Water temperature = average of block inlet and outlet temperatures. OCCT3.1 Small Data Set used for loading. i7 930 @ 3800MHz with 1.52v (BIOS setting), consistently 179W output (measured via flowrate * (block out - block in) * specific heat of H2O).
Individual Reviews
Koolance CPU-370 (also tested: Enzotech Stealth, Koolance CPU-360r1.1)
EK Supreme HF Full-Nickel rev2 and rev3 (rev3 = Easy Mount and MX-4)
Aqua Computer cuplex kryos HF
Swiftech Apogee XT rev2
Watercool Heatkiller 3.0b Ni-Bl (in progress)
Swiftech Apogee XTL (next)
XSPC Rasa (upcoming)
Supplements
CPU Block Fitting Compatibility
Thermal Performance
It's important to note that all flowrate/pump setting/hydraulic power spectrum tests are done with Indigo Xtreme (has zero performance change over time, unlike any thermal paste) and then justified to the blocks' MX-2 performance.
(*) TIM likely has a cure that might induce error in these results and will also likely have these results overestimating final performance.
Pressure Drop, Flowrate, and Restriction
Of note, "Restrictiveness" is a unitless metric measuring restriction and is effectively, not literally, an inverse of measured flowrate--lower means less restrictive. It's a sum of pressure drop readings at the eight lowest pump settings we test.
TIM Dependence, Mounting Variation, and Flow Responsiveness
Mounting System Comparison
Quick Takes
Aqua Computer cuplex kryos HF
- Overall great performing block
- Medium-high restriction (appropriate and acceptable)
- Mounting system's initial installation is not easy or straightforward
- Mounting system's thumbscrews rough on the fingers, not compatible with any tools
- Mounting system has set stops for even pressure at all corners
- Block assembly isn't dead easy--mounting plates do not rest in their final position
- Intel or AMD mounting brackets included, not both
- Decent fitting compatibility
- Comes with a great TIM, Prolimatech PK-1; little reason to buy any other TIM
- Noticeably expensive, ~$99
EK Supreme HF Full-Nickel rev3
- Overall great performing block
- Low restriction
- Excels with premium TIM (Indigo Xtreme, PK-1, etc.)
- Mounting system (Easy Mount) initial installation is not easy or straightforward
- Mounting system's thumbscrews are easy on the fingers but not compatible with any tools
- Mounting system has set stops for even pressure at all corners
- Mounting system repeated use is easy
- Mounting system doesn't provide much mounting pressure; performance losses compared to rev2 mounting
- Block assembly isn't dead easy--major o-ring held in place by two separate objects and can fall out; injection plate has no 'home' on the top
- Intel and AMD mounting brackets included
- Great fitting compatibility
- Comes with a good TIM, Arctic Cooling MX-4
- Expensive, ~$90
Enzotech Stealth
- Overall very good performing block
- Medium-high restriction (appropriate and acceptable)
- Scales with TIM--using a really good TIM is recommended
- Mounting system's initial installation is not easy or straightforward
- Mounting system's thumbscrews are not very easy on the fingers and not compatible with any tools
- Mounting system does not have set stops for even pressure at all corners
- Mounting system repeated use is somewhat easy
- Mounting system doesn't provide much mounting pressure
- Mounting system is fragile--broke two LGA1366 adapter kits in three mounts.
- Mounting bracket is a floating bracket and causes a lot of inconsistency
- Block assembly is pretty easy; 2mm hex screws do strip too easily, however
- LGA775 mounting as stock, comes with LGA1366 adapter; AMD and LGA115x adapters sold separately
- Decent fitting compatibility
- Comes with a mediocre TIM, Arctic Silver Ceramique
- Moderately priced, ~$75
Koolance CPU-360r1.1
- Overall good performing block; can't reconcile why this CPU-360r1.1 did not perform as well in this roundup as the old block and roundup
- Low restriction
- Scales with TIM--using a really good TIM is recommended
- Mounting system's initial installation is easy; nothing installed onto the motherboard
- Mounting system's thumbscrews are very easy on the fingers but not compatible with any tools
- Mounting system has set stops for even pressure at all corners; tightening to the stops may provide too much mounting pressure
- Mounting system repeated use is easy
- Block assembly is pretty easy; 2mm hex screws do strip too easily, however
- Intel and AMD mounting brackets included
- Great fitting compatibility
- Comes with a mediocre TIM
- EOL
Koolance CPU-370
- Overall great performing block
- Medium-low restriction
- Makes tremendous contact; performance not very dependent on TIM
- Mounting system's initial installation is easy; nothing installed onto the motherboard
- Mounting system's thumbscrews are easy on the fingers but not compatible with any tools
- Mounting system has set stops for even pressure at all corners; tightening to the stops may provide too much mounting pressure
- Mounting system repeated use is easy
- Block assembly is pretty easy; Torx screws will not strip
- Intel and AMD mounting brackets included
- Great fitting compatibility
- Comes with a mediocre TIM
- Fairly expensive, ~$85
Swiftech Apogee XT rev2
- Overall great performing block
- Medium-high restriction with inlet plate in the stock position
- High restriction with inlet plate in the compatibility position
- Makes great contact without excessive mounting pressure
- Mounting system has no initial installation
- Mounting system’s thumbscrews are easy on the fingers and compatible with Phillips screwdrivers
- Mounting system has set stops for even and ideal pressure at all corners
- Mounting system repeated use is easy
- Block assembly is pretty easy
- Intel LGA775/115x/1366 mounting bracket and backplates included; AMD bracket optional, uses inferior mounting system
- Great fitting compatibility but requires use of alternate inlet (slight bump in restriction which lowers flowrate which hurts temperatures a tiny bit)
- Comes with a mediocre TIM, Arctic Silver Ceramique
- $80 MSRP (can usually be found for $70 or less, however)
This post was last updated May 20, 2011
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