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CPU Heatsink Roundup Fall 2007

Cooling/CPU Cooling by jmke @ 2007-11-06

In this large group test we compare over 30 CPU heatsinks with different fan speeds, giving you the data on both thermal and decibel performance. Want to upgrade your stock cooler? This roundup will help you out.

Coolermaster Hyper 212

Provided by: Coolermaster

Platform support: Intel S775, AMD S939/AM2
Type of heatsink: Tower
Installation Type: Back Plate
Materials: Aluminum, Copper, Heat Pipes
Fan Support: 2x120mm (one included)
Extra’s: LED fan
Average Selling Price: ~$40

Ever since Coolermaster introduced their Hyper series they have never failed to impress, going back to the original Hyper 6 which was a 1000gr copper monster which bested everything out there, but also the recent Hyper TX which proved to offer a price/performance ratio hard to beat. The latest addition to the Hyper line-up is the 212, and as the name implies, it a heatsink which supports two 120mm fans and comes at a competitive price.

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These are the specifications given by Coolermaster:

Heat Sink Dimensions 122 x 92 x 160 mm

Heat Sink Material Cu base, Al fin, 4 heatpipes

Fan Dimension (W / H / D) 120 x 120 x 25 mm

Fan Speed 2000 R.P.M.

Fan Airflow 69.69 CFM

Bearing Type Long life sleeve

Fan Life Expectancy 50,000 hours

Fan Noise Level (dB-A) 19 dBA

Connector 3-pin

Weight 710 g

The Hyper 212 comes with one 120 LED fan included and mounting gear to install a second, inside the box there’s the usual material, including a descriptive manual, thermal paste and different motherboard back plates:

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This new Hyper is quite large, covering the whole area of a 120mm fan with aluminum fins, but keeping in mind cost and weight, Coolermaster decided to leave the middle of the heatsink open and concentrate on the 4 U formed heat pipes and install fins on those at each end.

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While the heatsink’s width is impressive, it’s less deep as expected:

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Without the fan the heatsink design is quite classical, reminds us of the Sonic Tower from Thermaltake; the 212 has more surface area, more heat pipes and thicker copper base:

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The base is machine lapped and flat, not polished, but that isn’t a bad thing per sé. The heat pipes are thick and should be able to carry off more heat:

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A second fan can be mounted with the included extra holding plates and screws, by doing so the total size and weight of the heatsink goes up noticeably:

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Installation method is identical to the Vortex 725, mounting the motherboard onto the heatsink:

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Lined up nicely with the rear exhaust:

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Powered on the fan lights up blue but not too bright:

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When two fans are mounted on the Hyper 212 there is little room left between the second fan and the rear exhaust:

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Comment from Rutar @ 2007/11/06

impressive

A new sheriff in town from Coolink (former Noiseblocker), it is VERY interesting that it seems to be geared towards silent computing (hence performing best there while not outperforming with a high speed fan. I can't seem to get it here tough

Comment from thorgal @ 2007/11/06

John, in your chart the "coolIT freezone" : where is that review ?

Edit : found it :$ But it's watercooling :s : why did you include it in the charts ? Shouldn't there be an explanation added ?

Comment from jmke @ 2007/11/06

it's water cooling and it's not water cooling at the same time imho; this all in one kit doesn't install different from many other heatsinks, there is zero maintenance, zero risk. It gives you an idea of TEC performance combined with water cooling. Plus, if you state that I should not include it, why include the GTO-990 ? It has a radiator, pump and water block, mounted on a small surface; should I not include that one either?

While the CoolIT does use water to cool down the CPU, it's such a compact and one in all device that I never stopped to think of it as a water cooling setup, similar to the Swiftech and Dangerden offerings. It can be installed by any PC illiterate without risk of damage, most water cooling kits sold do require a bit more knowledge and include some risk.

Comment from thorgal @ 2007/11/07

My feeling is you're walking a thin line here. I do not disagree with your previous post, but to my feeling : air is air, and water is water

Hassle is not a criterea I think, or you could just as well include a resorator from Zalman for example : all in one solution with only one waterblock to install to the cpu, almost the same as the CoolIT in my book. Zalman uses a clamp system not unlike CoolIT to attach the tubing to the cpu block, external connections with Zalman are clampless. Just to say there's no hassle there as well (I'm not a real resorator fan myself

)

And then there's the price : air coolers of around $40 compared to a watercooling system from over a $100... in that respect the CoolIT is definately in the watercooling league.

Anyway : the chart is not necessarily wrong, and provides an interesting comparison between the two technologies, but isn't this comparing apples to oranges ?

All imho of course

Comment from jmke @ 2007/11/07

The Ultra ChillTEC is $120+, all air cooled. THe reserator is not all in one kit, you need to handle the tubes = more risk

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