Two water-powered coolers by EVERCOOL and Ice Hammer versus two HI-END coolers
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Date: 06.01.2007 |
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Benchmarking
We already defined the platform for our tensile testing in the beginning of the review, and the core of the system will be the CPU Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 which is truly able running at clock speeds as high as 3500…3700 MHz with the respective raise of voltages. Most importantly, the cooling system must be able to cope with the heat emission. Apart from the water-powered cooling, we'll be using two HI-END coolers in our tests. These are Zalman CNPS9700 LED and Titan Amanda TEC.
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Test-bench configuration
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CPU
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LGA775 Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 (Allendale, B2) @3500 MHz / 1.425 V
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Motherboard
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ASUS P5B Deluxe rev.1.03G (i965)
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RAM
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2 x 1024 DDR2 800 Corsair XMS2 Dual Kit (TWIN2X2048-6400C4)
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Video Card
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512 MB Sapphire ATI Radeon X1900XT
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HDD
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250 GB Seagate SATA II, 16 MB cache (ST3250620AS)
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Housing
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ThermalTake Xaser III (window, 5 housing fans 80-mm)
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Power supply unit
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FSP Optima 600W (OPS600-80GLN)
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The methodology for running tests has also been repeatedly verified and proven in practice and appears to be a performance check for cooling systems in the three most typical types of load upon the computer:
Simple. In this mode, there is no load upon the CPU, and all the power-saving technologies are disabled. In the end, we produce a CPU temperature which is typical of the "office" operating mode of the computer and "surfing" around the multimedia content.
Games. This is already a serious load upon the CPU and a hard job for its cooler. The CPU itself in its mode is normally used at 80...100%, and the video card running at all the 100% creates a truly tropical climate inside the housing. To generate this type of load, we should simultaneously run two applications: the test for artifacts of ATI Tool which produces 100% load upon the video card and approximately 80% upon the CPU, and archiving with WinRAR running in the single-thread mode, in order to bring the CPU usage up to 100%.
Maximum load. This is a stress test for the CPU and its cooling system. Since the good old S&M has not yet been updated for the full-featured support for Intel Core 2 Duo, we used the no less "hot" module of stress tests in Everest which cyclically uses two most demanding FPU tests. In this mode, the CPU is heated up to its maximum temperature which none of the "household" tasks is able heating it up to that.
The temperature in the room was maintained at 24°±1° С, that is, normal for heated premises in the winter period.
To compare efficiencies of the two cooling systems in question, we bring in their results on a single graph produced while cooling only the CPU (for EVERCOOL WC-202).
Well, the very first comments are not comforting for the cooling systems under study. The cooler Zalman CNPS9700 LED proved more efficient when used in the "quiet" mode, and under the maximum speed of the fan shared the leadership crown with the WPCS Ice Hammer IH-NIAGARA FULL.
Titan Amanda TEC is the winner. Yes, just a winner and that's it. In all the modes, confidently, without much ado.
The water-powered cooling system Ice Hammer IH-NIAGARA FULL has proved itself on the disputable side. On the one hand, it has a large external radiator with a 120 mm fan, and a more powerful pump. That is, it has all it takes to be the best in this review. But it has to share the first place with the air-powered cooler. Among the advantages, we note that this WPCS provides expulsion of heat outside the housing, which degrades the overall temperature inside the CPU unit.
The acoustic comfort is more likely out of the question - the noise coming from the running pump of Ice Hammer IH-NIAGARA FULL is annoying. Although the noise is not so irritating, it anyway is an issue because of its too explicit presence.
EVERCOOL WC-202 loses to competitors at efficiency, and the loss is quite easy to substantiate. This WPCS offers a more complicated cooling circuit and a less powerful pump. Also, you can't ignore the much smaller area of the radiators. The coolant is cooled only in the additional radiator which is installed on the rear wall of the housing and runs as an air-exhauster. The principal radiator in the main unit has very poor blow-off because of the cut-out grid and is inside the so-called "thermal pocket". In the end. much less heat is dissipated. Additionally, this hypothesis is confirmed by the fact that with the increase of rotational speed of the fan in the main unit from minimum to maximum the temperature drops by only 1° С.
At the noise level at the minimum RPM of fans, the EVERCOOL WC-202 looks good, but some minor noise from the pump is anyway heard. As the rotational speed of the fans goes up, the noise from the pump drowns in the their rumbling, and the most noisy is the fan of the main unit. Not everyone can work in such atmosphere.
Despite the loss, we won't regard the failure of WPCS EVERCOOL WC-202 because this system offers a noticeable advantage over the competitors - it is aimed at cooling two components of the system: the CPU and the video chip. Therefore, it can help us get rid of the fan on the video card. On out test bench, we use a very hot 512 MB ATI Radeon X1900XT video card, its native turbine does not stand out with quiet operation and maintains the temperature of the core within 85-90°. If instead of it we install a water block, then we can get rid of the persistent fan in the system and there is also hope for some reduction in the temperature of the system.
After installing a water block on the video card, the temperature of the core under the minimum rotational speed of the fan did not exceed 82°, and at the maximum speed it reached merely 78°. That is quite a decent result especially in view of the fact that heat from the video card and the CPU is dissipated by merely two small radiators.
Increase of thermal load upon the cooling system could not help affect the CPU temperature, so let's take a look at how it has changed after adding a water block for video into the circuit:
Under no load upon the video card, its effect on the CPU temperature proved not so significant: 3 degrees in the idle state and 2 under the maximum load. But in the gaming mode, the hot behavior of ATI Radeon X1900XT made itself felt – the CPU temperature went up by 6-8°.
By the results of this round, we can say that EVERCOOL WC-202 was able to cope with cooling the overclocked CPU Intel Core 2 Duo in a duet with the very hot ATI Radeon X1900XT. In the mode of full load upon the CPU, its temperature did not attain the critical 80°, and under the gaming load at small RPMs of the fans the temperatures were quite acceptable: 66° on the CPU and 82° on the video chip.
Conclusion
In the beginning we asked the question: "Will the inexpensive WPCS models be able competing versus HI-END air-powered coolers?"
The answer is so evident that we merely briefly comment on that.
A good air-powered cooler is able cooling the CPU no worse and even better than a cheap WPCS - at the same time it is easier at operation and has no risks of coolant leakage.
Titan Amanda TEC is a special case which deserves a special mention. We included this unusual cooler into the test on purpose remembering its first splendid debut, and the result again exceeded all the expectations. Its efficiency leaves no chance to competitors. At the same time, we should not forget that operation of Titan Amanda TEC is related to a number of specific traits. The thermoelectric element of the cooler consumes up to 60W under load and emits much heat, so it makes sense to take care of a good quality PSU and efficient ventilation. And by the overall dimensions, the cooler is not small.
Anyway, it is the best, which is undisputable. No doubt, Titan Amanda TEC will find its fanciers who won't be afraid of coming up against its traits in order to attain the minimum CPU temperature. Bravo, Titan!
Ice Hammer IH-NIAGARA FULL
An inexpensive and easy to assemble WPCS. Among its advantages is the expulsion of air outside the housing. Of the installation traits, we liked the very simple and fast method of installation of a water block on the CPU - you even don't have to dismantle the motherboard for that.
Of the shortcoming is the rather noisy pump.
All would be fine, but the thing is that performance of the WPCS proved on par with the Zalman CNPS 9700 LED cooler, and even lower in the quiet mode. Since the prices for Ice Hammer IH-NIAGARA FULL and Zalman CNPS 9700 LED are approximately equal (about $70-80), the matter of expediency of this WPCS proves to be rather dubious. The air-powered cooler takes up less space and most importantly offers no risk of fluid leakage. СВО Ice Hammer IH-NIAGARA FULL differs in a bit lower performance and much higher noise level, but that is water-powered cooling and means more effective. Is that rationality or originality? It's up to everyone to decide, but we choose the rationality.
EVERCOOL WC-202
It offers a well thought out and convenient design of fittings, very flexible hoses, simple installation. It's just this the WPCS СВО EVERCOOL WC-202 was memorable. Its major advantage is the possibility of cooling two components of the system: the CPU and the graphic chip. That means we get rid of two fans at a time: on the CPU and on the video card. But at the same time we acquires also two, far not the quietest. This WPCS is comfortable to work at only the minimum RPMs of the fan of the main unit.
We can't help noting the monitoring features of EVERCOOL WC-202, on the display of the main unit all the necessary parameters of the WPCS are presented - only the temperature of the fluid in the system is missing.
Among the shortcoming is the not very high performance of the system and the excessive noise of the fan in the main unit. We wish we saw clips for fastening the water block on modern video cards.
Use of EVERCOOL WC-202 is justified only on condition the CPU and the graphic chip are simultaneously cooled, it easily copes with both the overclocked CPU and the powerful video card. Its price is also quite reasonable – $70…80. It's a pity that EVERCOOL WC-202 is hard to make available in Russia. We only have to hope for more active attention from the marketing people of EVERCOOL towards the Russian market.
P.S.
As we mentioned formerly, our specimen of CPU Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 is able running at 3700 MHz, but the voltage has to be raised to 1.575 V. On the other hand, we were unable to attain stability in the gaming mode - neither the reviewed water-powered cooling systems nor Zalman CNPS9700 LED were unable to pass the "Max load" stress test. That is why we performed comparison at 3500 MHz.
But after the performance of Titan Amanda TEC we were tempted to turn back to the clock speed 3700 MHz again. Needless to say - the thermoelectric cooler was able to easily cope with the overclocking. Let the figures tell that:
- Idle mode: 36
- Game mode: 55
- Maximum load: 77
No comments are needed - all has been stated.
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