CPU cooling cooler. How to choose an economical cooler
Any computer enthusiast, and there are a majority of them on our site, should know– What parameters should you pay attention to when choosing a cooler for and how do these small turntables differ from each other? Is it worth buying a tower cooler or is the boxed version enough? WITHIs it worth installing “dropsy” and what is Power Dissipation?I will try to answer all these questions today.
So, when they come to the store to choose a little spinning comrade for their processor, many users’ eyes begin to run wild. And this is not surprising; today the market offers a huge number of models at a wide variety of prices. Conventionally, coolers can be divided into three categories.
Boxed and heatpipe-less coolers
The most simple models on the market, consisting of an aluminum plate with fins and a fan attached to them. Almost every processor model has two versions for sale.
First - BOX version(hence the name of boxed coolers), which includes the processor itself and a simple cooler without heat pipes included.
Second version - OEM, which includes a bare processor. By the way, boxed versions usually have a much longer warranty on the product, but that’s not what we’re talking about today.
(BOX cooler DEEPCOOL THETA 9 for CPU Intel Pentium G4560)
As we see, in in this case the price is slightly different, but it differs precisely because of the cooler included and the extended warranty.
And the first question that I often get asked is: Should I buy the BOX version or buy the turntable separately? It all depends on the price and purpose of your PC. In this case, the difference is 1250 rubles, which is quite noticeable. I recommend taking the boxed version of the processor if the difference does not exceed 400-500 rubles. Plus, a bonus in the form of a big guarantee is never superfluous. As for the purpose of your computer, everything is simple, if your gaming or work station from the entry-level and mid-price segment, then the boxed version will be quite enough for you. If your system is closer to the top options or if it will be overclocked (during overclocking, the amount of heat generated by the processor due to increased voltage on the stone increases greatly!), then you need to buy a more advanced fan model separately. The advantages of boxed coolers include low price and compactness. The downside is that they are not suitable for powerful machines and, due to their small size, they are often quite noisy. So we've sorted out the boxes, let's move on to the next category of turntables.
Liquid cooling systems or, more simply put, “dropsy”
They consist of a copper base that is installed on the processor cover, a small pump that circulates water, a pair of tubes and a radiator with fans.
The next question I’m asked regarding cooling is: is it worth installing “dropsy”? I’ll answer right away that no. If you analyze all the pros and cons of these systems and compare them with the pros and cons of tower coolers, it becomes clear that the latter are much more advisable to buy.
Tower coolers with heat pipes
The next category of processor cooling is just tower coolers with heat pipes. They consist of a copper or aluminum base, from which several heat pipes extend, to which a radiator is in turn attached. And the cooler is already attached to the radiator.
If you compare them with water cooling systems, the first thing that catches your eye is the price. Dropsy is always much more expensive. This is the first reason why I don't recommend using them. Yes, they run a little quieter and cool a little better, but is it worth the double overpayment? Everyone decides for themselves. The second reason is the complexity of operation and mandatory additional care. For regular user Checking the pump and water pipes daily is an extra hemorrhoid. In general, the final decision is yours, but I outlined my position.
CPU cooler options
So, after you have decided on the choice of cooling type, you can move on to the parameters on which the final choice will be based a certain model. The first thing to look at is the type of sockets supported. Almost any online store has this characteristic. If not, then you know where to look - the manufacturer’s website. I will analyze everything using the example of my processor (i5 6400) and my cooler (DeepCool Gammaxx 400).
My stone has 1151 sockets, so the cooler should be installed on the same socket.
Let's go further and look at the size of the turntable. It should fit into the housing in such a way that the side cover of the housing closes smoothly. By the way, I am often asked whether it is worth closing the case completely or leaving it open. Definitely needs to be closed! If the case is open, the air flow inside the system is disrupted and the cooling of the components becomes worse. Also, dust penetrates inside more easily, and dust, along with high temperatures (I will never get tired of saying this) is the main evil of computer hardware! I'm getting off topic a little, let's get back to the height of the pinwheel. The specifications for any case indicate the maximum possible height of the processor cooler,
and the characteristics of the cooler include its height, length and width. I think it will not be difficult for anyone to compare these data.
The next one is very important parameter– power dissipation. The processor specifications always indicate the amount of heat generated by the processor itself.
It is heat dissipation that is the sworn enemy of our cooler and it is with this that it fights every day to ensure stable work our pebble. In general, the cooler must be able to dissipate all the heat generated by the processor. To do this, look at the power dissipation column indicated in the characteristics of the turntable.
But under no circumstances choose a cooler with a power dissipation equal to the heat dissipation of the processor. The thing is that cooler developers very often overestimate this parameter, so I recommend buying a cooler with a small margin. And if you are going to overclock your processor, then feel free to multiply the TDP of the processor by 2 and get real heat dissipation. Of course, the amount of heat during overclocking depends on the degree of overclocking itself, but in any case, always take a cooler with a small margin.
Next, be sure to look at the size of the fan. If you read my last article about, then you already know the main rule when choosing cooling. The more blades, the better. The thing is that small fans, in order to cope with the same amount of air, need to spin much faster than large ones. And the faster the cooler spins, the more noise it makes and, as a rule, wears out faster. Therefore, I advise you not to look at the parameter showing fan revolutions per minute at all. It’s more accurate to look, but make your choice based more on the size of the turntable. For example, a 120 mm turntable with 1200 rpm will be many times quieter and more efficient than an 80 mm turntable with 2400 rpm.
The next, no less important parameter is the maximum air flow.
The quieter the fan, the better.
Currently, the most effective are tower coolers with copper heat pipes. With proper implementation, three or four heat pipes are sufficient to ensure cooling of any serial processor in the radiator design. Further increasing the number of tubes in radiators does not always lead to a decrease in peak processor temperatures, so there is no point in pursuing this. Radiator fins themselves heat pipes usually nickel-plated, which allows them to remain almost perfect appearance throughout the entire service life.
When choosing a cooler, you should pay attention to the method of contact of the tubes with the base and fins of the radiator. If soldering is used (its traces are always clearly visible at the joints), you can trust such a device with your processor, but the simple crimping of plates on tubes and the absence of grooves in the base should be treated with a grain of salt, although on average price segment soldering is extremely rare. Coolers with direct contact technology, which have become popular in recent years, are widespread, when the radiator does not have a base, and its role is played by heat pipes processed in the base area to a flat surface. In such models, you need to pay attention to the distance between the tubes at the base - the smaller it is, the more uniform the heat exchange will be, which means the efficiency of the cooler will be higher.
The size of the radiator really matters. The larger the area of the fins and the greater their number, the larger the area of the radiator and the more heat it can dissipate. Don't underestimate and different kinds optimization of radiators - the ends of the fins of variable height, tubes arranged in a checkerboard pattern, but from evaporation chambers or radial radiators the effect is most often minimal.
It is also worth mentioning coolers of the so-called “top design”, in which the radiator is located parallel to the motherboard, and the fan forces air flow to its plane. The height of these coolers is small (no more than 150 mm), but due to design limitations their area is relatively small, so their efficiency is usually lower than that of tower coolers. But the air flow of such coolers better cools the elements of the space around the processor and the radiators on the motherboard.
Noise level
While the efficiency of even the simplest air coolers turns out to be quite sufficient for standard processor operating modes, their noise level does not suit everyone. The only source of noise in air coolers is the fan. In general, you can focus on the following figures: for 80 and 92 mm fans, the speed should be no higher than 1500-1700 rpm; for 120 mm fans - no higher than 1200-1300 rpm; for 140 mm fans and more - no higher than 1000-1200 rpm.
Almost all currently produced cooling systems are equipped with fans that support automatic speed control, depending on the load on the processor and/or its temperature. Such fans are practically silent in low processor load mode and at the same time sensitive to any increase in load. The adjustment algorithm is set in the BIOS motherboard, or through software.
An important component of the fan is the type of bearing. The most common and cheapest is the sleeve bearing, the typical service life of which is 30,000 hours or about 3 years of continuous operation. But in practice, such bearings do not last long, and after half their service life they begin to make noise. More durable (and more expensive) are ball bearings, which can last more than 100,000 hours, and high quality manufacturing can save low level noise throughout its service life. A compromise option is hydrodynamic bearings (FDB bearing). As a rule, they are twice as durable as plain bearings and have low noise levels.
- Introduction
- Quick and Concise Tips for Choosing a CPU Cooler
- Detailed tips for choosing a good cooler
- Conclusion
Introduction
In general, a cooler is a fan with a radiator that blows air over a very hot processor (CPU - CPU) and other details system unit computer.
It turns out that almost all the main components emit heat, and some actually get very hot. Strong heating can lead to burnout of the part, which will lead to either purchasing a new one or repairing it. This is inappropriate for us, so we can’t do without a good cooler.
Usually all coolers are already included if the PC was assembled at the company. In general, most often such computers are able to work for some time, but noticeably less than if all the parts were selected by an experienced craftsman, taking into account many of the features of the system unit inside and the parts that are installed in it.
For those who want to quickly and easily choose their processor cooling, just follow these tips:
- Your CPU Thermal Dissipation (TDP)- this is the amount of heat generated this processor(you need to look at the specifications for it), usually it is 45, 60, 90, 125 or more watts. When choosing cooling, make sure that this value is equal to the processor or higher
- Fan speed- this is the number of revolutions of the cooler per minute. Usually from 1.5 to 4 thousand. It is clear that the higher the speed, the higher the noise
- Mounting - it is very important not to forget that processor coolers have different mounts (although there are also universal ones), so do not forget to look in the characteristics of the processor which mount is suitable for it (or in other words - socket)
- Thermal paste - do not forget that if the purchased CPU cooler does not have thermal paste (a special paste to improve heat transfer), then you will have to apply it yourself, otherwise the processor will overheat and a breakdown may occur, exactly the same situation happens with laptops, so we recommend the article cleaning laptops and replacing thermal paste
These are the main points that you should pay attention to when choosing a CPU cooler, but if you want to choose a truly reliable and suitable copy, then read on.
To begin with, it is worth noting that the choice of coolers is quite diverse, which accordingly hints that you can choose the most a good option, if you know some nuances, in addition to the recommendations described above. First, let's look at the structure of a cooler or cooling system for a processor:
- Fan
- Radiator
In short, these are what the cooling system consists of. But, in a little more detail, the fan itself has the following features when choosing:
- The bigger, the better- this means that the blades are larger, the air intake is larger, and therefore the air flow for blowing is greater, although the rotation speed may be lower. That is, if you want to choose a quieter fan, then pay attention to larger specimens.
- It is desirable that the fan base should be friction bearing- quieter and last longer
- Rotational speed- here according to your needs, if you want a quiet option, then take it with a rotation speed of no more than 2 thousand revolutions (sometimes with 2 fans), although this is not so important, because if the cooler has a 4-pin power supply, then the speed of its revolutions can be easily controlled
- Branded copy- it is advisable to choose a good branded cooling (although it is not necessary for a regular PC for movies and the Internet), it will cope with its responsibilities better and will last longer
- Material according to at least, its base (where it comes into contact with the CPU) should be made of copper, since it is the best (from available materials) conducts heat. In particular, its base should be as smooth as possible, without obvious irregularities, otherwise this will complicate heat transfer
- Radiator size and shape. The larger the radiator, the greater the heat intake (but do not forget about the dimensions of the system unit case so that it can fit there). Plus, the shapes of radiators can be very diverse (this can be useful so that the air from them additionally cools the components of the motherboard, RAM, in general, had a certain direction of air flow)
- The presence of heat pipes, which improve heat transfer
- Don't forget about attaching the radiator to the processor, it can be different, for this we specify the socket of the CPU and cooler, they must match
Conclusion
In general, if you are assembling an inexpensive home computer, then you don’t have to worry too much about choosing a cooler for the processor - a regular model that matches the characteristics of your processor will suit you. But if you are working on assembling a gaming, powerful PC, then you need to think through every little detail.
This note is only a starting point for choosing cooling; you can finally complete this process only by reading several relevant articles, watching various videos on the Internet and, to top it all off, reading reviews and recommendations from owners of the same components.
This is the only way to build the most thoughtful and durable PC for gaming, work and other versatile tasks.
The requirements for modern processor coolers have long been established. Firstly, this is the efficiency of heat dissipation, secondly, this is, of course, the minimum noise emitted by the fans, and thirdly, this is the price. Choosing the most efficient or most “powerful” cooler is not a problem; it’s much more difficult to choose the right one best option cooler, based on the price/performance ratio. Today we will review and compare several processor coolers from world-famous companies, such as: Thermalright, SilverStone, Zalman, Scythe, Thermaltake, Deepcool, Ice Hammer. And after that, we will try to identify “the best of the best.”
Thermalright Silver Arrow SB-E Extreme
Silver Arrow S.B.- E does not need any special introduction, this is a well-known super-cooler from the company Thermalright, which can rightfully be considered a leader in its class. The version " Extreme» Designed for large processors with high heat dissipation, such as the Intel i7 socket 2011.
Thermalright Silver Arrow SB-E Extreme has a two-section radiator of impressive dimensions, the weight of which is 800 grams. Eight heat pipes penetrate 51 plates in each section, the total area of which is about 11,500 cm2. The cooler comes with two 140 mm fans marked TR-TY143, the rotation speed of which is 600 - 2500 rpm. It is possible to install another additional fan on the cooler.
The cooler has a huge base made of nickel-plated copper, which is securely soldered to six millimeter heat pipes. The base of the cooler looks perfectly smooth, which confirms the “mirror effect” on its surface.
Thermalright Silver Arrow S.B.- E Extreme.
Cooler dimensions, mm | 155 x 104 x 163 |
Weight, gr. | 1140 (with fans) |
Base material | Nickel plated copper |
Radiator fin material | Nickel plated aluminum |
Number of plates, pcs. | |
Heat pipe material | Nickel plated copper |
Fan size mm., their number, pcs. | |
600 - 2500 rpm |
|
Compatibility | AMD Socket AM2/ AM2+/ AM3 |
SilverStone Heligon HE01
Heligon HE01 another representative of the family of super-coolers from the company SilverStone, which has a two-section radiator, typical of all modern coolers of this class. The first thing that catches your eye is, of course, the different thickness of the radiator sections. Radiator design Heligon HE01 similar to the one used in most super coolers. Six heat pipes distribute thermal energy over two sections, each of which has 47 aluminum plates with a total area of about 10900 cm2. Another one distinguishing feature The cooler is the presence of a massive 140 mm fan with an impressive thickness of 38 mm! This monster is capable of providing a maximum air flow of 171 CFM at a rotation speed of 2000 rpm, but the noise from the fan can hardly be called comfortable.
Six-millimeter heat pipes penetrate the small-sized base of the cooler, which has a very smooth surface. After processing the base, traces from the router remained, which are clearly visible and tactile. This, of course, can negatively affect the efficiency of heat removal.
Let's look at the main characteristics SilverStone Heligon HE01.
Cooler dimensions, mm | 160 x 140 x 119 |
Weight, gr. | 1150 (with fan) |
Base material | Nickel plated copper |
Radiator fin material | Nickel plated aluminum |
Number of plates, pcs. | |
Heat pipe material | Nickel plated copper |
Number of heat pipes pcs. and diameter mm. | |
Fan size mm., their number, pcs. | |
Fan rotation speed, rpm. | 500 - 2000 rpm |
Compatibility | Intel LGA 775/ 1155/ 1156/ 1366/ 2011 |
Zalman CNPS12X
Model CNPS12X this is another creation of engineers Zalman having its own original design, for which the company has been famous since the days of “bowl-shaped” copper coolers. But if you put everything aside and look at Zalman CNPS12X on the other hand, we have a typical two-section cooler, with not the most large area radiator dispersion, which is 9600 cm2. Engineers still love the bowl shape Zalman not for a minute, which is probably why the radiator sections have a “designer” shape. The only thing that can be noted is that the cooler has three fans measuring 120x120 mm, which, again, have their own “original” (non-removable) design. As a result, replacing a fan with a more efficient or quieter one causes big problems.
The base is made using the technology of direct contact of heat pipes with the heat distribution cover of the processor, designed to improve heat dissipation. In my opinion, the effectiveness of this technology is quite controversial. Although all six heat pipes are packed very tightly together, there are gaps between them that are very noticeable to the naked eye. There is no need to talk about a smooth surface or a mirror effect here, since the base was not sanded.
Let's look at the main characteristics Zalman CNPS12X
Cooler dimensions, mm | 151 x 132 x 154 |
Weight, gr. | |
Base material | Nickel plated copper |
Radiator fin material | Nickel plated aluminum |
Number of plates, pcs. | |
Heat pipe material | Nickel plated copper |
Number of heat pipes pcs. and diameter mm. | |
Fan size mm., their number, pcs. | |
Fan rotation speed, rpm. | 250 - 1200 rpm |
Compatibility | Intel LGA 775/ 1155/ 1156/ 1366/ 2011 AMD Socket AM2/ AM2+/ AM3+/FM1 |
Zalman FX100 Cube
Zalman FX100 Cube is not similar to any of the previously reviewed coolers. This is not surprising, because the model FX100 Cube Positioned as a passive tower-type processor cooler. Its appearance resembles a sort of massive “black cube”, with an unusual and at the same time strict design. The cooler consists of six small radiators, which are connected to each other using ten heat pipes. The outer four sections are connected by a system of eight heat pipes, each section has 19 aluminum plates, the distance between which is 4 mm. Two more small radiators are located inside; they consist of 26 plates, the distance between which is half as much. The total dispersion area is 5000 cm2. To increase efficiency, the cooler is equipped with seat for a fan measuring 92x92 mm, between internal radiators. However, for some reason the fan is not included in the kit.
Base FX100 Cube the area is very small, thereby engineers Zalman hint to us that this model The cooler is more suitable for processors with low heat generation. The quality of surface treatment of the base does not raise any complaints. It has a very smooth surface and a mirror effect, which in turn should have a positive effect on the efficiency of heat removal.
Let's look at the main characteristics ZalmanFX100 Cube
Cooler dimensions, mm | 156 x 157 x 156 |
Weight, gr. | |
Base material | Nickel plated copper |
Radiator fin material | Nickel plated aluminum |
Number of plates, pcs. | 128 (total number) |
Heat pipe material | Nickel plated copper |
Number of heat pipes pcs. and diameter mm. | |
Fan size mm., their number, pcs. | absent |
Compatibility | Intel LGA 775/ 1155/ 1156/ 1366/ 2011 AMD Socket AM2/ AM2+/ AM3+/FM1 |
Scythe Mugen 4
Cooler series Mugen from a Japanese company Scythe has been known to everyone for a long time and is not something new. Here is the updated model Mugen 4 which replaced its brother, it is still the same single-section cooler weighing 625 grams, which has undergone minor changes. Now, instead of four full-fledged sections as in the cases with Mugen 3, we see a single radiator with slight divisions throughout the entire area. Thanks to similar decision, company engineers Scythe managed to increase the dispersion area, which is 7300 cm2. The cooler is equipped with one 120 mm fan, the rotation speed of which is 400-1400 rpm. It is noteworthy that the design of the fan blades is similar to the well-known models from the German company Be Quiet.
As for the foundation, there have been no fundamental changes. All the same six heat pipes are laid and soldered to a copper base, which has a flat surface. The mirror effect is not fully present, but there is a slight “ripple”.
Let's look at the main characteristics Scythe Mugen 4
Cooler dimensions, mm | 130 x 88 x 156 |
Weight, gr. | |
Base material | Nickel plated copper |
Radiator fin material | Aluminum |
Number of plates, pcs. | |
Heat pipe material | Nickel plated copper |
Number of heat pipes pcs. and diameter mm. | |
Fan size mm., their number, pcs. | |
Fan rotation speed, rpm. | 400 - 1400 rpm |
Compatibility | Intel LGA 775/ 1156 /1155/ 1366/ 2011 AMD Socket AM2/ AM2+/ AM3+/FM1 |
Thermaltake Frio OK
Updated Frio from company Thermaltake at first glance it looks impressive due to its dimensions, and most importantly due to its plastic casing. Radiator cooler Thermaltake Frio OK divided into two parts, each of which is penetrated by five heat pipes with a diameter of 6 mm. Each radiator section consists of 45 plates, the total area of which is almost 6000 cm2. Most of the plastic casing is occupied by 140 mm fans, which have an unusual frame structure. There are two fans here, they are removable, but due to their design feature They can only be used with this cooler.
Cooler base Thermaltake Frio OK not particularly attractive. In addition to noticeable marks from the router on the surface of the base, during testing, an unevenness in the center was revealed. All this, of course, affected the results.
Let's look at the main characteristics Thermaltake Frio OK
Cooler dimensions, mm | 143 x 137 x 158 |
Weight, gr. | |
Base material | Nickel plated copper |
Radiator fin material | Nickel plated aluminum |
Number of plates, pcs. | |
Heat pipe material | Nickel plated copper |
Number of heat pipes pcs. and diameter mm. | |
Fan size mm., their number, pcs. | |
Fan rotation speed, rpm. | 1200 - 2100 rpm |
Compatibility | AMD Socket AM2/ AM2+/ AM3+ |
Deepcool Gamer Storm Lucifer
Another creation from the company Deepcool under the name Gamer Storm Lucifer has a very massive radiator of an interesting shape, which resembles the wings of a butterfly or a “fallen angel”. Radiator design Gamer Storm Lucifer somewhat similar to SilverStone HE02, it has 36 plates and six nickel-plated heat pipes with a diameter of 6 mm. The interfin distance of the radiator is 2.7 mm, which gives an advantage when using a cooler with low-speed fans. The dispersion area is 6800 cm2.
The cooler comes with a 140 mm fan with an interesting color scheme and labeling U.F.140 . This is a well-known fan from Deepcool measuring 140x140x25 mm and having an anti-vibration coating around the entire frame.
Cooler base surface Deepcool Gamer Storm Lucifer processed perfectly. There are no complaints about it; the mirror effect is present throughout the entire area.
Let's look at the main characteristics Deepcool Gamer Storm Lucifer
Cooler dimensions, mm | 168 x 136 x 140 |
Weight, gr. | 893 (with fan) |
Base material | Nickel plated copper |
Radiator fin material | Nickel plated aluminum |
Number of plates, pcs. | |
Heat pipe material | Nickel plated copper |
Number of heat pipes pcs. and diameter mm. | |
Fan size mm., their number, pcs. | |
Fan rotation speed, rpm. | 700 - 1400 rpm |
Compatibility | Intel LGA 775/ 1156/1155/ 1366/ 2011 AMD Socket AM2+/AM3+ |
Ice Hammer IH-THOR
IH-THOR this is another representative of the family of super-coolers from the company Ice Hammer. A large two-section radiator weighing almost 1 kg very much reminds us of the design COGAGE ARROW from Thermalright. All the same two sections with equal thickness, between which are located a pair of fans with a standard size of 140 mm. However, in the radiator IH-THOR 58 aluminum plates are located on six heat pipes, versus 55 plates and four tubes COGAGE ARROW. Increasing the number of radiator plates gave a dissipation area of 11,500 cm2. The design of the fans included in the kit is also copied from TR-TY143 from the same company Thermalright.
The extremely flat base is very well soldered at the points of contact with the heat pipes. The polished surface of the cooler base has a mirror effect.
Let's look at the main characteristics Ice Hammer IH-THOR
Cooler dimensions, mm | 164 x 147 x 123 |
Weight, gr. | |
Base material | Nickel plated copper |
Radiator fin material | Nickel plated aluminum |
Number of plates, pcs. | |
Heat pipe material | Nickel plated copper |
Number of heat pipes pcs. and diameter mm. | |
Fan size mm., their number, pcs. | |
Fan rotation speed, rpm. | 900 - 1300 rpm |
Compatibility | Intel LGA 775/ 1156/1155/ 1366/ 2011 AMD Socket AM2+/AM3+ |
Price
Having gotten to know all the participants better and looked at the features, I suggest you take a look at retail price* each model.
*Price for a particular model may vary depending on the region and the selected retail store.
Testing tools and methodology
Test system configuration:
- Processor: Intel i7-3930K (4.20 GHz / HT on - 1.260V);
- Thermal interface: Arctic Cooling MX-4;
- Motherboard: ASUS Rampage IV Formula;
- RAM: Corsair Dominator GT 2133MHz 4Gbx4;
- Video card: ASUS HD7970 DC2 TOP;
- Power supply: Corsair HX 650W.
Testing tools:
- Operating system: Windows 7 x64;
- CPU temperature monitoring program: RealTemp GT 3.70;
- CPU testing program: LinX 0.6.4 AVX;
- CPU program: CPU-Z 1.62 x64;
- Reobas: Scythe Kaze Master II.
The i7-3930K processor frequency has been increased to 4.2 GHz at a voltage of 1,260 V and active technology Hyper-Threading. Using the program LinX 0.6.4 AVX 100% processor load was carried out in 10 cycles, with a total duration of ~10 minutes. Temperature measurements for each core were carried out using the program RealTemp GT 3.70. The temperature values presented below are arithmetic averages for each mode. The coolers were tested in two modes with standard fans included in the package. First mode "quiet", fan rotation speed was 1000-1050 rpm, second mode "maximum", the name itself suggests that the fan rotation speed was the highest possible. Cooler Zalman FX100 Cube V passive mode(“quiet”) and with a 90 mm fan installed Arctic Cooling F9 at 1500 rpm (“maximum”). Temperature environment during testing was 26 OWITH.
Test results
First, let's look at the processor temperature without load.
As you can see, almost all participants demonstrate similar results. Only one stands out, it's a passive cooler Zalman FX100 Cube which is not surprising. The difference in temperature between the other coolers is 3-4 degrees.
Now let's look at the processor temperatures at 100% load.
The leader this time, surprisingly, was Heligon HE01 from company SilverStone, which coped very well with the hot temper of the i7-3930K. Second place belongs to the updated Silver Arrow S.B.- E Extreme from the world famous Thermalright, who lost only 1 degree to the leader. Well, third place went to Deepcool Gamer Storm Lucifer. Don't forget what final result The temperature value was taken in the “maximum” mode, in which the fan rotation speed varies. Concerning Zalman FX100 Cube, then here he failed miserably! Although you shouldn’t blame him for this, fate FX100 Cube these are processors with a heat dissipation of no more than 80 W, such as i5 . The temperature during testing reached 99 OWITH, after which testing had to be stopped to avoid overheating of the processor.
Results
Well, today we tested and identified the best of the best among modern coolers. But that's not all, our editors have established three nominations among the participants in our testing today.
So, the nomination "Super cooler" rightfully awarded Silver Arrow S.B.- E Extreme from company Thermalright. Despite the fact that he lost only 1 degree Heligon HE01, noise level emitted by fans from Thermalright was much smaller than the 38 mm monster SilverStone. Thereby Silver Arrow SB-E Extreme once again confirms its title of “Super Cooler” .
In nomination "Golden mean" deservedly won Deepcool Gamer Storm Lucifer, which showed decent results in both fan operating modes. Wherein Gamer Storm Lucifer costs significantly less than many other test participants.
Last nomination "Innovative Design" awarded to passive cooler Zalman FX100 Cube. Although he did not cope with the task, the company’s engineers still Zalman We managed to develop an excellent passive cooler that can cool mid-segment processors without any problems.
Also, all participants in our testing receive honorary titles “Participant in spring testing 2014”
The editors express great gratitude to the companies SilverStone,Zalman, Thermaltake, Deepcool, Ice Hammer, as well as an online store coolera. ru, for providing cooler models for testing.
Hi all. Let's talk about how to choose cooling for a computer, more precisely for a processor.
In general, any weather (in winter - batteries, in summer - sun) is a difficult time for our computer, because the temperature of the environment (and, as a result, the computer components) increases significantly, and therefore the cooling systems have to work at full capacity, trying to to cool the ardent character of our iron friends.
However, standard coolers do not always successfully cope with their task, which leads to constant reboots, shutdowns and other problems that follow overheating of the computer.
As you probably remember, the article “” will help you identify overheating (and find out the temperatures of components in general), and today I will tell you how to choose the right cooler for, which, as a rule, has the hardest time of all.
Why do you need a separate CPU cooling system?
To begin with, I would like to explain a little why the processor needs cooling and why the cooler that is usually given in addition to the crystal (that is, to this very processor) is bad. No, seriously, there was no way to do without this part, because I am very often asked why the option that comes with the processor is so bad, because, they say, they are not fools and know what to put in the kit. Of course, I don’t argue that the computer works with such a cooling system, but there are a number of nuances here.
To put it very simply, the processor consists of a huge number of small electrical conductors, each of which requires energy. And, as you know from a school physics course, energy does not disappear from the conductor - it goes from electrical to thermal.
Considering that in modern processor more than half a billion transistors, the question of the need for cooling disappears by itself: the heat from them is enough to heat a small room. The processor cannot independently dissipate such an amount of energy: the area is too small, and the materials are not the same.
Therefore, with each crystal, manufacturers supply a simple cooler (if, of course, you buy BOX processor version, not OEM). To work on standard frequencies and at normal temperature it is enough, but for extreme situations (long warm-up, i.e., for example, working with a full-fledged processor-dependent application or game, high ambient temperatures (summer), overclocking, etc.) it is better to look for a more powerful model.
The fact is that under this very simple cooler supplied in the kit, the processor still gets noticeably very hot. No, the temperature does not reach critical, but it is still stable is high, and because of it, some chemical processes that continuously occur in the crystal are accelerated, as a result of which, firstly, it can simply fail faster, and secondly, it slows down and skips cycles. The main problem lies precisely in the fact that with a weak cooling system, the processor has.. mmm.. a small performance reserve. Look at all sorts of results tables on the Internet.
Even in an air-conditioned room, the temperature of the crystal under a standard knob rises to 73 degrees (and this is with the stand open, i.e. without the case). In the building where they live next door hard disks, video cards, disk drives, etc., the air can heat up under 60 degrees and the higher this temperature, the more difficult it is for the cooler, and the hotter the surrounding air, the more performance drops.
However, it’s also not worth going to the store and buying the first cooler you come across. In the world of cooling, sometimes a device is 3000 rubles may well be worse than the model for 1000 rubles and this is due to many factors, which we will now talk about.
Part 1: Cooler Base
Well, let's get started.
The work of any cooler begins... at its base, namely, at the place where it comes into contact with the processor. Here the cooler takes heat from it and transfers it to the cooling area. This process is called heat transfer, and its efficiency depends on two variables - area and surface material.
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It’s usually impossible to come up with something superb here, because the dimensions of the processor are fixed, that is, the contact area cannot be increased, and there is only one material that is affordable and has high-quality thermal conductivity - copper (there is, of course, also aluminum, but it is less efficient).
It turns out that the maximum that the manufacturer can do is to make sure that, with all other components, heat transfer is carried out as efficiently as possible, namely... the base must be ideally polished.
Therefore, one of the first selection criteria is the “specularity” of the metal in the area of contact with the processor, that is, ideally you should see your reflection on the surface, or at least not observe any significant irregularities or, especially, scratches, because they reduce contact area and reduce work efficiency.
Also beware of heat pipes “tearing” the base of the cooler (see photo above), as they also reduce the useful contact area. If you see that the tubes protrude from the total surface area, then it is better to put such a cooler aside and look for something else.
But what you rarely need to pay attention to ( common mistake beginners who believe that color always determines the material), this is the color, because copper is often coated with nickel.
Part 2: Heat Pipes
The next stage of work is the transfer of heat to the cooling surfaces. When the processors were weak and cold, this stage did not exist: the radiator was attached directly to the base and dissipated heat into the air. With the increase in productivity and the amount of energy released, heat transfer began to be taken more seriously - heat-conducting tubes appeared on coolers.
This invention is old and well known to many. U copper pipe seal one end, pour liquid into it, pump out the air and seal the other end. When heated, water absorbs energy and turns into steam, which rises to the upper (cold) part of the pipe, cools, condenses, releasing stored energy, and flows down. And so on ad infinitum.
Everything is the same in coolers, but with one caveat. When installed in the case, the cooling system is in horizontal position, and water cannot flow into the heating zone on its own. Therefore, the tubes are filled with porous material. Due to the capillary effect, liquid can move against the forces of gravity and move in any direction.
It is also difficult to come up with anything new at this stage, because the operation of heat pipes practically does not depend on their physical parameters, and therefore, as a criterion, one must rely on the number of heat pipes. Globally, the more, the better, but in general, three or four will do as a minimum (less is doubtful).
Part 3: body and components
The next phase of the cooler's operation is heat dissipation. This action takes place on the fins of the radiator, namely dozens of plates strung on heat pipes. It is here that the heat taken from the processor will be given to the air and it will be able to breathe more freely. The radiator can look whatever you want - developers are not shy about experimenting with shapes, angles of inclination, materials, and so on, but all this joy is subject to a number of rules, which are the next criteria for selection.
Firstly, the dissipation area should be maximum, that is, there should be as many radiator plates as possible, and the radiator itself should be as massive as possible. Secondly, the thinner the plates, the better, because the heat will be retained less. The requirements for the material of this whole thing are the same - high thermal conductivity, that is, copper should act as it. Some say that copper is not necessary in this phase and it is important to use it exclusively in the base and heat pipes, because given the high dissipation area, the radiator can also be made of aluminum. However, I do not really agree with this statement and I think that even here it is better to choose copper as a material. But see for yourself.
Part 4: active cooling, namely the fan itself
Well, the last stage of the cooling system for the processor is active cooling, i.e. the spinner itself. Whatever the manufacturers say, a radiator with powerful processor If you can’t handle it, the limitation of available space and high thermal resistance (temperature drop per watt of heat dissipated) will not allow it.
Again, the use of a heatsink alone is questionable due to the weak release of dissipated heat from the case, which leads to an increase in temperature in the case and heating of other elements inside it.
Naturally, a fan helps overcome such problems: the powerful air flow created reduces the resistance of the radiator and increases the amount of heat removed.
The rule for turntables is simple: you need to look for the largest ones in size (and not, contrary to the opinion of beginners, in the number of revolutions). The larger the diameter of the impeller, the more air is taken in per revolution, which means the required rotation speed and, as a result, the noise decreases.
Tobish, taking the turntable 120 mm With 1200 revs and turntable 80 mm With 2400 and having compared them, we find that the first one is, firstly, more efficient, and secondly, much quieter.
By the way, in addition to the size and speed, you also need to monitor the type of bearing. If it says " Ball bearing"(swings) - we take them because they are quiet and last a long time. If " Slide bearing"(slips) - we put it off, because they make noise and quickly turn sour.
Part 5: choosing thermal paste
When buying a cooler, do not forget about thermal paste. At expensive and good coolers Usually it is included in the kit or already applied to the surface, but for the rest it is worth buying separately.
What is thermal paste? This is a layer of paste (just like toothpaste), the purpose of which, when applied to the surface between the processor and the base of the cooler, is to eliminate the unevenness of the contacting surfaces and remove all the air between them. Good thermal paste may well bring the temperature down 5-10 degrees.
Unfortunately, smart comparative tests There are almost no pastes, and those that are made do not correspond to reality. The fact is that to get into working mode, the paste needs about 200 hours, and as you understand, no one will spend that much time on each tube. So you need to choose it according technical specifications. The most important parameter is thermal conductivity. The higher the better.
Globally, it seems that he covered all the main points and did not forget anything. It’s probably impossible to be more detailed :)
As always, if you have any questions, want to add or say something, then write in the comments to this article.
By the way, do not forget that dust often accumulates between the fins of the radiator and it needs to be cleaned, which I wrote about in the article ". By the way, there are also a few words about choosing the right case.
As always, if you have any questions, thoughts, additions, etc., then welcome to comment on this article.
- PS2: I wrote a few words about cooling video cards.
- PS3: Thanks to my favorite magazine for help in writing the article “ gambling addiction”.