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Sapphire Vapor-X CPU Cooler Review

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.

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8 comments

  1. fantastic ! great job Sapphire…..

  2. They make some good products. I like a cooler with lower noise, im not that bothered about ‘cutting edge performance’.

  3. 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 🙁

  4. Its a little overpriced, but I agree, it looks like a nice, well designed cooler.

  5. 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…..

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.