Cooling/CPU Cooling by jmke @ 2014-04-15
SilentiumPC send us their latest budget friendly heatsinks. Compatible with all of the major Intel and AMD platforms out there we take for a test run on a hot running setup to see how it stacks up to the reference cooling from Intel.
With the small amount of mounting gear and impressive array of supported platforms, installation does take a bit of time but is straight forward nonetheless. Motherboard removal is required, unless you have cutout at the back of your case (as pictured below)
4 posts go through the mounting holes and bracket at the rear. On those you put 4 thumbscrews/standoffs, these in turn form the basis for two brackets which you fix in place using thumbscrews. Last step is placing the heatink with a 3rd bracket on the CPU and securing it in place, again with thumbscrews. While the thumbscrew approach allows for almost tool less installation, for a snug fit it's recommended to use a screwdriver to ensure each part is turned as tight (but not overly tight!).
The Fera 2 lines up nicely with exhaust fan on most cases, ensuring proper airflow to increase cooling efficiency.
Our test setup is nothing too fancy, but no easily cooled platform either. A Pentium D 840 3.2Ghz socket 775 monster, this is a brute of a 90nm CPU with hyperthreading enabled power guzzler, rated at 130W TDP at stock speeds.
- Intel Pentium D 840 3.2Ghz Dual Core Stock
- Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
- 2Gb RAM
- NVIDIA 7900GT With Zalman Cooler @5v
- LANCOOL PC-K58 ATX Case with 2x120mm fans
- MS-Tech 650W ATX PSU (With 120mm fan)
We tested a total of 4 different scenarios:
- CPU @ stock speed - all case fans at 12v
- CPU @ stock speed - only rear case fan @ 5v, front fan disabled
- CPU @ 3.6Ghz - all case fans at 12v
- CPU @ 3.6Ghz - only rear case fan @ 5v, front fan disabled
The case fans we measured at ~1400rpm @ 12v and ~725rpm@5v. It's safe to say that when only the rear case fan is running at 5v, the overall PC is dead quiet.
Measuring gear included:
- iPad Mini with Thermodo sensor for ambient room temperature
- Extech dBA meter 407738 for noise reading
Noise reading was done in a separate room, a passively cooled PSU rigged to power-up without motherboard, and the Heatsink and Fan combo. The sensor was placed at 50cm from the front of the heatsink.
To generate CPU load we used Intel Burn Test v2.54 and SpeedFan to measure CPU die temp.
Onto the results ->
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