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TESTING
Test Platform
- Intel
P4-2.8A The Thermal Design Power of this P4-2.8 (533
MHz bus) is 68.4 or 69.7W depending on the version. As the CPU is a demo model
without normal markings, it's not clear which version it is, so we'll round
the number off to ~69W. The Maximum Power, as calculated by
CPUHeat
& CPUMSR, is 79W.
- AOpen
AX4GE Max motherboard - Intel 845GE Chipset; built-in VGA. The on-die
CPU thermal diode monitoring system reads 2°C too high, so all readings are
compensated up by this amount.
- OCZ
DDRAM PC-3700, 512 MB
- Seagate Barracuda IV 40G 1-platter drive (in Smart
Drive from Silicon
Acoustics)
- Seasonic
Super Tornado 300 (Rev. A1)
- Arctic Silver
Ceramique Thermal Compound
- Two-level plywood platform with foam damping feet. Motherboard on
top; most other components below. Eases heatsink changes and setup.
As advertised, the end of the heatsink hangs over the VRMs and airflow
from the fan provides cooling for them.
Measurement & Analysis Tools
- CPUBurn
processor stress software
- Speed Fan
software to show CPU temperature
- ThrottleWatch
2.01 to make sure CPU throttling did not affect thermal results.
- A custom-built, multi-channel, variable voltage DC power supply that allows us to dial in the exact voltage
to the fan.
Noise and airflow measurements were made with the fan powered from the fan
controller while the rest of the system was off to ensure that system noise
did not skew the measurements. The X500 was tested both with its stock fan and
our standard 92mm reference fan, a Nexus. Airflow measurements were made while
the fans were mounted on the heatsink; because of the higher impedance, they are lower than when measured in free air.
Load testing was accomplished using CPUBurn to stress the processor, and the
graph function in SpeedFan was used to ensure that the load temperature was
stable for at least ten minutes.
The ambient temperature during testing was 20°C. Ambient noise level for testing
and recording was 18 dBA@1m.
TEST RESULTS
With the Stock Fan
| LS Cable SHS-X500 with Stock
Fan |
|
Fan Voltage
|
Airflow
|
Load Temp
|
°C Rise
|
°C/W MP
|
°C/W TDP
|
Noise
|
|
12V
|
22 CFM
|
40°C
|
20
|
0.25
|
0.29
|
32 dBA@1m
|
|
9V
|
18 CFM
|
43°C
|
23
|
0.29
|
0.33
|
25 dBA@1m
|
|
7V
|
12 CFM
|
47°C
|
27
|
0.34
|
0.39
|
21 dBA@1m
|
|
5V
|
9 CFM
|
53°C
|
33
|
0.41
|
0.48
|
19 dBA@1m
|
|
Airflow: Measured in Cubic Feet
per Minute mounted on the HS
Load Temp: CPUBurn for ~20 mins.
°C Rise: Temperature rise above ambient at load.
°C/W MP / TDP: Temperature rise per Watt, based on CPU's Maximum
Power (79W) or Thermal Design Power (69W) rating (lower is better)
Noise: SPL measured in dBA@1m distance with high accuracy B &
K SLM
|
12V / 22 CFM: The measured noise of 32 dBA@1m was exactly what DCC rates
the fan for, and a full 10 dBA higher than LS Cable's rating. We do not consider
this level of noise quiet, although it is certainly better than some of its
competitors.
Motor hum and turbulence noise were almost equal in volume. At times, they
were joined by a sharp rattle, which could be eliminated by pressing down on
the frame of the fan. Most likely, the source of the noise was one of the fins
vibrating against a piece of metal, perhaps one of the screws used to attach
the fan to the heatsink.
Cooling performance was quite good, on par with the venerable
Zalman 7000 series with the fan at 12V. Some recent high-end heatsinks have surpassed
this old favorite, but this level of performance is easily good enough for most
AMD CPUs.
9V / 18 CFM: At 9V, most of the motor hum gave way to turbulence noise
and a buzz. Occasionally, the mechanical
rattle could still be heard, indicating that the level of vibration was
high. This level of noise would be acceptable in a high-end system where
there is too much heat to turn down the fans any further. Cooling performance remained quite good, although a hot system might struggle
a bit if the ambient case temperature climbed too high.
7V / 12 CFM: At 7V, the fan spun slowly enough that the rattling noise
could no longer be heard. The dominant noise was the buzz,
while a small amount of turbulence noise could also be heard. In a noisy environment,
the fan would probably not be heard, but there are fans that sound
smoother at this level of airflow.
The cooling efficiency started to decline more rapidly at this point, although
a well designed system could still cope with this level of cooling. Cooling
a midrange Pentium Prescott is probably out of the question at this point though.
5V / 9 CFM: With the fan at 5V, the cooling performance got considerably
worse. The noise level dropped near enough to the ambient
level in our lab that it would probably be completely inaudible inside a computer
case. Only a trace amount of buzzing could still be heard, and
it was necessary to listen closely at a distance of one meter to distinguish
it from the background.
Most users are likely to find that the ideal balance between noise and performance
is somewhere between 5V and 7V. The measured SPL difference between 5V and 7V is not
much, but there is a significant difference in the
subjective quality of the noise. Cooling performance in the 5-7V range is likely to be borderline unless the
system specifically designed to be low power, but if the system is not subjected
to a prolonged load (like our stress test) the cooling should be adequate.
With the Nexus 92 fan
| LS Cable SHS-X500 with Nexus
Reference Fan |
|
Fan Voltage
|
Airflow
|
Load Temp
|
°C Rise
|
°C/W MP
|
°C/W TDP
|
Noise
|
|
12V
|
17 CFM
|
44°C
|
24
|
0.30
|
0.35
|
23 dBA@1m
|
|
9V
|
13 CFM
|
48°C
|
28
|
0.35
|
0.41
|
20 dBA@1m
|
|
7V
|
9 CFM
|
54°C
|
34
|
0.43
|
0.49
|
<19 dBA@1m
|
|
5V
|
4 CFM
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
<19 dBA@1m
|
|
Airflow: Measured in Cubic Feet per Minute mounted
on the HS
Load Temp: CPUBurn for ~20 mins.
°C Rise: Temperature rise above ambient at load.
°C/W MP / TDP: Temperature rise per Watt, based on CPU's Maximum
Power (79W) or Thermal Design Power (69W) rating (lower is better)
Noise: SPL measured in dBA@1m distance with high accuracy B &
K SLM
*Test Stopped when CPU temperature hit 75°C
|
Our reference fan was chosen for its pleasant noise signature. It
is an extremely low speed fan, and pushes less air than the stock fan. Unfortunately,
the X500 doesn't do well with very low airflow, and cooling performance was really
only acceptable above 9V. For some, this will be good enough, but those
seeking a truly silent system will want to look elsewhere unless they have a
very cool processor.
The main issue seemed to be airflow impedance. The airflow that the
fan was able to produce on the X500 was less than it could produce on the
Scythe Katana, for example. With the Nexus spinning at 5V, the total
airflow was just 4 CFM. This was not enough airflow to cool our test processor
properly, even on our open air test bench with an ambient temperature of 20°C.
The CPU temperature reached 75°C at this level before we halted the testing
to prevent thermal damage.
COMPARISON
The LS Cable SHS-X500 is quite similar to the
recently reviewed Scythe Katana, so it makes sense to compare them side
by side. Like the X500, the Katana is relatively inexpensive and lightweight.
Both heatsinks use 92mm fans, and both were tested using our Nexus reference
fan.
| LS Cable SHS-X500
vs. Scythe Katana: Nexus Reference Fan |
|
Fan Voltage
|
SHS-X500 Airflow
|
Katana Airflow
|
SHS-X500
°C/W MP
|
Katana °C/W MP
|
Noise
|
|
12V
|
17 CFM
|
20 CFM
|
0.30
|
0.34
|
23 dBA@1m
|
|
9V
|
13 CFM
|
14 CFM
|
0.35
|
0.37
|
20 dBA@1m
|
|
7V
|
9 CFM
|
11 CFM
|
0.43
|
0.42
|
<19 dBA@1m
|
|
5V
|
4 CFM
|
7 CFM
|
*
|
0.53
|
<19 dBA@1m
|
|
Airflow: Measured in Cubic Feet per Minute mounted
on the HS
°C/W MP: Temperature rise per Watt, based on CPU's Maximum Power
(79W)
Noise: SPL measured in dBA@1m distance with high accuracy B &
K SLM
|
There is no clear winner with the Nexus fan.
Between 9-12V, the X500 is a touch more efficient, despite lower effective airflow. As the fan speed drops, the effective airflow on the X500 drops more quickly than on the Katana. The end result is that at the lowest fan speeds (and noise levels), the Katana cools a touch better. The differences are very small, however, and in actual use, the Katana and X500 will perform similarly. When it comes
down to a buying decision, the deciding factors are more likely to be price and
availability than performance and noise. The more pleasant (or less annoying) noise quality of the Katana's stock fan may also be a factor
NOISE RECORDINGS
LS Cable SHS-X500 with Stock Fan:
MP3:
LS Cable SHS-X500 - 12V - 22 CFM / 32 dBA/1m
MP3:
LS Cable SHS-X500 - 9V - 18 CFM / 25 dBA/1m
MP3:
LS Cable SHS-X500 - 7V - 12 CFM / 21 dBA/1m
MP3:
LS Cable SHS-X500 - 5V - 9 CFM / 19 dBA/1m
Recordings of Comparable HSF:
MP3: Nexus
92mm Fan - 12V - 23 dBA/1m
MP3: Nexus
92 Fan - 7V - <19 dBA/1m
MP3: Arctic
Cooling Super Silent 4 Ultra TC - 22 dBA/1m
MP3:
Scythe Katana - 7V - 22 dBA/1m
|
HOW TO LISTEN & COMPARE
These recordings were made with a high
resolution studio quality digital recording system. The microphone was 3" from
the edge of the fan frame at a 45° angle, facing the intake side of the fan to
avoid direct wind noise. The ambient noise during all recordings was 18 dBA or
lower. It is best to download the sound files to your computer before listening.
To set the volume to a realistic level (similar to the original), try playing this Nexus 92mm case fan @ 5V (17 dBA/1m)
recording and set the volume so that it is barely audible. Then don't
reset the volume and play the other sound files. Of course, all tone
controls and other effects should be turned off or set to neutral. For
full details on how to calibrate your sound system playback level to
get the most valid listening comparison, please see the yellow text box
entitled Listen to
the Fans on page four of the article
SPCR's Test / Sound Lab: A Short Tour.
|
FINAL CONCLUSIONS
The LS Cable X-500 is a good choice for a quiet low-to-midrange system. It is lightweight, low profile and relatively
inexpensive — all positive attributes for this market.
The included fan is a bit better than average. At 12V, it is quieter than many other stock heatsink fans, but it is not especially
suited to undervolting because at lower speeds, it exhibits the annoying buzz typical
of ball bearing fans. The balance between adequate cooling performance and low
noise is rather narrow, but it can be achieved in the appropriate system. The mechanical rattle that could
be heard occasionally at higher fan speeds was something of a mystery. It's hard to know whether this is an inherent design flaw or one that's specific to this sample.
Perhaps the best use for the X500 is as a replacement heatsink in a SFF system.
Its light weight and low profile are both valuable traits in a SFF system. Of
course, the specific design of the SFF case will determine whether or not the
X500 is compatible, but its small dimensions might make it more compatible
than most.
The most difficult hurdle for the X500 is probably not any technical deficiency. LS Cable is a completely new brand in the global heatsink market,
and distribution seems spotty. At the time of writing, the X500 is available
in Japan and Korea only. Taiwan will begin to see some units in the near future,
but until the North American and European distributors are decided, neither
of these markets will be served.
|
Pros
* Easy to install
* Light weight
* Low profile
* Relatively inexpensive
* Potentially quiet fan
|
Cons
* Some mechanical noise with high speed fans
* Availability questionable
* Not suitable for very low airflow situations
* Fan mounting slightly tricky
|
Much thanks to LS
Cable for the SHS-X500 sample.
* * *
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