Testing Results

This content was originally featured on Amdmb.com and has been converted to PC Perspective’s website. Some color changes and flaws may appear.

Cooler Master XDream Special Edition

Fan

Amb. º C

Idle º C

Load º C

MBM5

Cooler Master 80 mm (min. speed) 25 CFM

23.0

42.4

51.4

44

Cooler Master 80 mm (50% speed) ~44 CFM

22.7

38.7

42.1

37

Cooler Master 80 mm (max. speed) 62 CFM

23.3

35.6

39.2

34

Panaflo 80 mm H1A, 40 CFM

22.8

36.7

42.7

35

Delta 80 mm SHE, 69 CFM

23.1

34.2

38.7

32

Cooler Master Aero 7

Fan

Amb. º C

Idle º C

Load º C

MBM5

Cooler Master blower (min. speed) 11 CFM

22.7

40.2

45.3

41

Cooler Master blower (50% speed) ~19 CFM

23.5

36.3

40.3

35

Cooler Master blower (max. speed) 27 CFM

22.9

34.5

38.0

32

Thermalright SK-7

Fan

Amb. º C

Idle º C

Load º C

MBM5

Panaflo 80 mm H1A, 40 CFM

22.8

37.5

42.0

35

Delta 80 mm SHE, 69 CFM

23.3

35.1

38.6

31

Thermaltake Volcano 11

Fan

Amb. º C

Idle º C

Load º C

MBM5

Thermaltake SF2 (min. speed)  21 CFM

23.4

49.7

60.6

52

Thermaltake SF2 (50% speed) ~49 CFM

22.9

41.5

48.8

40

Thermaltake SF2 (max. speed)  76 CFM

23.2

38.3

43.7

35

OEM Aluminum HSF

Fan

Amb. º C

Idle º C

Load º C

MBM5

Cooler Master 60 mm x 10 mm

23.0

41.9

48.8

43

The following graph shows the CPU full load temperatures over ambient (differential temperature) for each heatsink with the various fans tested. The manufacturers rated air flow values (in CFM) are included.

Cooler Master: The XDream SE and Aero 7 - Cases and Cooling 15
Differential temperature = CPU load temperature – ambient air temperature (Click to Enlarge)

As you can see, both the XDream SE and Aero 7 coolers easily outperformed the stock OEM cooler. The XDream SE produced nearly identical temperatures as the Thermalright SK-7, when fitted with the Panaflo and Delta 80 mm fans. Both the XDream SE and Aero 7 matched the SK-7 results when running their own Cooler Master fans at full speed. Although very similar in size and configuration, the Thermaltake Volcano 11 did not fare too well against the XDream SE.

The previous table only listed the Cooler Master XDream SE and Aero 7 HSF performance at high, medium and low fan speeds. Obviously there are many more usable combinations in between. Finding the right balance of cooling performance and an acceptable noise level will be up to each user’s personal taste. The following table lists the sound level readings recorded at various speeds for each cooler. RPM values were recorded using MBM5.

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