Socket A Coolers: Autumn/Winter Complex Benchmarking of 45 Models

Part 3. Ratings (technical-economical coolers map, performance and economical ratings)

Part 1. Budget AVC solutions, new models from Thermaltake, Titan and Zalman

Part 2. Test Results (temperature, thermal resistance, noise level)

We recommend that you address our new technique of the complex
estimation of coolers' consumer qualities before turning to the summary table of their technical-economical map and final ratings.

Table 1. Coolers technical-economical map

Cooling system model (modification)	Indices							PAG	ARP^**	Complex score
Cooling system model (modification)	E_th	N	ACTQ	MTQ	PCTQ	E_p^*	Bonuses	PAG	ARP^**	IA CS	IA CCQ
AVC 112C80	23	35	20	16	9	65	2 (TGB)	B	5.5	105	170
AVC 112C86L	25	47	22	20	10	51	2 (TGB)	C	9.5	126	177
AVC Z6M330 (Frost)	28	39	26	20	12	56	2 (TGB) 5 (PAG-D)	D	8.5	132	188
Cooler Master Aero 7+ (1800 RPM)	29	44	24	26	10	25	3 (TGB) 5 (PSAA) 10 (PAG-E)	E	24	151	176
Cooler Master Aero 7+ (2700 RPM)	38	36	24	26	10	25	3 (TGB) 5 (PSAA) 10 (PAG-E)	E	24	152	177
Cooler Master Aero 7+ (3600 RPM)	42	30	24	26	10	25	3 (TGB) 5 (PSAA) 10 (PAG-E)	E	24	128²	153
Cooler Master CP5-6J31C	28	38	22	16	9	60	5 (PTI) 5 (PAG-D)	D	8	123	183
Cooler Master HHC-L61	23	45	24	26	9	14	3 (TGB)	B	26	130	144
Evercool CUD-725	30	29	22	18	10	46	3 (TGB) 10 (PAG-E)	E	13	104²	150
Evercool ND12-625	23	33	18	16	9	60	3 (TGB)	B	6	102	162
Evercool ND15-715	24	36	20	18	9	69	3 (TGB)	C	7	110	179
GlacialTech Igloo 2411	25	44	22	24	11	80	5 (PTI)	C	6	131	211
GlacialTech Igloo 2420	26	43	26	24	11	74	5 (PTI)	C	6.5	135	209
GlacialTech Igloo 2450 Light	26	50	26	28	12	60	5 (PTI)	C	8	147	207
GlacialTech Igloo 2450	28	43	26	28	12	60	5 (PTI) 5 (PAG-D)	D	8	147	207
GlacialTech Igloo 2450 Pro	32	34	26	28	12	75	5 (PTI) 10 (PAG-E)	E	8	147	222
GlacialTech Igloo 2510	31	43	26	24	12	44	5 (PTI) 10 (PAG-E)	E	13.5	151	195
GlacialTech Igloo 2510 Pro	38	34	26	24	12	44	5 (PTI) 10 (PAG-E)	E	13.5	149	193
GlacialTech Silent Breeze 462 II	30	50	26	28	13	35	5 (PTI) 10 (PAG-E)	E	17	162	197
GlacialTech Diamond 2100	26	42	26	24	11	37	5 (PTI) 5 (TCS)	C	13	139	176
Speeze VultureSpin	28	48	22	22	12	51	5 (PTI) 5 (PAG-D)	D	9.5	142	193
Speeze OwlStream	23	43	22	18	10	48	5 (PTI)	B	7.5	121	169
Speeze HawkStream	24	35	22	22	10	87	5 (PTI)	C	5.5	118	205
Speeze FireStar	26	35	22	20	10	80	5 (PTI)	C	6	118	198
Spire WhisperRock IV	28	52	26	22	12	37	5 (PTI) 5 (PAG-D)	D	13	150	187
Spire FalconRock II	27	45	26	22	12	53	5 (PTI) 5 (PAG-D)	D	9	142	195
Spire MicroFlow II	30	34	24	22	12	67	5 (PTI) 10 (PAG-E)	E	9	137	204
Spire WhisperRock III	25	38	26	18	10	69	5 (PTI)	C	7	122	191
Thermaltake Volcano 6Cu	26	32	16	18	7	64	2 (PTIC)	C	7.5	101	165
Thermaltake Volcano 6Cu+	28	28	16	18	7	60	2 (PTIC) 5 (PAG-D)	D	8	89²	149
Thermaltake Volcano 7	27	32	20	18	8	37	2 (PTIC) 5 (PAG-D)	D	13	112	149
Thermaltake Volcano 7+ (3000 RPM)	28	38	20	16	8	23	3 (TGB) 5 (PSAA) 1 (TG) 10 (PAG-E)	E	21	129	152
Thermaltake Volcano 7+ (4500 RPM)	31	30	20	16	8	29	3 (TGB) 5 (PSAA) 1 (TG) 10 (PAG-E)	E	21	105²	134
Thermaltake Volcano 7+ (6000 RPM)	35	26	20	16	8	29	3 (TGB) 5 (PSAA) 1 (TG) 10 (PAG-E)	E	21	105²	134
Thermaltake Volcano 8 SE	27	34	20	20	10	48	2 (PTIC) 5 (PAG-D)	D	10	118	166
Thermaltake Volcano 10	30	34	22	22	11	48	2 (PTIC) 10 (PAG-E)	E	12.5	131	179
Thermaltake Volcano 10+	31	35	26	22	11	46	2 (PTIC) 10 (PAG-E)	E	13	137	183
Thermaltake Volcano 11+ (1800 RPM)	20	41	20	16	8	16	3 (TGB) 5 (TCS) 5 (PSAA)	A	22	106¹	122
Thermaltake Volcano 11+ (3600 RPM)	24	31	20	16	8	22	3 (TGB) 5 (TCS) 5 (PSAA)	C	22	112	134
Thermaltake Volcano 11+ (5300 RPM)	31	25	20	16	8	27	3 (TGB) 5 (TCS) 5 (PSAA) 10 (PAG-E)	E	22	86³	113
Thermaltake Silent Boost	35	41	26	20	11	24	3 (TGB) 10 (PAG-E)	E	25	146	170
TR2 M3	28	39	20	22	10	60	5 (PTI) 5 (PAG-D)	D	8	129	189
Titan TTC-CU5TB	29	29	22	18	10	44	3 (TGB) 10 (PAG-E)	E	13.5	103²	147
Titan TTC-D5TB(TC)	23	38	20	18	9	48	3 (TGB) 5 (TCS)	B	7.5	116	164
Titan TTC-D5TB/G/CU35/SC (1800 RPM)	24	50	22	20	10	38	3 (TGB) 5 (PSAA)	B	9.5	134	172
Titan TTC-D5TB/G/CU35/SC (2700 RPM)	28	37	22	20	10	63	3 (TGB) 5 (PSAA) 10 (PAG-E)	E	9.5	135	198
Titan TTC-D5TB/G/CU35/SC (3600 RPM)	30	31	22	20	10	63	3 (TGB) 5 (PSAA) 10 (PAG-E)	B	9.5	131	194
Titan TTC-D9TB/CU35/R1	26	39	22	20	10	51	3 (TGB)	C	9.5	120	171
Titan TTC-CU9TB/SC (2200 RPM)	20	48	20	16	8	24	3 (TGB) 5 (PSAA)	A	15	108¹	132
Titan TTC-CU9TB/SC (3200 RPM)	24	39	20	16	8	24	3 (TGB) 5 (PSAA)	B	15	115	139
Titan TTC-CU9TB/SC (4200 RPM)	26	32	20	16	8	32	3 (TGB) 5 (PSAA)	C	15	110	142
Zalman CNPS6000-AlCu (Normal Mode)	28	37	24	20	10	20	3 (TGB) 1 (TG) 5 (PSAA) 3 (IT) 5 (PAG-D)	D	24	136	156
Zalman CNPS6000-AlCu (Silent Mode)	22	50	24	20	10	15	3 (TGB) 1 (TG) 5 (PSAA) 3 (IT)	A	24	124¹	139
Zalman CNPS6000-Cu (Normal Mode)	31	37	24	20	9	19	3 (TGB) 1 (TG) 5 (PSAA) 3 (IT) 10 (PAG-E)	E	31	143	162
Zalman CNPS6000-Cu (Silent Mode)	26	50	24	20	9	15	3 (TGB) 1 (TG) 5 (PSAA) 3 (IT)	C	31	141	156
Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu (Normal Mode)	35	42	24	10	8	16	3 (TGB) 1 (TG) 5 (PSAA) 3 (IT) 10 (PAG-E)	E	38	141	157
Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu (Silent Mode)	28	56	24	10	8	13	3 (TGB) 1 (TG) 5 (PSAA) 3 (IT) 5 (PAG-D)	D	38	143	156
Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu (Normal Mode)	46	42	24	10	8	13	3 (TGB) 1 (TG) 5 (PSAA) 3 (IT) 10 (PAG-E)	E	46	152	165
Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu (Silent Mode)	36	56	24	10	8	13	3 (TGB) 1 (TG) 5 (PSAA) 3 (IT) 10 (PAG-E)	E	46	156	169

^*Price effectiveness is based on average retail prices (Moscow region) or manufacturer-recommended ones (for coolers not on sale yet) for the tested coolers for February 16, 2004.

^**Average retail prices

¹10% fine for low thermal effectiveness

²15% fine for a high noise level (50 to 60 dBA)

³30% fine for a too high noise level (60 dBA and over)

List of the bonus abbreviations in Table 1.

PAG-E - bonus for professional aptitude group E
PAG-D - bonus for professional aptitude group D
PTI - preinstalled thermal interface
PTIC - preinstalled thermal interface (changeable phase state)
TGB - thermal grease bundled
TG - technical guide
TCS - temperature control system
PSAA - power supply adapter adjustable
IT - installation tools

Diagram 4. Effectiveness/Noise Rating

Note
Effectiveness/Noise Rating is calculated the following way:
ENR = DF*(RFth/TR)/(NL/RFn),
RFth - thermal reference factor (thermal resistance ?ja), TR - thermal resistance of a given cooler ?ja, RFn - noise reference factor (noise level), NL - noise level of a given cooler, DF - dimension factor (equals 10).

Diagram 5. Functionality/Price Rating

Note
Functionality/Price ratio is calculated the following way:
FPR = DF*(CFR)/(P/RFc),
CFR - Cooler Functionality Rating, RFp - price reference factor (reference cost), P - average retail price of a given cooler, DF - dimension factor (equals 0.1).

Diagram 6. Coolers Technical Rating

Diagram 7. Coolers Economical Rating

Well, I think no more comments are needed. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to discuss them in our forum. :)

Appendix. Coolers consumer qualities assessment (new edition)

Vitaly Krinitsin (vit@ixbt.com)

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