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 LGA2011-3 / 2011 /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
DeepCool	Maelstrom 240	high	13.8	58.6
Coolermaster	Glacer 240L	high	14.1	52.5
NZXT	Kraken X60	high	14.5	60.7
Coolermaster	Nepton 240M	high	15.1	50.6
Noctua	NH-D15	high	15.8	49.8
Noctua	NH-U14S		17.0	47.3
Coolermaster	Seidon 120V	high	17.5	54.3
NZXT	Kraken X40	high	18.2	59.4
Reeven	Okeanos RC-1402	high	18.3	54.2
Reeven	Ouranos RC-1401	high	18.4	52.5
Silverstone	Tundra TD03	high	18.7	58.1
Silverstone	Argon AR01	high	18.8	53.0
X2 Products	Eclipse IV	high	19.1	57.4
Coolermaster	Eisberg 240L	high	19.1	50.5
Reeven	Justice RC-1204	high	19.2	48.5
BeQuiet	Dark Rock Pro 3	high	19.5	43.7
Raijintek	Themis	high	19.7	52.8
Coolermaster	V8 GTS	high	20.0	59.7
BeQuiet	Dark Rock 3	high	20.9	41.8
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	Pallas	high	22.2	43.2
DeepCool	Gamer Storm Lucifer	high	23.0	52.5
Raijintek	Aidos	high	23.0	55.6
Reeven	Hans RC-1205	high	23.1	49.4
Silentium	Fera2 HE1224	high	23.4	37.6
Zalman	LQ310	high	23.8	52.7
Coolermaster	Hyper D92	high	24.1	53.4
Scythe	Ashura Shadow (SCASR-1000SE)	high	24.2	51.4
Raijintek	Tisis	high	24.6	47.8
Noctua	NH-U9S (+2nd Fan)		24.7	48.1
BeQuiet	Shadow Rock Slim	high	24.7	40.4
BeQuiet	Shadow Rock 2	high	24.9	43.3
Zalman	LQ320	high	25.5	50.2
ID-Cooling	SE-214X	high	26.5	46.3
BeQuiet	PureRock		27.9	42.9
npowertek	NPH-1366-115HC (LGA1366)	high	28.7	44.8
Dynatron	G556 (LGA1366/2U)		29.1	68.4
Noctua	NH-U9S		30.2	44.3
Dynatron	G555 (LGA1366/2U)		30.4	67.8
Dynatron	G666 (LGA1366/2U)		31.8	68.7
Noctua	NH-D9L		32.0	43.2
Noctua	NH-D9DXi4 3U		34.9	44.6
Silverstone	NT01-Pro	high	35.8	40.4
nPowerTek	NPH1366-140HC (LGA1366)	high	36.3	48.1
Zalman	FX-100 (w/h ZM-F2 fan)		36.9	28.5
Dynatron	G199 (LGA1366/1U)		47.6	62.6
Zalman	FX-100 (hor, ver)		63.0	0.0
			200w thermal test (°c)	noise level (dba)
*heatsinks are ranked according to the 200w 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 Noctua NH-U9S heatsink yields an average temperature result of 30.2°C over ambient at stock fan speed (2000RPM / 44.3dBA).

Adding a second NF-A9 fan to the rear of the NH-U9S heatsink dropped the synthetic CPU interface die by 5.5°C to 24.7°C over ambient. Noise output increased to 48.1 dBA with both fans.

Relative to sub-125mm tall Intel LGA2011 heatsinks, the Noctua NH-U9S is about 8.1°C warmer than the Silverstone NT06-P heatsink which is 100mm tall, but has a larger footprint of 140x147mm. The NH-U9S heatsink with dual fans is only 2.6°C warmer than the NT06-P, but runs quieter and has a footprint of just 95x122mm.

To sum up, Noctua have created a very well performing heatsink if size restrictions are the primary concern. Against the full force of the heatsink reference chart, the Noctua NH-U9S heatsink quite plainly offers up quiet, but average cooling performance. Where sub 125mm tall heatsinks are specifically concerned, the NH-U9S is within a few degrees of the best performing coolers Frostytech has tested thus far. Nice.

What we're unable to readily compare in the heatsink reference chart are sub-125mm tall heatsinks with a horizontal footprint no greater than 125mmx125mm... but I'll try here.

If we consider all heatsinks shorter than 125mm height, with no horizontal dimension greater than 125mm, the NH-U9S heatsink comes out just behind the Noctua NH-D9L with twin fans and NH-U9S with dual fans, on the 200W LGA2011 synthetic thermal test platform.

The situation is largely the same for the LGA115x platform when the same height and footprint restrictions are considered; the NH-U9S with dual fans is right behind the much louder Zerotherm Core92 and NH-D9L coolers. The stock, single fan Noctua NH-U9S heatsink is only ~4.7°C warmer than the Core92, but 9.1 dBA quieter.

On the AMD platform, the NH-U9S heatsink with dual fans is at the top of the list where these height and footprint size restrictions are considered; the stock NH-U9S runs about 3.6°C warmer, here.

Given these height and footprint size restrictions, the Noctua NH-U9S is a pretty quiet heatsink that offers very good thermal performance in the sub-125mm tall heatsink category, making it an excellent choice for PCs which are severely space limited. The results are enhanced by adding a second fan, as we've shown over the course of this review. Couple that with awesome build quality and a 6 year warranty and it's not hard to recommend this cooler.

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