CPU Coolers Roundup Jan 2011
16. Summary
Review Pages
1. Introduction
2. Arctic Cooling Freezer 13
3. Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 rev 2
4. Arctic Cooling Freezer Extreme Rev 2
5. Arctic Cooling Freezer LP 11
6. Glacialtech Alaska
7. Glacialtech Igloo 5751
8. Glacialtech Siberia
9. Prolimatech Super Mega
10. Scythe Ninja 3
11. Scythe Rasetsu
12. Thermaltake Jing
13. Titan Fenrir Evo
14. How we test
15. Measurements
16. Summary
2. Arctic Cooling Freezer 13
3. Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 rev 2
4. Arctic Cooling Freezer Extreme Rev 2
5. Arctic Cooling Freezer LP 11
6. Glacialtech Alaska
7. Glacialtech Igloo 5751
8. Glacialtech Siberia
9. Prolimatech Super Mega
10. Scythe Ninja 3
11. Scythe Rasetsu
12. Thermaltake Jing
13. Titan Fenrir Evo
14. How we test
15. Measurements
16. Summary
Let's summarize which cpu coolers we tested in this roundup:
- Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7: A budget ($33) but not very capable cooler. It supports Intel LGA1366/1156/775 and AMD Socket AM3/AM2+/AM2/939 and can be easily installed, as long as you pay some attention to the manual. It is also very quiet even at full RPM, although its performance is highly dependant on the selected RPM, and dropping the fan speed results to a fall in the cooling performance. The cooler could not cope with our overclocked Core i7 920 CPU and performed close to Intel's stock cooling solution. Backed by a long warranty.
- Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 : An improved version of the Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7, stronger under overclocking and still a low budget solution. The cooler's 92mm PWM controlled fan is quiet and will performed pretty well, contributing to a nice performance for its category even under overclocking. The installation is a breeze and does not require any complex procedures, components, or even rear access to the motherboard. However, the structure of the mounting mechanism is a little bit elegant. Although it is not a top performer when compared to high end heatsinks, it offers a great value for money.
- Arctic Cooling Freezer Extreme Rev 2: A huge in size product designed for mainstream users. Thanks to the use of push-pins and pre-applied thermal paste, the installation process couldn't’t be simpler so the Freezer Xtreme. Although there is no provision for adding further fans or even replacing the original fan with a different model, the cooler's fan is extremely quiet. Although it is larger than the Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 , it performed equally under stock CPU clocks and also a little bit less efficiently under overclocking. Still a good performer, it is a little bit overpriced for its performance, and the Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 should be considered as a better deal.
- Arctic Cooling Freezer LP 11: A low-profile CPU cooler designed for very slim or HTPC cases. It features a 92mm PWM controlled fan that is very quiet in operation, . The mounting included with this cooler was a very simple. Although we tested it on a demanding CPU, it could shave a few degrees off of your CPU temperatures under load for a rather mild investment.
- Glacialtech Alaska: With the MSRP of $50 the GlacialTech Alaska is in the upper midrange cooling price point. It is also performing in that range as well, even under overclocking. The reaches the performance of more expensive solutions by adding a second fan. We would like to see a more quiet fan, especially when spinning at full speed. Backed by an 1-year warranty only.
- Glacialtech Igloo 5751: An affordable CPU cooler positioned at the lower midrange performance ranking. Compatible with Intel /AMD sockets, it can be installed easily using standard procedures. It generally operates quietly and will perform decently at stock speeds. Under overclocking the cooler is better than a stock solution and its performance is generally higher than to what you should expect from a $35 solution.
- Glacialtech Siberia: A very good heatsink offering moderately quiet cooling. Standing less than 125mm tall, it fit in small cases. Its performance was good even under overclocking scenarios, and priced at $44, the heatsink ranks well in the mainstream segment.
- Prolimatech Super Mega: A high-end and very capable cooler designed for enthusiasts but also retails at a hefty price. Out of the box, this cooler is only compatible with Intel 775/1156/1366 processors, however a separate mounting bracket should become available for the more recent AMD sockets. No fan is bundled with the package so you 'll have to supply the fans on your own, adding to the overall cost. The cooler is very efficient and will keep your CPU's temperature down, no matter if you have overclocked it. It will further offer a top performance if you add a second fan. A great heatsink for serious overclockers that have no problem spending more money on their PC components.
- Scythe Ninja 3: A great and properly-priced cooler for mainstream users. Offering a good balance in-between noise and performance, Scythe Ninja 3 delivered a cooling efficiency on par with performance to enthusiast class cooling. It can be easily installed and will have plenty of reserve for your overclocks.
- Scythe Rasetsu: A light, efficient performance-class heatsink that is moderately loud with its fan at default speed. It can be easily installed and will offer the performance of a Scythe Ninja 3 when its fan is set to high RPM, although it will cost you a little less.
- Thermaltake Jing: A stylish, well-built and decent cooler that will offer a mid-range performance. Silent enough, it comes with a great bundle and can be easily installed to your system. However, its price is higher than what we would like to see for this kind of performance.
- Titan Fenrir Evo: The Titan Fenrir EVO offers all of the high performance of its predecessor (Fenrin), but the changes made consist of a cosmetic adjustment and a new fan. The cooler is a good performer under overclocking , its fan spins quietly and it retails for about $45. A good deal if you need to upgrade from an existing Fenrir.
Although the majority of the coolers of this test performed pretty well, some of them worth a little bit more attention - each of them for a different reason. So we decided to reward them accordingly: