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Our overclocked test is the main stress test and represents a very tough challenge for these CPU coolers. As we are locking the voltage and clock speed, the temperature figures are directly comparable between competing coolers.
We see package powers in the order of 220W for the CPU and wall power levels that exceed 300W for the system. There is a caveat whereby lesser performing coolers force the CPU to run at higher temperature levels. This, in turn, reduces the operating efficiency and dictates that the CPU draws more power. This increased power draw results in higher operating temperatures, thus further negatively affecting the thermal performance.
This small degree of thermal runaway – albeit very limited in system divergence terms – is important with our manually overclocked 5950X CPU. It perhaps seems unfairly weighted against the lesser performing CPU coolers. But it is the reality of real-world operation whereby higher performing CPU coolers can sometimes show disproportionately better temperature performance at the higher thermal load levels.
Note the use of delta temperature data in our charts and factor in your own ambient conditions for reference.
As expected, the lower noise output delivered by slower and lesser airflow fans does come with a cooling compromise.
We won’t be too harsh in this respect as the balance between noise and performance does look to be incredibly strong. But with a 63C delta in our testing, the 360mm Arctic AIO is behind the curve for competing 360mm and even higher end 240mm AIOs.
This is certainly something to bear in mind, especially if your system has an overclocked CPU that demands high-performance cooling (not just noise-balanced operation) from time to time.
