FrostyTech Mk.II Synthetic Thermal
Heatsink Test Results
Intel
Pentium D / Extreme Edition & Quad Core class heatsinks tested
at 150W
Intel Core 2 Duo / Pentium 4 /
Celeron class heatsinks tested at 85W
Results based on readings from a 30x30mm copper
interface die with 150W and 85W heat loads applied on the LGA775
version of the Mk.II Test Platform. Temperature results listed for
each heatsink were calculated by determining the rise over ambient
temperatures at time of test. Information on Frostytech's test
methodology is available here. |
 |
| Socket 775 compatible CPU
heatsinks | |
| manufacturer: |
model
no.: |
fan
speed: |
150w
thermal test* (°c) |
85w
thermal test (°c) |
noise level (dba) |
|
| Tuniq |
Tower 120 Extreme |
high |
14.1 |
8.4 |
43.5 |
| Noctua |
NH-D14 |
high |
14.5 |
8.7 |
48.1 |
| Spire |
Thermax Eclipse II |
|
14.5 |
8.7 |
51.3 |
| Thermaltake |
Frio |
high |
14.5 |
8.8 |
62.6 |
| Prolimatech |
Megahalems (80CFM) |
high |
15.0 |
9.2 |
53.0 |
| 3Rsystem |
iceage 120 Boss II |
high |
15.4 |
9.8 |
49.9 |
| Titan |
TTC-NK85TZ |
high |
15.5 |
8.8 |
58.6 |
| Zaward |
Vapor 120 |
high |
15.6 |
9.7 |
51.6 |
| Thermolab |
BADA |
high |
16.0 |
9.6 |
54.0 |
| Sunbeamtech |
Core-Contact Freezer |
high |
16.1 |
10.0 |
51.3 |
| Danamics |
LMX Extreme |
high |
16.3 |
9.5 |
55.4 |
| Zalman |
CNPS10X Quiet |
high |
16.5 |
10.4 |
46.8 |
| Zalman |
CNPS10X Flex (80CFM) |
|
16.5 |
10.6 |
51.2 |
| Zalman |
CNPS10X Performa |
high |
16.6 |
10.0 |
58.7 |
| Spire |
Thermax II (SP67951) |
high |
16.7 |
9.5 |
57.8 |
| Prolimatech |
Megahalems (50CFM) |
high |
16.8 |
10.2 |
45.1 |
| Xigmatek |
HDT-S1283 |
high |
16.8 |
10.7 |
50.7 |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper 212 Plus |
high |
16.9 |
10.9 |
50.1 |
| Noctua |
NH-D14 |
low |
17.0 |
10.3 |
30.8 |
| Kingwin |
XT-1264 |
high |
17.2 |
10.5 |
45.5 |
| Thermolab |
BARAM |
|
17.3 |
10.5 |
53.0 |
| Zalman |
CNPS10X Extreme |
high |
17.6 |
10.1 |
58.2 |
| Zalman |
CNPS10X Flex (50CFM) |
|
17.6 |
10.9 |
45.4 |
| CoolIT |
Domino ALC |
high |
17.8 |
10.6 |
60.2 |
| Thermalright |
Ultra 120 |
|
17.8 |
10.6 |
53.7 |
| Akasa |
Nero AK967 |
high |
17.9 |
10.8 |
39.3 |
| Xigmatek |
DK-S1283 |
high |
17.9 |
11.0 |
49.6 |
| Thermolab |
BARAM 2010 (80 CFM) |
high |
18.0 |
10.8 |
51.3 |
| Thermaltake |
Contac 29 |
high |
18.0 |
11.4 |
48.0 |
| Zerotherm |
Nirvana NV 120 PWM |
high |
18.0 |
11.0 |
44.9 |
| Ibuypower |
IBP-Z001 |
high |
18.0 |
11.6 |
61.7 |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper Z600 |
|
18.0 |
11.6 |
47.7 |
| DeepCool |
Killer Whale Premium |
high |
18.1 |
11.7 |
52.5 |
| Xigmatek |
HDT-S1284EE |
high |
18.1 |
9.4 |
44.2 |
| Zerotherm |
FZ120 |
high |
18.2 |
11.4 |
47.6 |
| 3Rsystem |
Iceage 120 |
high |
18.2 |
12.1 |
47.9 |
| Coolage |
X120TF |
|
18.3 |
11.0 |
53.0 |
| Vantec |
VAF-1225 Aeroflow FX 120 |
high |
18.3 |
11.8 |
54.2 |
| nPowerTek |
Hurricane NPH-105 (NB fan) |
high |
18.3 |
11.2 |
47.7 |
| Glacialtech |
F101 PWM |
high |
18.4 |
11.4 |
47.5 |
| Zerotherm |
Core 92 |
high |
18.4 |
11.5 |
53.4 |
| Coolermaster |
V8 |
high |
18.4 |
11.2 |
52.6 |
| Thermalright |
Ultra 120 Extreme |
|
18.4 |
11.4 |
44.5 |
| DeepCool |
Killer Whale |
high |
18.7 |
12.6 |
53.5 |
| XtremeGear |
HP-1216B |
high |
18.8 |
13.8 |
54.0 |
| Thermaltake |
BigTyp 14Pro |
high |
18.8 |
11.6 |
59.7 |
| Xigmatek |
HDT-SD964 |
high |
18.8 |
11.6 |
57.2 |
| SilenX |
iXtrema IXC-120HA2 |
high |
18.9 |
11.2 |
52.9 |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper 212 |
|
19.0 |
11.8 |
45.9 |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF92 OC Ed |
high |
19.0 |
11.2 |
53.6 |
| Zalman |
CNPS9700 LED |
high |
19.0 |
10.4 |
56.5 |
| Xigmatek |
HDT-S983 |
high |
19.5 |
11.8 |
52.7 |
| Scythe |
Mugen |
|
19.5 |
11.4 |
46.0 |
| Xigmatek |
S1284 Achilles |
high |
19.6 |
11.6 |
42.7 |
| Tuniq |
Tower 120 |
high |
19.6 |
12.2 |
51.6 |
| Thermalright |
Ultra-90 |
high |
19.6 |
13.0 |
56.2 |
| DeepCool |
Ice Blade Pro |
high |
19.8 |
13.1 |
46.1 |
| Apack |
Zerotherm Nirvana 120 |
high |
19.8 |
12.3 |
49.2 |
| Enzotech |
Ultra-X |
high |
20.0 |
8.5 |
59.1 |
| Scythe |
KAMA Angle |
high |
20.1 |
21.0 |
43.3 |
| Zalman |
CNPS9900 LED |
high |
20.2 |
13.3 |
57.5 |
| Zalman |
CNPS9700NT |
high |
20.3 |
12.4 |
52.2 |
| Scythe |
Infinity SCINF-1000 |
|
20.3 |
12.6 |
37.8 |
| Cooler Master |
Hyper Z600 Black Label |
high |
20.5 |
12.4 |
49.2 |
| OCZ |
Vendetta 2 |
high |
20.5 |
12.5 |
41.9 |
| Dynatron |
Genius |
high |
20.6 |
13.0 |
47.2 |
| Corsair |
Hydro H50 |
high |
20.7 |
13.7 |
45.6 |
| OCZ |
Gladiator Max |
high |
20.7 |
12.6 |
42.9 |
| EKL |
GroB Clock'ner |
|
20.8 |
13.2 |
40.6 |
| EKL |
GroB Clock'ner Blue Ed. |
high |
21.0 |
12.9 |
42.4 |
| Vantec |
VAF-9225 Aeroflow FX92 |
high |
21.2 |
14.0 |
57.9 |
| Noctua |
NH-C12P |
high |
21.2 |
13.1 |
40.4 |
| Coolermaster |
GeminII S |
high |
21.3 |
13.4 |
49.6 |
| OCZ |
Vendetta |
high |
21.3 |
13.5 |
52.8 |
| Noctua |
NH-U12P |
high |
21.3 |
13.4 |
40.7 |
| Thermaltake |
SpinQ VT |
high |
21.6 |
12.7 |
50.1 |
| Akasa |
Blue Aurora AK966BL |
high |
21.6 |
14.0 |
44.4 |
| Thermaltake |
ISGC-300 |
high |
21.7 |
12.9 |
44.0 |
| Xigmatek |
Thors Hammer S126384 |
|
21.8 |
13.2 |
46.4 |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF90 |
|
21.8 |
12.7 |
52.1 |
| Xigmatek |
HDT-S963 |
high |
21.9 |
13.7 |
50.2 |
| AVC |
Black Samurai |
high |
22.2 |
11.5 |
56.7 |
| Akasa |
AK-965 |
high |
22.2 |
13.8 |
48.1 |
| Gelid |
Tranquillo |
high |
22.4 |
13.9 |
41.3 |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper N520 |
|
22.4 |
14.1 |
49.0 |
| Scythe |
Grand Kama Cross |
high |
22.8 |
14.0 |
45.9 |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF80 |
|
22.8 |
13.9 |
51.9 |
| Thermaltake |
MaxOrb |
high |
22.9 |
13.1 |
57.4 |
| DeepCool |
IceWing 5 Pro |
high |
23.1 |
12.3 |
53.2 |
| Scythe |
Zipang 2 |
|
23.2 |
14.0 |
37.7 |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper TX3 |
high |
23.2 |
14.0 |
56.0 |
| Zalman |
CNPS8700 LED |
high |
23.2 |
14.1 |
48.1 |
| Cooljag |
Falcon 92-AL |
high |
23.2 |
14.2 |
52.1 |
| Rosewill |
RCX-Z3 |
high |
23.3 |
14.0 |
58.6 |
| Coolink |
Silentator |
high |
23.5 |
16.4 |
41.2 |
| Nexus |
HOC-9000 |
high |
23.6 |
14.6 |
43.0 |
| Scythe |
Mine Rev. B |
|
23.6 |
15.0 |
36.8 |
| Cooljag |
Falcon 92-Cu |
high |
23.6 |
14.8 |
52.8 |
| Thermaltake |
MaxOrb EX |
high |
24.0 |
13.9 |
56.5 |
| nPowertek |
NPH-775-115HC |
|
24.2 |
15.3 |
55.0 |
| Akasa |
AK-920 |
high |
24.3 |
14.1 |
52.9 |
| Thermaltake |
V1 |
high |
24.4 |
12.3 |
59.6 |
| Intel |
FCLGA4-S Reference (P mode) |
high |
24.5 |
15.2 |
61.1 |
| Scythe |
Zipang |
|
24.7 |
15.2 |
33.1 |
| Evercool |
HPK-10025EA |
|
24.8 |
13.8 |
50.9 |
| Glacialtech |
Igloo 5750 PWM |
high |
24.9 |
14.6 |
52.3 |
| Asus |
Arctic Square |
high |
24.9 |
14.9 |
44.9 |
| Sunbeamtech |
Core-Contact Freezer 92mm Ed. |
high |
25.3 |
15.6 |
50.2 |
| AMA |
Serac 770 |
|
25.4 |
15.7 |
42.1 |
| Evercool |
HPJ-12025 Transformer 4 |
|
25.5 |
15.3 |
38.9 |
| Akasa |
AK-922 (EVObue) |
high |
25.5 |
15.4 |
60.3 |
| Thermaltake |
SpinQ |
high |
25.7 |
15.6 |
50.9 |
| Asus |
Lionsquare |
high |
25.7 |
15.3 |
44.7 |
| Coolermaster |
Aquagate Mini R80 |
high |
25.7 |
16.2 |
59.2 |
| Asus |
Silent Square EVO |
high |
25.8 |
15.6 |
42.8 |
| Glacialtech |
Igloo 5610 PWM |
high |
25.9 |
15.9 |
59.5 |
| Thermalright |
SI-128SE |
|
26.5 |
15.2 |
44.5 |
| Thermaltake |
DuOrb |
|
26.7 |
16.1 |
49.5 |
| Scythe |
Andy Samuri Master SCASM-1000 |
|
26.7 |
14.2 |
38.4 |
| Dynatron |
Evo-11 |
high |
26.8 |
16.4 |
54.1 |
| Titan |
Cool Idol TTC-NK75TZ |
high |
26.9 |
15.1 |
56.3 |
| Gelid |
Silent Spirit |
high |
27.0 |
17.1 |
48.5 |
| Zalman |
CNPS9300AT |
high |
27.1 |
18.2 |
55.5 |
| Noctua |
NH-U9B |
high |
27.1 |
17.2 |
41.9 |
| Thermaltake |
ISGC-400 |
high |
27.2 |
16.3 |
45.4 |
| Asus |
Triton 79 Amazing |
|
27.7 |
17.0 |
44.3 |
| ASUS |
Triton 77 |
high |
27.7 |
17.6 |
41.2 |
| Auras |
SLC-747 |
high |
27.9 |
25.7 |
52.2 |
| Thermaltake |
ISGC-200 |
high |
28.1 |
16.5 |
48.7 |
| Coolermaster |
Vortex Plus |
high |
28.3 |
16.8 |
54.6 |
| Auras |
LPT-700 |
|
28.3 |
16.9 |
52.2 |
| Thermalfly |
F1-IACSHA |
high |
29.0 |
18.3 |
60.4 |
| Coolage |
Frozen Orb 2924HDC |
high |
29.2 |
18.7 |
56.0 |
| Evercool |
Transformer 6 |
high |
29.2 |
14.6 |
51.6 |
| Cooljag |
JYC 8A03A |
high |
29.3 |
19.8 |
50.6 |
| nPowertek |
TTIC NPH1000 |
|
29.3 |
16.8 |
47.5 |
| 3Rsystem |
Iceage 90 |
|
29.4 |
18.0 |
47.2 |
| Glacialtech |
Igloo 5710 Silent |
|
29.4 |
18.0 |
43.4 |
| Thermalfly |
I75DUB |
high |
29.5 |
16.8 |
68.5 |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 AT |
|
29.6 |
17.3 |
53.3 |
| Glacialtech |
Igloo 5750 Silent |
|
29.8 |
18.5 |
35.5 |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper TX2 |
|
29.9 |
18.8 |
53.7 |
| Alpha Novatech |
PRE9060M92P |
high |
29.9 |
18.5 |
51.5 |
| Scythe |
Kama Cross |
|
30.0 |
18.8 |
40.0 |
| Akasa |
AK-961 |
|
30.0 |
18.7 |
60.7 |
| Auras |
LPT-709 |
|
30.1 |
18.6 |
43.9 |
| Rosewill |
RCX-Z2-EX |
high |
30.1 |
18.7 |
45.9 |
| nPowertek |
NPH-775-1 |
|
30.1 |
18.8 |
50.1 |
| Glacialtech |
Igloo 5710 Plus Silent |
|
30.2 |
18.5 |
39.3 |
| Glacialtech |
Igloo 5610 Silent |
|
30.4 |
17.1 |
44.7 |
| Sunon |
Waturbo |
|
30.6 |
18.3 |
57.5 |
| Auras |
CTC-868 (closed) |
|
31.0 |
18.6 |
48.7 |
| Akasa |
Revo (horizontal) |
high |
31.0 |
20.3 |
44.5 |
| Scythe |
Shuriken |
high |
31.4 |
18.8 |
38.2 |
| Apack |
CF800 |
high |
31.4 |
20.7 |
48.4 |
| Thermaltake |
Jungle512 |
high |
31.6 |
20.4 |
60.8 |
| Glacialtech |
UFO V51 Silent |
|
32.0 |
18.7 |
42.4 |
| Coolage |
Frozen Orb F0-Z924AL |
high |
32.0 |
19.9 |
48.9 |
| Xigmatek |
AIO-S80DP |
high |
32.4 |
21.4 |
55.0 |
| Scythe |
Katana II |
|
32.5 |
18.6 |
37.9 |
| Rosewill |
RCX-Z2 |
|
32.6 |
19.3 |
59.9 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7700-Cu |
high |
32.9 |
19.7 |
50.7 |
| Apack |
CF900 |
high |
32.9 |
20.3 |
48.3 |
| Evercool |
PT02-9232CP |
|
33.3 |
19.9 |
63.3 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7700-Cu LED |
high |
33.5 |
20.6 |
49.8 |
| Scythe |
Ninja Mini |
|
33.7 |
19.9 |
41.7 |
| Thermalright |
MST-977SLE |
|
33.8 |
20.0 |
46.5 |
| Intel |
Stock Pentium D |
high |
33.8 |
20.7 |
47.5 |
| Scythe |
Orochi SCORC-1000 |
|
34.0 |
20.8 |
27.8 |
| Zaward |
Gyre ZCJ010 |
high |
34.4 |
21.3 |
52.7 |
| Scythe |
Big Shuriken |
high |
34.6 |
22.1 |
39.6 |
| Thermolab |
TLI-S Micro Silencer |
|
34.7 |
19.2 |
52.0 |
| nPowerTek |
SF775-2 |
high |
34.7 |
21.1 |
64.6 |
| Asus |
Silent Knight 2 |
high |
34.9 |
21.4 |
46.2 |
| Glacialtech |
Igloo 5610 Plus Silent |
|
36.1 |
20.9 |
38.0 |
| Akasa |
AK-960E |
|
36.1 |
21.4 |
56.3 |
| Gigabyte |
Volar GH-PSV21-FB |
high |
36.3 |
22.1 |
56.1 |
| Auras |
SMF-660 |
|
36.4 |
23.0 |
43.4 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7500-Cu LED |
high |
36.4 |
22.9 |
50.9 |
| Thermalfly |
I75DUH |
|
37.8 |
22.8 |
48.7 |
| Nexus |
VCT-9000 |
high |
38.4 |
24.4 |
42.9 |
| Akasa |
AK-975CU |
high |
38.4 |
23.0 |
47.7 |
| Cooljag |
OAK-H |
high |
38.5 |
22.9 |
55.7 |
| Cooljag |
OAK-H2 |
high |
38.6 |
24.1 |
55.6 |
| LS Cable |
SHS-T700 |
|
38.7 |
22.8 |
48.5 |
| 3Rsystem |
Iceage 80 Prima Mini |
|
38.8 |
24.5 |
35.4 |
| Thermaltake |
ISGC-100 |
high |
39.5 |
24.6 |
45.5 |
| Arctic Cooling |
Alpine 11 Pro |
high |
40.0 |
24.7 |
46.1 |
| nPowertek |
NPH-775-140HC |
high |
40.2 |
24.8 |
56.7 |
| Arctic Cooling |
Alpine 7 Pro |
high |
40.5 |
23.8 |
44.1 |
| Intel |
Stock Core 2 Duo E4400 |
|
41.5 |
25.2 |
41.6 |
| Intel |
Stock Core 2 Duo |
|
49.2 |
29.0 |
36.7 |
| Thermolab |
TLI-U Nano Silencer |
|
50.4 |
28.8 |
48.3 |
| Glacialtech |
Igloo 5062 Cu Light |
|
50.6 |
29.7 |
45.2 |
| Arctic Cooling |
Freezer 7LP |
high |
53.1 |
31.2 |
46.1 |
| Silverstone |
NT07-775 |
high |
55.2 |
32.9 |
36.5 |
| Glacialtech |
Igloo 5063 Light E |
|
56.5 |
32.1 |
51.5 |
| Glacialtech |
Igloo 5063 Cu Silent E |
|
57.3 |
34.4 |
41.0 |
| Glacialtech |
Igloo 5057 E |
|
58.5 |
36.1 |
53.4 |
| Asus |
Triton 75 |
|
58.6 |
16.1 |
49.6 |
| Spire |
Fourier IV SP607B3-C |
|
63.6 |
18.7 |
60.2 |
| Asus |
Triton 85 |
high |
71.5+ |
16.2 |
41.1 |
| Glacialtech |
Igloo 5058 Light E |
|
73.8 |
39.9 |
48.5 |
|
|
|
150w
thermal test (°c) |
85w
thermal test (°c) |
noise level (dba) |
| *heatsinks are ranked according to the 150w 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. |
The heat output
from Intel processors varies, so Frostytech tests heatsinks with two thermal
loads that represent the upper limits of existing CPU families, 150W and 85W.
With a
150W heat load applied by the Intel LGA775 version of FrostyTech's synthetic
thermal test platform, the Noctua NH-D14 heatsink maintains an excellent result
of 14.5°C over ambient with both fans operating at full speed (1300/1200RPM
respectively, 48.1 dBa total noise). After both the NF-P12 and NF-P14 fans were
reduced to a speed of 900RPM, the test was run again while heat load was
maintained at 150W.
In this
scenario noise output decreased to 30.8 dBA while CPU die temperature only
increased to 17.0°C over ambient! For such a quiet
operating level the Noctua NH-D14 heatsink was able to keep test temperatures
remarkably low. Noctua's NH-D14 heatsink was then tested on the Frostytech
Mrk.II synthetic thermal test platform with an 85W heat load; akin to an Intel
Core 2 Duo or Core i5 processor.
As the
integrated heatspreader on a Core i5 CPU is the same size as the CPU test die
used for the LGA775 synthetic thermal test platform, the 85W results can be
considered indicative of LGA1156 heatsink performance.
In the 85W heat load test the Noctua NH-D14 heatsink had
no difficulties maintaining temperatures at an extremely low 8.7°C over ambient
with both fans operating at full speed, and 10.3°C over ambient with both fans
operating at 900RPM. Again, excellent performance cooling for just 30.8 dBA
noise output when the fans are spinning at 900RPM.
Worth
Getting or Better to Avoid?
The Noctua NH-D14 is a big performance heatsink that offers
excellent cooling of thermal loads of up to 150W with
relatively little noise output. The build quality is there (soldered joints),
the attention to detail is there (rubber wire fan clip retention grommets), the
engineering is there (as little as 30.8dBA real world sound output) and it
supports every current processor from Intel and AMD.
If your existing computer case can't accommodate its
161mm height, well... you ought to seriously consider getting a new case. Even
if you don't like the NH-D14, tower heatsinks are creeping up to 160mm and 165mm
heights as thermal solution companies strive for ever quieter, ever
better-performing CPU heatsinks.
Interestingly, Noctua's NH-D14 is one of very few
heatsinks that Frostytech has tested to yield such a small increase in
temperatures between maximum and minimum operating fan speeds. By configuring
both the NH-D14's fans to spin at 900RPM we saw near silent operation without
sacrificing more than 2-3C in cooling performance. That quite frankly is
fantastic. Bottom line, the Noctua NH-D14 heatsink is an excellent lower noise
cooler for both Intel/AMD platforms if your PC can accommodate its large
footprint. Highly recommended.
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