Acoustic Samples: Listen to this
Heatsink!
The
3RSystem Iceage 120 heatsink is designed to be an efficient lower noise heatsink
with the capability of becoming a low noise cooler. The supplied fan speed
controller can take the 120mm fan from 2200RPM down to about 1000RPM. Between
the fan and heatsink are four foam pads to help dampen rattling sounds
(between fan frame and metal fins). At full speed the Iceage 120
is moderately audible, and at reduced speed will be virtually silent. To listen to this heatsink in operation, be sure to click on the little headphones icon below and play each of the
sample MP3 files.
|
frostytech acoustic sampling chamber - full speed |
 |
standard waveform view of a 10 second recording.
click on the headphones icon to
listen to an mp3 recording of this
heatsink in operation. the fan is running at 2200rpm. |
 |
| frostytech acoustic sampling chamber
- low speed |
| |
standard waveform view of a 10 second recording.
click on the headphones icon to
listen to an mp3 recording of this heatsink in operation.
the fan is running at 1000rpm |
 |
Sound Level Measurements: Which Heatsink is
Quietest?
Listening to the actual noise a heatsink makes
allows you to hear what pure numbers alone cannot get across. To further
emphasize FrostyTech's reliance on cold hard facts when evaluating a heatsink,
we also take noise level measurements with a sound level meter.
FrostyTech Heatsink Noise
Level Measurements
Noise level Decibel measurements of each
heatsinks' fan in operation are taken with the aid of a sound level
meter and sound isolating enclosure. The values may be higher than
the mfgr's listed specs, but are directly comparable to one another.
Measurements are made on the dB (A) scale, lower values are best.
Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available
here. | |
|
| manufacturer: |
model no.: |
fan* speed: |
noise level (dba): |
cpu** platform |
|
| Arctic Cooling |
Silencer 64 Ultra TC |
low |
27.6 dB |
AMD |
| 3Rsystem |
Iceage 120 |
low |
35.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Verax |
Helado |
|
36.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Intel |
Stock Core 2 Duo |
|
36.7 dB |
Intel |
| Scythe |
Mine Rev.B |
|
36.8 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Scythe |
Katana II |
|
37.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Scythe |
Kama Cross |
|
40.0 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Intel |
Stock Pentium D |
low |
40.5 dB |
Intel |
| Gigabyte |
NeonCooler 8-BL |
|
42.0 dB |
AMD |
| Arctic Cooling |
Freezer 64 LP |
|
42.6 dB |
AMD |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper48 |
|
43.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Arctic Cooling |
Alpine64 |
|
43.9 dB |
AMD |
| Dynatron |
A22 |
|
44.5 dB |
AMD |
| Asus |
Arctic Square |
high |
44.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS7000B-CU |
high |
44.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS7000A-Cu |
high |
45.2 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS7000-Cu |
high |
45.2 dB |
AMD |
| Akasa |
AK-860SF |
|
45.2 dB |
AMD |
| Noctua |
NH-U12 |
|
45.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Ajigo |
MF043-044 |
|
45.4 dB |
AMD |
| Spire |
SP741B3 |
|
45.6 dB |
AMD |
| Scythe |
Shogun |
high |
45.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Rosewill |
RCX-Z2-EX |
high |
45.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Intel |
Stock Pentium D |
high |
47.5 dB |
Intel |
| nPowertek |
TTIC NPH-1000 |
|
47.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Scythe |
Kama SCKK1000 |
|
47.5 dB |
AMD |
| 3Rsystem |
Iceage 120 |
high |
47.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Akasa |
AK-965 |
high |
48.1 dB |
Intel |
| AVC |
Z7U7414001 (stock AM2) |
low |
48.1 dB |
AMD |
| Akasa |
AK-876 |
high |
48.2 dB |
AMD |
| Apack |
CF900 |
high |
48.3 dB |
Intel |
| Apack |
CF800 |
high |
48.4 dB |
Intel |
| LS Cable |
SHS-T700 |
|
48.5 dB |
Intel |
| Thermalfly |
I75DUH |
|
48.7 dB |
Intel |
| Coolage |
Frozen Orb F0-Z924AL |
high |
48.9 dB |
Intel |
| Spire |
SP601B3 |
|
48.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Thermaltake |
Silentboost K8 |
|
49.7 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS7700-Cu LED |
high |
49.8 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| nPowertek |
NPH-775-1 |
|
50.1 dB |
Intel |
| Xigmatek |
HDT-S963 |
high |
50.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Evercool |
Buffalo HPEA-10025 |
|
50.2 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 LED |
high |
50.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Gigabyte |
3D-Rocket |
|
50.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS7700-Cu |
high |
50.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Arctic Cooling |
Freezer 64 Pro |
|
50.9 dB |
AMD |
| Evercool |
K802-715 |
|
51.5 dB |
AMD |
| Alpha Novatech |
PRE9060M92P |
high |
51.5 db |
Intel |
| OCZ |
Tempest |
|
51.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Scythe |
Samurai SCSM1000 |
high |
51.6 dB |
AMD |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF80 |
|
51.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF90 |
|
52.1 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Cooljag |
Falcon 92-AL |
high |
52.1 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| nPowertek |
NPH K8-1 |
|
52.2 dB |
AMD |
| Cooljag |
Falcon 92-Cu |
high |
52.8 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 AM2 |
high |
53.2 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 AT |
|
53.3 dB |
Intel |
| Jetart |
JAX801 |
|
53.5 dB |
AMD |
| Thermalright |
Ultra 120 |
|
53.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| nPowerTek |
NPH-Big K8 |
|
54.0 dB |
AMD |
| Rosewill |
RCX-Z1 |
high |
54.1 dB |
AMD |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper6 |
high |
54.7 dB |
AMD |
| Xigmatek |
AIO-S80DP |
high |
55.0 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Verax |
Quattro 1 |
high |
55.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Arctic Cooling |
Silencer 64 Ultra TC |
high |
55.5 dB |
AMD |
| Evercool |
Magic Cooler |
|
55.5 dB |
AMD |
| Cooljag |
OAK-H2 |
high |
55.6 dB |
Intel |
| Cooljag |
OAK-H |
high |
55.7 dB |
Intel |
| Thermalright |
Ultra-90 |
high |
56.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Akasa |
AK-960E |
|
56.3 dB |
Intel |
| Dynatron |
SK-V24 |
|
56.4 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS9700 LED |
high |
56.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Zalman |
FS-C77 |
|
56.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Gigabyte |
3D Rocket-Pro |
high |
56.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Vantec |
Mach1 |
high |
56.9 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS8000 |
high |
57.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| EKL |
V8 |
high |
57.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Sunon |
Watrubo |
|
57.5 dB |
Intel |
| Antazone |
AS-C1000 |
|
57.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Noctua |
NH-U9 |
|
58.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Rosewill |
RCX-Z3 |
high |
58.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Thermalright |
SLK-948U |
|
58.8 dB |
AMD |
| Alpha |
PAL-8150 |
|
58.9 dB |
AMD |
| Enzotech |
Ultra-X |
high |
59.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Akasa |
AK-920 |
high |
59.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Akasa |
AK-873 |
high |
59.2 dB |
AMD |
| Coolermaster |
Aquagate Mini |
high |
59.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| AVC |
Z7U3301001 |
high |
59.9 dB |
AMD |
| Rosewill |
RCX-Z2 |
|
59.9 dB |
Intel |
| Spire |
Fourier IV SP607B3-C |
|
60.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Akasa |
AK-922 (EVObue) |
high |
60.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Ajigo |
MF064-074 |
high |
60.3 dB |
AMD |
| Thermalfly |
F1-IACSHA |
high |
60.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Cooljag |
SFO-Q |
high |
60.6 dB |
AMD |
| Cooljag |
SFO-H |
high |
60.6 dB |
AMD |
| Akasa |
AK-961 |
|
60.7 dB |
Intel |
| Thermaltake |
Jungle512 |
high |
60.8 dB |
Intel |
| Gigabyte |
3D Cooler-Pro |
high |
62.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Gigabyte |
3D Cooler-Ultra |
high |
63.0 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| AVC |
Z7U7414001 (stock AM2) |
high |
63.0 dB |
AMD |
| Titan |
TTC-K8ATB/825/SC |
|
63.1 dB |
AMD |
| Evercool |
PT02-9232CP |
|
63.3 dB |
Intel |
| CoolJag |
SFO-D(18SC) |
|
64.0 dB |
AMD |
| nPowertek |
SF 775-2 |
high |
64.6 dB |
Intel |
| Gigabyte |
GH-PCU23-VE |
high |
65.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| ASUS |
Starice |
high |
67.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Thermaltake |
Polo 735 |
high |
68.0 dB |
AMD |
| Thermaltake |
Venus 12 |
high |
68.1 dB |
AMD |
| Thermalfly |
I75DUB |
high |
68.5 db |
Intel |
| Gigabyte |
G-Power Pro |
high |
71.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
|
|
|
noise level (dba) |
|
|
*unless noted, for reference heatsinks with
variable-speed fans only the 'high speed' (12V) fan noise measurement is
included in the comparison sheet; more detailed results for the low fan
speed (~5V) tests reside in each specific heatsink review. ** 'AMD'
denotes compatibility with socket 754/939/940 & AM2 processors where
applicable. 'Intel' denotes compatibility with socket 775
platform. |
With
the 3RSystem's 120mm hydraulic bearing fan spinning at its stock speed of 2200RPM, the
Iceage 120 heatsink creates about 47.9 dBA noise. In comparison, the stock Intel Pentium D heatsink produces about 47.5 dB at its fastest speed, the stock Core 2 Duo heatsink 36.7 dBA (default 3-pin power speed), and the stock AM2 AMD heatsink an ear splitting 63.0 dBA. Clearly, from one heatsink to the next noise levels can vary significantly.
At its
reduced speed of 1000RPM (via the supplied fan speed controller, or an
equivalent like the Zalman Fanmate 1 ) the 3RSystem Iceage 120 heatsink pushes
out as little as 35.4dBA according to Frostytech's real world sound measurements.
Surface Finish and Flatness
Surface finish is an important factor that we all
look for when holding a new heatsink. Flipping a cooler over to see how well the
base has been machined is a quick way to judge the attention to detail that was
put into making it. The following test involves the use of a Surface Roughness
Comparator, which offers a concise cross section common machine surface
finishes.
The 3RSystem Iceage 120 heatsink has a sanded base which gives it a surface
roughness of approximately 63 microinches, which is satisfactory. The base
itself is generally flat in both axis. There are eight small voids created where
the copper heatpipes interface with the aluminum mounting block. As with the Xigmatek HDT-S963 unit, these voids serve a dual purpose by permitting excess thermal compound
to evacuate itself from between the heatsink and processor.
Given that the point is for copper heatpipes to make direct contact with the CPU, those surfaces
are the most critical.
Now let's see
how this CPU cooler handles the heat compared to a selection of top of the line
AMD and Intel heatsinks!
