FrostyTech.com Mk.II Synthetic Thermal Heatsink Test Results Results based on readings from a 38x38mm copper interface die with 125W heat load on the Mk.II Test Platform. Thermal Test values for each heatsink were calculated by determining the rise over ambient temperature at time of test. Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available here. Socket 939/940/754 compatible CPU heatsinks
manufacturer:	model no.:	*fan speed:	125w thermal test (°c)	noise level (dba)
Noctua	NH-U12		17.5	45.4
Gigabyte	G-Power Pro	high	18.6	71.9
Noctua	NH-U9		18.8	58.4
Coolermaster	Hyper6	high	20.5	54.7
Thermaltake	Venus 12	high	21.7	68.1
ASUS	Starice	high	22.8	67.4
Arctic Cooling	Freezer 64 Pro		23.2	50.9
Coolermaster	Aquagate Mini	high	23.2	59.2
Thermaltake	Polo 735	high	23.4	68.0
Cooljag	SFO-H	high	23.6	60.6
Alpha	PAL-8150		23.7	58.9
Zalman	CNPS9500LED (clip parallel)	high	23.8	50.3
AVC	Z7U3301001 (stock 939)	high	24.6	59.9
Gigabyte	3D Cooler-Ultra	high	24.8	63.0
Scythe	Shogun	high	26.0	45.9
EKL	V8	high	26.3	57.5
Gigabyte	3D Rocket-Pro	high	26.9	56.7
Gigabyte	3D Cooler-Pro	high	27.0	62.5
Spire	SP601B3		28.3	48.9
Ajigo	MF064-074	high	28.8	60.3
Gigabyte	3D-Rocket		28.9	50.7
Vantec	Mach1	high	29.2	56.9
CoolJag	SFO-D(18SC)		29.6	64.0
Arctic Cooling	Alpine 64		30.5	43.9
Zalman	CNPS7000A-Cu	high	30.3	45.2
Dynatron	SK-V24		30.3	56.4
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	high	31.0	45.2
Coolermaster	Hyper48		31.7	43.6
Scythe	Kama SCKK1000		31.9	47.5
Scythe	Samurai SCSM1000	high	32.1	51.6
Zalman	CNPS7000B-CU	high	32.3	44.9
Thermaltake	Silentboost K8		32.3	49.7
Jetart	JAX801		33.2	53.5
Dynatron	A22		34.5	44.5
nPowertek	NPH K8-1		34.6	52.2
Ajigo	MF043-044 (stock 754)		35.0	45.4
Verax	Quattro 1		36.9	30.9
Scythe	Shogun	low	36.9	33.7
Arctic Cooling	Silencer 64 Ultra TC		37.5	55.5
Gigabyte	NeonCooler 8-BL		37.7	42.0
Titan	TTC-K8ATB/825/SC		38.7	63.1
Evercool	K802-715		42.1	51.5
Spire	SP741B3		43.2	45.6
Evercool	Magic Cooler		46.6	55.5
Scythe	Samurai SCSM1000	low	50.9	30.9
ASUS	Starice	low	92.4+	34.4
			125w thermal test (°c)	noise level (dba)
*heatsinks are ranked according to the 125w thermal test results column (rise over ambient temp.). low temperatures with low noise levels are considered best. for reference heatsinks with variable-speed fans, only the high speed (12v) fan test result is included in the comparison sheet; more detailed results reside in each specific heatsink review.

with a 125w heat load applied by the frostytech synthetic thermal test platform, the Scythe Shogun heatsink posts very good thermal results with the 120mm fan spinning at its full speed, and more conservative results when its fan speed is reduced to just 700RPM. How the Scythe Shogun handles the heat load is directly related to the volume of air moving through its many fine cooling fins, and for the most part it maintains its low noise directive.

At the quietest fan speed setting, the Scythe Shogun produces a rise above ambient temperature of 36.9°C with 33.7 dBA noise. Its loudest fan speed setting is a mere 45.9 dBA, and from this we see the rise above ambient temperature result drop to just 26.0°C!

With good case ventilation Scythe Shogun users will find a happy medium between these two reference points, one where fan noise is still negligible from outside the case, and thermal performance improves little from the baseline rise above ambient temperature of 36.9°C.

Ultimately, the Scythe Shogun is good low noise heatsink for full size desktop computers, yet in spite of these accomplishments it is seriously held back by less than ideal mounting hardware. Depending on the processor type, and orientation of the socket, installing the Shogun is either a little time consuming or surprisingly frustrating. Scythe have created a heatsink with genuinely good thermal efficiencies, but the mechanical mounting hardware still leaves a lot to be desired.

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