Viewing page 5 of 5 pages.
Previous 1 2 3 4 5
Heatsink Comparison Tables
|
Single Fan CPU Coolers (ref. 120mm fan): °C Rise Comparison
|
|
Heatsink
|
Fan voltage / SPL @1m
|
|
12V
|
9V
|
7V
|
|
16 dBA
|
13 dBA
|
12 dBA
|
|
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme Rev.C
|
38
|
40
|
43
|
|
Thermalright Venomous X
|
38
|
41
|
43
|
|
Prolimatech Megahalems
|
38
|
41
|
44
|
|
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
|
|
Scythe Yasya
|
41
|
43
|
47
|
|
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme
|
40
|
43
|
48
|
|
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
|
41
|
44
|
48
|
|
Thermalright Ultra-120
|
42
|
45
|
49
|
|
Titan Fenrir
|
43
|
46
|
50
|
|
Scythe Ninja 3
|
44
|
47
|
49
|
|
Noctua NH-C12P
|
43
|
47
|
51
|
|
Zalman CNPS10X Extreme
|
43
|
47
|
53
|
|
Swiftech Polaris 120
|
46
|
49
|
54
|
|
Zalman CNPS10X Flex
|
45
|
50
|
54
|
|
Cooler Master V8
|
46
|
50
|
54
|
|
Scythe Grand Kama Cross
|
45
|
52
|
57
|
|
Arctic Cooling Freezer Xtreme Rev.2
|
49
|
52
|
58
|
|
Scythe Kabuto
|
51
|
53
|
60
|
Compared to other large single fan CPU coolers, the Venomous X places a very close second to the Ultra-120 eXtreme Rev.C. Given how similar the heatsinks are constructed, this is not a big surprise. Both coolers are exceptional performers.
|
Dual Fan CPU Coolers (ref. 140mm fans): CPU °C Rise Comparison
|
|
Heatsink
|
Fan Voltage / SPL*
|
|
8V
|
7V
|
6V
|
|
18~19 dBA
|
15~17 dBA
|
12~14 dBA
|
|
Prolimatech Genesis
|
36
|
37
|
39
|
|
Noctua NH-C14
|
37
|
39
|
41
|
|
Thermalright Silver Arrow
|
37
|
39
|
41
|
|
Noctua NH-D14
|
38
|
40
|
42
|
|
Thermalright Venomous X
|
39
|
41
|
42
|
|
*Note: there are minor differences in measured SPL due to the variety of fan orientations offered by the compared dual fan coolers.
|
Venomous X also puts up a pretty good fight against the dual 14 cm fan monsters, coming close to matching the Noctua NH-D14 when using a pair of our reference 14 cm fans.
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.
These 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
Though obviously unable to live up to its "silent" billing, the Thermalright Venomous X Silent Edition comes as close as an CPU heatsink can to this claim without resorting to passive cooling. As the included fans spin at a meager 600 RPM and employ fluid bearings, they are exceedingly quiet, being effectively inaudible even in our anechoic chamber. They also perform surprisingly well on the Venomous X, giving our reference Nexus 120 mm fans a run for their money. We aren't big proponents of the plastic fan mounts though — the metal clips work just as well and as a bonus, are compatible with most 14 cm fan models. The heatsink itself, being built from the same mold as the Ultra-120 series, has the same superb cooling proficiency as the Ultra-120 eXtreme Rev.C, thanks in no small part to its convex base and sublime mounting system.
If you're in the market for a potent CPU cooler that is extremely quiet straight out of the box, the Venomous X Silent Edition fits the bill better than any product we've tested in recent memory. Our only complaint is the current street price of US$70~$75. Larger, more capable coolers like the Thermalright Silver Arrow and Noctua NH-C14 can be found for about the same amount, though they both require some fan control magic to match the noise output of the Silent Edition. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as their higher fan speeds also make them more versatile — an 11 dBA cooler afterall is beyond overkill for many users.
Our thanks to Thermalright for the Venomous X Silent Edition heatsink sample.
* * *
Articles of Related Interest
Prolimatech Genesis CPU Heatsink: Retaking the Crow
Swiftech Polaris 120 CPU Heatsink
Zalman CNPS9900 MAX & CNPS5X CPU Coolers
Thermalright Silver Arrow Dual 14cm Fan Cooler
Noctua NH-C14 Dual Fan Top-down CPU Cooler
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme Rev.C & AC Freezer Xtreme Rev.2
* * *
Discuss
this article in the SPCR forums.
| Help support this site, buy from one of our affiliate retailers! |
|
