CPU Cooler Testing Methodology

Testing was conducted at a series of temperature intervals, with the ambient room temperature measuring the same for each cooler's reading. EVEREST rounds up temperature readings to the nearest whole number, however all ambient temperatures were recorded and accurate to one-tenth of a degree Celsius.

EVEREST Ultimate Engineer Version 4.00.976 was utilized to measure all CPU temperatures. It should be noted that temperatures obtained through software most always reflect the thermistor readings as recorded by the BIOS. All of the units compared in the results were tested on the same motherboard using the same BIOS. These readings are not absolute or correct, but they are relative since every BIOS is programmed differently.

Test System

• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R (Intel P35 chipset) with F4G BIOS
• System Memory: Crucial PC2-8500 CL5 Ballistix DDR2 RAM
• Processor: Intel E6600 Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz
• Cooling: Thermaltake MaxOrb CL-P0369 CPU Cooler
• Video: Foxconn GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB overclocked to 600MHz Core / 900MHz RAM
• Audio: HT Omega CLARO 7.1 C-Media 8788 Oxygen Chipset
• Hard Disk 1: Western Digital WD360GD 10,000 RPM SATA
• Optical Drive: Toshiba Samsung SH-S203 SATA 20x DVD R/W
• Enclosure: Lian Li PC-B20A ATX Case with 2x120mm and 1x90mm cooling fans
• PSU: ePower Technology EP-1200P10 xScale 1200W PSU
• Operating System: Windows XP Professional SP-2 (optimized to 16 processes at idle)

For each test, the computer system was powered on and left idle for ten minutes prior to recording the idle temperature with EVEREST. After idle temperatures have been recorded, two console versions of the Folding @ Home client were simultaneously run to create full load on both CPU cores. After ten minutes of full load, the temperature was again recorded. This process was identical for all cooling solutions used in this test, and was repeated for each ambient temperature interval.

Xigmatek HDT-S1283 Results

Up first are the results under idle load. The CPU temperature is listed vertically along the left-hand side of the chart, and the ambient room temperature is displayed for each group along the bottom. In this test battery, the OEM cooler provided by Intel with the Core 2 Duo E6600 was used as a reference, which offered a high-temperature baseline reading.

When I tested each cooler, I made certain to keep the hardware settings identical across the entire test platform. I used the same front side bus and clock speeds, which would enable me to clearly compare the performance of each product under identical conditions. While the ambient room temperature increases, all of the coolers I have ever tested would also record higher readings (all except for the Ultra ULT33186 Chilltec TEC CPU Cooler). Since the OEM cooler supplied by Intel was the first unit to be tested, there was quite a difference between the ambient room temperature and the temperature of the cooler (42° C idle at 24° C ambient room temperature).

At idle load I was very pleased to see that the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 was recording results just slightly higher than room temperature, which is encouraging. The 30° C recorded at 24° C ambient was quite impressive. But the heat had just started to be applied, and once I completed tests on the other coolers it would be time for real cooling under serious load.

Under full load, the Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 began to create tremendous heat. The little Intel OEM cooler, despite its copper base, gave the worst results anyone could suffer recording, registering 61° C at full load while the room's ambient temperature remained 24° C. But that's what you come to expect from a bundled cooler, right? Sadly this must be the case, because I still hear of many users (even some gamers and hardware enthusiasts) which still use the stock reference cooler. I feel for those of you in this situation, I really do...

...but there are some very good reasons to evolve, or at least save up your money and upgrade. Previously, the very expensive Ultra ULT33186 Chilltec TEC CPU Cooler held the crown for cooling, if only by a very small margin. In all honesty, the Zaward Sylphee ZCJ003 CPU Cooler was the real king of the hill prior to these tests, since it is roughly half the size of everything here. But it's time for a new champion, and the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 Exposed Copper Heatpipe CPU Cooler defeated all challengers with a maximum recorded temperature of only 41° C in a 24° C ambient room temperature and at full load.

The Zaward VIVO PCJ004 deserves second-place recognition, since it was "close" to performing the best. But we all know that close only counts in horseshoes and hand granades. Still, I predict that this Heatpipe Direct Touch (HDT) design is going to become very popular.

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