Viewing page 5 of 5 pages.
Previous 1 2 3 4 5
Comparison Chart
|
°C rise Comparison
|
|
Heatsink
|
Nexus 120mm fan voltage /
SPL @1m
|
|
12V
|
9V
|
7V
|
|
16 dBA
|
13 dBA
|
12 dBA
|
|
Prolimatech Megahalems
|
38
|
41
|
44
|
|
Noctua NH-D14
|
38
|
42
|
45
|
|
Noctua NH-U12P
|
39
|
42
|
44
|
|
Scythe Mugen-2
|
39
|
42
|
45
|
|
Cogage TRUE Spirit 1366
|
40
|
42
|
45
|
|
Prolimatech Armageddon
|
40
|
42
|
46
|
|
Zalman CNPS10X Quiet
|
40
|
43
|
46
|
|
Thermalright U120 eXtreme
|
40
|
43
|
48
|
|
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
|
41
|
44
|
48
|
|
Scythe Grand Kama Cross
(Stock 140 mm fan)
|
17 dBA (9V)
|
14 dBA (8V)
|
11~12 dBA (7V)
|
|
41
|
44
|
49
|
|
Thermalright U120
|
42
|
45
|
49
|
|
Titan Fenrir
|
43
|
46
|
50
|
|
Noctua NH-C12P
|
43
|
47
|
51
|
|
Zalman CNPS10X Extreme
|
43
|
47
|
53
|
|
Zalman CNPS10X Flex
|
45
|
50
|
54
|
|
Cooler Master V8
|
46
|
50
|
54
|
|
Scythe Grand Kama Cross
|
45
|
52
|
57
|
|
Scythe Kabuto
|
51
|
53
|
60
|
The large, efficient stock fan of the Grand Kama Cross propels it past the
Noctua NH-C12P as
our best top-down cooler, and challenges some of the better tower heatsinks.
When paired with our reference 120 mm fan, it drops far down in the chart, but
still dishes out a severe beat-down to the Scythe
Kabuto.
It may not be as effective when it comes to cooling the components around
the socket though, as the height of the heatsink without the fan is 112 mm,
compared to 91 mm for the Noctua NH-C12P. The Noctua's fan, though smaller,
is closer to the PCB by almost an inch, and the closer proximity may have an
impact on cooling effectiveness of the motherboard components.
MP3 SOUND RECORDINGS
These recordings were made with a high
resolution, lab quality, digital recording system inside SPCR's
own 11 dBA ambient anechoic chamber, then converted to LAME 128kbps
encoded MP3s. We've listened long and hard to ensure there is no audible degradation
from the original WAV files to these MP3s. They represent a quick snapshot of
what we heard during the review.
The recordings are intended to give you an idea of how the product sounds in
actual use — one meter is a reasonable typical distance between a computer
or computer component and your ear. The recording contains stretches of ambient
noise that you can use to judge the relative loudness of the subject. Be aware
that very quiet subjects may not be audible — if we couldn't hear it from
one meter, chances are we couldn't record it either!
The recording starts with 5~10 second segments of room ambiance, then the fan
at various levels. For the most realistic results, set the volume so that
the starting ambient level is just barely audible, then don't change the volume
setting again.
FINAL THOUGHTS
We were skeptical at first about how well the Scythe Grand Kama Cross would
perform due to its relatively modest surface area and tightly spaced fins—
this combination typically spells lower performance for quiet CPU cooling. These
fears proved to be unfounded as the GKC performed very well on our testbed,
even rivalling some very successful tower coolers. The included 140 mm Slip
Stream fan is probably the best stock fan that ships with any heatsink, both
in terms of performance and acoustics. Our only criticism is the traditional
mounting methods used for this big heatsink. A metal backplate with bolts is
strongly recommended for a cooler of its size and weight. We wish Scythe would
retool the mounting systems for all its big coolers.
The Grand Kama Cross delivered the best CPU cooling for a down-blowing heatsink
on our LGA1366 test bed to date, but the Noctua
NH-C12P may be the better top-down cooler overall. Though more expensive
and equipped with an inferior fan, the Noctua heatsink mounting system is immeasurably
better and its shorter stature puts its fan closer to the socket and surrounding
components by almost an inch. Of course, the Noctua is also most costly. If
you care only about CPU temperature, the Grand Kama Cross is the better choice
of the two, but budget tower coolers like the Cogage
TRUE Spirit or Cooler Master
Hyper 212 Plus are also viable alternatives.
|
Scythe Grand Kama Cross
|
PROS
* Excellent stock fan
* Good performance
* Well priced
|
CONS
* Traditional mounting schemes
* A bit tall for a top-down cooler |
Our thanks to Scythe
Co., Ltd. and for the Grand Kama Cross heatsink sample.
* * *
Articles of Related Interest
Titan Fenrir & Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus: Direct Touch Revisited
Corsair Hydro H50 CPU Water Cooler
Prolimatech Armageddon & Coolermaster
V8 CPU Coolers
Cogage TRUE Spirit
& Zalman CNPS10X Quiet CPU Coolers
SPCR's 2010 CPU Heatsink
Test Platform [UPDATED: 10 April 2010]
Zalman CNPS10X Flex CPU Cooler
* * *
Discuss
this article in the SPCR forums.
| Help support this site, buy from one of our affiliate retailers! |
|
