A Roundup of Coolers for Pentium 4: Q4'2003
Tests
We tested all the coolers with an Abit IC7-G motherboard; and for the monitoring utility we used Motherboard Monitor. We also took Intel Pentium4 2.4 stepping D1 which ran at 3.0 GHz without raising the voltage.
The processor was heated up with two running instances of BurnP6. The two running applications allow to full out the processor with work (remember that stepping D1 processors offer support for the HyperThreading).
Then, the testing system was assembled in an Inwin S506 housing, with the PSU brought outside. This PSU has a fan of variable rotation speed (depending on the temperature), and its close proximity to the cooler might affect the measurement results. If the cooler had its own thermal interface, it was removed and then we measured the readings with the silicon-organic paste KPT-8. As the "unattainable ideal" there acts a super-costly and huge Zalman 700Cu.
Well, this is the efficiency of cooling a Pentium4 3.0 GHz processor.
Of all the coolers reviewed today, the Igloo 4350 line appealed to me most. In terms of the "price/efficiency" ratio, Igloo 4350 Pro proved to be the best, and at the "price/noise level" ratio Igloo 4350 Light is the best. The combination "Igloo 4350 Pro + a voltage regulator" is able to fully satisfy both the fanciers of silence and overclockers. But the overclockers should keep it in mind that overclocking with voltage raise implies immense heat emission. Starting from a certain point )Vcore >= 1.6V), a cooler with the aluminum radiator may not cope with the cooling job. By the way, in the hardcore overclocking (clock speeds >= 3.6GHz, Vcore >=1.65V) even copper gives way: there rises a need for "heat pipes"and water cooling (for more detail, read the review on Thermalright SP-94).
Then, I didn't like the "new boxed" cooler all that for its middling cooling level and high noise level. I also disliked the Igloo Diamond 4200 - although the noise level is relatively low, the cooling efficiency leaves much to be desired. The same can be said about the cooler from the "FSP Silent Solution Kit". Finally, I didn't like the Spire EasyStream III and QuieTude II coolers: despite their low noise level, their cooling efficiency is very low.
As regards low-profile Spire RackSper III and Titan TTC-CU7TB coolers, they came to our test lab by chance. The thing is such coolers are installed solely into U1 servers which run in quite specific conditions. But in small-scale desktop computers (like so popular barebone systems) they either install standard coolers or cooling systems with heat pipes.
Read more on this topic
 Intel Pentium4: Northwood D1 (800MHz FSB) ; stress tests
Intel Pentium4: Northwood C1 (533 MHz FSB); stress tests
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