Innovation Cooling's Diamond 7 TIM test results

[DDTUNG]

Now that would be too scientific, riptide.

DDTUNG

[[XC] riptide]

Now that would be too scientific, riptide.

DDTUNG

Well Vic, to extrapolate more clearly for the intended target(s) here, some fo us can appreciate with metals for example that as the TDelta gets bigger, the Heat Conduction increases rather linearly for a wide range of temperatures.

However. TIM is not a metal, and I'm am not conviced TIM would exibit such ideal relationships between TDelta and conductance.

So to give any such TIM test the rigour it so plainly deserves, one would have to look at the conductance of the TIM at different steady state temperatures. We all know that here on XS, there guys cooling 160W processors at -50C and others cooling 160W processors at +50C. The question that you may ask is well, how does the conductance of the TIM vary, as operational steady state temps vary. Will the TIM at -50C work better than TIM at 50C?

So.... this brings us back to the Test setup. If you use a STOCK 478 HS, you will only get temps that are on the high end of the spectrum. ANd you results will only matter to those who run STOCK 478 coolers. Or at least crap coolers that maintain TIM at high temperatures, becasue, like I said, TIM may behave differently at different temperatures.

[Movieman]

If the heatsink you use is not capable of moving enough heat, then the best TIM in the world will not have a chance to perform. I hope that's clear enough for you.

DDTUNG

So in your mind it would be better if I used a super-efficient cooler? You do realize that the core temps would have very little difference between TIM products at that point, right?

Right now I can see a difference in products by almost 1~2 degrees using the overclocked P4 at 3.61 GHz and a stock cooler. If I used your suggestion, I would see .1~.2 difference, and reduce the consistency in TIM amounts because of enlarged surface. It wouldn't be feasible to use an after-market cooler with this kind of test, because the mounting method would come into play.

How can we presume that the supplied Intel cooling solution is a limiting factor? It cools down to 67C with AS5, but only to 77C with another paste. So it seems that it's not limited at all based on output.

If you use an aftermarket cooler, you lose the ability to have a wider delta. You also lose the 1" contact area which will remain consistent in every test, and you'll lose the level mounting pressure.

Capoliton: It is a cornerstone of Thermal analysis. The rate of Heat conductance of a material is proportional to the delta of the temperatures between the hot and cold points. A stock 478 is not an ideal cool point in this case.

In actual fact what I suggest as a pure measure of conductance is to take the TIM's away from PC applications, and measure its effectiveness on between a heat loaded aluminum, and refrigerated copper. And push the envelope in to a delta of at least 100C at what ever wattage it takes to maintain this delta. Now. That would be interesting.

Well Vic, to extrapolate more clearly for the intended target(s) here, some fo us can appreciate with metals for example that as the TDelta gets bigger, the Heat Conduction increases rather linearly for a wide range of temperatures.

However. TIM is not a metal, and I'm am not convinced TIM would exhibit such ideal relationships between TDelta and conductance.

So to give any such TIM test the rigor it so plainly deserves, one would have to look at the conductance of the TIM at different steady state temperatures. We all know that here on XS, there guys cooling 160W processors at -50C and others cooling 160W processors at +50C. The question that you may ask is well, how does the conductance of the TIM vary, as operational steady state temps vary. Will the TIM at -50C work better than TIM at 50C?

So.... this brings us back to the Test setup. If you use a STOCK 478 HS, you will only get temps that are on the high end of the spectrum. ANd you results will only matter to those who run STOCK 478 coolers. Or at least crap coolers that maintain TIM at high temperatures, because, like I said, TIM may behave differently at different temperatures.

Wow, where to go with all this. After a good nights sleep and reading thru this I have my own thoughts.
1) Das Capitolin: Your measuring or looking to measure the differences in temps using different TIMS while we're looking for the best obtainable temps.
One would think it's the same but it isn't.
You are limiting your tests to that stock Intel HS to show a greater literal degree between the TIM's and although I understand your reasoning for doing so I disagree with the results as they pertain to a pursuit of lowest temps on a working system.
2) Over the past 2+ years I have learned to listen when certain people speak here.I always considered myself a pretty smart guy but like that old EF Hutton commercial( or was it Smith Barney?) When certain people talk, I listen.
Why? Because over and over I've seen their comments to prove to be true and not just opinion.
3) There was a comment made here that made me think a little:
"If the heatsink you use is not capable of moving enough heat, then the best TIM in the world will not have a chance to perform."
This really is the point to dwell on.
We have a heat source and we want to remove as much of that heat, as quickly as possible so the options in play are the TIM, the HS and the fan on that HS. Case fans also play a part but to a lesser degree.
We want the best possible solution possible and cost usually isn't a factor.(within reason)
4) Some here haven't grasped your logic for using the stock HS and thats created some of the problems here. I understand it, I just think it flies in the face of what we're trying to accomplish.
You mentioned that the differences would be down in the point 1-point3C area if you used a top HS so you used a stock one to show a greater temp" difference between the TIM's and at that point1,etc it would be effected by the way the TIM was laid in. That is always a factor and we live with it.
5) Thin skin.
Don't let attacks against your data be taken personal.
Cripes if I let something like that get to me I'd be out hunting people down with a shotgun. It isn't personal or at least it should not be.
I tried last night to calm this down but I don't have the ability to silence people nor would I want to do so.
Remember, it takes two to have a fight and be the bigger man and ignore any comments that irritate you and attack back against the argument, not the person.
Now for me personally, I greatly appreciate the time and effort you put into this testing and I can see that you did all you could to make it as scientific as possible but for this group that testing would have made more impact had you used a TRUE HS and not the stock Intel HS.
These guys work machines that are tweaked to the top tier my friend.
The only time you'd see a stock HS on their systems is when a TRUE was backordered and that is really why you ran into difficulty here.
It wasn't that your data was wrong, it was the parts used.
That's not a slam as I do not pick on or at people but just my observation.
Yes, you are still welcome to come to dinner and thats my way of saying please don't take this all so personally.