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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 Sphere

Provided by: Coolermaster

Platform support: Intel S775, AMD S939/AM2
Type of heatsink: Tower
Installation Type: Back Plate
Materials: Copper, Heat Pipes
Fan Support: 66x88mm custom design
Extra’s: LED fan
Average Selling Price: ~$45

What we have here is a buffed up version of the Coolermaster Mars, the design remains quite identical; the Sphere is larger, comes with more heat pipes and is made 100% copper. The end results should prove interesting. The downside of the copper material is the increased price, at $45 it’s more expensive than the larger Hyper 212.

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These are the specifications given by Coolermaster:

Heat Sink Dimensions 132 x 113 mm

Heat Sink Material 100% copper with 4 heatpipes

Fan Dimension (W / H / D) 66 x 68 mm

Fan Speed 2200 R.P.M.

Fan Life Expectancy 40,000 hours

Bearing Type Long life sleeve

Fan Noise Level (dB-A) 22 dBA

Connector 3-pin

Weight 684.54 g

Inside the package you’ll find the same mounting material as found in the box of the Hyper 212 and Vortex 725:

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The Sphere is pear shaped with a fan sitting in the middle:

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The heat pipes come up from the base and than circle the Sphere:

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The fan is mounted in the middle, draws in fresh air from the top and expels it in all directions:

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The copper base is machine lapped and very flat:

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Once installed the blue LED fan lights up the red copper and makes this look good:

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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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