X-bit labs

Scythe Andy Samurai Master and Enzotech Ultra-X Coolers vs. Overclocked CPUs (page 8)

Category: Coolers

by Sergey Lepilov

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

Thermal Performance

AMD Athlon X2 Platform

The AMD Athlon X2 3800+ processor was overclocked from its default 2000MHz to 2792MHz frequency (a frequency gain of 39.6%) with a core voltage increase to 1.55V.

A further frequency growth was limited by the efficiency of the weakest cooler in this test. In the diagrams below the cooling systems are additionally grouped by their noise level (i.e. in the quiet mode and at the max fan speed) besides the open/closed testbed grouping.

Here are the results:

The numbers for the closed system case and in the quiet mode are the most interesting. The tower-like coolers – Noctua NH-U12F and Scythe Infinity – in their out-of-the-box state with one 120mm fan look humble against their opponents. It is because of the position of the CPU socket on the DFI mainboard that is not optimal for the fan airflow. The Scythe Andy Samurai Master and the Zalman CNPS9700 LED are somewhat better than these two. The Thermaltake Big Typhoon is even more efficient, but I have to acknowledge that the differences between the coolers are very small. With an additional exhaust fan the towers from Noctua and Scythe perform better, but not enough to catch up with the leader of the test, the Enzotech Ultra-X.

The tower-like coolers feel more confident on the open testbed, but the out-of-the-box Scythe Infinity is unsatisfactory. The speed of 1200rpm doesn’t seem enough to cool the ribs and the natural convection in the room improves its performance but little over the results in the well-ventilated system case. When I added a second fan to them, these coolers became leaders, but not absolute leaders. The out-of-the-box Enzotech Ultra-X at 1350rpm equals the Scythe Infinity and is a mere 1°C worse than the Noctua NH-U12F.

In the noisy mode (at the max fan speed) the Enzotech Ultra-X is the best cooler, too. The Scythe Andy Samurai Master is a little better than the Thermaltake Big Typhoon. The Zalman CNPS9700 LED is good, too, on the open testbed. Well, I guess this mode is only appropriate for short-term benchmarking and for setting new overclocking records because it is indeed too loud.

And now let’s get over to the Intel Core 2 Duo platform.