Thermal Performance Test Procedures:
- Idle temperatures are obtained after sitting at the desktop for 15 minutes.
- Load temperatures are obtained after running Prime95 in the ‘Small FFTs' mode for 15 minutes.
- We repeated testing with our CPU overclocked to 4.6GHz (46x multiplier, 100MHz base clock) using a BIOS-set voltage of 1.300V.
- The cooler's fans are set to 100% to eliminate inaccuracies due to dynamic PWM fan speed adjustments.
- The supplied thermal paste is used to provide an accurate interpretation of the cooler's out-of-the-box performance.
- We use HWMonitor to measure the CPU temperature.
- CPU temperature recording is accurate to +/- 0.5°C.
- Ambient temperature recording is accurate to +/- 0.05°C.
- Ambient temperature was maintained at 21°C.
Acoustic Performance Test Procedures:
- We measure the noise output of our entire system from a distance of 1m while the CPU cooler's fans operate at 100% (indicating the maximum noise output).
- We set the case fans to minimum speed (hence noise) and avoid using a discrete GPU to isolate the CPU cooler's noise output.
Test System:
- Processor: Intel Core i5 3570K.
- Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V.
- Memory: 8GB DDR3 1333MHz.
- Case: NZXT Phantom.
- Cooling Fans: 1x 120mm 1900 RPM Scythe Kaze Jyuni (front intake), 2x 120mm NZXT (side intake), 1x 120mm NZXT (rear exhaust), 1x 200mm NZXT (roof exhaust)
- Graphics card: On-board.
- Power supply: 1000W Seasonic Platinum-1000.
- Storage drives: 128GB Kingston V100 (OS), 1TB Samsung F3, 300GB Western Digital Caviar.
- Thermal Paste: As supplied with the cooler.
Software:
- CPUID HWMonitor.
- Core Temp (additional certification).
- Prime95.
- Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.
fantastic ! great job Sapphire…..
They make some good products. I like a cooler with lower noise, im not that bothered about ‘cutting edge performance’.
I really like this, it can compete with the new frio, but its quieter. thats a win to me……
Bit expensive though as Luke said 🙁
Its a little overpriced, but I agree, it looks like a nice, well designed cooler.
I could be wrong, but does anyone know if this is the same vapour chamber as the TPC 812 CM? looks like it to me…..
If they got that down to £44.99 or £39.99 it would sell well. Not sure its offering a great performance to price ratio right now.
I do like it, but I like the frio too. Thermaltake supply sh*tty fans however.
This is using the same dramatically shaped fans they use on their graphics cards which is helping to reduce the noise. I agree, excellent cooler Sapphire.
But once they get outside graphics cards, their prices are really not very competitive. Their motherobards for instance are often £10-£20 more expensive. I appreciate their volumes are lower, but it gives me little incentive to pay more money than competitors.
its a problem for them, this CPU cooling market is ruthless on price today.
I might buy this actually, ive been a FRIO fan for years, but every time I buy a thermaltake cooler, their fans fail, or make just too much bloody noise. I hate companies who skimp on fans. its such an important part of these items.
I was going to get the Corsair H80i, but I might save a few quid, if this is quiet too.