X-bit labs

Started by: Kmeson | Date 07/12/07

Comments: 38 | Last Comment:  07/14/08

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1. Nice review.

Did you lap the 120 extreme? I've read that the Enzotech Ultra-X has a very smooth polish.

We didn't polish the contact surface of the Ultra 120 eXtreme. All coolers were tested as is.

2. how can it be that in Anadtech review the Enzotech Ultra-X had about 10degreas of difference between (higher) the Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme !

?? and here it even better?!

can somebody explain me that?

Hmm... well, the case Xbitlabs uses has a vent in the side panel, right across the CPU; Anandtech also writes that "[they] do not use auxiliary fans in the test cooling case, except for the Northbridge fan attached to the 680i for overclocking." on the "CPU Cooling Test Configuration" page of their cooler review... though I find it their temps very suspicious if that means "no case fans at all".

3. Which fan(s) were you using on the Ultra-120?
Could we get some CFM specs?

Try this - http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/scythe-enzotech_7.html#sect0

Sorry, what fan?

"The tower-like coolers were tested with a stock intake 120mm fan as well as with two fans for intake and exhaust (I used the fans from the Scythe coolers set at 1200rpm). "

4. put a good RPM fan and see the result it definately thrashes enzo by miles...

why didnt you take the TT120 in test?

We don't have it.

5. Why was it not compared to Scythe Ninja 2? It was obvious competitor with best in class characteritics.

What is it Scythe Ninja 2? Can you give me a link on it?

Sorry for misprint. It is really "SCNJ-1000P Scythe Ninja PLUS CPU Cooler" Rev B. Link is http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/cpu/006/scnj1000p.html.

"After the quad-core processor was overclocked to 3304MHz (+37.7%) with a voltage increase to 1.5V, I had to leave out the OCZ Vindicator (an analogue of the Scythe Ninja) and, oddly enough, the Cooler Master GeminII. The latter had behaved very well on a dual-core CPU, being only 2°C worse than the best air coolers, but would let the overclocked Intel Core 2 Quad begin to skip clock cycles. I made sure there was proper contact between the cooler and the CPU heat-spreader, but the results didn’t change: over 82°C under peak load and frequency throttling as the consequence."

Very interesting... But you left Scythe Infinity in competition. Although in head-to head test it lost to Ninja in cooling abilities. (http://www.silentpcreview.com/article658-page4.html). The same site compared it to TR U120. And Ninja looked decent comparing to U120. That is the shame I could not get another independent comparison of these two.

6. PlayStation 3 supports high-def movies, whose video resolution can scale up to 1080p and video bitrate could be more than 40Mbps. We gave it a whirl on high-def video quality.

www.mp4-converter.net/ps3-converter/

And good thing too since you can't play any games on it. :D

7. "The coolers were tested on an open testbed as well as in a system case" -- Are the temp results averaged between the two environments? I'm asking out of curiosity if orientation affects performance. On a bench gravity can assist the heat pipe coolant flow back to the CPU whereas only capillary wicking I suppose would circulate fluid on the horizontal.

The heat pipe work equal in horisontal and in vertical.

8. Please forgive my ignorance, but which fan?

Also, after re-reading the review and looking more closely at the pictures, I see you only used one fan clip? How is that working?

I put two Thermaltake A2018 fans on my U120, but I bought an extra set of fan clips.

9. Why not compare the Ultra 120 to the Enzotech Ultra-X with the same absurdly load fan. To pronounce the Enzotech Ultra-X the overclocking winner with a fan running double the speed skews and devalues you pronouncement of the Enzotech Ultra-X as the highest overclocker. I would the same or better results from the Ultra 120 with the same absurdly load fan.

EDIT BUTTON REQUIRED :P

Why not compare the Ultra 120 to the Enzotech Ultra-X with the same absurdly loud fan. To pronounce the Enzotech Ultra-X the overclocking winner with a fan running double the speed skews and devalues you pronouncement of the Enzotech Ultra-X as the highest overclocker. I would expect the same or better results from the Ultra 120 with the same fan.

I saw that too, hehe. The Scythe SFLEX 1200RPM rests on my TRUE. Keeps load temps under 47C using core temp @ stock vcore and 25C ambient during orthos large/blend. That's a 6400@3.2 BTW.

I see no need for these loud fans anymore. It blows me away to remember the days of 1 Tornado 92mm + 4 Thermaltake SmartFan 2's 80mm's blowing 120, 70 CFM respectively on that poor XP 1700 DLT3C. :D

10. Dear Sergey,

I wanted to tell you Xbit Labs reviews are among the best.
Please be advised that the .1 accuracy of your soundmeter is incorrect.
The correct accuracy is +or- 1.5 dB for your meter which is still pretty good.
That 1.5 variance allows the real value to be in a range of 1.5 dB on either side of the actual reading.
The .1 value you use is it's precision which just indicates how many decimal places the reading uses.
If your meter had a precision of .01 dB it would be a waste of an LCD because of the one and a half dB accuracy.
Again, great reviews.

SunShine Dan

While we're clearing things up, does Speedfan echo Core Temp's readings for the Quad?

Yes, it is read.

11. How bout titling the arty, "The one TRUE cooler for Core 2." Eh?

12. Can't compare performance of this heatsink to the performance of one (TT120 for example) tested on a totally different CPU.......

For what?

13. The U120 has a design flaw, the base has a slight warp in it. If you lap the base and apply the thinnest layer of AS5 you can, you'll see at least a 3-5 C drop.

http://www.recyclegroup.net/Ebay_Pictures/DSC04024.JPG

14. very well written with all the details sorted out:P
keep up the good articles=)

15. Just the Info I needed to Know.
Good job guys!

16. I've been kinda split between keeping my Scythe Ninja+ and purchasing the TT U-120 for first Intel build, I think I've just decided.
Thumbs up for the open stand/in ATXcase comparisons(not enough reviewers consider this comparison) and the dual/single fan configurations, decided it for me.

Keep up the good work guys!

17. It's great that you have all of these coolers for comparison, but without stating the exact ambient temperature you obtained your readings at nobody will know if one was recorded when the room was cold and another when the room was hot.

18. was the tuniq tower 120 just not in production yet or did you just make a stupid mistake in not testing it with the others?

19. Thanks for this excellent review it helped me make my mind up, I will be getting a thermalright 120

20. Good Stuff man... True too...

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