We tested the cooler using the following PC:

• CPU: Intel Core7-920 Retail
• Case: Open Air testbed
• Motherboard: Asus P6T Deluxe Bios 1403
• Memory: 3x1GB Crucial PC3-1066
• PSU: OCZ 720W
• HDD: WD 80JB
• Operating system Windows XP with all the latest updates installed
• Software: OCCT v2.0.1 & CoreTemp 0.99.3
• Thermal Paste: Tuniq TX-2
• Idle time: ~30min
• Load time: ~30min
• RPM speed controllable via SmartFan BIOS or via external hardware controller

In order to produce the highest possible temperature, we used the OCCT v2.0.1 software and a custom 30mins (mixed) operation:

We left both both cores of the CPU running at full load for  approximately 30 minutes. All the temperatures were logged using the CoreTemp 0.99.3 and the software itself. Measurements were taken for each overclocking scenarios:

• Intel Core i7-920 @ 2.66GHz
• Vcore: 1.1000V
• Other BIOS values: Auto

• Intel Core i7-920 @ 3.60GHz
• Vcore: 1.26250V
• DDR3 Voltage: 1.64V
• Other BIOS values: Auto

Regarding the noise measurements, we used a Precision Gold N09AQ Environment Meter. Each measurement was taken at a 30cm distance from the cooler, while it was running at full speed.

For all the coolers of this test we used the same thermal compound from Tuniq, the TX-2.