Battle of the CPU Coolers - March 2008
11. Benchmarks - Idle Results
Review Pages
2. CooLink Silentator
3. Evercool Buffalo
4. Evercool PT12-9525EA
5. GlacialTech Igloo 5750 Silent & PWM
6. Noctua NH-U12P
7. Spire Fourier - SP602B3
8. Spire Starflow SP519S7
9. Thermalright SI-128SE
10. Test Methodology
11. Benchmarks - Idle Results
12. Benchmarks - Load Results
13. Benchmarks - Noise levels
14. Conclusion
Let's start by presenting our test results with the Idle report. In Idle mode, we have the lowest heat production from the whole system. Most CPU coolers should perform more or less the same...or maybe not?
The Intel stock cooler reports around 43 Celcius and hopefully most cpu coolers in this test will perform better than what Intel packs its retail processors with. The CooLink Silentator performed very good, when paired with an extra fan.
Raising the CPU voltage to stabilize the system means more heat is produced. The Intel stock processor reports around 51 Celcious, while all tested cpu coolers have a better performance. The CoolerMaster Hyper 212 and CooLink Silentator performed very good, while Noctua NH-U12P follows closely.
By lowering the rotation speed of most CPU coolers, the temperature is increased. We don't present the results of low fan speed in an overclocking mode, since it isn't ideal to have the lowest noise while overclocking, even if it's wanted.
There are various cpu coolers that performed very good at this test, no matter if they are low-priced (Evecool Buffalo) or even more expensive, like the CoolerMaster Hyper 212, ThermalRight SI-128SE or CooLink Silentator.