Roundup: Six Sub-$40 Performance CPU Coolers Compared
Features
By
Thomas Soderstrom
Published
Remember when overclocking was all about getting more performance for less money? It's hard to do that when you're spending top dollar on premium heatsinks and fans. Today we round up six true value-oriented coolers that could help unleash hidden speed.
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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) |
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Prev Page Zalman CNPS10X Performa Next Page Benchmark Results: Thermal TestThomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
