Rating of the best cooling systems for the processor. “The best of the best” or summary testing of eight top-class processor coolers

Testing methodology

One of the main problems when testing coolers is the choice of testing methodology, since a single generally accepted method has not yet been developed that would suit everyone. Naturally, in such conditions, everyone has the right to test coolers using their own method - the main thing is that it has a logical basis and leads to reasonable results.

In most cases, testing coolers comes down to measuring the processor temperature under various load modes, with the best cooler being the one that provides the lowest processor temperature, all other things being equal.

In our opinion, such a technique cannot be considered objective and can be used only with some reservations. The fact is that after installing the cooler on the processor, it is not the cooler that is tested in the motherboard, but the entire complex, consisting of the cooler, motherboard and processor. For example, if during testing the dependence of the cooler rotation speed on the current processor temperature was determined, obtained for a specific combination of motherboard, processor and cooler, this does not mean at all that we will get similar results for all other motherboards. The problem is that the function of changing the cooler rotation speed is implemented by the controller on the motherboard.

There are two main ways to control the cooler rotation speed. The first one is to dynamically change the supply voltage on the cooler. That is, as the processor temperature increases, the cooler supply voltage also increases, and therefore the fan rotation speed increases. The range of voltage changes is usually from 6 to 12 V, however, for some motherboards the lower voltage limit may be less than 6 V. The table of correspondence between the current processor temperature and the cooler supply voltage is “hardwired” in the cooler rotation speed control controller and cannot be adjusted by the user, that is, it is a feature of the motherboard.

Coolers that support dynamic power voltage change technology are equipped with three-pin connectors: two of them are used to supply power voltage, and the third is used to transmit a tachometer signal, which allows the controller on the motherboard to determine the current fan speed. The principle of operation of the tachometer is quite simple: for each revolution of the fan impeller, two rectangular voltage pulses are formed; Knowing the pulse repetition rate (tachometer signal), you can calculate the fan rotation speed (Rotation Per Minute, RPM).

The second way to control the fan speed is to use pulse width modulation (Pulse Wide Modulation, PWM). A special PWM controller on the motherboard generates a sequence of rectangular pulses supplied to the fan controller. These pulses are used as control signals for a kind of electronic switch, which periodically connects and disconnects the fan from a supply voltage of 12 V. The frequency of the PWM control pulses remains unchanged, only their duty cycle changes, defined as the ratio of the time at which the PWM signal is at a high voltage, to the duration of the entire pulse.

The typical PWM pulse repetition rate is 23 kHz, and the duty cycle varies from 40 to 100%, however, the lower limit of the duty cycle depends on the specific PWM controller and can be lower than 40%.

All coolers that support PWM technology are equipped with a four-pin power connector and at the same time necessarily support the technology of dynamically changing the supply voltage.

There is only one advantage of the technology for dynamically changing the cooler supply voltage - the low cost of the solution. For example, the price of three-pin coolers is on average a dollar lower than similar coolers that support PWM technology. By the way, there is also one disadvantage, and it is that the fan rotation speed can usually change within a smaller range than when using PWM technology.

Taking into account the fact that fan speed control is implemented by the motherboard itself, it becomes clear that testing coolers in conjunction with the motherboard can be considered correct only when the fan speed control technology is forcibly disabled in the motherboard BIOS. Otherwise, it would be more correct to talk not about testing the cooler as such, but about testing a solution consisting of a cooler, motherboard and processor. Moreover, based on the results obtained, it is impossible to compare coolers with each other, since if there are other motherboards, the results will be different.

In this regard, when testing coolers, we tried to ensure that the test results were independent of the motherboard.

The testing methodology included the following steps:

• determining the dependence of fan rotation speed on the duty cycle of PWM pulses and supply voltage;
• determining the dependence of the processor temperature when it is fully loaded on the duty cycle of PWM pulses or supply voltage;
• determination of noise level.

Determining the dependence of fan rotation speed on the duty cycle of PWM pulses and supply voltage

Almost all coolers (with one exception) that took part in our testing were four-pin, that is, they supported PWM technology for controlling rotation speed. However, we determined the dependence of the fan rotation speed not only on the duty cycle of PWM pulses, but also on the supply voltage. To generate PWM control pulses, a digital arbitrary waveform generator was used, and to set the required supply voltage, a specialized MASTECH HY1802D power supply was used, which allows the supply voltage to be adjusted in the range from 0 to 18 V. The fan rotation speed was controlled by a tachometer signal. The PWM pulse frequency was 23 kHz, and the duty cycle varied from 0 to 100%. The amplitude of the PWM pulses was 4.5 V.

During testing, the dependence of the fan rotation speed on the duty cycle of PWM pulses in the range from 0 to 100% and on the supply voltage in the range from 0 to 12 V was plotted.

Determining the dependence of the processor temperature when it is fully loaded on the duty cycle of PWM pulses or supply voltage

To determine the dependence of processor temperature on the duty cycle of PWM pulses or supply voltage, we used a bench consisting of an ASUS P8P67 motherboard based on the Intel P67 Express chipset and a quad-core Intel Core i7-2600K processor with a TDP of 95 W. Note that the Intel Core i7-?2600K processor has an unlocked multiplier and can be easily overclocked, however, when testing coolers, we did not load the processor only in its normal operating mode, that is, without overclocking. At the same time, the Turbo Boost dynamic overclocking function was not disabled in the BIOS settings.

In the case of using a four-pin cooler with PWM control, it was connected to a PWM pulse generator, which made it possible to control its rotation speed, and when testing a three-pin cooler, it was connected to a MASTECH HY1802D power supply, which again made it possible to control its rotation speed.

The processor was loaded at 100% using the Core Damage v.0.8 utility, and its temperature was controlled using the Core Temp 0.99.5 utility.

The processor was heated until its temperature stabilized (about 5 minutes). During testing, the dependence of the processor temperature when it was fully loaded on the duty cycle of PWM pulses or supply voltage was plotted.

The ambient temperature during testing was maintained at 25 °C.

Determining the dependence of the noise level on the supply voltage

To determine the dependence of the noise level created by coolers on the supply voltage, a special stand was used, which consisted of an absolutely silent power supply MASTECH HY1802D (with a passive cooling system), which allows you to smoothly change the voltage in the range from 0 to 12 V and thereby regulate the fan speed . To measure the noise level, a special Center 322 sound level meter was used, located at a distance of 15 cm above the cooler. The noise level was determined only at two control voltage values: 12 and 6 V. The first indicator corresponds to the maximum rotation speed of the cooler fan, and the second is the minimum supply voltage for the cooler, set by the motherboard controller.

Note that we did not use a standard technique when measuring the noise level, so the figures we obtained cannot be compared with the noise level indicated in the technical specifications of the coolers. Despite the fact that we provide data on the noise level in dBA, the obtained measurement results should be treated as a kind of “parrots” that can only serve to compare the noise level of the tested coolers.

Note that the lower sensitivity threshold of the Center 322 sound level meter is 30 dBA, which corresponds to the threshold of audibility, that is, noise with a level of 30 dBA is perceived by the average person as complete silence.

Integral comparison of coolers

In addition to measuring the fan speed, cooling efficiency and noise level for each cooler separately, we tried to conduct an integral comparison of the coolers with each other. For such an integral comparison, you need to have some kind of numerical criterion (integral assessment), which would take into account both the cooling efficiency of the cooler and the level of noise it creates.

It is clear that any cooler must meet two criteria: firstly, to be efficient enough to cool the processor, and secondly, to be moderately quiet. Actually, when formulating an integral assessment of coolers, which could be used to compare them, we proceeded precisely from these criteria. The algorithm for calculating the integral assessment of cooler performance is as follows. Initially, the geometric mean of the processor temperature is calculated for the maximum fan speed Tmax at full load and noise level Nmax, created by the cooler. Next, the inverse value of the obtained value is calculated:

This value will be higher, the lower the processor temperature and the lower the cooler noise level.

Then a similar value is calculated for the processor temperature T min when it is fully loaded in the case when the duty cycle of PWM pulses is 40% (for four-pin coolers) or when the supply voltage is 6 V (for three-pin coolers), and for the noise level Nmin at a supply voltage of 6 V:

At the next stage, the geometric mean of the two calculated values ​​is calculated, and the result is multiplied by 1000 for convenience:

The value calculated in this way is the integral assessment of the cooler, which can be used to compare them.

Note that this value should be treated as “parrots”, which have no physical meaning and can only be used for numerical comparison of consumer qualities of coolers.

Test results

We divided all coolers into two categories: budget ones - costing up to 1000 rubles, and high-end coolers, the price of which exceeds 1000 rubles. Coolers of the first category are aimed at inexpensive computers that use processors with a TDP of 95 W or less in normal operation. And coolers of the second category allow you to create very quiet and efficient solutions or are aimed at cooling processors with high TDP (more than 95 W), and can also be used when overclocking a processor.

The summary results of cooler testing are presented in Fig. 1-3. In Fig. Figure 1 shows the temperature of the processor when it is fully loaded and at maximum fan speed (maximum speed) and for the case when the duty cycle of PWM pulses is 40% or the supply voltage is 6 V for three-pin coolers (minimum speed).

Rice. 1. CPU temperature at minimum
and maximum fan speed

Rice. 2. Noise level created by the cooler
at maximum fan speed (maximum noise level)
and at a supply voltage of 6 V (minimum noise level)

Rice. 3. Integral assessment of budget coolers costing less than 1000 rubles. (blue)
and high-end coolers costing more than 1000 rubles. (green color)

Rice. 2 shows the noise level created by the cooler at maximum fan speed (maximum noise level) and a supply voltage of 6 V (minimum noise level).

In Fig. Figure 3 shows the integral ratings of all tested coolers. More detailed test results are provided in the description of each cooler.

Editor's Choice

In the category of coolers costing up to 1000 rubles. coolers were awarded the “Editor's Choice” sign Scythe KATANA III costing 770 rubles, and zalman cnps7000c-alcu costing 680 rubles.

In the category of coolers costing over 1000 rubles. the "Editor's Choice" mark was awarded to coolers SCYTHE MINE 2 worth 2100 rubles. And Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 costing 1200 rubles.

Test participants

ARCTIC COOLING Alpine 11 Pro Rev.2

Cooler ARCTIC COOLING Alpine 11 Pro Rev.2 from ARCTIC COOLING (www.arctic.ac) belongs to the category of budget coolers for inexpensive computers. It has a mounting system compatible with LGA775/1156/1155 sockets for Intel processors.

The mounting system is a plastic frame attached to the motherboard using four miniature dowels into which plastic spacers are inserted. Moreover, the frame itself has holes into which mounting dowels are inserted for both the LGA775 connector and the LGA1156/1155 connector. A radiator with a fan is attached to the mounting frame using two bolts. In terms of installation and dismantling, the fastening system is not very convenient: firstly, you have to make an effort to drive the plastic spacers into the dowels, so there is a risk of breaking them; secondly, it is simply impossible to remove the spacers from the dowels without special narrow-nose pliers. Another disadvantage of this mounting system is that if one dowel or spacer is lost, the entire cooler can be thrown away, since such accessories are not sold separately.

The radiator in the ARCTIC COOLING Alpine 11 Pro Rev.2 cooler is made of aluminum and is an array of vertically arranged fins. A seven-blade 92mm fan with a four-pin connector is mounted on top of the radiator, supporting the technology of changing the rotation speed both by changing the supply voltage and by voltage pulse width modulation (PWM).

The dimensions of the ARCTIC COOLING Alpine 11 Pro Rev.2 cooler are 105.3x113.4x85 mm, and the weight is 428 g (including mounting frame and mounting accessories).

As follows from the technical specifications, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 500 to 2000 RPM (if PWM technology is used), while the fan at maximum speed creates an air flow of 36.7 CFM. It is also indicated that the noise level generated by the fan is 0.4 Sone.

Note that the fan is made on the basis of a hydrodynamic bearing.

During testing of the ARCTIC COOLING Alpine 11 Pro Rev.2 cooler, it turned out that when using PWM technology, the fan rotation speed varies from 360 to 2274 RPM, and the minimum rotation speed is achieved with a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 10% (Fig. 4).

Rice. 4. Dependence of fan rotation speed on the duty cycle of PWM pulses

When using the technology of changing the fan rotation speed by changing the supply voltage, the fan rotation speed changes in the range from 438 to 2250 RPM (Fig. 5). Moreover, the rotation speed of 438 RPM corresponds to a supply voltage of 3 V.

Rice. 5. Dependence of fan speed on supply voltage
for cooler ARCTIC COOLING Alpine 11 Pro Rev.2

Let us recall that in most cases the minimum value of the supply voltage supplied to the fan is 6 V, while the rotation speed is 1149 RPM, which is more than 438 RPM, which was achieved using PWM technology. Based on this, we can draw an important conclusion: when using the ARCTIC COOLING Alpine 11 Pro Rev.2 cooler, it is advisable to use PWM technology to control the fan speed. This will allow you to change the fan speed over a wider range of values ​​​​and reduce the noise level accordingly with little load on the processor.

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 6), the ARCTIC COOLING Alpine 11 Pro Rev.2 cooler cannot be classified as a performance cooler. That is, the cooler honestly works out its declared 95 W at maximum rotation speed, but nothing more. If the Intel Core i7-2600K processor with a TDP of 95 V is fully loaded, its temperature is 75 ° C at maximum fan speed (the duty cycle of PWM pulses is 100%). If the duty cycle of PWM pulses is reduced to a value of 30%, at which the fan rotation speed is 1040 RPM, then the processor temperature will reach 92 ° C, and a further decrease in the duty cycle will trigger the thermal protection of the processor (the critical temperature value of the Intel Core i7 processor -2600K - 99 °C).

Rice. 6. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the ARCTIC COOLING Alpine 11 Pro Rev.2 cooler

In a word, this cooler can be used to cool a processor with a TDP no higher than 95 W and only in its normal operating mode, but it is absolutely not suitable for overclocking a processor or cooling processors with a TDP higher than 95 W.

But in terms of noise level, the ARCTIC COOLING Alpine 11 Pro Rev.2 cooler compares favorably with its counterparts. At the maximum fan rotation speed, the noise level measured using our method was 38 dBA, which can be considered a very good result, and with a supply voltage of 6 V the cooler is simply inaudible, that is, the noise level produced does not exceed 30 dBA.

Of course, the cooler ARCTIC COOLING Alpine 11 Pro Rev. can be classified as quiet, which is good. However, combined with low cooling efficiency, its integral performance rating was only 19.26 points, and in our rating it ended up in last place (sixth place in the category of coolers costing up to 1000 rubles). In conclusion, we add that the retail price of this cooler is 410 rubles.

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 13

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 13 is another cooler from ARCTIC COOLING, but this is no longer a budget model, but a top-end model.

This cooler has a universal mounting system that is compatible with most processor sockets: Intel LGA1366/1156/1155/775, AMD Socket AM3/AM2+/AM2/939/754. The mounting system is a plastic frame attached to the motherboard using four miniature dowels into which plastic spacers are inserted. A radiator with a fan is attached to the mounting frame itself using two bolts. Unlike the previous model, the ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 13 cooler uses a much more convenient mounting system. Plastic spacers are inserted into and removed from the dowels quite simply and without the use of additional tools, while the dowels and spacers are simply larger, which means that the likelihood of losing them is reduced.

The ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 13 cooler uses a tower-type radiator with an array of 45 horizontally arranged thin aluminum fins mounted on four U-shaped heat pipes.

A seven-blade 92 mm fan with a four-pin connector is mounted on the side of the radiator, supporting technology for changing the rotation speed both by changing the supply voltage and by pulse-width modulation of the voltage (the dimensions of the cooler are 123x96x130 mm, and the weight is 722 g (including the mounting frame and mounting hardware) accessories)).

As follows from the technical specifications, the fan rotation speed varies from 600 to 2000 RPM (using PWM technology), while the fan at maximum speed creates an air flow of 36.4 CFM. In addition, it is indicated that this cooler is capable of discharging up to 200 W of thermal power, and the noise level generated by the fan is 0.5 Sone.

Note that the fan is made on the basis of a hydrodynamic bearing.

During testing of the ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 13 cooler, it turned out that when using PWM technology, the fan rotation speed varies from 522 to 2136 RPM, and the minimum rotation speed is achieved with a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 6% (Fig. 7).

Rice. 7. Dependence of fan rotation speed

When using the technology of changing the fan speed by changing the supply voltage, the fan speed varies in the range from 516 to 2145 RPM (Fig. 8), and the rotation speed of 512 RPM corresponds to a supply voltage of 3 V. With a supply voltage of 6 V (typical minimum value supply voltage supplied to the fan) rotation speed is 1191 RPM.

Rice. 8. Dependence of fan rotation speed
from the supply voltage for the cooler ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 13

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 9), the ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 13 cooler can be classified as productive. When the Intel Core i7-2600K processor with a TDP of 95 V is fully loaded, its temperature is 59 ° C at maximum fan speed (PWM pulse duty cycle is 100%). If the duty cycle of PWM pulses is reduced to a value of 10%, at which the fan rotation speed is 522 RPM, then the processor temperature will reach 78 ° C, that is, when using the ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 13 cooler, even the minimum rotation speed will not allow the Intel Core processor to overheat i7-2600K.

Rice. 9. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 13 cooler

In a word, this cooler can be used to cool a processor with a TDP even higher than 95 W and to overclock the processor.

In terms of noise level, the ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 13 cooler can be classified as low-noise. At maximum fan speed, the noise level measured using our method was 40.5 dBA, which can be considered a very good result. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the cooler is simply inaudible, that is, its noise level does not exceed 30 dBA.

The combination of high efficiency and low noise level allowed this cooler to receive a high integral score of 21.61 points - this is the second result in the category of coolers costing more than 1000 rubles. So, we can say that ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 13 is a very worthy cooler that can be recommended to the vast majority of users. The retail price of this cooler is 1200 rubles.

SCYTHE KATANA III (Type I)

SCYTHE KATANA III is a relatively inexpensive (retail price is 770 rubles) cooler from the Japanese company SCYTHE (www.scythe.com). There are three modifications of this cooler: the SCYTHE KATANA III itself (the basic model), as well as Type I and Type A, which differ only in the mounting system.

The base model SCYTHE KATANA III has a universal mounting system and is compatible with all modern processor sockets of Intel and AMD processors.

Cooler Type A is equipped only with mounts for AMD Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM3/AM2+, and Type I is intended only for Intel processors with LGA1366/1156/1155/775 sockets. In the future, we will only consider the SCYTHE KATANA III (Type I) cooler for Intel processors.

Despite supporting three types of Intel processor sockets simultaneously (LGA1155 and LGA 1156 sockets are the same), the cooler uses a classic and very convenient clip-on mounting system (like on box coolers). Compatibility with three connectors is achieved due to the fact that the holes in the mounting frame in which the clips are fixed are made oblong and cover the holes for all three connectors, and the clips can move in them.

Despite the classic clip fastening system, in this case it cannot be called convenient. The fact is that two clips are located under the radiator and access to them is difficult. In addition, since the position of the clips themselves is not rigidly fixed and they can be moved within the holes in the mounting frame, getting the clips into the mounting holes on the motherboard is not at all easy.

The SCYTHE KATANA III cooler uses two radiators connected to each other by three heat pipes. The lower radiator is low-profile and is connected to the heat removal platform. In passing, we note that the heat removal sole itself is made of nickel-plated copper. Each tube has a U-shaped bend in the area of ​​the heat removal pad, so the thin aluminum plates of the upper tower-type radiator are already placed on six heat pipes. Moreover, these six tubes are not located strictly vertically, but at an inclination of approximately 30 °, and therefore the tower-type radiator itself has a corresponding inclination. In the technical documentation, the use of an inclined radiator is called S.P.S. (Slant Pipe Structure). As the manufacturer points out, the peculiarity of this solution is that the height of the radiator has the properties of a tower cooler, but at the same time it is capable of cooling part of the space around the socket, which is impossible with a purely tower-type design.

A seven-blade 92mm fan with a four-pin connector is attached to the side of the tower radiator using two spring brackets, supporting the technology of changing the rotation speed due to both changing the supply voltage and voltage pulse width modulation (PWM).

The dimensions of the SCYTHE KATANA III cooler are 94x108x143 (height) mm, and the weight is 497 g.

As follows from the technical specifications, the fan rotation speed varies from 300 to 2500 RPM (if PWM technology is used), while the fan creates an air flow from 6.7 to 55.55 CFM. In addition, it is indicated that the noise level generated by the cooler ranges from 7.2 to 31.07 dBA.

When testing the SCYTHE KATANA III cooler, it turned out that when using PWM technology, the fan rotation speed varies from 234 to 2613 RPM, and the minimum rotation speed is achieved with a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 20% (Fig. 10).

Rice. 10. Dependence of fan rotation speed
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the SCYTHE KATANA III cooler

When using the technology of changing the fan speed by changing the supply voltage, the fan speed varies in the range from 714 to 2571 RPM (Fig. 11), and the rotation speed of 714 RPM corresponds to a supply voltage of 4 V. With a supply voltage of 6 V (typical minimum value supply voltage supplied to the fan) rotation speed is 1236 RPM.

Rice. 11. Dependence of fan rotation speed on supply voltage
for SCYTHE KATANA III cooler

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 12), the SCYTHE KATANA III cooler can be classified as a medium-performance cooler. When the Intel Core i7-?2600K processor is fully loaded, its temperature is 59 ° C at maximum fan speed (the duty cycle of PWM pulses is 100%). If the duty cycle of PWM pulses is reduced to a value of 20%, at which the fan speed is 234 RPM, the processor temperature will reach a critical level of 99 ° C. Of course, in this case the processor may overheat, but increasing the duty cycle of PWM pulses to 30% will reduce the maximum processor temperature to 85 °C and there will be no overheating.

Rice. 12. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the SCYTHE KATANA III cooler

That is, this cooler provides cooling efficiency sufficient for processors with a TDP of 95 W. But you should not overclock processors using this cooler, since there is a high probability of the processor overheating. This cooler is also not recommended for cooling processors with a TDP of 130 W.

In terms of noise level, the SCYTHE KATANA III cooler can be classified as low-noise. At maximum fan speed, the noise level measured using our method was 43 dBA, which can be considered a good result. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the cooler is simply inaudible, that is, its noise level does not exceed the background level of 30 dBA.

The combination of acceptable efficiency and low noise level allowed this cooler to receive an integral score of 20.6 points and take first place in the budget cooler category in our rating. In conclusion, we can say that this is a good cooler with an acceptable retail price of 770 rubles.

SCYTHE MINE 2

SCYTHE MINE 2 is a model of an expensive high-end cooler from the Japanese company SCYTHE.

This cooler has a universal mounting system and is compatible with Intel LGA775/1155/1156/1366 and AMD Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3 processor sockets.

The cooler mounting system is a mounting frame with holes for all types of connectors, which is attached to the back of the motherboard. Mounting brackets are screwed onto the cooler to secure it to the mounting bracket. In general, it must be said that the system for attaching this cooler to the motherboard is very inconvenient, and installation is time-consuming.

By design, the SCYTHE MINE 2 cooler consists of two tower-type radiators connected to each other by eight heat pipes. A 140mm Slip Stream 140 PWM & V.R fan is inserted into the slot between the two tower radiators. with a four-pin connector. The documentation indicates that it can operate in two modes: as a PWM fan or with a rheobass. When the PWM function is disabled, the user can set the rotation speed using the rheobass.

Indeed, in addition to the traditional cable with a four-pin connector, the Slip Stream 140 PWM & V.R. also equipped with a switch and a rheostat, which are located on a plate mounted on the back of the case. The switch has two positions: PWM and VR. It would be logical to assume that in the PWM position the rheostat is turned off and has no effect on the fan rotation speed, and in the VR position the fan rotation speed is set solely by the rheostat.

In fact, everything is not exactly as it is written in the manual. When the switch is moved to the PWM position, the fan rotation speed will indeed be controlled by the PWM controller, but this does not mean that the rheostat cannot regulate the rotation speed. The rheostat works together with PWM modulation and also affects the rotation speed of the cooler. True, in the position of the PWM switch, the range of change in the rotation speed by adjusting the rheostat is smaller than the same range of change in the position of the VR switch. In particular, with a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 100%, the range of changes in the fan rotation speed due to rotation of the rheostat knob is from 1209 to 1743 RPM when the PWM switch is in position, and when the VR switch is positioned, the range of changes in the fan rotation speed due to rotation of the rheostat knob is from 609 to 1743 RPM. 1743 RPM.

But in the VR switch position, the fan rotation speed can be adjusted only by changing the supply voltage, and changing the duty cycle of PWM pulses does not in any way affect the fan rotation speed.

The cooler dimensions are 130x143x160 mm, and the weight is 1170 g.

As follows from the technical specifications, in the position of the PWM switch, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 650 to 1700 RPM when using PWM control and setting the rheostat to the maximum position. If the rheostat is set to the minimum position, then the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 500 to 1200 RPM. In the VR switch position, the fan rotation speed changes in the range from 500 to 1700 RPM by changing the position of the rheostat.

According to the specification, the airflow generated by the cooler ranges from 35.36 to 92.4 CFM in the PWM switch position and in the case of PWM control at the maximum rheostat position and from 27.2 to 65.2 CFM at the minimum rheostat position .

In the VR switch position, the airflow varies from 27.2 to 92.4 CFM depending on the position of the rheostat.

The noise level generated by the cooler ranges from 12.4 to 36.4 dBA in the PWM switch position and when using PWM control at the maximum rheostat position and from 9.6 to 23.2 dBA at the minimum rheostat position.

In the VR switch position, the noise level varies in the range from 9.6 to 36.4 dBA, depending on the position of the rheostat.

In addition, the specification states that the power consumption of the fan is 4.2 W.

It is clear that the presence of a switch and a rheostat on the SCYTHE MINE 2 cooler allows you to test it in various modes. We tested the SCYTHE MINE 2 cooler in the PWM switch position and in two extreme positions of the rheostat: maximum (High) and minimum (Low).

When testing the SCYTHE MINE 2 cooler, it turned out that when PWM technology is used, the fan speed varies from 567 to 1743 RPM in High rheostat mode and from 537 to 1209 RPM in Low rheostat mode. Note that the minimum rotation speed in both cases is achieved at a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 0% (Fig. 13). In addition, in the Low rheostat mode, the fan rotation speed does not change when the duty cycle of PWM pulses is from 0 to 50% and only then begins to increase linearly as the duty cycle increases.

Rice. 13. Dependence of fan rotation speed

When using the technology of changing the fan rotation speed by changing the supply voltage, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 639 to 1731 RPM (Fig. 14) in the High rheostat mode, and the rotation speed of 639 RPM corresponds to a supply voltage of 4 V. With a supply voltage of 6 V ( The typical minimum fan supply voltage is 990 RPM.

Rice. 14. Dependence of fan rotation speed on supply voltage
for cooler SCYTHE MINE 2

In Low rheostat mode, the fan speed varies from 336 to 1206 RPM, with a rotation speed of 336 RPM corresponding to a 4 V supply voltage.

We also note that, according to our measurements, the maximum power consumption of this cooler is 4.2 W (at maximum rotation speed).

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 15), the SCYTHE MINE 2 cooler can be classified as very efficient. When the Intel Core i7-2600K processor is fully loaded, its temperature is 54 °C at maximum fan speed (the duty cycle of PWM pulses is 100%, the rheostat is in the High position). If the duty cycle of PWM pulses is reduced to 0%, then in the High position of the rheostat, the processor temperature will be only 63 ° C.

Rice. 15. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the SCYTHE MINE 2 cooler

In the Low rheostat position, the processor temperature is 57 °C at maximum rotation speed (PWM pulse duty cycle 100%) and rises to 64 °C at minimum rotation speed (pulse duty cycle 0%).

As you can see, even at minimum speed this cooler easily cools a processor with a TDP of 95 W and still leaves a large reserve. This cooler is optimal for overclocking a processor even with a standard TDP of 130 W.

In terms of noise level, the SCYTHE MINE 2 cooler can be classified as low-noise. At maximum fan speed, the noise level measured using our method was 47 dBA in the High position of the rheostat and 36 dBA in the Low position, which can be considered a very good result. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the cooler noise level was 32 dBA in the High position of the rheostat and 30 dBA in the Low position.

The combination of very high efficiency and low noise level allowed this cooler to achieve a record high integral score: 22.53 points in the Low rheostat position and 21.56 points in the High rheostat position. As a result, the SCYTHE MINE 2 cooler took first place in our ranking of high-end coolers. To summarize, we can say that this is a very good cooler that allows you to create quiet and at the same time high-performance computers. The retail price of the cooler is adequate to its capabilities and amounts to 2100 rubles.

GlacialTech Igloo 1100 CU PWM (E)

GlacialTech Igloo 1100 CU PWM (E) is a budget cooler model from GlacialTech (www.glacialtech.com), which can be positioned as an excellent alternative to a boxed cooler.

This cooler has a very convenient classic clip fastening system, so its installation and dismantling does not pose any problems and is very simple and quick. Naturally, with such a classic mounting system, the cooler is compatible with only one type of socket LGA1156/1155 (LGA1156 and LGA1155 sockets are the same) for Intel processors.

According to the specifications, this cooler is capable of removing heat from processors with a TDP of up to 95 W.

The GlacialTech Igloo 1100 CU PWM (E) cooler uses an aluminum cylindrical heatsink with vertically arranged fins that radiate from the center. The diameter of this radiator is 95 mm and the height is 40 mm. The heat removal base of the radiator has a cylindrical copper insert that penetrates the entire radiator.

A seven-blade 80mm fan with a height of 25mm and a four-pin connector is attached to the top of the radiator using four screws, which supports technology for changing the rotation speed due to both changing the supply voltage and voltage pulse width modulation (PWM).

GlacialTech Igloo 1100 CU PWM (E) cooler weight - 454 g.

As follows from the technical specifications, the fan rotation speed is 3600 RPM, and only the maximum rotation speed is indicated. At this rotation speed, the cooler creates an air flow of 50.082 CFM. In addition, it is reported that the noise level created by the cooler ranges from 15 to 38 dBA, although it is not clear under what conditions the value of 15 dBA is achieved.

Note also that the fan of the GlacialTech Igloo 1100 CU PWM (E) cooler uses an EBR (Enter bearing) bearing, which is a type of liquid bearing (this is indicated by the designation E in the name of the cooler model). In passing, we note that GlacialTech Igloo 1100 CU PWM coolers can use other types of bearings, in particular a ball bearing and a plain bearing (Ball Bearing+Sleeve bearing, 1B1S) or two ball bearings (Ball Bearing+ Ball Bearing, 2BB). Depending on the type of bearings used, the time between failures (MTBF) also varies: in the case of 1B1S MTBF it is 40 thousand, in the case of 2BB - 35 thousand, and in the case of EBR - 50 thousand hours.

We also add that the declared power consumption of the cooler is 3.36 W at maximum fan speed, and the range of permissible fan voltage values ​​is from 6 to 13.8 V.

During testing of the GlacialTech Igloo 1100 CU PWM (E) cooler, it turned out that when using PWM technology, the fan rotation speed varies from 660 to 3540 RPM, and the minimum rotation speed is achieved with a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 0% (Fig. 16).

Rice. 16. Dependence of fan rotation speed

When using the technology of changing the fan rotation speed by changing the supply voltage, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 621 to 3480 RPM (Fig. 17), and the rotation speed of 621 RPM corresponds to a supply voltage of 3 V. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the rotation speed is 1851 RPM.

Rice. 17. Dependence of fan rotation speed
on supply voltage for cooler GlacialTech Igloo 1100 CU PWM (E)

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 18), the GlacialTech Igloo 1100 CU PWM (E) cooler cannot be classified as a performance cooler. When the Intel Core i7-2600K processor is fully loaded, its temperature is 64 °C at maximum fan speed (the duty cycle of PWM pulses is 100%). If the duty cycle of PWM pulses is reduced to a value of 0%, at which the fan rotation speed becomes minimal, then the processor temperature will reach a critical value of 99 ° C.

Rice. 18. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the GlacialTech Igloo 1100 CU PWM (E) cooler

As you can see, the Igloo 1100 CU PWM (E) cooler is indeed capable of cooling a processor with a TDP of 95 W, but nothing more. It makes no sense to use this cooler to cool processors with a higher TDP value, as well as to cool overclocked processors.

In terms of noise level, the Igloo 1100 CU PWM (E) cooler can be classified as low-noise. At maximum fan speed, the noise level measured using our method was 44 dBA, which can be considered a normal result. Well, with a supply voltage of 6 V, its noise level is 31.5 dBA, that is, the cooler is barely audible.

The combination of not very high efficiency and low noise level allowed this cooler to receive an integral score of 19.96 points and take only fifth place in the rating of budget coolers. This cooler can be used for entry-level and even mid-level computers, especially considering that its retail price is 410 rubles.

GlacialTech ALASKA

GlacialTech ALASKA is a top cooler model from GlacialTech (www.glacialtech.com).

This cooler has a universal mounting system and is compatible with LGA775/1155/1156/1366 processor sockets for Intel processors and Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3 sockets for AMD processors. Moreover, this cooler, according to the specification, is compatible with the “hottest” processors with a TDP of 130 W.

Mounting versatility is achieved through the use of three types of mounting frames installed on the back of the motherboard, as well as through two types of mounting brackets that are screwed to the radiator and allow the radiator to be connected to the mounting frame using mounting bolts.

Note that the cooler package, in addition to traditional thermal paste, even includes a spatula for applying thermal paste to the surface of the processor.

The GlacialTech ALASKA cooler uses a tower-type radiator with six U-shaped heat pipes. Each of the six heat pipes has a U-shaped bend in the area of ​​the heat-removing sole of the radiator, so thin aluminum tower-type radiator plates are already mounted on 12 heat pipes.

A seven-blade 120mm fan with a four-pin connector is attached to the side of the tower radiator using two spring brackets, supporting the technology of changing the rotation speed due to both changing the supply voltage and voltage pulse width modulation (PWM).

The dimensions of the entire cooler are 130x101x156 mm, and the weight is 815 g (including mounting accessories).

As follows from the technical characteristics, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 700±300 to 1600±250 RPM (when using PWM technology). At maximum rotation speed, the cooler creates an air flow of 55.7 CFM. In addition, it is indicated that the maximum noise level generated by the cooler is 30 dBA. We also note that the GlacialTech ALASKA cooler fan uses a plain bearing.

During testing of the GlacialTech ALASKA cooler, it turned out that when PWM technology is used, the fan rotation speed varies from 828 to 1590 RPM, and the minimum rotation speed is achieved at a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 30% and does not change up to a duty cycle of 0% (Fig. 19) .

Rice. 19. Dependence of fan rotation speed on the duty cycle of PWM pulses

When using the technology of changing the fan rotation speed by changing the supply voltage, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 396 to 1581 RPM (Fig. 20), and the rotation speed of 396 RPM corresponds to a supply voltage of 5 V. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the rotation speed is 555 RPM .

Rice. 20. Dependence of fan rotation speed on supply voltage
for cooler GlacialTech ALASKA

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 21), the GlacialTech ALASKA cooler can be classified as a performance cooler. When the Intel Core i7-2600K processor is fully loaded, its temperature is 57 °C at maximum fan speed (the duty cycle of PWM pulses is 100%). If the duty cycle of PWM pulses is reduced to a value of 30%, at which the fan rotation speed becomes minimal, the processor temperature will be only 63 ° C.

Rice. 21. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the GlacialTech ALASKA cooler

Thus, this cooler provides effective cooling of the Intel Core i7-2600K processor when it is fully loaded and has good potential for overclocking the processor. The GlacialTech ALASKA cooler is suitable for cooling processors with a high TDP value (including processors with a TDP of 130 W), as well as for cooling overclocked processors.

In terms of noise level, the GlacialTech ALASKA cooler can be classified as low-noise. At maximum fan speed, the noise level measured using our method was 43.5 dBA, which can be considered a good result. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the cooler is simply inaudible, that is, its noise level does not exceed the background level of 30 dBA.

The combination of high efficiency and low noise level allowed this cooler to receive a high integral score of 21.49 points and take third place in our rating of high-end coolers. As a result, we can say that this is a good cooler at an affordable retail price of 1350 rubles.

ZALMAN CNPS7000C-AlCu

ZALMAN CNPS7000C-AlCu can be classified as a budget cooler from ZALMAN. This model can no longer be considered new - it is being produced instead of the well-known CNPS7000-Cu cooler. It should be noted that there are several modifications of the ZALMAN CNPS7000C cooler: CNPS7000C-AlCu, CNPS7000C-AlCu LED, CNPS7000C-Cu LED, which differ in the heatsink material and the presence or absence of LED backlighting.

The ZALMAN CNPS7000C-AlCu cooler has a universal mounting system and can be equipped with a mounting frame installed on the front side of the motherboard, both for LGA775/1155/1156 sockets for Intel processors, and for Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3 sockets for AMD processors. A radiator with a built-in fan is attached to the mounting frame itself using screws.

The radiator with radially diverging fins is made in the shape of a bowl with a diameter of 109 mm and a height of 63 mm. B O Most of the fins are made of aluminum, but two segments have copper fins. The total area of ​​all radiator fins is 2890 cm2, and the cooler weight is 450 g (including the mounting frame).

A seven-blade 92mm fan with a three-pin connector is built into the recess of the radiator bowl, supporting only the technology of changing the rotation speed by changing the supply voltage.

As follows from the technical characteristics, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 1350±135 to 2650±265 RPM, and the noise level generated by the fan ranges from 17 to 27.5 dBA.

The documentation also states that the ZALMAN CNPS7000C-AlCu cooler fan uses two rolling bearings (Ball-Bearing).

During testing of the ZALMAN CNPS7000C-AlCu cooler, it turned out that when using the technology of changing the fan rotation speed by changing the supply voltage, the fan rotation speed changes in the range from 822 to 2571 RPM (Fig. 22), and the rotation speed of 822 RPM corresponds to a supply voltage of 3 V .With a supply voltage of 6 V, the rotation speed is 1590 RPM.

Rice. 22. Dependence of fan rotation speed on supply voltage
for cooler ZALMAN CNPS7000C-AlCu

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 23), the ZALMAN CNPS7000C-AlCu cooler can be classified as medium-performing. When the Intel Core i7-2600K processor is fully loaded, its temperature is 68 °C at maximum fan speed. If the duty cycle of the supply voltage is reduced to 6 V (the minimum voltage supplied to the fan), then the processor temperature will be 74 °C.

Rice. 23. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the ZALMAN CNPS7000C-AlCu cooler

Thus, the ZALMAN CNPS7000C-AlCu cooler provides acceptable cooling of the Intel Core i7-2600K processor when it is fully loaded. This cooler can be used to cool processors with a high TDP, reaching 95 W, and there is even some potential for overclocking the processor. To cool processors with a TDP of 130 W, we would not recommend using the ZALMAN CNPS7000C-AlCu.

In terms of noise level, the ZALMAN CNPS7000C-AlCu cooler can be classified as low-noise. At maximum fan speed, the noise level measured using our method was 39.5 dBA, which can be considered a very good result. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the noise level is reduced to 30.5 dBA, that is, the cooler is practically inaudible.

The combination of high efficiency and low noise level allowed this cooler to receive an integral score of 20.15 points and take second place in the rating of budget coolers. To summarize, we can say that this is a good cooler at an affordable retail price of 680 rubles.

ZALMAN CNPS5X

ZALMAN CNPS5X is a new cooler model from the ZALMAN company, which can no longer be classified as a budget cooler, but it does not reach the high-end class either. This is a kind of intermediate option.

The ZALMAN CNPS5X cooler has a universal mounting system and can be equipped with a mounting frame installed on the front side of the motherboard, both for LGA775/1155/1156 sockets for Intel processors, and for Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3 sockets for processors AMD. A radiator with a built-in fan is attached to the mounting frame itself.

Note that the ZALMAN CNPS5X cooler is equipped with a very convenient mounting system. The mounting frame itself is attached to the board using dowels into which spacers are inserted. Moreover, the dowels are not removed from the frame (so they cannot be lost), and turning the dowel in the frame leads to its displacement and a choice between the holes of the LGA775 and LGA1155/1156 connectors.

The ZALMAN CNPS5X cooler uses a tower-type radiator with three U-shaped heat pipes. That is, each of the three heat pipes has a U-shaped bend in the area of ​​the heat-removing sole of the radiator, so the thin aluminum plates of the tower-type radiator are already mounted on six heat pipes.

A non-removable seven-blade 92mm fan with a four-pin connector is built into the side of the radiator, supporting the technology of changing the rotation speed due to both changing the supply voltage and voltage pulse width modulation (PWM).

The cooler dimensions are 127 x 64x 134 mm and weight 343 g (including mounting frame).

As follows from the technical characteristics, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 1400±140 to 2800±280 RPM, and the noise level created by the fan ranges from 20 to 32 dBA.

The documentation also indicates that the ZALMAN CNPS5X cooler fan uses an EBR bearing.

During testing of the ZALMAN CNPS5X cooler, it turned out that when PWM technology is used, the fan rotation speed varies from 1563 to 2760 RPM, and the minimum rotation speed is achieved with a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 30% and does not change up to a duty cycle of 0% (Fig. 24) .

Rice. 24. Dependence of fan rotation speed

When using the technology of changing the fan rotation speed by changing the supply voltage, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 381 to 2760 RPM (Fig. 25), and the rotation speed of 381 RPM corresponds to a supply voltage of 4 V. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the rotation speed is 1347 RPM .

Rice. 25. Dependence of fan rotation speed on supply voltage
for cooler ZALMAN CNPS5X

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 26), the ZALMAN CNPS5X cooler can be classified as a performance cooler. When the Intel Core i7-2600K processor is fully loaded, its temperature is 62 °C at maximum fan speed (the duty cycle of PWM pulses is 100%). If the duty cycle of PWM pulses is reduced to a value of 30%, at which the fan speed becomes minimal, the processor temperature will be only 66 ° C.

Rice. 26. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the ZALMAN CNPS5X cooler

But in terms of noise level, the ZALMAN CNPS5X cooler turned out to be not very good. At the maximum fan rotation speed, the noise level measured using our method was 48.6 dBA, which, in general, is a bit too much; with a supply voltage of 6 V, the noise level is reduced to 31 dBA.

The high noise level, even combined with good efficiency, allowed this cooler to receive an integral score of only 20.07 points and take only third place in our rating of budget coolers. So, this is a good cooler in terms of cooling efficiency, but quite noisy. Retail price of ZALMAN CNPS5X - 980 rub.

ZALMAN CNPS9900A LED

ZALMAN CNPS9900A LED is a high-performance and quite expensive high-end cooler from ZALMAN.

The ZALMAN CNPS9900A LED cooler has a universal mounting system and is equipped with sets of mounting frames for LGA775/1155/1156 and LGA1366 sockets for Intel processors. Each set consists of two frames, one of which is installed on the front side of the board, and the other on the back. The frames are connected to each other with screws.

For AMD processors with Socket AM3/AM2+/AM2/754/939/940, the kit includes a separate spring bracket that allows you to connect the heatsink to the mounting frame on the board.

The ZALMAN CNPS9900A LED cooler uses a proprietary radiator, which consists of two separate cylindrical radiators with a fan installed between them. The radiator fins are made of copper and mounted on heat pipes. One of the radiators has one heat pipe, and the other has two.

The heat-removing base of the radiator, which is also pierced by heat pipes, is made of copper.

The total area of ​​all radiator plates (heat dissipation area) is 5402 cm2.

The ZALMAN CNPS9900A LED cooler is equipped with a nine-blade fan with a four-pin connector that supports the technology of changing the rotation speed due to both changing the supply voltage and voltage pulse width modulation (PWM).

The cooler dimensions are 94 x 131x 152 mm, and weight - 740 g.

As follows from the technical characteristics, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 1000±100 to 2000±200 RPM, and the noise level generated by the fan ranges from 19 to 38 dBA.

In addition, the cooler package includes an adapter with a resistance that allows you to reduce the supply voltage to the fan. When using such an adapter, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 800±80 to 1300±130 RPM, and the noise level generated by the fan ranges from 18 to 28.5 dBA.

The documentation also states that the ZALMAN CNPS9900A LED cooler fan is equipped with two Ball Bearings.

During testing of the ZALMAN CNPS9900A LED cooler (without an adapter with resistance), it turned out that when using PWM technology, the fan rotation speed varies from 897 to 1950 RPM, and the minimum rotation speed is achieved with a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 30% and does not change up to a duty cycle of 0 % (Fig. 27).

Rice. 27. Dependence of fan rotation speed

When using the technology of changing the fan rotation speed by changing the supply voltage, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 651 to 1959 RPM (Fig. 28), and the rotation speed of 381 RPM corresponds to a supply voltage of 4 V. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the rotation speed is 1035 RPM.

Rice. 28. Dependence of fan rotation speed on supply voltage
for cooler ZALMAN CNPS9900A LED

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 29), the ZALMAN CNPS9900A LED cooler can be classified as very efficient. When the Intel Core i7-2600K processor is fully loaded, its temperature is 56 °C at maximum fan speed (the duty cycle of PWM pulses is 100%). If the duty cycle of PWM pulses is reduced to a value of 20%, at which the fan speed becomes minimal, the processor temperature will rise to only 63 ° C.

Rice. 29. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the ZALMAN CNPS9900A LED cooler

Thus, this cooler provides effective cooling of the Intel Core i7-2600K processor when it is fully loaded and has good potential for overclocking the processor. This cooler is suitable for cooling processors with a high TDP value (including processors with a TDP of 130 W), as well as for cooling overclocked processors.

In terms of noise level, the ZALMAN CNPS9900A LED cooler is slightly inferior to its competitors. At maximum fan speed, the noise level measured using our method was 46 dBA, which is, in general, quite a lot; with a supply voltage of 6 V, the noise level is reduced to 31 dBA.

The combination of very high efficiency and acceptable noise levels allowed this cooler to receive an integral score of 21.29 points and take fourth place in our rating of high-end coolers. To summarize, we can say that this is a good cooler in terms of cooling efficiency with a quite adequate retail price of 1,600 rubles.

DeepCool ICE Warrior

DeepCool ICE Warrior is a cooler from DeepCool, which is still practically unknown on the Russian market. Note that the DeepCool company, which produces cooling systems for processors, graphics cards, hard drives and laptops, has been on the market for 14 years, but began producing products under its own brand relatively recently (previously the company worked on the OEM market, and its products were sold under other brands).

The DeepCool ICE Warrior cooler has a universal mounting system and is compatible with LGA775/1155/1156/1366 sockets for Intel processors and Socket AM3/AM2+/AM2 sockets for AMD processors. Accordingly, several types of fasteners are included with the cooler. The fastener is a frame (there are three such frames in total), which is installed on the back side of the motherboard. The radiator is also screwed to the frame using spring-loaded bolts, and mounting brackets are first attached to it (the type of bracket depends on the type of connector).

The DeepCool ICE Warrior cooler uses a tower heatsink with six U-shaped heatpipes. That is, each of the six heat pipes has a U-shaped bend in the area of ​​the heat-removing sole of the radiator, so thin aluminum tower-type radiator plates are already mounted on 12 heat pipes.

A nine-blade 120mm fan with a four-pin connector is attached to the side of the tower radiator using two spring brackets, supporting the technology of changing the rotation speed due to both changing the supply voltage and pulse width modulation (PWM).

The cooler dimensions are 136 x 84x 156 mm, and weight - 978 g.

As follows from the technical characteristics, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 500±200 to 1500±150 RPM (if PWM technology is used). At maximum rotation speed, the cooler produces an air flow of 66.3 CFM. In addition, it is indicated that the noise level generated by the cooler ranges from 17.6 to 27.6 dBA. We also note that the fan of the DeepCool ICE Warrior cooler uses a liquid plain bearing.

During testing of the DeepCool ICE Warrior cooler, it turned out that when using PWM technology, the fan rotation speed varies from 468 to 1602 RPM, and the minimum rotation speed is achieved with a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 20% and does not change up to a duty cycle of 0% (Fig. 30) .

Rice. 30. Dependence of fan rotation speed

The maximum rotation speed is achieved with a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 90%.

When using the technology of changing the fan rotation speed by changing the supply voltage, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 372 to 1620 RPM (Fig. 31), and the rotation speed of 372 RPM corresponds to a supply voltage of 5 V. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the rotation speed is 585 RPM.

Rice. 31. Dependence of fan rotation speed
from supply voltage for DeepCool ICE Warrior cooler

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 32), the DeepCool ICE Warrior cooler can be classified as high-performance. When the Intel Core i7-2600K processor is fully loaded, its temperature is 60 °C at maximum fan speed (PWM pulse duty cycle is 100%). If the duty cycle of PWM pulses is reduced to a value of 20%, at which the fan rotation speed becomes minimal, the processor temperature will rise to only 74 ° C.

Rice. 32. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the DeepCool ICE Warrior cooler

Thus, this cooler provides effective cooling of the Intel Core i7-2600K processor when it is fully loaded and has good potential for overclocking the processor. This cooler is suitable for cooling processors with a high TDP value (including processors with a TDP of 130 W), as well as for cooling overclocked processors.

In terms of noise level, the DeepCool ICE Warrior cooler can be classified as low-noise. At maximum fan speed, the noise level measured using our method was 44.3 dBA, which can be considered a good result. Well, with a supply voltage of 6 V, the cooler is simply inaudible, that is, its noise level does not exceed the background level of 30 dBA.

The combination of high efficiency and low noise level allowed the DeepCool ICE Warrior cooler to achieve a high integral score of 20.8 points and take sixth place in our ranking of high-end coolers. To summarize, we can say that this is a good cooler at an affordable retail price of 1200 rubles.

Thermaltake FrioOCK

Thermaltake FrioOCK is a new cooler model from Thermaltake, designed to cool overclocked processors with high heat output. According to the specifications, this cooler can remove up to 240 W of thermal power from the processor.

This cooler has a universal mounting system and is compatible with LGA775/1155/1156/1366 sockets for Intel processors and Socket AM3/AM2+/AM2 sockets for AMD processors. The mounting system is a universal mounting frame that is compatible with all types of connectors and is installed on the back of the motherboard. On the front side of the motherboard, brackets are attached to the mounting frame using bolts, to which, in turn, the cooler radiator is already attached. Moreover, you must first install two mounting brackets on the radiator.

The Thermaltake FrioOCK cooler uses a tower heatsink with six U-shaped heat pipes. Due to the fact that each of the six heat pipes has a U-shaped bend in the area of ​​the heat-removing sole of the radiator, thin aluminum plates (their thickness is only 0.4 mm) of the radiator are already mounted on 12 vertical heat pipes.

A casing with two nine-blade 130 mm fans on the sides is placed on the radiator. Moreover, both fans have a three-pin power connector, but due to the use of a Y-splitter, they are connected to one connector on the board. Naturally, these fans only support the technology of changing the rotation speed by changing the supply voltage. In addition, a rheostat is built into the fan power circuit itself, by rotating the handle of which you can further regulate the fan speed.

The cooler dimensions are 143 x 136,8x 158.4 mm, and weight - 1082 g.

As follows from the technical specifications, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 1200 to 2100 RPM. At maximum rotation speed, the cooler produces an airflow of 121 CFM and a static pressure of 3.12 mm of water column. In addition, it is indicated that the noise level generated by the cooler ranges from 21 to 48 dBA.

It is clear that the presence of a rheostat in the power supply circuit of the cooler fans allows it to be tested in various modes. We tested the Thermaltake FrioOCK cooler at two extreme rheostat positions: High and Low.

When testing the Thermaltake FrioOCK cooler, it turned out that in the High rheostat position, the fan rotation speed varies from 963 to 2289 RPM, with the minimum rotation speed being achieved at a supply voltage of 4 V (Fig. 33).

Rice. 33. Dependence of fan rotation speed
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the Thermaltake FrioOCK cooler

In the Low rheostat position, the fan rotation speed changes nonlinearly with increasing supply voltage. With a supply voltage in the range from 4 to 9 V, the fan rotation speed is exactly the same as with the rheostat in the High position. But with a further increase in the supply voltage, the fan rotation speed begins to decrease. That is, the maximum rotation speed of 1830 RPM is achieved with a supply voltage of 9 V, and when the voltage increases to 12 V, the speed decreases to 1353 RPM.

Note also that in the Low rheostat position the fans start at a voltage of 3 V at a speed of 510 RPM (in the High rheostat position the fans start only at a voltage of 4 V).

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 34), the Thermaltake FrioOCK cooler can be classified as the most high-performance. In the High rheostat position, when the Intel Core i7-2600K processor is fully loaded, its temperature is 58 °C at maximum fan speed. If the supply voltage is reduced to 4 V, then the processor temperature will be only 62 ° C, and at a voltage of 6 V it is equal to 60 ° C.

Rice. 34. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
from supply voltage for Thermaltake FrioOCK cooler

In the Low rheostat position, the maximum processor temperature (at a supply voltage of 3 V) is 67 °C, and at a voltage of 12 V - 60 °C.

As you can see, the Thermaltake FrioOCK cooler really provides very effective processor cooling and it is advisable to use it exclusively for overclocking processors, since when cooling processors in normal operation mode, not all of its potential will be used.

In terms of noise level, the Thermaltake FrioOCK cooler can be classified as quite noisy. At maximum fan speed, the noise level measured using our method was 57.53 dBA, and with a supply voltage of 6 V the cooler was 43.8 dBA, which is also very high.

It should be noted that in the case of the Thermaltake FrioOCK cooler, our evaluation methodology failed because it did not allow us to adequately evaluate it. Indeed, taking into account the high noise level, the integral rating of this cooler was only 18.38 points, which corresponds to last place in our rating. However, this does not mean that the cooler is bad. It’s just that the method we used to compare coolers turned out to be unsuitable in this case. The main advantage of this cooler is its effective cooling of overclocked processors. Naturally, the noise level in such a cooler cannot serve as a weighty argument. It's simply not designed for quiet PCs. And just as it is incorrect to compare laptops and servers by noise level, it is not entirely correct to compare the Thermaltake FrioOCK cooler with conventional coolers by noise level, since it is designed to work in extreme conditions, and there is no time for noise.

It remains to add that the retail price of the cooler is approximately 1800 rubles.

Cooler Master V6

The V6 cooler from Cooler Master is a high-end model that has a universal mounting system and is aimed at users who assemble computers on their own.

This cooler has a universal mounting system and is compatible with LGA775/1155/1156/1366 sockets for Intel processors and Socket AM3/AM2+/AM2 sockets for AMD processors.

The mounting system is a universal mounting frame that is compatible with all types of connectors and is installed on the back of the motherboard. On the front side of the motherboard, brackets are attached to the mounting frame using bolts, to which, in turn, the cooler radiator is already attached. In this case, you must first install two mounting brackets on the radiator.

The V6 cooler is a tower-type radiator consisting of thin aluminum plates mounted on two sides on six heat pipes with a diameter of 6 mm each. Heat pipes penetrate all the radiator plates and the heat-removing copper base in contact with the surface of the processor. The heat pipes, when looking at the heatsink from above, are arranged in a V shape and form two V-shaped arrays (left and right). Actually, it is precisely because of this arrangement of heat pipes that the cooler was named V6 (six heat pipes arranged in the shape of the letter V). According to Cooler Master, the V-shaped heatpipe design improves heat dissipation with horizontal airflow. However, this is not the only improvement to the seemingly standard tower-type radiator. Another innovation is that the radiator fins are not strictly horizontal, but at an angle of 5°, which reduces air flow resistance and increases the heat dissipation area.

A 120 mm fan with a seven-blade impeller and a four-pin power connector is mounted on the side of the radiator. It supports variable speed technology through both supply voltage variation and pulse width modulation (PWM).

Note that the design of the cooler allows for the installation of two fans (on both sides of the radiator), but only one is included in the standard delivery of the cooler.

When using two fans, both of them are connected via a Y-splitter to one four-pin connector on the motherboard. Moreover, the design of the splitter is such that the tachometer signal (rotation speed control) is removed from only one fan (there is no tachometer signal contact in the connector for one fan), which is quite logical, since taking two tachometer signals simultaneously would lead to incorrect results.

As follows from the technical specifications, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 800 to 2200 RPM (apparently, we are talking about changing the rotation speed due to PWM modulation). The air flow created by the cooler varies in the range from 34.02 to 93.74 CFM, and the air pressure in the range from 0.43 to 3.30 mm water column. The noise level produced by the fan varies from 15 to 38 dBA.

It remains to add that the overall dimensions of the V6 cooler are 131.5 x 120x 165 mm, and its weight is 805 g.

During testing of the DeepCool ICE Warrior cooler, it turned out that when PWM technology is used, the fan rotation speed varies from 921 to 2157 RPM, with the minimum rotation speed being achieved at a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 0%, and the maximum rotation speed at a duty cycle of 90% (Fig. 35).

Rice. 35. Dependence of fan rotation speed

When using the technology of changing the fan rotation speed by changing the supply voltage, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 381 to 2190 RPM (Fig. 36), and the rotation speed of 381 RPM corresponds to a supply voltage of 4 V. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the rotation speed is 759 RPM .

Rice. 36. Dependence of fan rotation speed
from supply voltage for Cooler Master V6 cooler

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 37), the Cooler Master V6 cooler can be classified as very high-performance. When the Intel Core i7-2600K processor is fully loaded, its temperature is 57 °C at maximum fan speed (PWM pulse duty cycle is 100%). If the duty cycle of PWM pulses is reduced to 0%, at which the fan rotation speed becomes minimal, then the processor temperature will rise to only 65 ° C.

Rice. 37. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the Cooler Master V6 cooler

Thus, the Cooler Master V6 cooler not only provides effective cooling of the Intel Core i7-2600K processor when fully loaded, but also has excellent potential for overclocking the processor. This cooler is suitable for cooling processors with a high TDP value (including processors with a TDP of 130 W), as well as for cooling overclocked processors.

In terms of noise level, the Cooler Master V6 cooler can be classified as low-noise. At maximum fan speed, the noise level measured using our method was 44.3 dBA, which can be considered a good result. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the cooler is simply inaudible, that is, its noise level does not stand out at a background level of 30 dBA.

The combination of high efficiency and low noise level allowed this cooler to receive a high integral score of 20.8 points and take fifth place in our rating. To summarize, we can say that this is a good cooler at an affordable retail price of 1,380 rubles.

Cooler Master Hyper TX3

Hyper TX3 from Cooler Master is an inexpensive mid-class cooler aimed at mainstream PCs. It has a universal mounting system and can be used both with Intel processors with LGA 775 and LGA 1155/1156 sockets, and with AMD processors with Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3 and Socket 754/939/940 sockets.

The system for attaching the cooler to the motherboard depends on the type of connector. For Intel processors with LGA775 or LGA1155/1156 sockets, convenient clip clamps are used, which are first attached with brackets to the heatsink.

The cooler is a tower-type radiator with thin, horizontally arranged aluminum plates. The radiator fins are mounted on three copper heat pipes with a diameter of 6 mm each, which also pass through a heat-removing aluminum base.

Cooler dimensions are 90 x 51x 139 mm, and weight - 470 g.

On one side of the radiator there is a 92mm fan, which is attached to it using mounting brackets. The fan has a four-pin power connector, that is, it supports rotation speed control using the supply voltage pulse width modulation (PWM) method. Note that, optionally, a second fan can be installed on the cooler’s radiator on the opposite side.

According to the stated technical characteristics, the rotation speed of the cooler varies in the range from 800 to 2800 RPM, and the air flow created by the fans ranges from 15.7 to 54.8 CFM (depending on the rotation speed, the air pressure created by the cooler varies from 0.35 to 4.27 mm water column).

In addition, the technical specifications of the Hyper TX3 cooler indicate that the noise level it creates is from 17 to 35 dBA. The cooler's time between failures is 40 thousand hours.

During testing of the Cooler Master Hyper TX3 cooler, it turned out that when using PWM technology, the fan rotation speed varies from 738 to 2760 RPM, and the minimum rotation speed is achieved with a duty cycle of PWM pulses of 10% (Fig. 38).

Rice. 38. Dependence of fan rotation speed

When using the technology of changing the fan rotation speed by changing the supply voltage, the fan rotation speed changes in the range from 426 to 2757 RPM (Fig. 39), and the rotation speed of 381 RPM corresponds to a supply voltage of 5 V. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the rotation speed is 621 RPM.

Rice. 39. Dependence of fan rotation speed
from supply voltage for Cooler Master Hyper TX3 cooler

In terms of cooling efficiency (Fig. 40), the Cooler Master Hyper TX3 cooler can be classified as average in performance. When the Intel Core i7-?2600K processor is fully loaded, its temperature is 63 ° C at maximum fan speed (the duty cycle of PWM pulses is 100%). If the duty cycle of PWM pulses is reduced to a value of 10%, at which the fan rotation speed becomes minimal, the processor temperature will already be 83 ° C.

Rice. 40. Dependence of processor temperature when it is fully loaded
on the duty cycle of PWM pulses for the Cooler Master Hyper TX3 cooler

As you can see, the Cooler Master Hyper TX3 cooler provides quite acceptable cooling of the Intel Core i7-2600K processor when it is fully loaded. However, we would not recommend using this cooler for cooling processors with a TDP above 95 W or for overclocking processors.

In terms of noise level, the Cooler Master Hyper TX3 cooler can be classified as low-noise. At maximum fan speed, the noise level measured using our method was 44.3 dBA, which can be considered a good result. With a supply voltage of 6 V, the cooler is simply inaudible, that is, its noise level does not exceed the background level of 30 dBA.

The combination of high efficiency and low noise level allowed this cooler to receive a high integral score of 20.8 points and take fourth place in our rating of budget coolers. To summarize, we can say that this is a good cooler at an affordable retail price of 570 rubles.

It's no secret that the main sales volumes of computer components fall on the so-called middle price segment, products in which have the most reasonable combination of consumer characteristics. However, the specifics of the Russian market are such that a significant part of the fleet of personal computers available to users consists of budget-level solutions that are used until they completely (and sometimes repeatedly) fail. It is not at all uncommon to see a computer that was outdated four or five generations ago, which still works properly, fully satisfying all the user’s requirements.

In light of this, the issue of choosing components for a budget PC becomes particularly relevant and interesting - and this applies primarily to “consumables”, which, after many years of operation, become any components that have mechanical elements in their design: hard drives, coolers, case fans. And many users of the corresponding systems over time are faced with the problem of choosing a replacement for a failed node: there is simply no need to upgrade the computer due to a breakdown, or it is impossible due to the fact that the standards of modern hardware differ more than completely from the existing one.

However, questions about choosing a cooler are also asked by users who are planning a phased PC upgrade or simply have a limited budget. In the latter case, having saved on purchasing a “full-fledged” cooling system and choosing a temporary option, you can invest the freed funds in the purchase of more powerful components, but you need to be sure that the chosen “temporary option” will cope with its tasks. And IT workers who maintain equipment fleets in various organizations are also often faced with the problem of choosing hardware, the cost of which will not deviate from a clearly fixed estimate.

In other words, many reasons for the appearance of this material on the “pages” of the DNS Experts Club can be found - those readers who personally know the author will probably guess that the main one was that to install most budget coolers you do not need to remove the motherboard from the case ( because he’s too lazy to unscrew nine screws and reconnect all the connectors, yeah). One way or another, for today’s article, nine models of cooling devices were selected, falling (in one case conditionally) into the price segment from 300 to 600 rubles. Surprisingly, even in such a small gap you can find coolers that are strikingly different in design, noise level and cooling efficiency. But first things first.

A little about the subject.

The process of selecting a platform for testing included several stages. Of course, the first of them was the proposal to use a stand for the LGA 1155 platform, consisting of an Intel Core i5-3570K processor and an Asus Maximus V Formula motherboard, but for a number of reasons this idea had to be abandoned. Firstly, due to known circumstances, the temperature of Ivy Bridge processors during overclocking depends to the least extent on the cooling system, and secondly, even if it were possible to identify a difference in the efficiency of coolers, it would be valid only for this processor, and projecting the obtained data onto budget models lacking overclocking functionality would still not work.

The idea of ​​assembling a test system on the LGA 1156 or LGA 775 platform was ruined by a more prosaic reason: finding suitable hardware turned out to be quite a task, and suitable copies on the secondary market cost so much that it was impossible to apply the concept of “budget” to them even if one wanted to.

The logical solution was AMD products. Standardized cooler mounting, which unites in this regard all the manufacturer’s platforms, starting from socket 754 and ending with a new one socket FM2+ seems to be the key to a large number of views of this article, especially since the number of operating PCs on socket AM2 / AM2+ platforms is still quite large. But more importantly, for AMD processors the issue of choosing coolers is more acute: already at nominal frequencies they heat up more than their main competitors, and during overclocking, which all models allow, regardless of the presence of an unlocked multiplier, their heat generation only increases.

For the purposes of today's testing, the processor was selected AMD Athlon II X3 455. This CPU, based on the Rana chip, is an intermediate solution, occupying a niche between the dual-core Athlon II X2 and quad-core Athlon II X4. With a standard thermal package of 95 watts, it shows a hot enough temper to give test participants a serious task, but at the same time it does not heat up so much as to lead to system failure in stress tests even when using the simplest cooler models, and just like the standard one mode and in overclocking mode.

The basis of the test bench was the motherboard Asus 990FX Sabertooth R 2.0- a solution that is far from budget, but has impressive overclocking potential, an effective cooling system and, which is rare for today's AMD platforms, accurate temperature monitoring. The only drawback of this board is the lack of tools for unlocking “hidden” cores, so in this case it was not possible to use one of the main advantages of the Rana crystal - the ability to detect at least one more core on it, or even a couple of extra megabytes of cache memory. However, this “disadvantage” is typical for most modern motherboards for socket AM3+, since FX line processors cannot be unlocked and, moreover, can be damaged if you try to unlock them.

Thus, the tests were carried out with three active cores at a nominal frequency of 3300 megahertz and overclocked to 3840 megahertz, which required raising the voltage on the processor chip to 1.3 volts. The test bench configuration and testing methodology are described in more detail in the corresponding section, and the author proceeds to describe the testing participants.

Deepcool Beta 11.

The cheapest test participant, whose price at the time of writing this article was 290 rubles. However, for this money the cooler offers a 92 mm fan on a hydrodynamic bearing and a fairly tall radiator with developed fins, albeit made in accordance with an outdated concept.

Packaging and equipment.

The cooler comes in a compact cardboard box, made in the manufacturer's characteristic blue and white colors. The packaging design is brought into line with other Deepcool products, and you can’t blame it for the lack of information content - all the necessary information is indicated right on the side edges:

However, the rest of the box only emphasizes the budget orientation of the product: concern for the safety of the cooler during transportation is entrusted to the cardboard structure itself, and the word “equipment” can be safely crossed out from the title of the paragraph: in addition to the Beta 11 itself, the box contains only a bag of thermal paste:

The fact that thermal paste is not applied to the base of the cooler in advance can be considered both a plus and a minus, depending on personal preferences. The author, for example, benefits from this, but users who prefer to install coolers literally “out of the box” may not like it.

Fan.

The cooler uses Deepcool's patented "inverted" fan, sized 92x92 millimeters, while the thickness of the seven-blade impeller is increased to 32 millimeters, which promises slightly better air flow and static pressure characteristics compared to standard models.

Unfortunately, traditionally for Deepcool there is no marking on the fan, so you have to go to the official website for specifications. Thus, the fan is based on a hydrodynamic bearing, and its rotation speed is fixed at 2200 rpm. At maximum speed, the fan should pump 37.43 cubic feet per minute, while the noise level should not exceed 30.7 decibels.

In fact, the cooler turns out to be one of the loudest participants in testing. Despite the fact that there is no extraneous noise or artifacts in the sound of the fan, the aerodynamic noise is so strong that even at a speed of 1000 rpm. Beta 11 is perfectly positioned against the background of the system unit.

Radiator.

Despite the fact that AMD itself, in the latest generations of its cooling systems, uses the idea of ​​​​its main competitor, which involves the presence of a vertical thermal column, from which thin fins extend to the sides, the Deepcool Beta 11 radiator uses an outdated paradigm, according to which the radiator is made of a solid block of aluminum, and the base one of its faces serves:

However, in this case, Deepcool cannot be blamed for its passion for archeology, since Chinese engineers seriously developed and supplemented the design typical of boxed coolers of the socket 754 era. First of all, while maintaining compatibility with the standard mount, they increased the dimensions of the radiator: in the upper part they are 80x78 mm, in the lower part - 76x68. Thus, the area provided by the plastic mounting elements on the motherboard is used to the maximum. And the maximum fin height looks serious - 42 millimeters.

The disadvantages include only a small heat transfer surface area - there are only 25 fins in the radiator, while the distance between them is 2 millimeters, which, of course, makes it easier to blow through the radiator, however, by arranging the fins more densely, as in advanced radiators of the pre-heat-pipe era, it would be possible to increase cooling efficiency. Otherwise, the radiator uses all the developments of the above-mentioned time: the fins have an uneven thickness (1.1 mm at the base and 0.8 mm at the top), and the base is equipped with a protrusion that does not allow the entire heat flow to go into the middle part of the radiator. The thickness of the sole in the center is 1.6 mm, while at the edges it is 7 mm.

In addition, despite the lack of polishing or any processing at all, the radiator base is amazingly smooth:

This is confirmed by the imprint of thermal paste:

Fastening and installation.

The cooler is compatible only with AMD sockets, on which it is installed using a clip-clamp. Unlike some of Deepcool's other products (such as the Beta 40 reviewed below), this item is made entirely of metal, which improves the secure fit.

Once installed on the test motherboard, the cooler looks like this:

At the same time, as can be seen in the photo, the heated air outlet is organized in the direction of the VRM radiator and memory, which is also an advantage of the cooler in question, since excess airflow will not harm these elements.

Gelid Siberian.

Production of the company Gelid Solutions has already participated in comparative tests conducted by the author more than once, and the experience of getting to know it has shown that the greatest interest is not the “extreme” Gamer line, but the Silent series, which is distinguished by a much more adequate pricing policy with an equally advantageous combination of characteristics. Therefore, the author simply could not help but include in this article a cooler with a somewhat familiar name, especially since the price for it at the time of writing this article varied from 270 to 300 rubles, and the design at first glance looked quite original.

Packaging and equipment.

The cooler comes in a modest-sized cardboard box, made in the same style for the entire Silent line. The calm design with gray elements on a white background immediately hints that the cooler will not irritate the user with its presence in the system unit, and as experience shows, the first impression is by no means deceptive.

The information content of the packaging is even better: firstly, the amount of information provided on the side faces is much greater than that of the Deepcool product discussed above, and secondly, all of it is carefully translated into Russian, which is good news. The only disadvantages include the insufficient number of protection elements: although the plastic mounting frame is fixed in a cardboard form, which also serves as an additional stiffening rib and a pocket for fastening elements, then the Siberian radiator and fan itself does not protect anything except the main packaging.

The delivery set (which can already be called a kit here) includes:

a bag of thermal paste;

In general, the set can be called sufficient for operating the cooler, and the universal mount, which allows it to be installed not only on AMD sockets, but also on Intel processors in LGA 775, 1156 and 1155 versions, is a serious argument in favor of Siberian. However, there is also a drawback - the supplied thermal paste is not the recently tested GC-Extreme and not even the outdated GC-2 - it is generally a composition from a third-party manufacturer, and therefore its effectiveness is in question.

Fan.

Siberian is equipped with a proprietary fan Gelid Silent 8 PWM, which can be called another advantage of the cooler.

The turntable of standard size 80x80x25 millimeters is based on a high-quality hydrodynamic bearing and can regulate the rotation speed using PWM in the range from 900 to 2200 rpm. In this case, the air flow is 30.5 cubic feet per minute, and the noise level should not exceed 10 and 22.5 decibels, respectively. The stated time between failures is 50,000 hours.

In fact, the declared noise level values ​​turned out to be unattainable, but the cooler actually turned out to be among the three quietest test participants. Even at maximum speed, the noise level emitted by the Siberian remains subjectively comfortable, and already at a speed of 1400 rpm. it is impossible to distinguish it against the background of the system unit.

Radiator.

The design of the Siberian radiator is also far from new, but thanks to some techniques it looks quite original and promises good efficiency:

The dimensions of the radiator are not the most impressive: 70x86x35 millimeters. However, from its design it is clear that the emphasis here is not on size, but on engineering solutions. The radiator consists of 28 aluminum fins with a thickness of 0.2 millimeters, spaced at a distance of 2 mm. The surface of the fins is covered with “pimples”, which increase the heat transfer surface area, and the edges are bent into “locks”, which not only increases the rigidity of the structure, but also avoids loss of air flow, directing it clearly deep into the radiator.

However, of greater interest is the base, in which the ribs are fixed in grooves 2.5 millimeters deep. Unfortunately, no traces of soldering could be found - obviously, simple crimping is used here, but the contact is made rigidly and of sufficient quality.

The base itself is made of an aluminum block of uneven thickness - at the edges it does not exceed 6 millimeters, while in the middle it reaches a centimeter. The polishing is at a frankly average level, but the surface of the heat sink with dimensions of 44x40.5 mm is quite smooth:

This is confirmed by the imprint of thermal paste:

Fastening and installation.

The cooler is supplied already assembled, so the procedure for installing it on AMD sockets is extremely simple: you just need to disconnect the clamps from the supplied plastic frame and install Siberian on the motherboard. Considering that the standard clamping clip is equipped with clamps on both sides, this is even easier to do than in the traditional version. As a result, the cooler takes on the following form:

Deepcool Gamma Archer

This cooler costs a little more than the two previous participants - 320 rubles at the time of writing this article - however, in this price segment this is perhaps the only solution equipped with a 120x120 mm fan, which allows us to hope that its efficiency will be at a higher level than that of its competitors. This was the author’s first impression, however, familiarization with the design of the radiator revealed some engineering flaws that caused skepticism regarding this product. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Packaging and equipment.

The cooler comes in a cardboard box, the design of which is similar to the packaging of the Beta series coolers - only the dimensions differ:

Since the Gamma Archer, like the Gelid product, is a universal cooler, the package includes:

plastic mounting frame for Intel sockets;
four plastic clips and four spacer clips;
foam rubber gasket for other Intel sockets;
bag of thermal paste.

In general, the kit is quite sufficient for installing and operating the cooler. The only puzzling thing is the lack of installation instructions, but this is rather a drawback of a particular instance.

Fan.

The cooler is equipped with a proprietary nine-blade fan of size 120x120x25 mm, enclosed in a frame tapering towards the bottom - a similar fan is used, for example, in the Gammaxx 300 and a number of other Deepcool products and generally leaves a good impression, which the Gamma Archer also spoils with a couple of nuances.

This fan is based on a hydrodynamic bearing and rotates at a fixed speed of 1600 rpm. At the same time, the air flow is stated at 55.5 cubic feet per minute, and the noise level, according to the manufacturer, should not exceed 21 decibels.

In fact, in test modes the fan actually turned out to be quite quiet, although at a speed of 1200 rpm the noise is still noticeable. Fortunately, its nature is purely aerodynamic and there are no artifacts of mechanical or electrical origin.

However, the main disadvantage of the Gamma Archer fan is the impossibility of replacing it: unlike the Gammaxx 300 mentioned above, in this case the fan does not have fasteners and is mounted on the radiator using screws that are screwed through the stator spokes. In this case, if the turntable fails, the user will have to purchase a new cooler or invent his own fastening mechanism.

Radiator.

From the moment you take the cooler out of the box, you get the impression that the radiator here is surprisingly small, although at first this can be attributed to a “non-format” fan. However, when the latter is removed, a bleak picture reveals itself:

The cooler uses the “thermal column” principle, but somehow in a very unique way. In the middle part there is a deep cutout for the clamping mechanism, dividing the radiator into two parts, and accordingly, in the most thermally stressed middle part there remains no more than a centimeter of aluminum, which is not at all beneficial for the distribution of heat throughout the body of the radiator.

The latter consists of two sections of 19 ribs, 18 of which bifurcate at the ends. The thickness of the fin in the center of the radiator is 0.7 mm, at the ends - 0.3 mm. The intercostal distance is 2 and 3 millimeters, respectively. All this indicates that the radiator is designed for serious ventilation, and heat accumulation is not expected. However, in this case, the sawn-out middle part looks even more strange.

The material from which the radiator is made is also alarming: it is not a monolithic structure, but several sections fused together, which in itself is found in a number of other coolers, but in this case the gaps on the base of the heat sink are even more suspicious.

Fortunately, the surface of the heat sink turns out to be smooth:

And the thermal paste imprint looks good:

Fastening and installation.

Gamma Archer, like the rest of the test participants, is attached to AMD sockets using a pressure plate. However, a large fan obstructing the locking mechanisms makes this simple operation very difficult, and the raw edges of the thin fins also dangerous.

Once installed in the test bench, the cooler looks like this:

Arctic Alpine 64 GT rev.2

The products of the Swiss company Arctic are well known to enthusiasts from the IT world, who have already appreciated the highly efficient cooling systems for video cards and top-class thermal interfaces produced under this brand. But coolers for central processors have not gained such fame, which is natural: while distinguished by their traditionally low noise level, they nevertheless do not demonstrate impressive cooling efficiency. A participant in today's testing, Alpine 64 GT, is not aimed at record temperatures - Arctic itself positions this cooler as an alternative to box cooling systems and suggests using it for processors with a thermal package no higher than 70 watts, but the price tag remains at a very serious level of 320 rubles.

Packaging and equipment.

The cooler comes in a box designed in accordance with the new Arctic style: the gray color scheme has been replaced by white and blue tones:

However, although the packaging has become more attractive externally, its internal structure has not changed - we are still looking at a box made of very thin cardboard, which does not offer any protection for the contents. However, the package also hints at the budget orientation of the product:

Apart from the installation instructions and the cooler itself, there is nothing inside the box, which is somewhat surprising in the case of a product from a renowned manufacturer. Thermal paste is traditionally applied to the base of the radiator, and this is Arctic MX-2 - a fairly old, but still highly efficient thermal interface. For coolers of a higher class, this would be a disadvantage, but it is unlikely that any user will reinstall an analogue of a boxed cooler several times - usually such solutions are purchased on a “set it and forget it” basis.

Fan.

The cooler is equipped with a proprietary seven-blade fan of size 80x80 millimeters:

There is no marking on the fan, which is quite atypical for Arctic. However, from the information provided on the back of the box, you can find out that this turntable is based on a high-quality hydrodynamic bearing, and the official website states that the fan, the speed of which is controlled via PWM in the range from 500 to 2000 rpm, should create an air flow in 25.6 cubic feet per minute, and the noise level will not exceed 0.25 sones.

According to the test results, the cooler confidently took first place in acoustic comfort, demonstrating the lowest noise level among other participants. Even at maximum speed, the Alpine 64 GT barely stands out from the general noise background, and in other modes it is completely impossible to distinguish it.

The disadvantages again include the fan mounting mechanism: given the low noise level, you can turn a blind eye to the lack of vibration suspension, which is typical for more expensive Arctic products, but the frame on which the fan is supported is combined with a clamping mechanism. In other words, the clamps that secure the cooler to the motherboard are made of the same plastic, which raises doubts about the strength and durability of such fastening.

Radiator.

The design of this unit is extremely simple and devoid of any frills:

The aluminum radiator is rectangular in shape and only 34 millimeters high and consists of 35 fins spaced at a distance of 1.5 millimeters. The height of each rib is 26 mm, thickness is 0.8 mm. at the base and 0.4 mm. at the top.

The radiator base also has an uneven thickness, reaching eight millimeters in the central part. The treatment of the base can only be described as terrible: not only is there no polishing at all, but there are generally no traces of attempts to make the surface smooth. However, there are no complaints about the evenness of the base:

The thermal paste print also looks good:

Fastening and installation.

The cooler installation procedure turns out to be much simpler than that of the Gamma Archer, since the fan leaves access to both clamps. However, in order to hook them onto the protrusions in the standard motherboard mount, you still have to make significant efforts, and with care not to break the plastic elements.

Deepcool Beta 40

This cooling system was once mentioned in one of the author’s articles, although it acted only as a “standard” for comparing the efficiency of tower coolers with cooling systems of the “analog box” type. In that case, there was certainly no need to talk about any special efficiency of Beta 40, but in today's comparative testing the features of this cooler can play a noticeable role.

Packaging and equipment.

Deepcool Beta 40 comes in a box almost completely identical to the one in which the younger representative of the series is packaged - only a few icons and marketing slogans have been added to illustrate the main advantages of this model. At the same time, despite the increased 340 rubles the cost of the product and the reliability of the packaging remained at the same level - except that the base of the cooler is now protected by a layer of self-adhesive paper.

The delivery package has not changed either:

Fan.

Structurally, the Deepcool Beta 40 appears to be a copy of the Beta 11, but at the same fan speed, the manufacturer claims that the air flow should reach 40.9 cubic feet per minute, and the noise level should not exceed 25 decibels.

It is curious that despite the similarities in the design of the radiators and almost identical fans - in fact, the Beta 40 is equipped with an impeller with a larger wingspan and a less aggressive angle of attack, but at first glance this is not noticeable - the older model turns out to be much quieter than the younger one, and this is not noticeable only with the help of measuring instruments, but also with the “naked ear”. While the Beta 11 creates noticeable aerodynamic noise at high revs that is hard to ignore, the Beta 40 is much more comfortable.

Radiator.

Again, at first glance these nodes appear identical:

Indeed, the dimensions of both coolers are identical. However, in the design of the Beta 40 radiator there are only 23 fins versus 25 in the Beta 11, and they are located on the O one step further. The plates also have a trapezoidal cross-section, but are thicker than those of the younger model (1.2 mm at the base and 0.5 mm at the top), and the protrusion on the base, on the contrary, has a smaller height (15 mm) and length. However, the most serious changes are observed in the design of the radiator sole:

First of all, it is noticeable that the surface (albeit not perfectly smooth) is polished to a mirror shine. However, a more serious advantage of the cooler is a copper disk with a diameter of 36 mm, pressed into the center of the aluminum base. And, as you can see in the photo, you can’t find fault with the evenness of the sole. This is confirmed by the thermal paste print:

Fastening and installation.

The installation procedure for Beta 40 is generally similar to the younger model, but there are some nuances caused by the design of the rotary lock, which is made of plastic. It is necessary to accurately calculate the applied force so as not to be faced with the need to return to the store for a new cooler.

As a result, the cooler installed in the test bench looks like this:

Ice Hammer IH-3080WV

The Taiwanese company's Ice Hammer product also succeeded in a recent review, but there it acted as a competitor to low-profile cooling systems intended for use in HTPCs. However, since its design features make it possible to use the IH-3080WV for cooling processors with more serious heat dissipation, and the reduced 390 rubles The price fits perfectly into the chosen segment, why not test this product in more traditional conditions? Moreover, a design that was quite effective in the past can still be a good bid for victory today.

Packaging and equipment.

The cooler comes in a simple blue and white box, devoid of any carrying handles or transparent windows - which, however, is to be expected from a budget product that has been on the market for so long that it simply does not need unnecessary advertising. However, the information content of the box does not suffer from the lack of design elements, and even benefits: on the side edges it was possible to place all the installation instructions for Intel and AMD sockets.

The scope of delivery has not changed at all since the previous testing:

Along with the cooler, the box contains:

plastic mounting frame for Intel sockets;
four plastic clips and four spacer nails;
a bag of branded thermal paste;
Ice Hammer logo sticker;
installation instructions.

If last time it was possible to find fault with the kit, then a comparison of the Ice Hammer product with its “classmates” clearly shows that the kit contains everything necessary for installation and even more - some other models of cooling devices for a similar price require installation on only one type of platform, and the IH-3080WV is at least universal.

Fan.

The height of the fan is 17 millimeters, the blade span is 85 mm. The fan is attached to the radiator using a plastic frame and screws; there are no vibration isolation mechanisms. According to the official website, the fan is based on the proprietary Hydraumatic fluid dynamic bearing, the maximum rotation speed is 2200 rpm, and the fan produces an airflow of 42.7 cubic feet, and the noise level should not exceed 20 decibels.

In fact, this copy of the IH-3080WV can only be classified as an “average” model - this time there are no artifacts in the sound of the fan, but the aerodynamic noise is quite high, although the cooler is still far from setting records for this indicator.

Radiator.

The 230-gram radiator with dimensions of 112x110x57 millimeters consists of 44 aluminum fins 0.5 mm thick. The plates are curved so that the distance between their tips is three millimeters, while in the center they form an almost monolithic structure. The maximum fin height is reached in the middle part of the radiator and is 25 mm.

The heat sink is formed from the lower edges of the radiator plates and thicker aluminum strips that hold them down. At the same time, the main drawback of this design as performed by Ice Hammer remains unchanged since the release of the first model of this type: the clamping force of the plates is far from ideal, the gaps are visible without the help of enlarging devices.

At first glance, the surface of the heat sink seems smooth:

However, after the first installation, faced with clearly inadequate temperatures, the author removed the cooler from the motherboard and discovered that only one edge of the heat sink was in contact with the processor cover, and even then not completely. To achieve full contact, we had to increase the amount of thermal paste, the result of which is visible in the photo:

Fastening and installation.

The procedure for installing the cooler is no different from that for the other test participants, but it is easier due to the well-chosen force of the clamping clip and the free one. Once installed in the test bench, the IH-3080WV looks like this:

Deepcool Gamma 200

The cost of the next test participant is slightly out of the given limit - at the time of writing this article, Gamma 200 cost 620 rubles. However, this is the only top-design cooler equipped with two heat pipes that was available at the time of test samples, so it was worth including it in this article at least as an intermediate link between the coolers discussed above and the budget “towers.” In addition, Gamma 200 is quite popular among visitors to our resource, so in the author’s opinion, such a deviation from the regulations is excusable.

Packaging and equipment.

Despite the fact that the price of the product is almost twice as high as the Beta series coolers, the packaging of the Gamma 200 is no different from them:

Only the delivery package has changed, since we already have a universal solution, and not a specialized device for one platform. However, the set of accessories is similar to the previously reviewed Gelid and Ice Hammer products:

In addition to the cooler, the box contains:

four plastic clips and four spacer nails;
universal clamping clip;

In this case, we can already make some complaints about the kit: the thermal paste applied to the base can be considered an advantage only when installing the cooler for the first time; in the future, the user will have to worry about finding an alternative thermal interface. A plastic rotary lock can be forgiven for a cooler that costs 340 rubles, but couldn’t a product cost twice that amount really be equipped with a reliable fastening? The fan fixation mechanism, which is a plastic frame hanging loosely on the radiator, also raises some questions.

Fan.

Deepcool Gamma 200 is equipped with a proprietary fan that rotates at a fixed speed of 2200 rpm.

The seven-blade impeller's specifications are identical to those used in the Beta 40: a fan based on a hydrodynamic bearing is capable of developing an air flow of 40.9 cubic feet per minute with a noise level not exceeding 25 decibels. However, according to the test results, the Gamma 200 took first (or rather, last) place in terms of the level of noise it produces. A noticeable aerodynamic hum was complemented by the crackling sound of the bearing and strong vibrations of the plastic frame, which together made being near the system unit absolutely uncomfortable. And if artifacts caused by a defective bearing are the problem of a single specimen, then other shortcomings are already a serial problem.

Radiator.

The design of this unit is reminiscent of a traditional top-design radiator like the recently reviewed Thermalright AXP-100, only in a reduced size.

Two U-shaped heat pipes with a diameter of 6 millimeters extend from the aluminum base, which in the upper part penetrate a radiator that is not connected to the base. The latter consists of two sections, connected in the middle by a narrow passage, and the maximum height of the complex-shaped fins is observed in the area of ​​​​the strongest air flow, where the heat pipes are also located.

This design allows us to hope for effective heat removal from the processor, however, the configuration of the radiator is such that a strong air flow is required to remove the accumulated thermal energy: 45 thin fins (0.3 mm) are laid with an extremely small distance - each plate is separated from the other by only 1.2 millimeters of free space. In such conditions, there is no need to talk about the effectiveness of the cooler when operating at low speeds.

The base of the radiator is made using direct contact technology and is an aluminum plate 7 mm thick, in the middle of which there is a 16 mm protrusion that acts as a stop for the pressure clip. The heat pipes are laid in the base with a distance of 8 millimeters, which is quite a lot, considering that there is no radiator at the top of the base.

Fortunately, the base of the heat sink is relatively flat, although there are obvious gaps between the heat pipes and the main surface:

The thermal paste imprint shows sufficient contact between the base of the heatsink and the CPU heat spreader cover:

Fastening and installation.

What was said above regarding the Deepcool Beta 40 is also true for the Gamma 200: the cooler installation procedure is much easier thanks to the rotating mechanism, but the presence of the last plastic element in the design makes it necessary to carefully select the pressing force.

As a result, the cooler takes on the following form:

Deepcool Ice Edge Mini FS

The first tower cooler taking part in today's testing turns out to be noticeably cheaper than the Gamma 200 - the price of the Ice Edge Mini FS is "only" 550 rubles. It will be all the more interesting to compare its effectiveness not only with “pipeless” solutions, but also with the product of the same manufacturer discussed above.

Packaging and equipment.

The box, decorated in the signature blue and white colors, finally differs not only in size, but also in the presence of additional damping elements that protect the cooler from damage during transportation. The delivery set is placed in a separate cardboard pocket, and the cooler is secured using polyethylene foam - not the most thoughtful protection, but still better than nothing.

The delivery package has not undergone any fundamental changes. In addition to the Ice Edge Mini FS itself, inside the box you can find:

plastic mounting frame for Intel sockets;
four plastic clips and four spacer nails;
installation instructions.

The metal clamping clip is already mounted on the base of the cooler, as is the fan, which is attached to the radiator using wire brackets. The second set is not included in the kit, although the cooler assumes the installation of another fan, considering itself a serious tower. Thermal paste is again applied to the base of the cooler, which can be a serious drawback during re-installation.

Fan.

The cooler comes complete with a proprietary fan of size 80x80x25 mm. Like most Deepcool fans, this product is based on a fluid dynamic bearing. PWM control is not supported, the rotation speed is fixed at 2200 rpm. In this case, the fan must pump 28 cubic feet of air per minute, and the noise level is stated at 25 decibels.

Radiator.

Tower type design with a height of 129 mm. consists of 36 aluminum fins with a thickness of only 0.3 millimeters, strung on two heat pipes with a distance of two millimeters:

This is quite a lot for a radiator of such modest dimensions, resulting in a calculated heat transfer surface area of ​​only 1700 square centimeters. However, the interest in this case is not the impressive dimensions, but how effectively they are used. Despite its small size, the Ice Edge Mini FS has a considerable number of aerodynamic optimizations, allowing for high cooling efficiency.

So, the first thing that catches your eye is the location of the heat pipes in the body of the radiator. They lie in one line, while being in the zone of maximum air flow, and the width of the ribs in this zone is 31 millimeters, while in the middle part it is 27 millimeters. In addition, in the middle part of the radiator, the fins are perforated and bent into a stepped design, which eliminates the “blind” spots behind the fan rotor. It is also worth noting that at the ends of the radiator, the edges of the plates are bent into rigid locks that secure them, which also allows the air flow to be focused on the “input” and “output”.

The radiator base is also made using direct contact technology. An 11 mm thick aluminum block, on the top of which there is an improvised radiator of four fins, should effectively cope with the task of distributing heat between the tubes. The dimensions of the base are 35x37 millimeters, the tubes are pressed almost in the center, they are separated by a more or less acceptable 5 millimeters of aluminum.

But the quality of processing of the Ice Edge Mini FS base cannot be praised:

It is unknown whether this is a single defect or a serial defect, but the imprint of the thermal paste needs no comment:

Fastening and installation.

The fastening element required for installation on AMD sockets is pre-mounted on the base of the cooler, so even untrained users should not have any problems installing the Ice Edge Mini FS. Fixing the cooler requires considerable effort, but free access to fasteners on both sides greatly simplifies the task.

Installed in the test bench, the cooler looks like this:

In this case, as you can see in the photo, the first RAM slot is free; you can install a module with a radiator of any size in it. However, the last thing you should expect from such a small cooler as the Mini FS is compatibility problems.

Deepcool Gammaxx 200

The older models of this series - Gammax 300 and Gammaxx 400 - have already gained recognition from users due to their favorable combination of price and efficiency, so the author simply could not pass up the entry-level model. In addition, the price of this cooler is only slightly higher than that of the Ice Edge Mini FS - at the time of writing, Gammaxx 200 cost 590 rubles, offering for this price a relatively large radiator with a 92 mm fan that supports speed control via PWM. However, despite the quantitative increase in characteristics, in technical terms the cooler even looks a little simpler than its predecessor, which adds an element of intrigue to this testing.

Packaging and equipment.

The packaging design is slightly different from that of the Ice Edge Mini FS - for example, the lid has gotten rid of the next cooler image, having instead acquired a cardboard handle for carrying. The internal structure has also changed: the contents of the box are covered with a plastic lid that secures the cooler and the delivery kit, packed in a separate cardboard box.

By the way, the kit looks much more serious than that of the other test participants:

Inside the separate package are:

lmetal crossbar for installing a cooler on AMD sockets;
ltwo metal mounting strips for Intel sockets;
four screws for fixing the mounting mechanisms on the base of the cooler;
lbranded warranty card;
installation instructions.

The positive thing is that the fasteners for Intel sockets have finally gotten rid of the plastic frame with fasteners of questionable reliability in favor of metal strips, even if installation on the motherboard is carried out using push pins. Negative - thermal paste applied to the base. Some users may not be happy with having to install the mounting hardware themselves, even though it only requires four screws. Another plus is the presence of a vibration decoupling mechanism for the fan - it is installed here through silicone dampers. But the second set of mounting brackets is still missing.

Fan.

The cooler is equipped with a proprietary fan of size 92x92x25 mm. As with the Ice Edge Mini FS, this is a completely standard turntable that can be easily replaced if it fails.

The fan supports PWM control and varies speeds from 900 to 2200 rpm, with a maximum airflow of 37.18 cubic feet per minute and noise levels of 17.8 and 34.6 decibels, respectively.

However, despite the manufacturer's statements, based on testing results, the cooler can only be classified as a moderately noisy device. There are no artifacts in its sound, but pure aerodynamic noise is enough to confidently position its source.

Radiator.

The Gammaxx 200 radiator looks like an attempt to develop the Ice Edge Mini FS idea in an extensive way, simply by increasing its dimensions. However, a similar picture can be observed when comparing Gammaxx 300 with Ice Edge 300.

The height of the radiator has increased to 145 millimeters, while the number of fins has increased to 39 pieces, and their thickness has increased to 0.4 millimeters. The intercostal distance remains the same - 2 mm, and the width of the radiator is 35 millimeters along its entire length. But this is not exactly positive news - like the Gammaxx 300, this cooler is completely devoid of aerodynamic optimizations, minus the diagonally located heat pipes.

The Gammax 200 base is made using direct contact technology. The base is an aluminum plate 7 millimeters thick, on the top of which there is an additional radiator of eight fins 4 mm high, the heat pipes are laid in the center of the heat sink with dimensions of 35x35 mm, and they are again separated by 5 millimeters of aluminum.

The quality of base processing is generally better than that of Ice Edge Mini FS:

Although the thermal paste print is still far from ideal:

Fastening and installation.

The procedure for mounting the Gammaxx 200 on AMD sockets begins with installing the appropriate mount. This stage is complicated by the fact that to tighten the corresponding screws you will need a screwdriver with a fairly thin blade:

The cooler can then be fixed to the motherboard, which will require considerable force. As a result, on the test bench the cooler looks like this:

In the case of Gammaxx 200, as can be seen in the photo, there are no problems with memory modules either.

Test stand and testing methodology.

All tests were carried out in a standard system unit case, at standard speeds of the case fans. The room temperature during measurements was 28 degrees Celsius, the test configuration consisted of the following components:

Motherboard: ASUS 990FX Sabertooth R 2.0;
CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 455;
Video card: MSI Radeon HD 7730;
Thermal interface: ;
RAM: DDR3-1600, 2 Kingston KHX1600C9D3/4GX modules;
Disk subsystem: OS disk - SSD OCZ Vertex;
Frame: CoolerMaster 690 II Regular (standard fans replaced with two Termalright X-Silent 140 at 650 rpm on the front panel and side wall, on the top panel 120 mm Scythe S-Flex at 500 rpm).
Power unit: Enhance 0620-GA.

The bench processor was tested in two modes: standard and overclocked to 3800 MHz with the voltage increased to 1.3 volts. Energy-saving technologies were disabled during overclocking mode.

Monitoring of temperatures and fan speeds was carried out using the SpeedFan program version 4.49, the processor was warmed up using the Linpack test of the OSST software package version 4.4.0. The tests were carried out for 30 minutes, then the processor cooled down for the same time, and the test was repeated twice to compare the results. The graphs below show the highest temperature recorded during a series of tests, using the readings of the processor cover temperature sensor, since the core temperature sensors showed temperatures below room temperature during idle.

Since all tested coolers are equipped with fans of different sizes, they were tested only with standard fans. For the tests, operating modes were selected that corresponded to the usual testing methodology: 1800/1400/1000 rpm for 92 mm fans, 2200 (2000 for Arctic Alpine 64GT)/1800/1400 for 80 mm fans and 1200/1000/800 for 120 -mm fans.

Sound pressure indicators were recorded using a Center-321 digital sound level meter. The data was taken from a distance of 50 centimeters from the processor cooler; the fans in the case and power supply were turned off during the measurements. The measurements were carried out in the dark with the windows closed, there were no other sources of noise. The background noise level in the room was 30 decibels or less.

Test results in high-speed modes.

Test results in medium modes.

Quiet mode test results.

Noise level measurements.

Conclusions.

All participants coped with the task assigned to them today, however, as usual, among equals there is always someone more equal, and this case is no exception. Let's start summing up, as usual, with outright failures. So, Deepcool Gamma Archer became a striking example of how, having offered consumers one so-called “killer feature” in the form of a 120 mm fan, the manufacturer decided to save on literally everything else, and what this ultimately resulted in. Alas, there is no justification for this product.

Next in line - Arctic Alpine 64GT rev.2. Everything is good with this cooler - the noise level is lower than all others, and the efficiency margin is huge (with a nominal 70 watts, the cooler is capable of cooling a processor with a TDP of 95 watts during overclocking), and there is PWM, and excellent thermal paste is included - but alas, this In the segment, only the price decides, and at such a cost, the efficiency of the Arctic product is not impressive. The direct competitor of this solution is Gelid Siberian, equipped with a fan of a similar size, but it costs less, is installed on a larger number of platforms, and successfully tries to cool the processor, while the Arctic product mainly cares about silence.

The performance can also be called very unsuccessful Deepcool Gamma 200- again an inflated price with unimpressive efficiency, but in addition, the cooler was distinguished by its extremely high noise level. The only advantage of this product is that the Gamma 200 can be installed in any case except very low-profile models or mini-ITX boxes, but completely different solutions are usually used there. In other cases, it makes sense to add Gammaxx 300 or Glacial Tech 5620 PWM to coolers, or vice versa - save money and purchase Ice Edge Mini FS or Gammaxx 200.

In some ways, unsuccessful acquisitions include Deepcool Beta 11. It is saved from complete destruction by its relatively low price, but as experience has shown, even for this money you can find, if not more efficient, then at least quieter coolers.

In the segment of "middle peasants" there is a dense group Deepcool Beta 40, Ice Hammer IH-3080WV And Gelid Siberian. An argument against the Deepcool product can be that it is intended exclusively for AMD sockets, but the Ice Hammer and Gelid products can be used on several platforms and, in general, will be a pretty good choice if the user does not have enough money to buy a more advanced cooler.

The two leaders in today's testing were Deepcool Gammaxx 200 And Deepcool Ice Edge Mini FS. These products once again demonstrate the advantages of tower design solutions over other types of cooling devices, while being quite reasonably priced. The first of these coolers is a recognized favorite in terms of cooling efficiency, the second impresses with its combination of characteristics, since at the cost of higher temperatures it allows you to keep the noise level within comfortable limits. On the other hand, the Gammaxx 200 fan can be replaced with a higher-quality analogue, while the Mini FS remains hostage to its size, so the choice between these models should be made based on individual preferences and specific circumstances.

The processor is the main element in the operation of a computer and is responsible for all calculations occurring in the system. When the "stone" operates, some amount of heat generation or TPD occurs. Cooling systems help prevent overheating and keep the processor in working condition. Currently, coolers and liquid cooling systems are mainly used - liquid cooling systems, or in common parlance - dropsy, although there is no water there. Cooling with liquid nitrogen has become somewhat widespread, but it is extremely expensive.

A standard cooler consists of a radiator and a fan, the number of which may vary depending on the model. The purpose of the radiator is to transfer heat from the processor cover to all its surfaces, greatly increasing the surface area with which the air comes into contact. The fan brings in cooler air, displacing hot air. Liquid cooling systems are more compact, more expensive, and remove heat better. The working fluid is initially distilled water with many additives and impurities that increase the bactericidal and galvanic effect.

We have selected for you the top 15 best coolers and liquid cooling systems for processors and motherboards.

Best Liquid Cooling Systems

Let's start with the top five best liquid cooling systems. If you want to get low temperatures, immediately pay attention to the 3-section options. It is worth noting that in Russia, unfortunately, prices are greatly inflated and it makes sense to pay attention to foreign sites. The section is represented by both serial and custom models.

5 ID-COOLING FROSTFLOW+ 240

Budget option for last resort
Country: China
Average price: 3782 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.2

If you have very little money, but really want a liquid lubricant, you can take FROSTFLOW+ 240. However, we would not advise taking risks and recommend saving some money and installing a tower cooler as a stopgap. Despite the ability to cool Intel i5/i7/i9 processors and the latest Ryzen from AMD, taking a two-section system with an RPM of 700-1800 is not the best idea.

The maximum power dissipation here is only 200 W with a pump output of 96 liters per hour. Everything would be fine, but its bearing is not hydrodynamic, but ceramic, which affected the price and overall reliability in general. According to the manufacturer, the bearing is guaranteed to work for its factory 50,000 hours at a noise level of 25 dB, which is not bad for this model.

4 Alphacool Eisbaer LT120

The best single-section life support system
Country: China
Average price: 6438 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.4

A copper radiator with thermal conductivity is almost 2 times higher than that of aluminum, and all this happiness will cost you only 6,500 rubles. This is definitely top, and considering that it has a quick locking mechanism for AlphaCool HF, which will allow you to expand the dropsy by adding, for example, a video card outline. However, in this case, the LT120 simply will not be able to cool both components simultaneously, so it is not recommended to take risks. There is no talk of overclocking here.

The system will fit all modern sockets, including Intel i5/i7 and AMD processors along with the new AM4 socket. The rotation speed of the turntable ranges from 550 to 1700 rpm, depending on the mode of use. The noise level is 29 dB, and the pump capacity is 70 l/h.

3 Cooler Master Liquid ML240R RGB

Great look
Country: China
Average price: 8930 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.6

Those who like to have a rainbow in the case will definitely like the Cooler Master Master Liquid ML240R RGB. For special purposes, there are 3 types of fans with different speeds, allowing you to combine components for the best effect. The company has learned from the mistakes of the past and the model in the latest revisions leaks only in case of disregard and lack of care in terms of cleaning, and it is better to buy an additional filter altogether.

According to customer reviews, there is no difficulty in installation, which should also be added to the list of advantages. A nice addition will be the tube of thermal paste included. Parts of the turntable fasteners are completely rubber and are separately screwed to the body, creating minimal background noise.

2 NZXT Kraken X62 (RL-KRX62-02)

Buyers' choice
Country: China
Average price: 12172 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8

NZXT Kraken X62 (RL-KRX62-02) is one of the leaders in sales, but frankly speaking, 12 thousand is an overpayment, albeit for a beautiful appearance. By installing it in the case, you will get a real mirror inside, since the pump is made using the latest technologies. The radiator length is 240 mm, which eliminates the need to worry about the temperature of the “stone” under heavy loads.

Paired with the radiator are 140 mm fans with good speeds - 500-1800. The contact area with the block itself is rubberized, which significantly helps reduce noise levels and eliminate rattling. The contact pad of the pump is entirely copper, and on the reverse side there is a microchannel structure for rapid heat dissipation. All hoses are braided, which is good news, and the connection with the pump has an angle adjuster to adjust it to the features of your unit.

There are several global types of coolers:

Boxing. The radiator is small in height and is made mainly of solid aluminum. The fan acts as a cover. The main advantage is low cost of production and manufacturability, which has a beneficial effect on cost. Manufacturers often use similar designs when selling kits with processors. For “stones” with a heat release of up to 65 W, this solution is considered acceptable. “Boxed” options cannot cope with large indicators. Is a dead-end branch.

Tower. By increasing the height of the fan and adding copper heat pipes to the aluminum bar, heat dissipation can be significantly improved. There are “towers” ​​with both vertical and horizontal fan locations. The first option has become more widespread, but there are no fundamental differences in effectiveness. The effectiveness of such a system depends on the diameter of the tubes, their number and indirectly on the size of the turntable. The more, the better the system will cool the air.

1 Arctic Liquid Freezer 360

6 fans – the best serial LSS
Country: China
Average price: 11,705 rub.
Rating (2019): 5.0

By purchasing this dropsy for a very reasonable price, in addition to a pleasant appearance, you will immediately receive 6 coolers in a set. Such a colossus will not fit into every box, so before purchasing, carefully measure the dimensions of your system unit.

The water block is made of copper and has impressive dimensions of 82x82x40 mm. The air is driven by 120 mm fans, creating an air flow of 74 CFM. The radiator is aluminum and does its job well. The maximum power dissipation is 350 W, and the Freezer 360 itself will fit perfectly on any modern processor. There is no backlight or speed control.

The best boxed coolers

Inexpensive, with low power dissipation and allowing you to save a lot of space in the case, boxed coolers. For processors such as i5-8400, i3-8100, i7-7700, they are quite sufficient, because there is complete silence even at night and stability does not suffer.

5 Deepcool CK-11508

For office PCs
Country: China
Average price: 290 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.5

The cheapest and weakest Deepcool CK-11508 in our top is suitable for office machines without overclocking, since it dissipates no more than 65 W of energy, but for such a price you shouldn’t expect more. The 92mm fan produces a modest 40.9 CFM. The noise is appropriate - only 25 dB.

According to customer reviews, the model will easily fit on LGA1150/1151/1155/S1156 sockets. The small contact surface is compensated by a good screw fastening and clamping force, but you should be careful not to overdo it, as it can be easily broken.

4 AeroCool BAS

Lowest noise level
Country: China
Average price: 595 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.6

Received the status of AeroCool BAS gaming cooler. The maximum power dissipation is 100 W; you can’t really drive 95 W processors on it, but it can handle the new Ryzen with a TDP of 65 units. The spinner is unregulated and the number of revolutions is only 1200 per minute. It's not much, but it's enough to complete all your tasks. The noise level is minimal – 19 dB, thanks to the wide 120 mm cooler.

Due to the compact shape, air intake comes from the side cover of the case, creating air sweat up to 55.6 CFM. The radiator is made well, the fins do not spring.

3 Cooler Master C116 (CP6-9GDSC-0L-GP)

For lovers of Intel processors
Country: China
Average price: 590 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.7

According to customer reviews, for 590 rubles you get an analogue of a boxed cooler, which has a copper core and is standard for Intel processors. Only LGA 775/1151 sockets are supported, but 1151 is compatible with 1150/1156/1155. The model can cope with cooling 95 W processors and below, its compactness and component base are excellent and do not need criticism. The kit includes an additional mounting plate, and the cooler itself is secured with screws to the motherboard.

The only thing is that the plate itself is made of plastic, which is why it can sag and eventually crack. Adjusting the speed is possible only with the help of a rheobass. Thermal paste has already been applied to the contact surface itself, which means you don’t have to shell out money for a tube.

2 Cooler Master CK9-9HDSA-PL-GP

Easy installation, high speed
Country: China
Average price: 800 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8

“The more complex the system, the greater the chance of it breaking,” thought Cooler Master and released an extremely simple model CK9-9HDSA-PL-GP. Despite the modest size of the fan (95 mm), this option can spin up to 4200 rpm, creating a powerful air flow of 64.1 CFM. When using it, several nuances should be taken into account.

This “baby” is only suitable for AMD processors with sockets AM2, AM2+, AM3/AM3+/FM1, most of which are outdated. The presence of high speeds has significantly reduced the durability of the bearing and the guaranteed operating time is only 40,000 hours, and under maximum loads it begins to resemble an airplane turbine.

Liquid cooling systems consist of the following elements:

Water block - heat exchanger;

• water pump
• Storage tank
• Fans
• Hoses and tubes

When choosing a liquid cooler, focus on dropsy coolers with 3 or more blocks, in which case the differences with conventional tower coolers will be visible. If you are assembling a small gaming PC, then you can purchase a single-section version.

Many people take such systems for beauty, often buying dropsy for 4-5 thousand, which is a waste of money. Such models not only cope poorly with their tasks, but also quickly begin to leak. Cheap options have a higher percentage of defects, but even the most expensive model can leak. The only correct solution is proper operation.

1 Deepcool ARCHER BIGPRO

The best solution for stock processors
Country: China
Average price: 955 rub.
Rating (2019): 5.0

We recommend Deepcool ARCHER BIGPRO as an inexpensive box. A simple and successful design with support for the new AM4 socket from AMD allowed the cooler to establish itself in the market as a popular one. Installation takes about 30 seconds with straight hands. The copper core greatly enhances heat absorption, resulting in a maximum power dissipation of 125W.

A nice bonus is the multi-directional fins of the radiator, which is why the heat is evenly distributed over the entire area of ​​the radiator. The spinner is capable of accelerating to 2000 rpm, pleasing with a low noise level both at the top and at the minimum speed. For your money - definitely top.

The best tower coolers

The most popular and in-demand segment.

5 Deepcool ICE EDGE MINI FS V2.0

The most budget tower
Country: China
Average price: 717 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8

Install ICE EDGE MINI FS V2.0 in your computer and ensure low temperatures for any Intel and AMD processors without overclocking. However, if the overclocking is weak, for example on the new Ryazhenkas, then the cooler can be used, but with extreme caution. In this case, V2.0 will be slightly more efficient than a standard box turntable.

Buyers in their reviews praise the versatility and this is completely deserved, since the package includes mounts for all modern processors. The low noise level is also pleasing, although the diameter of the turntable is only 82 mm. 2 copper heat pipes transfer heat to the radiator, which needs to be cleaned frequently, as it clogs quickly. The connection is made via a 3-pin connector. It is recommended to approach the installation carefully, since the fastenings, especially for AM3+, are a bit tight.

4 PCcooler GI-X6B

Best cooler for Ryzen overclocking
Country: China
Average price: 1700 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.9

Beauty, silence, low temperatures - this is just a small list of the advantages of this model. There are already two fans here, both with a diameter of 120 mm. This is enough to dissipate 160 W of heat, since 5 heat pipes cope with it at once. The only problem is the staple is a bit tight.

The coloring of the blades, heat pipes and lighting caused the price to increase; if beauty does not bother you, you can choose an alternative. In stress tests on the Ryzen 1800x, the temperature slowly rises to 85 degrees over half an hour, after which it does not rise at all. In general, we recommend it for connoisseurs and aesthetes.

3 Thermalright AXP-100R

Top solution for low profile systems
Country: China
Average price: 3770 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.9

Option for low profile systems. It's simply not better now. 6 heat pipes with a 100 mm fan are capable of dissipating 125 W of heat. There is no backlight or speed control. Optionally, it is possible to install a 120 mm turntable. Its height is only 6 centimeters, which greatly saves space inside the case.

The rotation range is also impressive - from 900 to 2500 rpm. This is not a standard, but for everyday tasks and slight overclocking it is quite suitable. The noise level at maximum speed increases to 30 dB, which is basically tolerable.

2 be quiet! DARK ROCK PRO 4

Liquid Cooling Buster
Country: China
Average price: 6700 rub.
Rating (2019): 5.0

2 fans and 7 heat pipes produce a killer 250 W of dissipated power. He sets records and competes with dropsy, showing the closest, and even superior, results of life support. The equipment is rich and matches the price category. A heatsink, turntables, mounting brackets, instructions, a screwdriver, thermal paste and mounts for Intel and AMD - you will find all this inside the package. The body is completely black, there is no hint of backlighting or other frills.

Compared to the 3rd generation, the “four” has become much easier to install without breaking your fingers and motherboard, Ryzen owners will be especially pleased. Each module consists of 42 aluminum plates, the distance between which is only 2 mm, which is the standard. According to customer reviews, this is an excellent device, but the price and weight of almost 1 kg greatly narrow the circle of fans of the model.

1 Thermalright Macho 120 Rev.A

The best professional model for overclocking
Country: China
Average price: 3160 rub.
Rating (2019): 5.0

Very quiet (25 dB), compact and convenient for installation on all modern processors. It will definitely withstand overclocking on all i5 and i7-8700K at 5 GHz. If you are going to buy it for Ryzen, then do not forget about the mounts that you need to buy separately for the AM4 socket. They cost about 225 rubles. There is also an alternative option. Write to the company's Taiwanese support and provide a photo of the receipt and documents, after which the missing elements will be sent to you free of charge.

It has almost standard speeds in the range from 600 to 1300 per minute. The number of heat pipes is 5. The massive radiator had a negative impact on the weight and now it is 754 grams. Be careful when installing it on the motherboard, because PCB is now very thin. A small nuance - there is a “Direct” version on sale with a 140 mm fan, which provides better cooling and costs only 200 rubles more. There is also revision B, already with 6 tubes.

How to choose a cooling system for a processor?

When choosing a cooler, rely on several important points:

• Dimensions. Before purchasing, measure the width of your case if you are going to buy a “tower”. Many powerful cooler models are large and may simply not fit into the case.
• Processor heat dissipation. Choose a cooling system that can handle the heat generated by your stone. If the TDP of the “stone” is 95 W, then you should pay attention to models with a power dissipation of about 110 W. When overclocking a similar processor, you need to consider options from 120 W or more - it all depends on how hard you are going to “drive” the processor.

Let's touch on some nuances when purchasing:

• Distance between plates. The larger it is, the less pressure is needed for air circulation. The optimal distance is 1.5-2 mm.
• The larger the radiator area, the higher the heat dissipation efficiency.

Summarizing:

• If the processor is not overclockable, then choose a radiator 4-5 cm thick, with 3-4 pipes and 120-140 mm fans with a maximum low-speed fan. From 300-400 rpm.
• When the heat dissipation is more than 120-140 W, you need to go with the width of the radiator and no wide radiator can be quieter than a thin one, but this condition is leveled out with larger fan sizes.

The heat dissipation of the processor is one of the main parameters that you should pay attention to when assembling a computer. The CPU is the key component on which the entire system depends. If it overheats, a forced cooling mode will begin, which results in skipped clock cycles, that is, problems with computer performance. When the processor cannot cool down even in this way, it begins to automatically turn off so as not to fail completely. It’s probably not worth talking about the dangers of abruptly shutting down a computer, especially when it happens in emergency mode of the central processor.

In order for the CPU to maintain acceptable temperatures, it needs additional cooling. This is why it is important to choose the right CPU cooler. There are many nuances that you need to pay attention to when selecting a processor fan, and it is also important not to forget about the main parameters when choosing it.

Why change the cooler that comes included?

On sale you can find central processors in OEM and BOX configurations. In terms of performance, there are no differences between these versions of the CPU of the same model, and they differ only in the configuration. The OEM version consists only of the central processor itself, while the BOX package includes a cooler.

Many users who do not have much experience in assembling a computer may be under the impression that the ideal solution is to purchase a BOX processor package, but this is not always the case. The coolers that come with the processor are most often of mediocre quality, and they are not capable of cooling the “stone” under high load. That is, if the CPU is purchased for an office computer, where it will not be faced with tasks more difficult than working with a browser and a text editor, then there will be no problems with cooling the processor with a cooler from the BOX package. But if you plan to use the “stone” in games and other resource-intensive applications, then you need to worry about buying a more powerful cooler.

Modern processors consist of more than 500 million transistors, each of which heats up during operation. Due to the small area of ​​the CPU, such serious heat cannot be dissipated on its own, and an additional cooler is required to remove it. The more complex tasks a processor faces, the more efficient cooling is required.

How to choose the right CPU cooler

The most important thing when choosing a cooler is to match it to the characteristics of the processor. Obviously, the more powerful the processor, the more heat it generates under high load. Accordingly, it needs more cooling. The heat dissipation parameter of a processor is usually designated TDP, and it is measured in Watts. When paying attention to the heat dissipation of the processor, we must not forget that the models also differ from each other in the type of socket. Now let’s look at the selection for each of the parameters in a little more detail.

CPU socket

The socket is the processor size, and it is designated: AM3+, 1150, 2011-3 and other combinations of letters and numbers. Manufacturers try to standardize CPUs into certain sizes, but due to changes in production technology over time, there are already about a dozen of them available. The socket is the size of the connector on the motherboard into which the “stone” itself is inserted.

Thus, when choosing a cooler for a processor, you should initially find out the processor model and check on the Internet on the manufacturer’s website what size it is made in. Coolers often fit into several sockets due to the versatility of the mounts.

CPU heat dissipation

Having decided on the standard size, you need to look at the heat dissipation of the processor. You can find out information about the TDP parameter of a particular processor on the manufacturer’s official website.

When selecting a cooler based on heat dissipation parameters for a specific processor model, everything is somewhat more complicated. The fact is that in online stores and on various websites it is quite rare to find accurate information about what processor TDP a particular cooler is suitable for. However, well-known manufacturers of processor fans, for example, Noctua, are not shy about providing such information.

If you could not find information about a specific cooler model, you can use the data from the table below. Please note that the information in it is very approximate, and it is better to choose a fan option for the processor “with a reserve”.

How to choose a quality cooler

Having selected cooler models based on processor parameters, there will still be dozens, or even hundreds of fan options that can be purchased. In such a situation, you should look at the reviews about the quality of a particular cooler left by their owners. But it’s better to independently eliminate the least quality ones from the available options by evaluating the fans according to the following parameters.

Cooler base

The area that the cooler touches the processor plays an important role in cooling. Since the dimensions of the “stone” are fixed, it is almost impossible to increase this contact area. At the same time, some cooler manufacturers, in search of innovation, partially remove heat pipes from the base of the fan. Because of this, the contact area and efficiency of the cooler are reduced.

It is also important that the base is made without various patterns. It should be copper polished to a mirror finish. Before purchasing, you must inspect the cooler to ensure that there are no cuts, unevenness or other defects on its base.

Please note: In most cases, the base of the cooler is made of copper. This material is budget-friendly and efficient in terms of heat transfer. There are aluminum options, but they are much less efficient. In this case, copper can be coated with nickel, which is why it acquires a silver color.

Heat pipes

On almost every modern cooler you can see several heat pipes, whereas previously they were not used. The fact is that with the increase in processor power and the increase in heat generation, the existing cooling standards were no longer sufficient, and manufacturers decided to use a proven option - installing heat-conducting tubes.

The copper tube is filled with liquid and sealed on both sides. When heated, the liquid heats up and turns into a gaseous state. The gas moves to the other side of the tube and thereby removes heat. The steam then cools, turns back into water and returns to the base of the tube. In computer coolers, the process is approximately the same, except that there is also a porous material inside, which is necessary for the liquid to return back, even when the tubes are located in a horizontal position.

When choosing a cooler for a processor, you need to pay attention to how many tubes are installed. They do not differ much in their properties, depending on the size, so quantity becomes the main criterion. The minimum allowable amount for cooling a modern powerful processor is 3-4 tubes, but the more, the better.

Radiator

From the base of the cooler, heat transfers to the radiator, which consists of dozens of plates mounted on heat pipes.

The radiator can be of any shape, but it is important to remember some rules that distinguish a good option from a bad one:

• The larger the radiator area, the better;
• The plates should be thin, but in large quantities;
• It is better when the radiator is made of copper.

Since the heatsink on the cooler is partially visible when the computer is open, some companies try to do it in the best possible way from a design point of view. It can be of different colors, shapes, plates are made at unusual angles of inclination. If the above rules are followed, then design decisions have little effect on the quality of the cooler.

Fan

Some time ago, in pursuit of quiet computer operation, manufacturers did everything to abandon the active cooling element, that is, the cooler itself. However, a radiator without an element to dissipate heat cannot cope with powerful processors, and fans in processor coolers have not yet been abandoned.

When choosing a fan, you need to pay attention to its size, and accordingly, the size of the blades. Coolers with larger blades are not only more efficient at removing heat from the radiator, but they are also quieter. There is a misconception that the rotation speed of the cooler is much more important, but this is not true. Speed ​​is an important parameter, but the diameter of the fan itself is more important. If you install a cooler with a small blade diameter but a high rotation speed in a computer, such a PC will make a lot of noise even when performing “office tasks.”

Also, when choosing a cooler, you need to pay attention to the type of bearing on which the fan is mounted. On sale you can find options made on rolling bearings (Ball Bearing) or sliding bearings (Slide Bearing). Rolling bearings perform better because they make less noise and have a longer service life.

How to install a cooler on a processor

Having chosen the right cooler, there should be no problems with its installation. Using special fasteners, the fan is installed on top of the processor inserted into the grooves of the socket. Most often, the cooler comes with detailed instructions for installing it, which allows you to understand in general terms the principle of operation of the fastening mechanism.

It is important before installing the cooler. It is necessary to eliminate irregularities between the base of the cooler and the processor, for maximum heat transfer. Without thermal paste, the processor will not be able to work for a long time, so neglecting this step is prohibited.

Every time when choosing a cooler to cool a processor, buyers face certain difficulties. The range of devices is constantly growing, the characteristics are getting better, so stopping at just one is quite difficult.

Difficulties in choosing are also explained by the fact that many parameters of the parts are quite specific, and they may be incomprehensible to a person who is not very well versed in technology. To eliminate all the gaps and find the best option, our editors have prepared a rating of the best CPU coolers, the purchase of which will be a real treat for your computer.

The best CPU cooler brands

One of the main dilemmas that a buyer needs to solve is to decide which cooler to choose from, so as not to regret the money spent. There are several manufacturers in the computer parts market that are popular among users. It is their products that you should pay attention to first of all in order to remain satisfied with the performance of the cooling system for many years.

• Cooler Master– the manufacturer from Taiwan has been known in the computer spare parts market for decades, so there is definitely no doubt that it will offer an unreliable cooler for your processor. Compliance with international standards, high performance, reliable assembly and a reasonable price - with such parameters, the company's products cannot but enjoy popularity.
• DeepCool– Deepcool, a company specializing in cooling systems, is famous for its decent selection of good coolers for personal computers. The wide range offers both budget models and premium quality parts, and each of the offered options is characterized by high reliability and excellent performance. You definitely won’t be able to pass by the spare parts offered by the company.
• Corsair– the manufacturer is a real regular in reviews and ratings of the best coolers and power supplies. Almost every part offered is the perfect combination of quiet operation, innovative cooling system and the highest quality. It is no coincidence that many famous gamers choose Corsair as the main supplier of components for their computer.

Deepcool GAMMAXX 400

This popular budget cooler model with one fan has gained fame due to its incredibly strong set of characteristics at a price of only 1300-1500 rubles. The maximum power dissipation of the device reaches 125 W, while the structure of the part includes 4 heat pipes and a housing made of aluminum and copper, which allows not only to effectively cool the processor, but also to maintain a decent level of performance for more than one year. At a speed of 900 rpm, the cooler is very quiet (up to 21.4 dB), although when increased to 1500 rpm, the noise level reaches 32 dB.

Advantages:

• work with a wide range of processors (from Intel Sempron to Core i7)
• blue backlight
• reliable hydrodynamic bearing
• support for modern platforms
• great price

Flaws:

• decent dimensions – 136x159x76 mm
• noticeable noise under load

Cooler Master Hyper 212 (RR-CCH-LB22-GP)

Next in the ranking is a good and inexpensive cooler that is not very versatile, but can without a doubt be called one of the best in the budget category. The main feature of the device is its incredibly quiet operation with a noise of 19 dB at a rotation speed of 2000 rpm. This combination is quite rare at a price of 2500-3000 rubles, so the demand for the part is very high. We should also mention the possibility of installing a second 120 mm fan, which allows you to increase the level of cooling without additional problems. Judging by the reviews, this cooler model pleasantly pleases users with its neat and not too bright blue backlight, which does not irritate the eyes, as in some other devices.

Advantages:

• air flow – 69.69 CFM
• successful design of the radiator made of aluminum and copper
• very quiet operation
• excellent efficiency
• convenient fastening

Flaws:

• some LEDs turn off over time
• large dimensions

Thermalright TRUE Spirit 140 Power

The TOP of processor cooling systems continues with one of the best coolers with one fan. Despite the relatively average rotation speed (from 900 to 1300 rpm), the device allows you to increase the air flow up to 73.6 CFM. At the same time, the maximum power dissipation can reach 360 W, largely due to sophisticated heat pipes, the number of which the manufacturer has increased to six. At medium speeds, the model is the quietest cooler offered in the rating, since the noise level can drop to 17 dB. With price tags ranging from 3,300 to 3,600 rubles, such a part is a real tidbit of the cooling system market.

Advantages:

• connector for second fan
• excellent cooling volumes
• excellent work surface made of aluminum and copper
• Well-designed radiator with good heat dissipation

Flaws:

• impressive dimensions
• awkward fastening

Deepcool NEPTWIN V2

A perfectly balanced model with two fans can confidently be called the best budget cooler. Six heat pipes, power dissipation up to 150 W and a speed range from 900 to 1500 rpm - parameters that are sometimes not found in expensive parts. At the same time, the average cost of a spare part does not exceed 2,500 rubles, which fully explains its incredible popularity. The air flow due to the presence of two fans is 139.5 CFM, so the user will hardly be able to feel any serious heating during the entire life of the device. Purchasing a new cooling system without paying attention to the best cooler in terms of price-quality ratio is a big mistake for the buyer.

Advantages:

• low noise level (ranging from 18 to 30 dB)
• additional blue backlight
• work with processors from Sempron to Core i7
• excellent quality of parts and workmanship
• convenient installation

Flaws:

• standard valves - sometimes vibrate at high speeds
• very bright backlight

Cooler Master Hyper 212 LED Turbo

A high-quality cooler with an air cooling method and a price tag of 2300-2600 rubles is an excellent option for both a home and office computer. Its versatility is explained by its wide speed range - from 600 to 1600 rpm. At the same time, at minimum and average performance, the model can operate with a noise level from 9 to 17 dB, so it is simply impossible to hear its operation. Judging by the reviews of the cooler, the device also demonstrates excellent performance at high speeds, although it is impossible to say that any noise appears, since 18-31 dB at 1600 rpm is a very good indicator. A decent set of characteristics and a reasonable price make the model an excellent choice for the buyer.

Advantages:

• robust aluminum housing
• two reliable fans
• nice red backlight
• ease of installation
• excellent anti-vibration protection
• Comes with thermal paste

Flaws:

• insufficient air flow for two fans – 66.3 CFM

Corsair CWCH90

The next model is one of the best water coolers with the highest performance. The unique technology allows the device to effectively thermoregulate the processor using a copper water block, which prevents liquid or vapor from getting on wires and other parts. The noise level is 35 dB, which at 1500 rpm is a very good result. At the same time, the device has only one fan, which allows you to place the cooler even in a small system unit. A significant advantage of the part is the aluminum radiator, which, due to its refractoriness (melting point - from 660 degrees), guarantees the unchanged properties of the mechanism.

Advantages:

• air flow – 94 CFM
• compact dimensions – 140x170x53 mm
• possibility of installing a second fan
• high reliability (5 years warranty)
• It is possible to install an additional fan

Flaws:

• high cost - from 6500 rubles
• high noise when the pump is running

Arctic Cooling Liquid Freezer 120

It would be a crime to complete the cooler rating not to talk about the best processor cooling system available today. Swiss quality, which is perhaps unnecessary to talk about, and perfectly selected parameters make the device inaccessible to competitors. Power dissipation of up to 300 W and the presence of two fans ensure maximum cooling even at a relatively low speed range from 500 to 1350 rpm. At the same time, the presence of a water cooling system with a copper water block, as well as 6 mm heat pipes, allows the quiet and compact cooler to deliver maximum performance without the slightest heating.

Advantages:

• low fan noise
• well thought out design
• high performance
• long service life and reliability
• use of modern developments
• combination of price and quality

Flaws:

• no criticisms found

Which CPU cooler is best to buy?

The correct choice of a high-quality cooling system for your PC depends on many factors: processor power, system unit design and, importantly, the budget allocated for the purchase. Among the proposed models you can find options for home and office, for gaming and work computers. The final decision on which cooler is best to buy is made by the user himself, based on his own preferences and the conditions of future operation of the device. At the same time, taking into account the opinions of experts will allow you to avoid unjustified mistakes and the risk of getting a low-quality cooler.