Viewing page 7 of 8 pages.
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
TEST RESULTS (Continued)
|
No Competition: Scythe Big Shuriken vs. Zalman 9300AT
|
|
Scythe Big Shuriken
|
Zalman 9300AT
|
|
Fan Voltage
|
SPL@1m
|
Thermal Rise
|
Fan Voltage
|
SPL@1m
|
Thermal Rise
|
| |
9V
|
30 dBA
|
17°C
|
|
12V
|
23 dBA
|
21°C
|
7V
|
25 dBA
|
18°C
|
|
10V
|
18 dBA
|
22°C
|
5V
|
21 dBA
|
23°C
|
|
9V
|
13~14 dBA
|
27°C
|
|
|
8V
|
11 dBA
|
34°C
|
The Scythe Big Shuriken is a mismatch against any of the other coolers in the roundup.
We compared it to a much larger, but underperforming cooler, the
Zalman 9300AT. Despite its considerable height advantage, the Zalman unit at
5V and 21 dBA only just matches the Big Shuriken's thermal performance at 10V
and 18 dBA. Not only is the Big Shuriken's measured noise level lower at this comparison
point, its fan sounds a lot smoother as well. This comparison makes it clear that the Big Shuriken is capable of taking
on some of the "standard-size" midrange heatsinks.
Comparison Tables
|
Performance Comparison at 20 dBA (+/- 2 dB)
|
|
Cooler
|
SPL
|
Thermal Rise
|
Height
|
Weight
|
|
Scythe Big Shuriken
|
18 dBA
|
22°C
|
57 mm
|
420 g
|
|
Intel Q6600
|
21 dBA
|
34°C
|
62 mm
|
440 g
|
|
Thermolab Micro Silencer
|
20 dBA
|
36°C
|
58 mm
|
270 g
|
|
Intel Aluminum
|
19 dBA
|
37°C
|
63 mm
|
330 g
|
|
Nano Silencer (9V)
|
22 dBA
|
37°C
|
39 mm
|
210 g
|
|
Alpine 7 GT
|
20~21 dBA
|
39°C
|
64 mm
|
280 g
|
|
Intel Q9550
|
18 dBA
|
40°C
|
45 mm
|
260 g
|
|
Thermolab Nano Silencer (8V)
|
18 dBA
|
42°C
|
39 mm
|
210 g
|
At the 20 dBA level, none of the other coolers comes close to the Big Shuriken's
level of performance. The performance is 12°C poorer than
the very best tower heatsink we've tested, which is not bad considering its low profile.
There is a large gap before we get to the next best performers: the full-sized
Intel heatsinks and the Thermolab Micro Silencer. These three deliver more or
less the same level of cooling at around 20 dBA. The full-sized Q6600 copper
core cooler is really only more effective with higher airflow.
In last place are the Nano Silencer, Alpine 7 GT, and Q9550 stock cooler. The
Q9550 heatsink performs slightly better than the Nano at 18 dBA, and the Alpine
7 GT subjectively sounds better than the other two, so we give them the edge
over the Nano Silencer. The Nano, with its small heatsink mass and slim fan,
has a hard time keeping up with the competition.
|
Performance Comparison at 15 dBA (+/- 2 dB)
|
|
Cooler
|
SPL
|
Thermal Rise
|
Height
|
Weight
|
|
Scythe Big Shuriken
|
13~14 dBA
|
27°C
|
57 mm
|
420 g
|
|
Intel Q6600
|
16 dBA
|
42°C
|
62 mm
|
440 g
|
|
Intel Aluminum
|
14~15 dBA
|
46°C
|
63 mm
|
330 g
|
|
Alpine 7 GT
|
15 dBA
|
46°C
|
64 mm
|
280 g
|
|
Thermolab Micro Silencer
|
15 dBA
|
48°C
|
58 mm
|
270 g
|
|
Thermolab Nano Silencer
|
15 dBA
|
49°C
|
39 mm
|
210 g
|
|
Intel Q9550
|
15 dBA
|
51°C
|
45 mm
|
260 g
|
At the 15 dBA level, we can't recommend using most of the coolers we
tested today, at least not with a 95W TDP processor. They should be okay with the fans
cranked this low if used with one of Intel's 65W TDP chips. The Shuriken scores an easy victory, a full 15°C better than the Q6600 cooler.
With low airflow, the Alpine 7 GT shows marked improvement against the rest
of the field. It matches the Intel aluminum stock cooler in performance and
beats the Micro Silencer. Its fin spacing is likely responsible — it is almost
twice as wide as the competition. Its fan also sounds a lot smoother.
The Thermolab Silencers are a step behind the Alpine 7 GT, with the Micro
only performing 1°C better than the Nano. The Q9550 heatsink comes in dead
last.
| Help support this site, buy from one of our affiliate retailers! |
|
