For their modest size, the Phanteks PH-TC14S and Cryorig C1 both perform well despite using different orientations. The PH-TC14S is a split tower heatsink while the C1 is a short top-down cooler.
January 20, 2015 by Lawrence Lee
| Product | Phanteks PH-TC14S CPU Cooler | Cryorig C1 CPU Cooler |
| Manufacturer | Phanteks | Cryorig |
| Price | US$50 (MSRP) | US$65 |
The first aftermarket CPU coolers were laughable in size compared to the popular models of today. They began as more refined versions of the stock coolers they were replacing, small aluminum heatsinks with 50~70 mm fans blowing downward. They’ve gotten progressively bigger over the years, to the point where we’re now seeing solutions that were unimaginable when all this began. The premiere flagship coolers weigh more than a kilogram and sport one or more 140+ mm fans.
|
|
The two coolers examined here have 140 mm fans as well, but they’re actually
rather modestly sized. The Phanteks PH-TC14S is a tower, but the heatsink is
split into two very thin portions, the sum of which is smaller than many tower
coolers armed with a 120 mm fan. The Cryorig C1 on the otherhand, is a short
top-down cooler, designed to be more compatible with smaller cases. It too has
a bit of a twist in that the fan is half the thickness of a standard model in
order to keep its height at a minimum.
Phanteks PH-TC14S
| Phanteks PH-TC14S: Specifications (from the product web page) | |
| Compatibility | Intel Socket 2011/115X/1366/775 AMD FM1/FM2(+)/AM2(+) |
| Color | Black |
| Material | – Copper (Base and Heat-pipes), Nickel Plated – Aluminum Cooling Fins with patented P.A.T.S. |
| Fan Model | PH-F140HP PWM Ultra High Static Pressure Premium Fan |
| Fan Size | 140 x 140 x 25 mm |
| Fan compatibility | 140 x 140 x 25 mm / 120 x 120 x25 mm (2pcs) |
| Bearing Type | UFB (Updraft Floating Balance) Bearing |
| Blade Geometry | Seven Colored Blades with MVB2 |
| RPM | 500 – 1600 ± 250 RPM |
| Max Air Flow | 68.1 CFM |
| Max Air Pressure | 1.6 mm H20 |
| Acoustical Noise | 25.3 dB(A) |
| Input Power | 2.4 W |
| MTBF | > 150,000 hr. |
| Heatsink Dimension (LxWxH) without fan | 4.1 x 2.9 x 6.1 inches |
| Heatsink Dimension (LxWxH) with Fan | 5.6 x 2.9 x 6.3 inches |
| Heatsink Weight without fan | 1.23 lbs |
| Heatsink Weight with fan | 1.63 lbs |
| Package Dimension | 8.5 x 8 x 4.7 inches (LxWxH) |
| Scope of Delivery | 1x PH-TC14S – 1x PH-F140HP PWM Premium Fan – 1x SoliSku Mounting kit for Intel and AMD(Stock backplate required) – 1x PH-NDC Thermal Compound – 1x Phanteks PH-TC14S User’s Manual – 4x Rubber Bar – 4x Fan Clips |
| Warranty | 5 Years. |
Like Phanteks’ other cooling solutions, the PH-TC14S has a nickel-plated heatpipe
and base design, giving it the appearance of a premium product. Despite the
smallish size of the heatsink, Phanteks has employed an “ultra high static
pressure” fan, the kind of fan that is typically paired with AIO liquid
coolers to better push air through tightly packed radiators. The fin-stacks
of the PH-TC14S isn’t particularly dense, so the fan’s presence is unusual to
say the least. Generally this type of design has poor acoustics, and coupled
with this particular fan’s high top speed (1600 RPM), it doesn’t bode well for
noise.
|
|
The cooler ships well packed in thick foam inserts. The mounting hardware is
neatly separated into different bags to prevent any confusion during installation.
The accessories include a tube of thermal compound and extra gear for mounting
a second fan, which seems ridiculous given the relative areas of the cooler’s
surface and its single fan.
Cryorig C1
| Cryorig C1: Specifications (from the product web page) | |
| Dimensions (with fan) | L144.5 mm x W140 mm x H74 mm |
| Weight (with fan) | 628 g |
| Weight (without fan) | 539 g |
| Heat pipes | 6mm heatpipe x 6 units |
| Top Fins | T = 0.4 mm ; Gap = 1.8 mm |
| Top Fins Pcs | 56 PCs |
| Bottom Fin | T = 0.4 mm ; Gap = 1.4 mm |
| Bottom Fin PCs | 35 PCs |
| Copper Base | C1100 Pure copper nickel plated |
| RAM Height Limit | 42 |
| Fan Specifications | |
| Dimension | L140 mm x W140 mm x H13 mm |
| Weight | 89 g |
| Rated Speed | 700 ~ 1300 RPM ±10 % |
| Noise Level | 20 ~ 24 dBA |
| Air Flow | 75 CFM |
Like the Cryorig R1 Universal,
the C1 emphasizes compatibility. It has a large footprint for a top-down cooler
but stands just 74 mm tall, and is compatible with a slew more cases than most
aftermarket models. Slim towers, desktop HTPC cases, and small mini-ITX cases
like the SilverStone Raven
RVZ01, come to mind. If you own one such a system, you can get an origami
print-out of the C1 from the Cryorig
site to confirm compatibility. The C1 is actually built similarly to the
PH-TC14S, making it a battle of orientations, vertical vs. horizontal. They
have similar weight, a six heatpipe design, and nickel-plating. And like the
PH-TC14S, the C1 fan may be its primary weakness, because of it is just half
the normal thickness.
|
|
|
|
Cryorig’s packaging is more environmentally friendly, using cardboard to protect
the contents. Included is a screwdriver, a tube of thermal grease, bolts for
both thin and thick fans, an extra set of fan dampers (which appear to only
fit Cryorig models), and their version of a moist toilette: an alcohol pad for
cleaning the heatsink base. Interestingly, it ships with its own AMD backplate
rather than reusing the OEM backplate which is the norm for the vast majority
of aftermarket heatsinks.
PHYSICAL DETAILS: Phanteks PH-TC14S
By my measurements, the PH-TC14S weighs 560 grams (740 grams including the
fan) and its dimensions are 15.6 x 10.5 x 7.1 cm (L x W x H) with the fan extending
its height by a minimum of 3 mm or more depending on how high it’s positioned
on the heatsink. The fins are composed of aluminum painted black while the heatpipes
and base are made of nickel-plated copper.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INSTALLATION: Phanteks PH-TC14S
The most critical aspect of installation is firm, maximum contact
between the base and the CPU heatspreader for efficient heat conduction. Ideally
it should also be a simple procedure with the user having to handle as few pieces
of hardware as possible. The PH-TC14S certainly qualifies, as it uses the now
common modern style pioneered by Noctua and Prolimatech: An easy to assemble
mounting array and a crossbar that exerts pressure directly over the base.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PHYSICAL DETAILS: Cryorig C1
The Cryorig C1’s heatsink body weighs the same as the PH-TC14S at 560 grams, but its slimmer fan is just 90 grams, for a total of 650 grams. Its dimensions are 14.5 x 14.0 x 6.0 cm (L x W x H) with the fan bringing to total height up to 7.4 cm (the fan is actually only 1.3 cm thick but the pads on the corners add to this). The construction is similar as well with nickel-plating on the base and heatpipes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INSTALLATION: Cryorig C1
The Cryorig C1 uses a similar mounting system as the Phanteks PH-TC14S so there’s little to complain about. The hardware used by Cryorig has a slight edge as all the metal pieces are a bit sturdier and the bolts they use are solidly kept in place without extra help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TESTING
Before thermal testing, we took some basic physical measurements of the product(s) for comparison.
| Small Heatsink Comparison: Average Fin Thickness & Spacing | ||
| Heatsink | Fin Thickness | Fin Spacing |
| Scythe Big Shuriken 2 Rev.B | 0.29 mm | 1.13 mm |
| Noctua NH-L9i | 0.44 mm | 1.16 mm |
| Scythe Big Shuriken | 0.33 mm | 1.19 mm |
| Reeven Vanxie | 0.28 mm | 1.39 mm |
| Reeven Arcziel | 0.28 mm | 1.41 mm |
| Cooler Master GeminII M4 | 0.29 mm | 1.46 mm |
| Noctua NH-L12 | 0.49 mm | 1.51 mm |
| Scythe Kozuti | 0.12 mm | 1.69 mm |
| Noctua NH-D9L | 0.40 mm | 1.70 mm |
| Noctua NH-U12S | 0.45 mm | 1.72 mm |
| Scythe Samurai ZZ | 0.33 mm | 1.74 mm |
| Phanteks PH-TC14S | 0.41 mm | 1.76 mm |
| Thermalright TRUE Spirit 120M | 0.43 mm | 1.78 mm |
| Cryorig C1 | 0.42 mm | 1.78 mm |
| Noctua NH-U9S | 0.40 mm | 1.80 mm |
| Prolimatech Panther | 0.53 mm | 1.80 mm |
| SilverStone Argon AR02 | 0.30 mm | 1.85 mm |
| Phanteks PH-TC90LS | 0.47 mm | 1.90 mm |
Larger heatsinks are tested on our
LGA1366 heatsink testing platform, while smaller coolers tackle our
LGA1155
heatsink testing platform. A summary of the test system and procedure follows.
Key Components in LGA1366 Heatsink Test Platform:
- Intel Core i7-965 Extreme
Nehalem core, LGA1366, 3.2GHz, 45nm, 130W TDP. - Asus
P6X58D Premium ATX motherboard. X58 chipset. - Asus
EAH3450 Silent graphics card. - Intel
X25-M 80GB 2.5″ solid-state drive. Chosen for silence. - 3GB QiMonda
DDR3 memory. 3 x 1GB DDR3-1066 in triple channel. - Seasonic X-650 SS-650KM
650W ATX power supply. This PSU is semi-passively cooled. At the power levels
of our test platform, its fan does not spin. - Arctic Silver
Lumière: Special fast-curing thermal interface material, designed
specifically for test labs.
Key Components in LGA1155 Heatsink Test Platform:
- Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge core, LGA1155, 3.1 GHz, 45nm, 95W TDP, overclocked/volted to 3.6 GHz and 1.300V.
- Intel DP67BG ATX motherboard.
P67 chipset. - Asus
EAH3450 Silent graphics card. - Kingston
SSDNow V 30GB 2.5″ solid-state drive. Chosen for silence. - OCZ Platinum Extreme Low Voltage DDR3 memory. 2 x 2 GB, DDR3-1333 in dual channel.
- Seasonic X-400 SS-400FL
400W ATX power supply. Passively cooled - Arctic Silver
Lumière: Special fast-curing thermal interface material, designed
specifically for test labs.
The systems are silent under the test conditions, except for the CPU cooling
fan(s).
Normally, our reference fans are used whenever possible, the measured details
of which are shown below.
| Reference Noctua 140mm fan Anechoic chamber measurements | ||
| Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
| 12V | 1250 RPM | 28~29 dBA |
| 9V | 990 RPM | 21 dBA |
| 8V | 880 RPM | 18 dBA |
| 7V | 770 RPM | 15~16 dBA |
| 6V | 660 RPM | 13 dBA |
| Reference Nexus 120 mm fan Anechoic chamber measurements | ||
| Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
| 12V | 1080 RPM | 16 dBA |
| 9V | 880 RPM | 13 dBA |
| 7V | 720 RPM | 12 dBA |
| Reference Nexus 92 mm fan Anechoic chamber measurements | ||
| Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
| 12V | 1470 RPM | 17 dBA |
| 9V | 1280 RPM | 14 dBA |
| 7V | 1010 RPM | 12 dBA |
Measurement and Analysis Tools
- Extech 380803 AC power analyzer / data logger for measuring AC system
power. - Custom-built, four-channel variable DC power supply, used to regulate
the fan speed during the test. - PC-based spectrum analyzer:
SpectraPlus with ACO Pacific mic and M-Audio digital
audio interfaces. - Anechoic chamber
with ambient level of 11 dBA or lower - Various other tools for testing fans, as documented in our
standard fan testing methodology. - SpeedFan,
used to monitor the on-chip thermal sensors. The sensors are not calibrated,
so results are not universally applicable. The hottest core reading is used. - Prime95,
used to stress the CPU heavily, generating more heat than most real applications.
All instances are used to ensure full stress. - CPU-Z,used to monitor the CPU speed to determine when overheating occurs.
- Thermometers to measure the air temperature around the test platform
and near the intake of the heatsink fan.
Noise measurements are made with the fans powered from a separate, fanless system. Load testing was accomplished using Prime95 to stress the processor, and the
graph function in SpeedFan was used to ensure that the load temperature is stable
for at least ten minutes. The temperature recorded is the highest single core
reading. The stock fans were tested at various voltages to represent a good
cross-section of airflow and noise performance.
The ambient conditions during testing were 10~11 dBA and 21~23°C.
Noise Measurements: Phanteks PH-TC14S
|
|
| Specifications: Phanteks PH-TC14S Stock Fan | |||
| Manufacturer | Phanteks | Power Rating | 2.4 W |
| Model Number | PH-F140HP | Airflow Rating | 68.1 CFM |
| Bearing Type | Updraft Floating Balance | Speed Rating | 500 ~ 1600 ± 250 RPM |
| Frame Size | 140 x 140 x 25 mm (120 mm mounting holes) | Noise Rating | 25.3 dBA |
| Hub Size | 41 mm | Header Type | 4-pin PWM |
| Blade Diameter | 127 mm | Starting Voltage | 4.0 ~ 4.5 V |
| Cable Length | 22 cm | Weight | 180 g |
| Corner Type | Open | Retail Availability | ? |
Additional notes: | |||
The PH-TC14S features a different fan than previous Phanteks coolers, a model designed with a focus on high static air pressure. The blades are not heavily curved but they are enormous with each fin positioned very close to another. The housing shape is that of an uneven dodecagon and there are thin rubber washers attached to the 120 mm mounting holes.
According to the sticker, this fan is the “PH-F140HP” but the specifications don’t match that particular model. It actually appears to be the “PH-F140MP“, which Phanteks describes as a radiator fan, only using the HP’s casing. This is a bizarre choice as the kind of impedance this design is used to overcome isn’t present. The heatsink fins are not arranged in a particularly dense array.
|
|
The stock fan is a relatively powerful model capable of 1600 RPM, but the bottom of its range, both on PWM and voltage control, is about 540 RPM.
| Stock Fan Measurements | ||
| PWM Setting | Speed | SPL@1m |
| 100% | 1600 RPM | 33 dBA |
| 75% | 1100 RPM | 23 dBA |
| 60% | 890 RPM | 18 dBA |
| 50% | 740 RPM | 15 dBA |
| 40% | 580 RPM | 13 dBA |
| Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle from the center of the heatsink. Ambient noise level: 10~11 dBA. | ||
The stock fan starts to become quiet (~20 dBA@1m) at about 1000 RPM, and at minimum speed, it produces a mere 13 dBA@1m, making it effectively inaudible, even inside our ultra quiet hemi-anechoic chamber.
|
|
Unfortunately the new Phanteks fan is considerably worse than the older PH-F140TS that ships with their flagship PH-TC14PE cooler. At higher speeds it’s turbulent and buzzy. Starting at about 900 RPM, it begins to drone and produce an odd, almost ghostly tone which continues as the speed is reduced. The droning starts to transform into a less offensive humming sound at lower speeds but the tone remains, even at the minimum speed.
Noise Measurements: Cryorig C1
|
|
| Specifications: Cryorig C1 Stock Fan | |||
| Manufacturer | Cryorig | Power Rating | ? |
| Model Number | XT140 | Airflow Rating | 65 CFM |
| Bearing Type | High Precision Low Noise (Sleeve) | Speed Rating | 700 ~ 1300 RPM |
| Frame Size | 140 x 140 x 13 mm (120 mm mounting holes) | Noise Rating | 20 ~ 24 dBA |
| Hub Size | 44 mm | Header Type | 4-pin PWM |
| Blade Diameter | 131 mm | Starting Voltage | 4.0 ~ 4.5 V |
| Cable Length | 30 cm | Weight | 90 g |
| Corner Type | Open | Retail Availability | Yes |
Additional notes: | |||
The 13 mm thin C1 stock fan is the same model that ships with the R1 Universal. Like most low profile fans, its cooling power is spread out over many more slimmer blades (13 in total) than a standard model. The rubber pads at the corners help limit vibration and creates a bit of separation between the fan and the heatsink, which can reduce turbulence.
|
|
According to Fan Xpert2, the minimum speed is a bit high, 730 RPM on PWM control. On voltage control, I found it can go lower but it’s fairly tricky as a minor reduction in voltage can slow the fan by up to 100 RPM or even shut it down completely.
| Stock Fan Measurements | ||
| PWM Setting | Speed | SPL@1m |
| 100% | 1420 RPM | 34 dBA |
| 75% | 1270 RPM | 30~31 dBA |
| 60% | 1120 RPM | 26 dBA |
| 50% | 1000 RPM | 22~23 dBA |
| 40% | 850 RPM | 18 dBA |
| 0~30% | 730 RPM | 15 dBA |
| Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle from the center of the heatsink. Ambient noise level: 10~11 dBA. | ||
As the minimum speed is about 730 RPM, the C1’s fan unfortunately cannot become as quiet as the Phanteks model, bottoming out at 15 dBA@1m. At equivalent speeds, the Cryorig fan is slightly louder as well, and as its a slimmer model, it doesn’t provide as much of a performance punch. Most users will want to run it at 1000 RPM or lower to keep the noise in check.
|
|
By comparison, the Cryorig fan has a considerably more pleasant sound than the Phanteks. At high speeds, it’s turbulent but fairly smooth. It develops somewhat of a drone and the bearing begins to chuff at about 1000 RPM, but these effects dissipate at quickly lower speeds, leaving behind an innocuous broadband acoustic profile.
Test Results
| Phanteks PH-TC14S w/ Stock Fan | ||||
| PWM/Volt. Setting | Fan Speed | SPL@1m | Rise above Ambient | |
| CPU | VRM | |||
| 100% | 1600 RPM | 33 dBA | 29°C | 16°C |
| 75% | 1100 RPM | 23 dBA | 31°C | 29°C |
| 60% | 890 RPM | 18 dBA | 33°C | 20°C |
| 50% | 740 RPM | 15 dBA | 34°C | 24°C |
| 40% | 580 RPM | 13 dBA | 38°C | 28°C |
| Phanteks PH-TC14S w/ Ref. Noctua NF-P14 140 mm Fan | ||||
| 12V | 1250 RPM | 31 dBA | 28°C | 17°C |
| 9V | 990 RPM | 24~25 dBA | 30°C | 19°C |
| 8V | 880 RPM | 20 dBA | 31°C | 21°C |
| 7V | 770 RPM | 16 dBA | 32°C | 22°C |
| 6V | 660 RPM | 14 dBA | 34°C | 25°C |
On our test platform, a result of 35°C above ambient for the CPU temperature is very good. As such, the PH-TC14S performs well, staying below that mark at all but the lowest of fan speeds. However, our reference fan is more efficient across the board at cooling the processor. There isn’t any advantage in VRM temperature though, which suggests that the portions of the fan that stick out on the sides, provide enough airflow to keep the VRM heatsink just as cool as the reference model.
| Cryorig C1 w/ Stock Fan | ||||
| PWM/Volt. Setting | Fan Speed | SPL@1m | Rise above Ambient | |
| CPU | VRM | |||
| 100% | 1420 RPM | 34 dBA | 27°C | 17°C |
| 60% | 1120 RPM | 26 dBA | 30°C | 20°C |
| 50% | 1000 RPM | 22~23 dBA | 31°C | 23°C |
| 40% | 850 RPM | 18 dBA | 32°C | 25°C |
| 0~30% | 730 RPM | 15 dBA | 36°C | 31°C |
| Cryorig C1 w/ Ref. Noctua NF-P14 140 mm Fan | ||||
| 12V | 1250 RPM | 29 dBA | 27°C | 17°C |
| 9V | 990 RPM | 22~23 dBA | 27°C | 19°C |
| 8V | 880 RPM | 19~20 dBA | 28°C | 20°C |
| 7V | 770 RPM | 16~17 dBA | 29°C | 22°C |
| 6V | 660 RPM | 14 dBA | 33°C | 26°C |
The Cryorig C1 is fairly proficient as well, delivering similar CPU cooling performance as the PH-TC14S, despite its thinner fan. However, VRM temperatures are higher across the board. While the C1 is a top-down cooler, the thinner fan just isn’t that effective. Our standard sized 140 mm Noctua reference fan produces greatly improved results. If the case it’s used in has the extra 12 mm of clearance necessary for a standard thickness fan, I highly recommend it be replaced.
COMPARISON TABLES
| °C Rise Comparison (CPU Temperature) | |||||||||
| SPL (dBA@1m) | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
| Cryorig C1 (ref. 140 mm fan) | 28 | – | 29 | – | 33 | – | – | ||
| Phanteks PH-TC14S (ref. 140 mm fan) | 31 | – | – | – | 32 | – | 34 | – | – |
| Noctua NH-L12 (120 & 92 mm fans) | 33 | – | – | 34 | – | 35 | – | 36 | |
| Thermalright TRUE Spirit 120M | – | 32 | – | – | – | 34 | 36 | 38 | |
| Noctua NH-U12S | – | 33 | – | 34 | – | – | 35 | 38 | |
| Phanteks PH-TC14S | – | – | 33 | – | – | 34 | – | 38 | – |
| Cryorig C1 | – | – | 32 | – | – | 36 | – | – | – |
| Noctua NH-L12 (120 mm fan only) | – | – | 37 | – | – | 38 | – | 39 | 42 |
| Prolimatech Panther | – | – | – | – | – | 35 | – | 42 | – |
| SilverStone Argon AR02 | – | – | – | – | 38 | – | – | – | 43 |
| Noctua NH-U9S | – | – | – | 36 | – | – | 40 | – | 45 |
| Noctua NH-D9L | – | – | – | 37 | – | – | 41 | – | 46 |
| Scythe Big Shuriken 2 Rev.B | – | 39 | – | – | – | 43 | – | 48 | |
| Reeven Arcziel | – | – | – | – | 42 | – | – | 47 | – |
| Scythe Samurai ZZ | – | – | 45 | – | – | 46 | – | 52 | |
| Noctua NH-L12 (92 mm fan only) | 42 | – | 44 | – | 47 | – | 51 | 57 | |
| Scythe Big Shuriken | 43 | – | – | – | – | 46 | – | 61 | |
| Cooler Master GeminII M4 | – | – | – | 53 | 56 | – | 64 | ||
| Noctua NH-L9i | – | – | 56 | – | – | 61 | – | – | – |
| Scythe Kozuti | – | – | 57 | – | – | 62 | – | 65 | |
| Phanteks PH-TC90LS | – | – | 67 | – | – | – | 69 | – | – |
| Reeven Vanxie | – | 66 | – | – | – | – | 77 | – | F |
Compared to previously reviewed coolers of modest size, both the PH-TC14S and C1 find themselves in strong company. Their CPU cooling results land them in the top five, and with our reference fan, they clearly exceed the current champ, the dual fan Noctua NH-L12.
| °C Rise Comparison (VRM Temperature) | |||||||||
| SPL (dBA@1m) | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
| Noctua NH-L12 (120 & 92 mm fans) | 17 | – | – | 19 | – | 21 | – | 23 | |
| Phanteks PH-TC14S | – | – | 20 | – | – | 24 | – | 28 | – |
| Phanteks PH-TC14S (ref. 140 mm fan) | 21 | – | – | – | 22 | – | 25 | – | – |
| Cryorig C1 (ref. 140 mm fan) | 20 | – | 22 | – | 26 | – | – | ||
| Thermalright TRUE Spirit 120M | – | 21 | – | – | – | 24 | 26 | 27 | |
| Prolimatech Panther | – | – | – | – | – | 24 | – | 30 | – |
| Noctua NH-L12 (120 mm fan only) | – | – | 24 | – | – | 26 | – | 27 | 32 |
| Cryorig C1 | – | – | 25 | – | – | 31 | – | – | – |
| Noctua NH-U12S | – | 29 | – | 30 | – | – | 31 | 33 | |
| Noctua NH-D9L/U9S | – | – | – | 30 | – | – | 33 | – | 37 |
| SilverStone Argon AR02 | – | – | – | – | 33 | – | – | – | 35 |
| Scythe Big Shuriken 2 Rev.B | – | 29 | – | – | – | 34 | – | 39 | |
| Noctua NH-L12 (92 mm fan only) | 28 | – | 31 | – | 33 | – | 38 | 43 | |
| Reeven Arcziel | – | – | – | – | 38 | – | – | 41 | – |
| Scythe Big Shuriken | 28 | – | – | – | – | 30 | – | 47 | |
| Cooler Master GeminII M4 | – | – | – | 34 | 38 | – | 49 | ||
| Scythe Kozuti | – | – | 36 | – | – | 40 | – | 45 | |
| Scythe Samurai ZZ | – | – | 38 | – | – | 39 | – | 47 | |
| Noctua NH-L9i | – | – | 40 | – | – | 46 | – | – | – |
| Phanteks PH-TC90LS | – | – | 46 | – | – | – | 48 | – | – |
| Reeven Vanxie | – | 45 | – | – | – | – | 56 | – | F |
When it comes to cooling the VRMs, the C1 surprisingly lands a few rungs below the PH-TC14S. I can only surmise that the fan on the Phanteks is low enough that it still sends enough airflow through to cool and exhaust the VRM heatsink more effectively than a half-thickness fan blowing downward. Switching to our reference fan pretty much evens out the playing field.
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 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.
- Phanteks PH-TC14S stock fan at 1m
— at 40% PWM / 580 PWM (13 dBA)
— at 50% PWM / 740 RPM (15 dBA)
— at 60% PWM / 890 RPM (18 dBA)
— at 75% PWM / 1100 RPM (23 dBA)
— at 100% PWM / 1600 RPM (33 dBA)
- Cryorig C1 stock fan at 1m
— at 0~30% PWM / 730 RPM (15 dBA)
— at 40% PWM / 850 RPM (18 dBA)
— at 50% PWM / 1000 RPM (22~23 dBA)
— at 60% PWM / 1120 RPM (26 dBA)
— at 75% PWM / 1270 RPM (30~31 dBA)
— at 100% PWM / 1420 RPM (34 dBA)
FINAL THOUGHTS
Phanteks PH-TC14S
The weakest point of the Phanteks PH-TC14S is the stock fan, both in terms
of performance and acoustics. The sound it produces is much worse than the older
PH-F140TS, which
is one of my favorite fans to date. Why they chose this fan is a mystery as
its high static pressure design is meant for tightly packed radiators. Its appearance
here on a narrow tower with modest fin spacing is baffling.
Our track record with center fan tower designs hasn’t been great so it’s surprising that the PH-TC14S performs as well as it does, especially when you consider the lack of mass in the fin stacks. For a modestly sized cooler, it certainly gets the job done and then some, but the choice of a 140 mm fan seems overkill, and it makes the entire package wider and taller than it needs to be. As a result, it doesn’t offer any appreciable size advantage compared to the multitude of thin tower heatsinks with (superior) 120/140 mm fans on the market. The modest bulk of fins also puts it at a disadvantage if a heavier thermal load is applied. With an MSRP of US$50, the PH-TC14S isn’t unreasonably priced, but with so many comparable models to choose from, it’s far from my first choice.
Cryorig C1
The Cryorig C1 is an excellent cooling solution that takes into account the
interference issues of top-down models. On our test board, it leaves all the
memory slots open, doesn’t hang over the first expansion slot, and clears all
the board components and the rear panel connector block with room to spare.
It does all this and provides tower-like performance using only a 13 mm thick
fan. Swapping the stock fan with a standard sized fan turns it from a good heatsink
to a great heatsink. With a total height of 74 mm, it’s not exactly low profile,
but its certainly short enough to make it compatible with many more cases than
competing tower coolers that produce similar results.
The C1 does carry a bit of a price premium though, currently retailing for US$65. This is a similar price-point to the Noctua NH-L12, the only top-down model I would describe as comparable. With an off-center footprint, the C1’s is more compatible, but the NH-L12 can be made 8 mm shorter than the C1 by utilizing only one of its two fans (which still results in fairly good proficiency), so there’s no clear-cut favorite between the two. That being said, I certainly welcome the arrival of a worthy alternative.
Our thanks to Phanteks
for the PH-TC14S and Cryorig for the C1 CPU cooler samples.
* * *
Cryorig C1 is Recommended by SPCR
SPCR Articles of Related Interest:
New 92mm-fan Tower Coolers from Noctua
Arctic Accelero Hybrid II-120 Liquid GPU Cooler
Cryorig R1 Ultimate & Universal CPU Coolers
NZXT Kraken G10 Graphics Adapter
Sub-$20 CPU Coolers: A Reader’s Roundup
SilverStone Argon AR02 CPU Cooler
Recommended Heatsinks
* * *
