Roundup: Six Sub-$40 Performance CPU Coolers Compared

Test Settings

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Test System Configuration
CPU Intel Core i7-870 (2.93 GHz, 8 MB Cache), O/C to 4 GHz (20 x 200 MHz), 1.388 V
Motherboard EVGA P55 SLI E655, P55 Express PCH, BIOS A39 (10/23/2009)
RAM Crucial CT2KIT25664BA1339 (4 GB), DDR3-1333 at DDR3-1600 CAS 8-8-8-24
Graphics Diamond Radeon HD 5870 1 GB, 850 MHz GPU, GDDR5-4800
Hard Drive Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS, 300 GB, 10 000 RPM, SATA 3Gb/s, 16 MB cache
Sound Integrated HD Audio
Network Integrated Gigabit Networking
Power Corsair CMPSU-850HX 850 W Modular, ATX12V v2.2, EPS12V, 80 PLUS Gold
Software
OS Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Graphics ATI Catalyst 9.11
Chipset Intel INF 9.1.1.1015

We retained the configuration from January’s LGA 1156 cooler tests, so that readers could compare these new models to competing 2009 parts.

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Benchmark Configuration
Prime95 v25.8 64-bit executable, Small FFTs, 8-threads
RealTemp 3.00 Highest core reading at full CPU load (60 minutes) Highest core reading at 30 minutes idle
Acu-Rite thermal probe Thermal probe on VRM chokes, touching MOSFET sink, Ambient temperature at 6" from motherboard front edge
Galaxy CM-140 dBA scale at 0.25 m, corrected to 1m values (-12 db)
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.