Introduction and Specifications
We look at stock and OC performance from four large air coolers
In this roundup we'll explore the performance of three premium (and large) air coolers – with the ultra-popular Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO in the mix to see how this $29 option stacks up against the big dogs on test.
Many of the large air coolers on the market are built for ultra-efficient cooling at whisper-quiet volume levels. With massive heatsinks (and sometimes pairs of them) they can often cool demanding CPU loads with minimal fan speeds, and this usually results in very low noise output. Another advantage is the increased thermal headroom such a cooler provides, which can allow for overclocking without the need for liquid cooling – or even much additional noise.
So what coolers are included? In alphabetical order we have:
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO – $28.99, Amazon
- Noctua NH-D14 SE2011- $79.99, Amazon
- Scythe Ninja 4 (SCNJ-4000) – $46.95, Amazon
- Thermalright Le Grand Macho RT – $79.99, Amazon
Can the $29 Hyper 212 EVO hold its own in this group?
Kicking Cooler Testing up a Notch
I reviewed the Thermalright Le Grand Macho RT recently, using a Core i5 6600K-based test platform (the Scythe Ninja 4 was also reviewed using this platform), and readers correctly pointed out that a cooler of this size should really be tested with some more challenging thermal loads. The Core i5-6600K is a quad-core, single-threaded design with a 91W TDP, and in moving to a new CPU cooler test system I decided to make the jump to the 140W TDPs of Intel's LGA2011 processors.
So I ended up with a Core i7-6800K; a newer Broadwell-E design with a 6 core/12 thread configuration (and of course that 140W TDP). The base speed of the CPU is 3.40 GHz, with a maximum turbo frequency of 3.60 GHz. Without much trouble I was able to push the CPU to 4.0 GHz on each core, and proceeded to test each of these coolers at both stock and OC frequencies. My hope is that the results to follow will adequately demonstrate just how effective these coolers are when really pressed.
Before continuing, here's a look at the specs for the coolers in today's roundup:
| Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO | Noctua NH-D14 SE2011 | Scythe Ninja 4 (SCNJ-4000) | Thermaltake Le Grand Macho RT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Dimensions (HxWxD) | 159x120x80mm | 160x140x158mm | 155x130x153mm | 159x150x152mm |
| Included Fan(s) |
A12025-20RB-4BP-F1 (PWM) |
NF-P14 PWM 140x140x25mm, NF-P12 PWM 120x120x25mm |
GlideStream 120 PWM 120x120x25mm |
TY-147B (PWM) 152x140x26.5mm |
| Fan Speed | 600-2000 RPM | 300-1200 RPM, 300-1300 RPM |
300-1500RPM | 300-1300 RPM |
| Heatsink Material | 4 Direct Contact Heat Pipes, Aluminum Fins |
Nickel-Plated Copper, Aluminium Fins |
Nickel-Plated Copper, Aluminium Fins | Nickel-Plated Copper, Aluminium Fins |
| Weight (with fans) | 569g | 1240g | 900g | 1060g |
I won't delve into the mounting hardware or installation of these coolers, as they have all been previously reviewed. Speaking of hardware, the SE2011 version of the NH-D14 tested here doesn't include a mount for Intel LGA115x processors, so an adapter is needed for those processors if you want the version with PWM fans (Noctua NM-i115x Mounting Kit - $7.99, Amazon).
Next up, we'll dive right into the performance numbers to see which cooler came out on top!
I wish you had included the
I wish you had included the Intel(Delta) TS15A for reference. I bought one for my i7-6700K build and id like to see how it compares to the giant coolers i am always skeptical of.
That’s an LGA1151 cooler.
That's an LGA1151 cooler.
I’m sure he was referring to
I’m sure he was referring to the 2011 counterpart the TS13A
You should check out
You should check out AnandTech’s recent “Battle of the Stock Coolers” article. They compare (among other things) the TS15A, AMD Wraith, and a Hyper 212 Evo for reference. Long story short: besides the Wraith, nothing comes close to the Evo in neither thermals or acoustics, and all Intel coolers perform roughly the same when paired with their intended wattage (i.e. a 65W Intel stock cooler at a 65W load results in the same temps and noise as a 120w cooler at 120W load).
http://www.anandtech.com/show/10500/stock-cooler-roundup-intel-amd-vs-evo-212
I wonder what the difference
I wonder what the difference in performance would be if you added a second fan to the CM Hyper 212 EVO? It’s bound to help some but is it enough to notice?
on my old 2500k running @ 4.8
on my old 2500k running @ 4.8 and 1.5 volts it makes almost no difference (it cannot keep up at 5.0 GHz). as I adjust the voltage down the best it will do is between 1-3C. In the end all that it really did is allow me to keep both of the fans running at a lower rpm to achieve the same cfm of air flow.
eventually you will just reach the heat dissipation ability of the amount of copper and aluminum that you have with a hyper 212.
What about the SilentiumPC
What about the SilentiumPC Fortis III cooler? It’s even cheaper than the Hyper 212 Evo. I wonder how it compares to it
I’ve never heard of it.
I've never heard of it. Searching Newegg and Amazon show no results… Appears not to be available in the U.S.A.
http://www.kitguru.net/compon
http://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/anton-shilov/intel-rolls-out-its-most-advanced-air-cooler-to-date-ts15a-for-lga1151-processors/
http://supremelaw.org/systems/heatsinks/warning.htm
And, compare the
And, compare the spring-loaded machine screws
on these Intel HSF units:
http://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-demos-its-cooling-solution-for-core-i7-5000-haswell-e-chips/
Is it a problem that the 212
Is it a problem that the 212 design is not completely flat on the plate that contacts the CPU? I had to reapply a couple times, finally settling on the dap in the center method, but my CPU always throttles down under load due to max temps. My next cooler will be a different brand for sure, or one with the thermal paste already applied.
Which CPU is it that’s
Which CPU is it that's throttling? I have found that AMD FX CPUs throttle based on some apparently pre-defined perameters (doesn't seem absolutely dependant on temps, either). In my use of the EVO with Intel CPUs I haven't had any throttling, but I haven't had temps hot enough to cause it (have never even seen 90 C with it).
Still, the EVO certainly isn't perfectly flat, and I imagine there are variances between units.
I’ve seen a test done
I’ve seen a test done comparing flat vs convex vs concave cooler surfaces and the convex one was actually the best. In other words, if the cooler’s mating surface is designed to contact in the center instead of being flat – and some of them are – that is a good thing. Temp variations were small so I wouldn’t worry about it unless the outside of the cooler is touching before the center (concave). If that’s the case you have a defective unit.
Otherwise, the only reason you should see thermal throttling with a 212 EVO is that 1) You forgot to install thermal paste or incorrectly applied it, or 2) You forgot to plug in the fan, or 3) your overclock attempt is too high. The 212 EVO isn’t intended to be wring all the possible OC you can get but is generally good enough for moderate overclocks.
Other possibilities – questionable CPU, bad cooling in the rest of the case. Really, considering my experience and the huge number of people that love the EVO I think it’s the least likely source of your problem. But then I’m not seeing your situation in person so can only guess. 🙂
The 212 is one of the best
The 212 is one of the best budget coolers on the market, but it’s also a pain in the ass to install. Lol I would gladly pay an extra 5-10 bucks for a better mounting solution.
Thanks for this review, glad
Thanks for this review, glad to see my good old 212+ is up to date. My 2 cents about this HSF is to change the single rattly fan to two decent push-pull fans. I have this config since a Core 2 Duo many many years ago and the cooler seems to be fine for a Broadwell-E, how good of an investment is that?
I think, also size, weight
I think, also size, weight and aesthetic important paremeters. 1240 gr and dual fun ugly Noctua not winner overall !! imo.
and not as silent as ninja.
Thanks for the great review!
Thanks for the great review! Very informative look at these coolers.
Thanks!
Thanks!
why not tests against other
why not tests against other old monsters like cm v10?
My collection is limited to
My collection is limited to more recent coolers. Besides those tested, I have a couple of low-profile air coolers and some AIO liquid coolers on hand.
Would you run some of those
Would you run some of those AIO liquid coolers through the same tests in this review, to compare their performance vs. the air coolers? That would be some good perspective.
Typo in test platform specs
Typo in test platform specs box, should say i7
Fixed! I don’t think Intel
Fixed! I don't think Intel has announced any i5 processors for X99 🙂