Phanteks PH-TC90LS Low Profile CPU Cooler Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging & Bundle3. The Phanteks PH-TC90LS CPU Cooler4. Testing Methodology5. Thermal Performance6. Acoustic Performance 7. Closing Thoughts8. View All Pages

An array of performance focused products from Phanteks has taken the high-end CPU cooling market by storm. Can Phanteks replicate its success when diverging into the low profile, SFF CPU cooling market?

With a maximum height of 45mm, Phanteks' PH-TC90LS low profile CPU cooler is designed to meet the requirements of HTPC and SFF users on Intel's mainstream, LGA 115X, and high-end, LGA 2011, platforms. A 15mm-thick, 92mm fan provides airflow to a low profile array of aluminium fins which are equipped with Phanteks' patented P.A.T.S coating.

Can the Phanteks PH-TC90LS prove itself as a worthy upgrade from Intel's reference cooler?

Specifications:

• CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA 115X and 2011.
• Dimensions (without fan): 95 x 95 x 27mm.
• Dimensions (with fan): 95 x 95 x 45mm.
• Fan compatibility: 92mm and 80mm (15mm thickness).
• Fan Speed: 2500 RPM.
• Fan airflow: 28.67 CFM.
• Fan Connector: 4-pin PWM.

The PH-TC90LS ships in Phanteks' trademark box that features a black and white colour scheme and a product image.

Each side of the box is equipped with plenty of information regarding the low profile, LGA 115x and 2011 CPU cooler.

Mounting hardware, fan clips, anti-vibration strips, and a large tube of thermal paste form the PH-TC90LS CPU cooler's supplied bundle.

Phanteks has decided not to supply the PH-TC90LS with a low-noise adapter, instead relying upon the speed-adjusting operation of the fan's 4-pin PWM header.

A pair of installation manuals outlines the fitting procedure in a number of languages.

Measuring in at 95 x 95 x 27mm and with a weight of 235g, the TC90LS heatsink's compressed design should allow it to fit in even the most confined environments.

Four sections of the P.A.T.S-coated aluminium fin array are removed at each corner to allow space for the mounting holes and screws.

Phanteks also uses its C.P.S.C, or Cold Plasma Spraying Coating, technology on the PH-TC90LS CPU cooler. According to the company, the coating can allow thermal energy to be transferred at an increased rate.

P.A.T.S (Physical Antioxidant Thermal Shield) is claimed by Phanteks as a coating technology that allows heat from external sources such as a graphics card or memory to be blocked, hence not allowing it to enter the CPU cooler's thermal system. Theoretically, this is a good idea and design choice, but we'll wait to see if the performance figures back-up that point.

A nickel-plated copper base transfers thermal energy from an LGA 115X or 2011 CPU's heatspreader to the PH-TC90LS cooler. The base is an almost-uniform piece of metal that features a 2.5mm protrusion which allows contact to be made with the CPU.

This type of design allows the entire base to act as a medium from which heat can be directly transferred to the fin array. It is similar to a heatpipe's function, but is more of a direct approach, although that's not to say its conduction rates are any better or worse than those of a ‘standard' heatpipe.

Despite its base design, the PH-TC90LS uses a pair of flattened heatpipes embedded in the base to transfer heat to the fin array's outer edges.

A pair of rubber strips is used to damp vibrations that are caused by the fan and prevent them from accessing the CPU cooler's metal structures. The strips are fastened to the cooler by pre-applied sticky tape.

Phanteks uses the same fan clip system that is present on its other CPU coolers, just this time it's smaller. The method requires plastic adapters to be pushed through the fan's mounting holes, before a metal fan clip is then slipped through the adapters' fastening slits.

The method takes some getting used to and has proven to be awkward to use on Phanteks' larger models. Now that it is being implemented on a low profile product, the fiddly procedure is made even trickier by slight interferences with the fan's frame.

Once connected, the clips are perfectly capable of securing the fan's weight.

With the 92 x 92 x 15mm PH-F90 fan attached, the PH-TC90LS CPU cooler's height is extended to 45mm. A channel cut into either side of the aluminium fin array provides a point that the fan clips can be secured to.

We are happy to see Phanteks using a sturdy metal backplate, despite this cooler's lightweight design. Extra support from a well-designed backplate is always a welcomed feature.

 

Four spring-loaded screws hold the low profile CPU cooler firmly in position.

 

When finally mounted, the PH-TC90LS CPU cooler's diminutive dimensions are evident. The only real area where interference could possibly occur would be from the 45mm height when very small cases are used or other components cause interference.

Mini-ITX motherboards that don't abide by Intel's ‘keep-out' zone around the CPU socket could also foul the cooler, but that's more of a motherboard issue.

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 4.0GHz (40x multiplier, 100MHz base clock) using a BIOS-set voltage of 1.200V.
• The cooler's fan(s) 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 19°C.

Acoustic Performance Test Procedures:

• We measure the noise output of our entire system from a distance of 1m while the CPU cooler's fan(s) 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), 1x 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: Supplied Phanteks PH-NDC thermal compound.

Software:

• CPUID HWMonitor.
• Core Temp (additional certification).
• Prime95.
• Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.

We compared the Phanteks PH-TC90LS CPU cooler to Noctua's NH-L9i and the reference Intel cooler as supplied with our Core i5 3570K CPU.

Our graphs show actual temperatures of the CPU, not delta temperatures.

Ambient temperature was maintained at 19°C.

At both stock and overclocked CPU frequencies, we see the Phanteks PH-TC90LS cooler's performance sat between that of Intel's reference Core i5 3570K heatsink and Noctua's smaller NH-L9i.

Phanteks' model manages to outperform the Intel heatsink by a narrow margin, but the load cooling performance of Noctua's 8mm-shorter NH-L9i is 3°C better in both tests.

We were expecting to see the Phanteks cooler offer a greater performance increase over the stock CPU cooler. The PH-TC90LS is designed for use in confined SFF systems where airflow isn't high – the type of environment which poses a tough task for Intel's reference heatsink.

With our test system's high-airflow NZXT Phantom case, the performance gap between each cooler is compressed, as each model receives a large amount of air. This is likely to have an effect on the perceived performance increase of Phanteks' PH-TC90LS which is specifically designed for use in confined spaces.

We measured the noise output of our entire system from a distance of 1m while the CPU cooler's fan(s) operate at 100% (indicating the maximum noise output).

Lower noise levels can be achieved by utilising the Phanteks PH-TC90LS CPU cooler's 4-pin PWM operated fan with a dynamic profile.

The 2,500 rpm Phanteks PH-F90 fan is slightly louder than the NF-A9x14 model used on Noctua's NH-L9i and noticeably more audible than the unit on Intel's Core i5 3570K heatsink.

Lower noise outputs can be achieved by utilising the PH-F90 fan's PWM operation, but not via a low-noise adapter as Phanteks decides not to supply one.

The Phanteks PH-TC90LS is a solid low profile CPU cooler that had the ability to effectively cool our moderately overclocked Core i5 3570K processor.

During testing, the maximum task that we presented the PH-TC90LS CPU cooler with was a 4.0GHz Core i5 3570K at a voltage of 1.200V. While you may be able to get a little extra frequency out of 1.2 volts, we would be reluctant to increase the voltage any higher as the load temperatures were already peaking at 85°C. Use an LGA 2011 CPU and the overclocking headroom will be slashed as voltages will have to remain at near-stock levels.

While heavy or even moderate overclocking isn't what the PH-TC90LS low profile CPU cooler is designed for, Noctua's smaller NH-L9i offered better cooling performance in both tests, and Intel's ‘free' Core i5 3570K heatsink was only narrowly beaten by the Phanteks solution. While this is a rather disappointing result, our test system isn't representative of the type of environment that the PH-TC90LS is likely to operate in. With a more confined case that offers lower airflow, the unique technologies such as P.A.T.S and C.P.S.C may allow Phanteks' PH-TC90LS to widen its performance lead over Intel's unoptimized heatsink.

Maximum noise output of Phanteks' PH-F90 fan is bearable for everyday usage and very close to that of the model used on Noctua's NH-L9i cooler. Phanteks doesn't include a low-noise adapter, so a decreased acoustic output is the PWM operation's responsibility. We think that providing a cheap low-noise adapter which has the ability to cap maximum fan revolutions, while still working with a PWM operation, would have been a good idea.

Installation of the PH-TC90LS heatsink is a straightforward and effective procedure. Phanteks has carried its simple and secure installation traits over to this low profile model. Installing the fan can be slightly trickier, however. The method of attaching the fan clips takes some practise to master, and even then it can still be considered a fiddly procedure.

Priced at £29.99 from OverclockersUK, the Phanteks PH-TC90LS is cheap enough to appeal to much of its target audience, but not so expensive that most shoppers are alienated by its price. Noctua's NH-L9i is available for £5 more but also offers better cooling performance and a shorter design, making it a tough competitor.

With our test results showing only a slight performance boost over Intel's ‘free' reference heatsink, it is difficult to justify spending £29.99 on Phanteks' PH-TC90LS for a minor temperature decrease. On the other hand, that minor temperature decrease could spell the difference between stability and thermal throttling for SFF users with low-airflow cases.

If enhanced cooling performance is an absolute requirement for a HTPC or SFF system, we would recommend spending an extra £5 over Phanteks' PH-TC90LS to get Noctua's better-performing and shorter NH-L9i.

Pros:

• Can cool an overclocked Core i5 3570K.
• Sturdy installation.
• Also compatible with 80mm fans.
• 5 year warranty.

Cons:

• Only a slight performance boost over Intel's reference Core i5 3570K cooler.
• Priced too closely to tough competitors.
• No low-noise adapter.
• Limited compatibility – LGA 115X and 2011 only.

KitGuru says: A slight performance boost over the reference Intel heatsink, but better coolers can be had for a similar price.

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