The HardOCP CPU HSF/AIO Cooler Review Platform

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FrgMstr

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The HardOCP CPU HSF/AIO Cooler Review Platform

We are once again updating our CPU Heatsink and All-in-One CPU cooler (HSF/AIO) testing platform. We are also changing up some of the review procedures in order to give our readers a better real-world review of how these coolers compare in real-world environments. How coolers act on an open test bench and in your case can be very different.
 
Looks great! Nice to see some temperature readings from multiple areas within the case.
 
looks nice, a much appreciated improvement over the old testing methodology. Also hoping to see a revamp in the chart's used, the old ones were useless and inconsistent across coolers and reviews tested.
 
Awesome, one of my main "issues" (if you could call it that) with the last bench was the non soldered nature of the processor used (4770k?) seemed like it might make an artificial bottleneck that would make some coolers seem to perform better or worse.
 
Great to hear! I always face palm mentally when I see reviews praising the noise/temperature profiles of graphics cards tested on an open-air platform.
 
looks good and about as "real world" as possible. unlike open benches...
 
This is great - Looking forward to seeing these new reviews.

Question: will you be going back and retesting some of the coolers you have already tested? If not, the first review will be lonely. :unsure:

Comment about fan speed set to 100%. I don't think many folks are setting their CPU coolers to 100%. Most are running a curve or just setting at 50%. There are many coolers that get great cooling results at 50% fan speed while others need 100% to be effective. I would love to see a 50% fan speed result as well as the 100% to get a better idea of how the cooler performs. (I know - more time consuming.. just sayin...)
 
twzTechman said:
Question: will you be going back and retesting some of the coolers you have already tested? If not, the first review will be lonely. :unsure:
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Yes, a few of the more popular ones. We have several coolers together to give us some base numbers to launch with.

twzTechman said:
Comment about fan speed set to 100%. I don't think many folks are setting their CPU coolers to 100%. Most are running a curve or just setting at 50%. There are many coolers that get great cooling results at 50% fan speed while others need 100% to be effective. I would love to see a 50% fan speed result as well as the 100% to get a better idea of how the cooler performs. (I know - more time consuming.. just sayin...)
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Agreed, but we will be showing fully loaded CPUs with max fan speed for our results. Adding more variables at this time will not be our focus. I think we will give you enough data to make a wise purchasing decision as you are getting a "worst case" scenario when it comes to cooling.
 
It is probably outside the scope of your testing, but it would be interesting to see cpu cooler performance with the cpu fan turned off. Too me that would be the other worse case scenario, to see if any cooler going passive can handle the heat with just the case fans providing air flow.
 
IKV1476 said:
It is probably outside the scope of your testing, but it would be interesting to see cpu cooler performance with the cpu fan turned off. Too me that would be the other worse case scenario, to see if any cooler going passive can handle the heat with just the case fans providing air flow.
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That will not be happening. But please share your results at home. :)
 
twzTechman said:
This is great - Looking forward to seeing these new reviews.

Question: will you be going back and retesting some of the coolers you have already tested? If not, the first review will be lonely. :unsure:

Comment about fan speed set to 100%. I don't think many folks are setting their CPU coolers to 100%. Most are running a curve or just setting at 50%. There are many coolers that get great cooling results at 50% fan speed while others need 100% to be effective. I would love to see a 50% fan speed result as well as the 100% to get a better idea of how the cooler performs. (I know - more time consuming.. just sayin...)
Click to expand...

that depend entirely on cooler and fan, is not the same a cooler master hyper 212 with stock 120mm 2500RPM Fan at 100% full blast, than a Thermalright TRUE 120 with stock 120mm Fan 1250RPM at 100% full blast, they using 100% fan will offer both best case scenario on cooling, and worse case scenario on noise..
 
Araxie said:
that depend entirely on cooler and fan, is not the same a cooler master hyper 212 with stock 120mm 2500RPM Fan at 100% full blast, than a Thermalright TRUE 120 with stock 120mm Fan 1250RPM at 100% full blast, they using 100% fan will offer both best case scenario on cooling, and worse case scenario on noise..
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And this is exactly why we test with the fan(s) that is shipped with the unit. We look at the unit as shipped to the buyer.
 
I think the only other data point I'd like to see is the temps when the fan becomes audible above the rest of the system. I know that's how I set my cpu fan up, to run at the speed just below audible until the temp goes above a certain amount, so would definitely influence which cooler I'd buy - ie if a cooler can give acceptable OC temps at just audible range but isn't quite as good at 100% fan, I'd probably still go with it as there'd be little reason to run it at 100% or it would spend little to no time at that speed.

I like the setup as it's pretty close to mine (except the mobo) so I'll definitely be paying close attention.
 
Thanks for sharing the details on your test platform. I hope that when resources permit you will add a second system for testing air coolers based on vertical mounting, like the Silverstone FT02/3/5 cases, with a GPU with a blower cooler. Your standard testbench will do for flat motherboards.
 
Quartz-1 said:
Thanks for sharing the details on your test platform. I hope that when resources permit you will add a second system for testing air coolers based on vertical mounting, like the Silverstone FT02/3/5 cases, with a GPU with a blower cooler. Your standard testbench will do for flat motherboards.
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I do not see that happening.
 
Damn, I was actually hoping for a review of the coolers, I neglected to see the word platform. :) Oh well........
 
ManofGod said:
Damn, I was actually hoping for a review of the coolers, I neglected to see the word platform. :) Oh well........
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One thing at a time. :) And no, I do not want to get into the HardWare business, although it crossed my mind in the past.
 
Nice write-up. Explains your reasoning very well and I think this platform will meet your goals just fine. Good job Kyle and crew! (y)
 
Unless you're opening a new bottle for every use paying extra for >70% alcohol is a waste of money since it will begin to absorb humidity out of the air as soon as its opened.
 
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