X-bit labs

Scythe Andy Samurai Master and Enzotech Ultra-X Coolers vs. Overclocked CPUs (page 6)

Category: Coolers

by Sergey Lepilov

[ 03/08/2007 | 11:04 AM ]

This fan was manufactured in China by Delta Electronics:

The included speed controller allows adjusting the fan speed from 1200 to 2500rpm creating airflow from 35.8 to 82.7CFM at a noise level of 24.5 to 38.5dBA. The fan becomes audible at a speed of 1550-1600rpm.

Here’s a bottom view of the cooler:

The cooler’s base is perfectly finished and absolutely flat, just like that of the Scythe Andy Samurai Master:

You don’t need to peruse the detailed guide included with the Enzotech Ultra-X to install it on any of the supported platforms. The installation procedure is simple and intuitive. If you’ve got a K8 processor, you use a pressure clip that is hitched to the standard plastic frame of the CPU socket. The included back-plate and frame will only be necessary if you’ve lost the mainboard’s ones. If you’ve got an LGA775 platform, you should use the cross-shaped back-plate with studs and plastic spacers, and spring-loaded screws:

The pressure is high when the cooler is installed on platforms with Intel’s CPUs, which is important as I’ll show you in the Tests section. When installed on Socket AM2, the cooler doesn’t hold firm and may even turn around a little on the CPU heat-spreader. I’d suggest the manufacturer make the groove for the pressure clip square rather than cylindrical. This would prevent the cooler from turning around. On the other hand, being able to turn the cooler around a little may help avoid incompatibility.

So, while it is all clear about the way the cooler is mounted on the CPU, its compatibility with mainboards is not such a simple matter. The heat pipes that go out of the cooler’s base may press against heatsinks on the power elements or against the chipset’s heatsink/cooler, or even against the memory modules. As a result, the cooler can be installed on such mainboards as DFI LanParty UT NF590 SLI-M2R/G and ASUS P5B Deluxe in one position only which is shown in the photographs:

Besides that, I tried to install the new cooler on an ASUS P5N32-E SLI mainboard and only one out of four orientation variants proved possible. The manufacturer doesn’t show how exactly the cooler should be oriented. I guess it means that if you’ve managed to secure it on your mainboard and nothing gets in the way of the heat pipes, then you’ve got it right already :).

It’s up to you to decide if this limited compatibility is worth the recommended $65, but take a look at the test results before you make up your mind. The detailed specs of the tested coolers are listed in the next section