[section_title title=”Test Setup”]Test Setup
CPU – Intel i7 4770kMotherboard – ASUS Z97-K
Memory – Kingston HyperX Beast 8GB (2x4GB) 2400MHz
Graphics – ASUS GTX 770
Cooler – SilverStone AR05 Storage – Corsair Neutron 128GB PSU – Corsair AX760
Acoustic performance
Each cooler will be tested at night as it is naturally the quietest time of the day. A decibel monitor is placed at 30cm away from the cooler which is much closer than you would probably be sitting but it allows for consistent readings in my eyes. The system is left to idle for five minutes to ensure it is at its most rested work load and then the readings are taken. The fans are on PWM mode rather than ‘x’ volts as some fans will not spin without it getting its start voltage. The PWM curves are set to the default ones that are supplied by the ASUS Z97-K’s BIOS.
To find out how much noise the fan(s) will make under a full loading, I plug them straight into a 12v line to ensure that they are running at full speed to give you an idea of how much noise is created at maximum RPM ranges.
Thermal performance
Thermal performance is judged on four factors overall; the idle temperature at stock and overclocked speeds as well as the loaded temperatures at stock and loaded speeds. During the testing, whether that be the idle or loaded testing, the system is either in idle or full load for a duration of five minutes before any readings are taken. The average temperature across all four cores is then noted down and used as the results. All room temperatures are recorded beforehand as well as during the test to ensure that the delta temperature is as accurate as possible.
@play3r Thanks for the review – i have this cooler and it works great in my mini-ITX build (which also uses the ML06-E you reviewed earlier this summe).. Needless to say its a REALLY tight fit getting everything in there. It’s especially cramped now since I installed a GTX 750 Ti by Gigabyte.
Do you think its possible to replace the CPU by removing the heatsink / fan from the top side? I really don’t want to take everything out of the case just to access the back of the mobo.
Always appreciate nice comments, thank you! In regards to your question, you can do it, I rarely remove the backplates when re-applying new thermal paste etc! It will work if the mounting mechanism doesn’t cover the CPU hold down on the motherboard!