Testing Results & Conclusion
For our comparison testing, we utilize data from standardized testing methods collected during prior CPU cooling reviews on our six-core Core i7-5930k running at 4.2GHz and 1.20V. Data collected throughout testing of the MasterAir MA410P will be compared against three quad-heatpipe coolers similar in dimension: the FSP Windale 4, the LEPA NEOIllusion and the Arctic Freezer 33 TR.
Our thermal load graph immediately shows us that the MasterAir MA410P just narrowly missed having the best CPU load temperatures of this competitive set, right behind the FSP Windale 4. It did manage to pull down the overall best voltage-regulator thermal cooling by cooling nearby motherboard components better than the rest of the testing field.
Rotational fan speed can provide a bit of insight into how well a CPU cooler functions or how it plays to strengths. The MasterAir MA410P uses the second-highest fan speed (at maximum) of all the coolers in our testing group, and as we saw before, it was neck and neck with the FSP Windale 4 in cooling temperatures. So, where the Windale 4 would appear to be more efficient with its cooling-fin design and fan-choice match, the MasterAir MA410P must make up ground by running a slightly higher fan speed.
By having a slightly higher RPM, the Cooler Master MasterAir MA410P did turn in a higher decibel reading, although only by slight grades of whisper. Only the buzzy LEPA NEOIllusion fan really stood out here, and that only at 100% fan speed. The rest of the testing field, at both half and full speeds, was relatively quiet.
The decibel levels of the MA410P fan at full speed didn’t do much to help it in our relative noise comparison, but we noted an interesting catch. The very low sound levels of the Arctic Freezer 33 TR and the FSP Windale 4 gave the testing group overall a very low average noise level, to the extent that the 35-decibel reading of the MA410P registered a negative value on our comparison chart. Effective cooling at low noise levels has become quite the battle arena.
Our Performance Value comparison chart, above, shows where the Cooler Master MasterAir MA410P's retail price really affects its overall value. With a retail price of $49, it was the second-highest-priced cooler in our testing group, just a dollar less than the LEPA NEOIllusion. The very low retail price of the FSP Windale 4, combined with its solid performance and low noise levels, helped it streak past the rest of the field with the best Performance Value placement overall. The slight price premium the MA410P draws is enough to sway the result pendulum in the other direction.
When we stop to really compare the Cooler Master MasterAir MA410P and the FSP Windale 4, we see that up until the Performance Value chart, they each tallied up very similar numbers. One thing to note, though, is that the FSP Windale 4 does not have an RGB-color-capable fan like the MA410P, let alone any lighting effects at all. Simple logic states, then, if you had to pick between the best performers of this group, you are either choosing a basic, no-frills cooler equipped with a standard fan, or an almost equally no-frills cooler, but with a fan that has RGB color capability.
Ultimately, the Cooler Master MasterAir MA410P is quality mid-tower heatpipe cooler that's closer to the top of the premium price list for its class. While it does provide value for what it offers, it's worth noting that other good-value options exist if your budget is a bit more reserved, or you don't care much about on-cooler lighting.
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