X-bit labs

SuperCoolers Return: Zalman CNPS9700 LED and Scythe Infinity (page 11)

Category: Coolers

by Sergey Lepilov

[ 12/11/2006 | 03:12 PM ]

Intel Core 2 Duo Platform

The dual-core processor Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 stepping B2 was overclocked from its default 1866MHz to 3450MHz (a frequency growth of 84.9%) with a voltage increase to 1.5V.

Here are the results of the coolers in this test:

The Scythe Ninja failed this test as it couldn’t cool the overclocked Allendale core in a system case. The system would freeze and the temperature value shown in the diagram is the last reported one. That’s rather strange as the cooler’s base was without any defects. The plates of the heatsinks should have been cooled quite well: the Scythe Infinity with much denser ribbing shows 3.5°C higher efficiency with the same fan.

As for the Infinity, you can note once again that this cooler is more efficient with two low-speed and quiet fans than with a single 2000rpm fan. Moreover, the Scythe Infinity with two fans becomes the winner of the test on an open testbed, i.e. when the cooler efficiency does not depend on the system fans and the size of the system case.

The Zalman CNPS9700 LED does well at max speed and inside a system case, but I don’t think you are going to use this operation mode. It is too loud. Our sample of the cooler may be defective or the heat dissipation of the overclocked processor is still too low for it. The platform with an Intel Pentium D is going to show us if it is so.