FrostyTech Mk.III Synthetic Thermal Heatsink Test Results Intel Core i7, Extreme Edition class heatsinks tested at a 200W heat load. Results based on readings from a 38x38mm copper interface die with 200W heat load on the Intel version of the Mk.III 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 LGA2011/1366 compatible CPU heatsinks
manufacturer:	model no.:	*fan speed:	200w thermal test (°c)	noise level (dba)
Coolermaster	Nepton 280L	high	10.6	58.8
Coolermaster	Nepton 140XL	high	11.8	59.6
Coolermaster	Seidon 240M	high	13.4	55.6
Silverstone	Tundra TD02	high	13.6	53.0
Coolermaster	Nepton 280L	low	14.1	42.0
Coolermaster	Glacer 240L	high	14.1	52.5
NZXT	Kraken X60	high	14.5	60.7
Noctua	NH-U14S		17.0	47.3
Coolermaster	Seidon 120V	high	17.5	54.3
NZXT	Kraken X40	high	18.2	59.4
Silverstone	Tundra TD03	high	18.7	58.1
Silverstone	Argon AR01	high	18.8	53.0
Coolermaster	Eisberg 240L	high	19.1	50.5
Raijintek	Themis	high	19.7	52.8
Coolermaster	V8 GTS	high	20.0	59.7
Corsair	Hydro H80i	high	21.1	64.0
Noctua	NH-U12S		21.1	46.2
Raijintek	Ereboss	high	21.4	49.7
Zalman	Reserator 3 Max	high	21.6	58.9
Scythe	Mugen 4	high	21.7	41.9
Zalman	LQ315	high	21.9	50.8
Silverstone	NT06-P	high	22.1	51.6
Raijintek	Aidos	high	23.0	55.6
Zalman	LQ310	high	23.8	52.7
Zalman	LQ320	high	25.5	50.2
Silverstone	NT01-Pro	high	35.8	40.4
			200w 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.

frostytech's socket LGA2011 Intel synthetic thermal test platform stresses socket LGA2011/1366 compatible heatsinks with a 200W heat load. Keep in mind that the AMD Integrated Heat Spreader and Intel LGA2011 Integrated Heat Spreader both measure ~38x38mm, so these test results can be extrapolated to AMD processor scenario's as well.

With a 200W heat load applied by the Intel LGA2011/1366 version of FrostyTech's synthetic thermal test platform, the Coolermaster Nepton 280L yields an excellent temperature result of just 10.6°C over ambient at stock fan speed. Reducing the speed of the Nepton 280L's twin 140mm PWM fans to 800RPM caused test temperatures to increase to 14.1°C over ambient.

Clearly, there's no mistaking the fact that Cooler Master's Nepton 280L is the best performing self contained CPU liquid cooler we've yet tested!

Even with a 200W heat load applied, the Nepton 280L is hardly what you'd call, 'taxed.' When its twin 140mm fans are dialed back to 800RPM, no other CPU cooler comes close its thermal performance and quiet (or quieter) 42.0 dBA noise output.

Ultimately, Coolermaster's Nepton 280L rose to the top of each chart by a minimum of 0.1°C and maximum of 1.2°C improvement over the next best performing thermal solution. While the raw numbers do trend towards the Nepton 280L's prowess, we're looking at a difference of less than half a degree on one test platform (Intel LGA115x/775 platform) which can easily be gobbled up by any number of manufacturing or installation variables.

On the larger IHS die of Intel LGA2011 and AMD platforms, the Nepton 280L maintained its lead by a solid 1.0°C - 1.2°C. In other words, if you're running an AMD socket AM3 gaming system or Intel socket LGA2011 power house, the Nepton 280L self-contained liquid cooling solution is really well suited to these large integrated heat spreader processors.

Cooler Master have a real winner in the Nepton 280L all-in-one CPU liquid cooler. Highly recommended.

We've come a long way from extruded aluminum heatsinks...

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