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In this review we are overclocking the Core i7 3770k to 4.8ghz with voltage set at 1.31V. This is a hot running processor when the voltage is cranked to 1.3, so it is a good test of the ultimate performance of the coolers on test today. As a reference point, all coolers maintained sub 45c load temperatures of the 3770k at reference speeds and voltages.
Test System:
Processor: Intel Core i7 3770k
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H
Memory: G.Skill Trident 8GB
Graphics Card: AMD HD7870
Power Supply: ADATA 1200W.
Optical Drive: Asus BluRay Drive.
Chassis: Cooler Master Cosmos 2.
Monitors: Dell U3011.
Boot Drive: Kingston SSDNow V+200 90GB.
Storage Drive: Patriot 240GB Wildfire.
Comparison Coolers:
Noctua NH D14
Phanteks PH-TC14PE
To test the performance of the coolers, we loaded the system in a loop of CineBench R11.5 64 bit and recorded the maximum temperature from a diode we attached to the CPU core. Processor idle temperatures were measured after 30 minutes with no active programs running in the operating system. All heatsink fan speeds were set on maximum.
Room temperature was measured at 20c throughout the duration of the test phase. We used the same high grade Arctic Cooling thermal paste on all coolers to ensure this wasn't a variable.
It proved very difficult to separate the cooler performance as shown above. The Frio Extreme and Phanteks PH-TC14PE delivered almost identical results.
We therefore pushed things a step further and increased core voltage to 1.35v, a fairly dangerous level we won't recommend at home for this processor unless you are using liquid cooling. The purpose of this test however is to see if we can measure any increased variable between coolers at these settings.
Almost a degree of difference between the Frio Extreme and the Phanteks PH-TC14PE at these crazy settings. Interesting to see the Noctua NH D14 suffering a little at these settings.
