Chart 7. Temperature readings (CPU core temperature, nominal/reference modes)

Chart 8. Thermal resistance (nominal/reference modes)

Chart 9. Temperature readings (temperature of near-socket components)

Chart 10. Efficiency/noise ratio

Conclusions

Cooler Master V4, Scythe Shuriken, and Zalman CNPS8700 NT are definitely designed for compact enclosures. They performed very well in our today's tests. Moreover, they can even compete with bulky High-End products. The most attractive product today is Cooler Master V4. It demonstrates acceptable efficiency in nearly all fan speed modes, including noiseless operation, and features a good set of technical properties. Spiced up with a reasonable price tag, it can be recommended for top quad-core processors from Intel and AMD. Zalman CNPS8700 NT also looks good with its attractive balance of efficiency and noise ergonomics, supplementing it with nice High-End content. Unfortunately, Scythe Shuriken is an outsider. This cooler demonstrates weak thermal efficiency, which limits its usage only to "cool" processors with TDP up to 45-65 W.

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