5 - Testing the cooler

Testing the cooler

Time to test ! -- As stated in the introduction, the cooler works absolutely charming with any processor (quad-core included) at default operating speeds. Therefore we decided to test it on a system with higher specs.

Methodology -- We use an nForce 790i Ultra SLI mainboard, equip it with a Core 2 Quad QX9770 processor which we overclock towards 3600 MHz.. Now we'll test the cooler in four utilization stages:

1. Actively cooled - yet CPU has nothing to do (IDLE)
2. Actively cooled - four processors cores 100% stressed (LOAD)
3. Actively cooled - yet CPU has nothing to do (IDLE) CPU OC 3600 MHz @ 1.462 Volts
4. Actively cooled - four processors cores 100% stressed (LOAD) CPU OC 3600 MHz @ 1.462 Volts

Let's have a look at the results.

So 100% CPU load on all 4 cores (Prime 95 stressed) is probably what you like to focus on. Compared to the Intel stock cooler the Silent Spirit really shines. Short story: the QX9770 overclocked at 3600MHz with 1.462 Volts resulted in overheating with the stock cooler, both idle and stressed reached temperatures of 85 Degrees C after which our mainboards overheat protection kicked in and cut power from the PC. Quite a scary moment when that PC all of the sufdden dies with a 1300 USD processor.

The QX9770 runs a 1600 MHz FSB and by itself can get already pretty hot. Perfectly manageable with the stock cooler. Yet the extra Volts we crammed into the CPU was overkill.

The Gelid Silent Spirit cooler however did manage to cope with this particular stress test and ran fine. Not perfect though as when 100% utilized we did see the temperatures rise towards ~70 Degrees C, and my rule for Core 2 Duo/Quad processors is simple, overclocked they should not pass a threshold of 65 Degrees C. You always needs some spare.  But yeah, for a cooler in this price-range it's pretty inspiring.

Let's have a 'look' at volume levels.

The Intel stock cooler will just get crazy once the temps rise. The rest of the products where barely hearable and we measure roughly 45 DBa. The gelid Silent Spirit does have another strong selling point, you can hardly hear it. Which is great. Our system never passed 40 DBa with this cooler.