CPU Cooler Charts 2008: Part 4

[Crashman]

I agree with many of the others here. I don't see why the Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme CPU cooler has not been tested. From the benchmarks I have seen, it is the best air cooler available. It is ridiculous that they are testing a $400+ water cooler (Reserator XT, in the part 2 article), but they won't test the Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme, which costs $60!

I would also like to see how the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro competes against the other coolers that have been tested so far.

That's Thermalright's fault. If Thermalright wanted the Ultra 120 tested, they'd have sent it.

 

[Solly]

I just had to register to comment how disappointed I am once again with Toms reviews.....4th part and still no review of the ACF7 Pro....?, even though stated that it was a manufacturer presented in the review....when?...
For those wishing a review, here it is, very cheap, easy to install, in fact I actually got a thermalright bolt thru kit...., but Q66 @ 3Ghz, loading at 44-49c after an hour and the fan is still only spinning at 1200rpm!!!

Get your act together Tom's...its embarrassing!

 

[Squazz]

I were using a Zalman CNPS9700, but changed it with a Thermalright ULTRA120 Extreme, and it made my CPU fall some degrees... After adding 2x Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E and that made it fall some extra degrees... That means, that I were able to make my Q6600 go from 3.33 to 3.6

(I'm sorry for my bad English)

 

[jwl3]

You've gotta be kidding me. 5 months after the previous installment and finally the real contenders show up??? Give credit for THG for actually finishing this article, but I'm pissed cause for about 2 weeks after that idiot box cooler (part 3) section, I kept checking in every day to look for Part 4.

 

[bjornlo]

After ripping several reviews for being shoddy or half-assed junk, I really felt the need to comment on the over all quality of completeness of this review. Job well done, very informative.

Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Why not compare the coolers with after market fans instead of the ones that are included with the units. That way your are removing the fan variable and are truly comparing just the coolers.

 

[wellsoul2]

I've got the Zalman 9700 and its design is the best I've seen.
I've had more compact coolers clog with dust.

As for noise..if it's more quiet than my GPU who cares?
Most GPU coolers are much more noisy.

The Zalman seems to do an adequete job also with cooling more of
the motherboard..leading to cooler temps there as well.
I got mine for $55 so saying it's $80 plus is misleading.

Picking one winner is a bit misleading. People have different reasons
for what they like. I'd rather see best three at least based on price,
design,re-usability etc.

 

[suspect]

With regard to load temps looking high...as posters we should state specifcally..

4 cores at 100% Prime 95 is not the same as running Crysis or similar.

 

[dokk2]

go to frostytech.com that's all they do is review coolers all kinds of them http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm here's the link for their
take on the 5 best all time cpu coolers.>

 

[Cowardlyduck]

[citation][nom]Proximon[/nom]Interesting review! Good to see so many factors presented so well. Someone needs to build a data base for what cooler fits in which case and MB though... I understand there are some problems with the Xigmatek blocking Dimm slot 0 when placed correctly for dual-core, on some boards... If so would likely apply to other 120MM coolers.[/citation]

Totally agree with Proximon.
I am about to buy the Antec P190 and have had to hold off on choosing a CPU cooler for now because I can't decide on the best cooler that will fit. I desperately need a list or something of what coolers people have managed to fit into this case so I can narrow my choices down and select the best cooler.

 

[Guest]

you need to deduct points on the Thermalright IFX-1.
Installion should be zero because it involved removing the motherboard from the case.

also next time when judging installation it would be better to photo the motherboard from the opposite angle so we can see the ram slots.
I use dominator ram (which are almost double height because of the heatsinks) and i cant tell from your review which heatsinks are usable and which arent - so ultimately the whole 4 articals are worthless to me.

 

[yamagiru]

After all of the CPU coolers tested last year it apeparss the Scythe SCZP-1000 was completely overlooked. I hope it will be added to the test list this year!

 

[dmoorhou]

I was wondering if your going to do a review of coolers that would be suitable for a new Core i7 as it seems to me that this is where the new extreme cooling solutions will be needed.

 

[ronito6]

Wouldn't the same fan in the Thermalright IFX-14 would likely make it better cooling than the Xigmatek?

Faster fan means better cooling.

 

[ronito6]

Woops reverse that

Wouldn't the same fan in the Xigmatek would likely make it better cooling than the Thermalright IFX-14?

 

[ronito6]

Ahh never mind...you know what I mean

 

[2zao]

Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme is only $60 right now and gets better test results than any of these tested here.

can buy at www.directron.com or goto thermalright.com to find others