CPU Cooler Test System Update 2021

[crazyeyesreaper]

With new hardware comes the need for test system updates, and we have instituted a massive overhaul of the testing process for CPU coolers. The biggest change is the addition of an AMD test bench alongside Intel so we can provide you with a better look at the performance offered. Not to mention we added noise normalized results, too!

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[Xuper]

hmm , deepcool assassin iii's performance is amazing.

 

[dj-electric]

*falls on knees in an act of relief*
ahhh, noise normalized tests
Sweet freedom

 

[Battler624]

Is this gonna get updated over time? Because honestly I would love to see the arctic stuff

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Very nice update! Keep up the good work.

 

[rlifeh]

Great work techpowerup ! nice update
my eyes following ID Cooling 224 XT basic, really amazing results!
but I use ID Cooling SE-207 on ryzen 3100

 

[Timelessest]

Thanks for the review!
Will you include Silverstone PF360 in the future? I am shameless asking because I have one

 

[Caring1]

I would have liked to see some iTX compatible coolers in the mix, but you did say mainstream.
Saying that, the Deepcool Castle is value king (for A.I.O.s) and right up there at the top for performance, if I hadn't just bought a Noctua L9a Chromax I would definitely purchase that beast.

 

[jamexman]

You need to add Arctic cooling Liquid freezer 2 AIOs in this mix, they will probably blow the other AIOs out of the water (pun intended), since its the only AIO with a thicker 38mm rad, whereas all the other ones use a slimmer rad... For the prize and simplicity, I think its the best AIO out there. I have the 360mm and couldn't be happier. The only gripe is their AM4 mounting system, you need 3 arms to mount it lol.

 

[Mussels]

As a dark rock slim owner, i'm still stunned at how well a slim 120mm air cooler can do


Oh it'd be great if the results images contained the CPU and not just the top of the page - so when people snag these images to spread around the web they contain the relevant info (CPU model, clock speed, coolers, temps)

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

I would have liked to see some iTX compatible coolers in the mix, but you did say mainstream.
Saying that, the Deepcool Castle is value king (for A.I.O.s) and right up there at the top for performance, if I hadn't just bought a Noctua L9a Chromax I would definitely purchase that beast.

Uh there is? Cryorig C7 cu / Scythe Shuriken 2 say hello.

 

[nguyen]

Wow the dirt cheap ID-Cooling SE224 can handle a stock stock even slightly OCed 10900K? highly impressive since these cooler are only 20usd in my country.
The ID-Cooling SE224 should be the go to cooler for mainstream build with 6-8cores CPU.

 

[Arcdar]

Really awesome work - and I bet this was lots of it. Not only creating the new overviews but also designing the systems and going through all testing again to create this baseline for future comparison testing

Thanks for this amount of attention to detail and all the hours invested

(now I'm just sad that the H115I from Corsair is not in the mix anymore.... wish I'd still have a reference point if it's worth it upgrading from my 280 solution at some point )

 

[BSim500]

Nice update, especially the "noise normalized temperatures", I don't think I've seen any other site do that. One question though - how do you measure TDP limited low profile stuff, eg, Noctua L9I/A designed for slim cases is rated at 65w, do you test stuff like that outside of manufacturer recommendations or have some other methodology for low wattage ITX coolers?

 

[LTUGamer]

Wow the dirt cheap ID-Cooling SE224 can handle a stock stock even slightly OCed 10900K? highly impressive since these cooler are only 20usd in my country.
The ID-Cooling SE224 should be the go to cooler for mainstream build with 6-8cores CPU.

Fact is that most 120mm CPU coolers are having the best price and performance ratio and are OK for any CPU without extreme overclocking

 

[Caring1]

Uh there is? Cryorig C7 cu / Scythe Shuriken 2 say hello.

Kewl, I stand corrected.
The Cryorig didn't show in searches when I recently compared and ultimately bought a Noctua L9a, the Shuriken was too big still (height) despite being designated for iTX.

Edit, the Cryorig C7 Graphene coated version is sexy as and has an increased TDP of 125W

 

[Nuckles56]

As a dark rock slim owner, i'm still stunned at how well a slim 120mm air cooler can do


Oh it'd be great if the results images contained the CPU and not just the top of the page - so when people snag these images to spread around the web they contain the relevant info (CPU model, clock speed, coolers, temps)

Same here, it's a great cooler considering it's only a slim cooler. It does quite well on top of my 3700x

 

[Deleted member 197223]

Lian Li GALAHAD is a decent cooler although I went with the 360 one. Highly recommended regardless!

 

[bug]

Is this gonna get updated over time? Because honestly I would love to see the arctic stuff

Me too, but for some reason TPU just doesn't test Arctic

Also, it's interesting AMD throttles with more coolers than Intel does. And we're looking at a 3900X, the 5800X seems to be a little bit tougher to handle.

 

[Mussels]

Me too, but for some reason TPU just doesn't test Arctic

Also, it's interesting AMD throttles with more coolers than Intel does. And we're looking at a 3900X, the 5800X seems to be a little bit tougher to handle.

intel puts out more heat, AMD is harder to cool

pretty good summary of the state of things since zen 2

 

[bug]

intel puts out more heat, AMD is harder to cool

That is... counterintuitive?

 

[Mussels]

That is... counterintuitive?

How so?
A candle is 1400C, my oven is 200C - yet the candle is much slower to cook a roast, and definitely slower at heating a room


The AMD's have a lesser amount of heat, condensed into a smaller area

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Thermal density on amd is higher making heat transfer more of an issue..... Intel is using a much larger die comparatively and probably has the better designed ihs. Is my take on it anyways.

 

[Mussels]

Thermal density on amd is higher making heat transfer more of an issue..... Intel is using a much larger die comparatively and probably has the better designed ihs. Is my take on it anyways.

regardless of intel having a better IHS design (no one knows) the answer is the same - AMD needs a better IHS and better die soldering to combat this issue.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

regardless of intel having a better IHS design (no one knows) the answer is the same - AMD needs a better IHS and better die soldering to combat this issue.

Intels 10nm should be similarly dense so I guess when Alderlake drops we will see who is better at it.

It'll be interesting when amd transitions to 6nm or 5nm how hard their chips will be to cool then.