CategoriesCooling PC COMPONENTS By Khalil Be.

Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 Review

[cmsmasters_row data_shortcode_id=”rneu78otaj” data_padding_bottom_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_bottom_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_bottom_tablet=”0″ data_padding_top_tablet=”0″ data_padding_bottom_laptop=”0″ data_padding_top_laptop=”0″ data_padding_bottom_large=”0″ data_padding_top_large=”0″ data_padding_bottom=”50″ data_padding_top=”0″ data_bg_parallax_ratio=”0.5″ data_bg_size=”cover” data_bg_attachment=”scroll” data_bg_repeat=”no-repeat” data_bg_position=”top center” data_color=”default” data_bot_style=”default” data_top_style=”default” data_padding_right=”3″ data_padding_left=”3″ data_width=”boxed”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″ data_shortcode_id=”wg0k3ra7mn” data_border_style=”default” data_animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”qwvjrh4dog” button_link=”https://www2.arctic.ac/liquidfreezer2/liquid-freezer-280-en/” button_target=”blank” button_text_align=”center” button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Product on Review : Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280[/cmsmasters_button]

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[cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”sadthukgh5″ button_link=”https://www2.arctic.ac” button_target=”blank” button_text_align=”center” button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Manufacturer: Arctic [/cmsmasters_button]

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Important note: ARCTIC provided the sample for this review although we are providing our honest and objective product review based on our testings.

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Introduction

Arctic have been present in the aftermarket cooling market for some time now, producing iconic, cost-efficient air coolers for the masses; you’ve likely heard of, or possibly even owned, the Freezer 7 at some point. Today we look at the Liquid Freezer II, which as you’ve probably guessed, is an all-in-one cooling loop for AMD and Intel processors.

The Liquid Freezer II does things differently to most AIO watercooling loops by incorporating a small blower-style fan into the pump assembly, providing cooling to nearby VRM components which can go without adequate airflow when using loops from other manufacturers.

Providing plenty of airflow, Arctic have equipped the cooler with their excellent P-series fans. We’ve tested the BioniX P120 a while back and were truly impressed by its performance for such a cost-efficient fan so we’re hopeful similar should be possible here.

 

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Helping to keep costs low, RGB lighting has been forgotten about. It’s not something Arctic tend to get involved in heavily anyway, and it’s a nice change from the usual RGB-ridden coolers with high pricetags. Our 280mm version is available for less than £80 here in the UK, making it easily one of the cheapest available.

Available in 120mm, 240mm, 280mm and 360mm, you’re well catered for dependent on your case size and which processor you plan to cool. Today we’re looking at the 280mm version, sporting a pair of P-series 140mm fans, so let’s strap this to our 9700K and see how it fares.

Arctic on the Liquid Freezer II:

At ARCTIC, we are proud of our completely new all-in-one CPU water cooler series. For the Liquid Freezer II Series, we have used our experience in CPU water cooling to develop a completely new compact water cooling pump. The new pump of the Liquid Freezer II Series ensures an ideal ratio of high CPU cooling performance to low noise levels.

[/cmsmasters_text][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row data_shortcode_id=”8ew85vs88″][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”qydqyso9q” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Technical Specifications[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_table shortcode_id=”8ezz9snrop” caption=”General specifications” animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Sockets supported (Intel)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Intel™ 115X, 2011-3*, 2066* *Square ILM[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Sockets supported (AMD)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]AM4[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Coldplate material: [/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Copper,Micro Skived Fin[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Thermal paste[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Pre-applied[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Fan Speed[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]200 – 1700 RPM (Controlled via PWM)[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Tube material[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Low-permeability rubber with braided nylon sleeve[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Dimensions (w/o tubes)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]98 mm x 78 mm x 53 mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Total Weight[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]1572 g (2 Fans, Radiator, Pump, Tubes)[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Power Consumption[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]1.0 W – 2.7 W (Pump and VRM Fan)[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][/cmsmasters_table][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”ty6be8qxm6″ type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Packaging & Bundle[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”s21jhs7ahm” animation_delay=”0″]

Have you ever turned off the textures in a game to see the wire-frame behind the graphics? The image of the cooler reminds us of that. The front doesn’t provide tonnes of information, but just about enough to get you going.

On the reverse, the 6 separate images are clear and well annotated to give you a good idea of what’s what.

Arctic have kept things super simple, helping to reduce the cost of the loop as much as possible. AMD and Intel mounting’s both use the same brackets and mounting systems, again, to save cost and complexity. You get given a small, single-use sachet of MX-4 thermal paste.

One thing we particularly like about Arctic’s approach to packaging is their attempt to be more environmentally friendly, one effort they’re pushing at the moment is to ditch the user manual which wastes a lot of paper and instead including a small sticker with a QR code. The manual is easier to follow on your phone anyway so this is a win-win from our point of view.

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”mxilfl40zl” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Closer Look[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”rr121ryrwf” animation_delay=”0″]

Unlike any AIO we’ve tested so far, the fans are pre-installed onto the radiator. You remove the plastic packing from around the radiator and pump enclosure and you’re good to go.

 

The waterblock/pump enclosure is different from most, housing a small fan that blows air outwards to cool the surrounding VRM and other components.

The coldplate sits almost-centred but from this angle, the size of the pump/fan housing is evident. If you’re planning to install this onto a motherboard with a tighter socket design, double check your measurements.

Arctic P-series fans are installed onto the 280mm radiator inside the box, saving you the hassle of screwing them in. They’re also wired up through one of the radiator tubes to connect into the single 4-pin PWM connection on the pump, allowing the entire system to run in harmony and spin up and down as the motherboard deems fit.

Radiators are typically 25mm (1 inch) thick, but a simple and easy way to improve cooling performance is to increase the thickness of the radiator, therefore giving more surface area to dissipate heat. The radiator here is 38mm (1½ inch) thick. Providing the 140mm fans can provide enough static pressure, this should reduce CPU temperatures.

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First things first, we need to tell you that the installation didn’t go to plan within our Corsair 680X chassis, causing us to do something a little unorthodox, and something that we’re not particularly proud of, but we’re confident that the results will be largely reliable and representative of the product’s true potential.

The first step is mounting the studs through the Intel socket. This was, and there’s no easy way to say this, absolutely painstaking. Arctic, instead of providing something like a rubber o-ring, or furnishing the metal hardware with rubber edges, give you 8 small plastic stickers that you’re to place around each of the mounting holes, on both sides, to prevent damage occurring to the motherboard. Unless you have the hands of a new-born infant and the dexterity of a brain surgeon, you’ll struggle here, particularly with the top-right most, inside those VRMs and power phases.

Next up is mounting the two crossbars onto the pump housing with a small screw holding each side in place.

You can then go ahead and install the radiator into the case. Unfortunately, this is where we ran into some trouble. We had to disconnect the 8-pin CPU power and remove one of the 4 mounting screws on the left fan to get it into place, but it was then impossible to install the 8-pin CPU power back into place. The issues we faced are because of the 38mm thick radiator, in place of the usual 25mm thickness.

We removed the cooler again and had a think, toying with the idea of installing the radiator into the front of the chassis instead, or even testing it outside of the case, but neither of those would provide anything close to a reliable result, so instead, we got it 95% in place and used a couple of small cable ties instead. It’s not elegant, by any means, but it allows us to close the door of the case and have it almost in the same position as other AIO radiators that we’ve tested.

We then apply some Noctua NT-H1 thermal paste onto the 9700K and to ahead with the install of the pump enclosure. We didn’t have a great deal of clearance left over when installing this, so tighter motherboards might present an issue.
Then it’s a case of plugging in the single 4-pin PWM which controls both 140mm fans, the small pump-mounted fan and the waterpump. It’s perhaps the only simple part of the entire installation procedure so far.

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Due to popular demand, we have retired the long-standing cooling rig that we once used and replaced it with a shiny new system with an Intel Core i7 9700K at its heart. This should benefit you, the reader, in a couple of ways. The first being it can provide you with results on a CPU that is currently available to buy and secondly, the mounting instructions on our installation page will be far more relevant than the outgoing LGA 2066 was, with its pre-installed backplate.

We perform two individual testing routines with each CPU cooler that we receive – temperatures and acoustics. The system used is as follows and all tests are performed at stock frequencies.

Processor – Intel Core i7 9700K
Motherboard – GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS MASTER
Memory – Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB – 2666MHz – C16
Video Card – XFX AMD Radeon RX560
Power Supply – Corsair RM650x
Storage Drive – Western Digital Black SN750 1TB NVMe SSD
Case – Corsair Crystal Series 280X RGB
Monitor ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q

We test our fans at both 1000 RPM and maximum RPM, or if the fan only has one setting, it’s only included in the maximum RPM graphs.

Firstly, we’ll test acoustics, both as a case fan, mounted on the rear of our Corsair Graphite 760T chassis, and as a radiator fan on the Corsair H100i Pro RGB. (with the pump turned down to 1,100 RPM and all other case fans disabled). We measure the average dB(A) noise levels over 60 seconds in a quiet room with an ambient noise level of around 24dB(A). Acoustics are measured from the same point within the case (20cm from the fan), with every effort taken to ensure test parameters are as close as possible during every test.

We then test the fan’s performance both at 1000 RPM and maximum RPM by running an AIDA64 20-minute stress test while running only a single 120mm fan on the 240mm radiator of the Corsair H100i Pro RGB. This allows us to test single fans as well as multi packs by only relying on a single 120mm fan. We mount the fan under the radiator, inside the case, blowing through the radiator. We measure the average core temperature over a 60-second period and minus the ambient room temperature from this. That leaves us with a Delta °C measurement which is applied to the graphs. Our average room temperature is kept as close to 21°C as possible, roughly the room temperature of most homes and offices. Obviously, if you live in a warmer climate with warmer room temperatures, you can expect higher temperatures.

To ensure the fans RPM are measured consistently, we use the Noctua NA-FC1 fan control unit, allowing the speed of our fans to be infinitely adjusted and monitored via a nearby header on the motherboard.

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Thermal Results

For thermal results we have all case fans running and only a single 120mm fan on our Corsair H100i Pro RGB radiator. We then measure the thermal results at idle, both at 1000 RPM and maximum RPM:

And then again after a 20 minute Stability Test within AIDA64:

Acoustic Results

For our acoustic results, all other fans in the case are disabled and the Corsair’s H100i Pro RGB’s pump is turned down to quiet (roughly 1100 RPM) and measure the fan noise at 1000 RPM, both as a case fan and as a radiator fan:

And then again at maximum RPM:

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Arctic, known for their cost-effective approach to component cooling, has hit the nail on the head in terms of price to performance, but there are some pitfalls which must be considered.

First and foremost, do make sure you take our performance numbers with a pinch of salt. Due to the single 4-pin PWM connection for the pump, pump-fan and two 140mm fans, we weren’t able to get a fan speed reading, and with our ‘inventive’ approach to mounting the radiator, our numbers might’ve been slightly different if we could’ve installed it properly.

Starting off with thermals, the Liquid Freezer II topped our graphs in the load test and wasn’t far off the mark in the idle test either, but moving onto acoustics, things take a bit of a tumble, and it’s that tiny little fan that’s causing the issue; because it’s so small, it has to spin at several thousand RPM to produce any meaningful airflow, but that makes it noisy. It was, by a long way, the most noticeable component in the case in our idle acoustics test, with the noise reading dropping from 29.1dB(A) to 27.7dB(A) with a finger pressed onto that fan. Giving the system some load, the small fan was less noticeable, but the buzz was still there.

The installation, while usually only being done once or twice during the life of a cooling solution, was still massively overcomplicated. Sticking those stickers onto your motherboard was ridiculously fiddly and next to impossible for the top-right one, on the component side. And not only that, it makes it impossible to re-use the cooler on your next motherboard unless you can somehow remove them again without breaking them or damaging your board.

£79.99 in the UK for this cooler, with the performance we witnessed, is fantastic value for money but the installation process and that little fan on the waterblock does somewhat ruin the experience overall. Perhaps this is why other manufacturers aren’t installing small fans onto their waterblocks.

Great value and incredible performance but being fundamentally flawed makes this difficult to recommend. If only there was a simple method of disabling that small VRM fan.

**Pros:
+ Excellent cooling ability
+ Cracking value for money
+ Simple one-stop connection for all fans + pump
+ Eco-friendly instruction manual
**Cons:
– Fiddly and overcomplication install
– 38mm thick radiator won’t fit all chassis

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CategoriesCooling PC COMPONENTS Reviews By Khalil Be.

CORSAIR iCUE H115i RGB PRO XT Review

[cmsmasters_row data_shortcode_id=”7gh5vjw5g” data_padding_bottom_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_bottom_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_bottom_tablet=”0″ data_padding_top_tablet=”0″ data_padding_bottom_laptop=”0″ data_padding_top_laptop=”0″ data_padding_bottom_large=”0″ data_padding_top_large=”0″ data_padding_bottom=”50″ data_padding_top=”0″ data_bg_parallax_ratio=”0.5″ data_bg_size=”cover” data_bg_attachment=”scroll” data_bg_repeat=”no-repeat” data_bg_position=”top center” data_color=”default” data_bot_style=”default” data_top_style=”default” data_padding_right=”3″ data_padding_left=”3″ data_width=”boxed”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″ data_shortcode_id=”wg0k3ra7mn” data_border_style=”default” data_animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”rz8yo58065″ button_link=”https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categories/Products/Liquid-Cooling/iCUE-RGB-PRO-XT-Coolers/p/CW-9060044-WW” button_target=”blank” button_text_align=”center” button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Product on Review : CORSAIR iCUE H115i RGB PRO XT [/cmsmasters_button]

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Important note: CORSAIR provided the sample for this review although we are providing our honest and objective product review based on our testings.

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Introduction

CORSAIR is constantly pushing the envelope within the PC industry, seemingly competing with themselves more often than the competition, at least within the all-in-one water-cooling market, which leads us onto today’s review of the H115i RGB PRO XT.

The new H115i RGB PRO XT features a pair of CORSAIR ML140 PWM fans for high air pressure offered by the magnetic levitation and optimized blade shape. The iCUE software is also capable of stopping the fans completely in the “Zero RPM Mode”.

 

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With a total of 16 individually addressable RGB LEDs in the pump enclosure and standard ML140 fans, the product’s RGB lighting finds itself somewhere between the H115i PRO and H115i Platinum.

With support for all of Intel and AMD’s mainstream socket types, including TR4, the iCUE H115i is ready to go, but is it worth your money? Let’s find out.

CORSAIR on the iCUE H115i RGB PRO XT:

The CORSAIR iCUE H115i RGB PRO XT is an all-in-one liquid CPU cooler built for both low noise operation and extreme CPU cooling, with a 280mm radiator, two CORSAIR ML140 PWM fans, and 16 RGB LEDs.

[/cmsmasters_text][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row data_shortcode_id=”krxyoy8knh”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”smyicyev8d” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Technical Specifications[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_table shortcode_id=”t12976553h” animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Cooling Warranty[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”] Five years[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Coldplate material[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Copper[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Thermal paste[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Pre-applied[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Radiator Material[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Aluminum[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]PWM[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]YES[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]CORSAIR iCUE Compatibility[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]YES[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Radiator Dimensions[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]322mm x 137mm x 27mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Fan Dimensions[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]140mm x 25mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Fan Speed[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]2000 RPM[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr type=”header”][cmsmasters_td type=”header” align=”left”]Cooling Socket Support[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td type=”header” align=”left”]Intel 1150/1151/1155/1156/2011/2066 AMD AM3/AM2/AM4/TR4[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Lighting[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]RGB[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Radiator Size[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]280mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][/cmsmasters_table][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”xjwdq0tw5o” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Packaging & Bundle[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”2ys2hw10r2″ animation_delay=”0″]

In usual CORSAIR fashion, the bright yellow box catches the eye with a large image of the loop on the front.

The rear, which is something CORSAIR do well, is covered with specifications and a schematic of the radiator so you can make sure it’ll fit in your chassis.

Bundled in with the loop is a pair of 140mm ML140 fans, mounting hardware for Intel and AMD sockets (the Intel mounts are pre-installed onto the pump enclosure), a micro-USB to internal header cable, nuts, bolts and screws for installation and some paperwork.

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New to the RGB PRO XT range of AIO coolers is the black pump enclosure. The CORSAIR logo is illuminated by four RGB LEDs with a further 12 flanking that around the perimeter.
The Micro-USB connection remains on the left edge, with the remaining connections appearing out of the top.

 

Measuring in at 55mm x 55mm, the copper coldplate arrives with a layer of pre-applied thermal paste and is suitable for use on Intel Core CPUs as well as Ryzen and Threadripper.

The cables that protrude out of the top of the pump housing are a pair of 4-pin PWM fan connections, a SATA power connector and a 3-pin fan connection to allow your motherboard to monitor pump speeds.

The 4-pin PWM ML140 fans sport an operating range between 400RPM and 2000RPM, but can also be stopped entirely if the loop temperatures remain under 40°C, relying entirely on passive heat dissipation.

Utilising an all-aluminium construction, the radiator is tightly packed with cooling fins for optimal heat transfer. The radiator’s dimensions are 322mm x 137mm x 27mm (52mm with the fans installed).

The two included ML140 fans are spaced slightly, leaving around 4-5mm between them allowing for better cable management. Each corner is also slightly counter-sunk so the screws sit flush with the fan housing; sometimes these millimeters can make a difference when fitting against a tall VRM heatsink or into a tight chassis so we appreciate CORSAIR’s efforts here.

 

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CORSAIR have the installation game nailed, they were definitely the easiest coolers to install thanks to a simple process and high-quality components that you could trust, however, we’re feeling a little let down overall by this latest iteration.

The first step is to insert the backplate into the rear of the motherboard then screw the four standoff screws into that. This is a simple process with well-engineered threads.

Next up, it’s usually best to mount the radiator before the pump, but attaching the fans to the radiator was a task in itself. Something we’ve experienced in the past was a soft aluminium used in the radiator’s construction which eventually wore away leaving no thread to screw into, essentially rendering the cooler useless. We’ve mentioned this to CORSAIR and they seem to have done something about it, using a stronger metal, but they’re gone too far. My arms were aching after doing up the 8 screws, despite being reasonably strong and fit. This would be a genuine struggle for some people.

Mounting the radiator into the case poses a similar problem, though there’s less depth to screw through.

It’s then time to set the pump into place, a simple task that can be done largely by hand. We preferred the old thumbscrews with their wider girth and deeper cross-pattern on top for tightening with a screwdriver but they get the job done.

Then tuck all of your cables behind the motherboard tray, plug in your micro-USB and power up. You might hear some initial gurgling from the system but that’s perfectly normal while air works its way out of the pump.

When all is said and done, the process is still simple but CORSAIR have taken a step backwards here, we feel.

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”ygyjhr9zm” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Test Setup & Methodology[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”dtgoabfgek” animation_delay=”0″]

Due to popular demand, we have retired the long-standing cooling rig that we once used and replaced it with a shiny new system with an Intel Core i7 9700K at its heart. This should benefit you, the reader, in a couple of ways. The first being it can provide you with results on a CPU that is currently available to buy and secondly, the mounting instructions on our installation page will be far more relevant than the outgoing LGA 2066 was, with its pre-installed backplate.

We perform two individual testing routines with each CPU cooler that we receive – temperatures and acoustics. The system used is as follows and all tests are performed at stock frequencies.

Processor – Intel Core i7 9700K
Motherboard – GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS MASTER
Memory – Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB – 2666MHz – C16
Video Card – XFX AMD Radeon RX560
Power Supply – Corsair RM650x
Storage Drive – Western Digital Black SN750 1TB NVMe SSD
Case – Corsair Crystal Series 280X RGB
Monitor ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q

To keep our tests consistent, we always review CPU coolers as they come out of the box – with their factory cooling fans, as the manufacturer intended and as the consumer expects. It should, however, be noted that we do not use supplied thermal paste but instead, Noctua NT-H1 paste to, again, ensure consistency. The paste is applied and the CPU allowed to run for a couple of hours, at idle, to ensure any and all updates or processes are completed to give a true idle reading.

In the first test we record the idle and load temperatures across a 60 second period, with the results logged to file. This way we can provide you with an accurate average temperature over a longer period, instead of, for example, a maximum or minimum temperature. We believe this is the fairest possible method and most representative of what is going on as temperatures will fluctuate even with a consistent load on the CPU. We have three case fans on the front of the PC running with the door closed for this test.

We aim to measure acoustics with our second test, this time with the three case fans on the front disabled and all other ambient noise reduced to an absolute minimum. Our testing room measures around 25dB(A) without the system running. We measure the system acoustics for 60 seconds with the microphone in a set and unchanging position with the chassis door removed completely. An average is then taken across the 60 seconds.

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”ne5zfqed58″ type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Benchmarks[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”jx2tp9etle” animation_delay=”0″]

For thermal results we have all case fans running and only a single 120mm fan on our Corsair H100i Pro RGB radiator. We then measure the thermal results at idle, both at 1000 RPM and maximum RPM:

And then again after a 20 minute Stability Test within AIDA64:

 

Acoustic Results

For our acoustic results, all other fans in the case are disabled and the Corsair’s H100i Pro RGB’s pump is turned down to quiet (roughly 1100 RPM) and measure the fan noise at 1000 RPM, both as a case fan and as a radiator fan:

And then again at maximum RPM:

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[cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”3z2kbv214r” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Conclusion[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”kcqqodmqmr” animation_delay=”0″]

Aligning with the review of the H100i RGB PRO XT, the 240mm version, we again find ourselves wondering quite what CORSAIR are doing. This release is such a small ‘upgrade’ over the adjacent models that it feels like a launch for launch sake.What we do like, however, is the black enclosure on the pump. This is something we’re surprised didn’t come around sooner in CORSAIR’s AIO launches, the difference in appearance is huge, especially considering that the vast majority of motherboards, particularly those at the higher end of the market, have been black for some time now. The RGB lighting contrasts better against the black enclosure, but the lack of lighting on the fans is something we miss. If you’re going RGB, you go big, surely?

As we’ve all come to expect from CORSAIR, the performance is top-notch. You certainly won’t find yourself wishing for much more, but if you already own one of their water-cooling loops, don’t go rushing to the shops either.

Installation, something we’ve always praised CORSAIR’s AIOs for, has taken a step backward in terms of simplicity in the latest iteration. The aluminum that has been used on the radiator is much tougher than it was, which should make removing and replacing fans far more reliable, but the initial installation is tough. Perhaps CORSAIR could install the fans in the factory to remedy this issue.

For £8/$10 more, the Platinum seems like a better idea but if you really need that black pump enclosure, here’s your chance.

The RGB PRO XT range slots into a very small gap that, really, didn’t need to be filled, but it does look nice with the new black appearance.

**Pros
+ Strong performance
+ Quiet under load
+ Black pump enclosure is a marked improvement over silver
+ TR4 socket support
**Neutral
+- Price
**Cons
– Installation simplicity has taken a step backward
– No RGB fans

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CategoriesCooling PC COMPONENTS By Khalil Be.

Reeven Justice II CPU Cooler Review

[cmsmasters_row data_width=”boxed” data_padding_left=”3″ data_padding_right=”3″ data_top_style=”default” data_bot_style=”default” data_color=”default” data_bg_position=”top center” data_bg_repeat=”no-repeat” data_bg_attachment=”scroll” data_bg_size=”cover” data_bg_parallax_ratio=”0.5″ data_padding_top=”0″ data_padding_bottom=”50″ data_padding_top_large=”0″ data_padding_bottom_large=”0″ data_padding_top_laptop=”0″ data_padding_bottom_laptop=”0″ data_padding_top_tablet=”0″ data_padding_bottom_tablet=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_bottom_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_bottom_mobile_v=”0″ data_shortcode_id=”tvtobp3t1b”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″ data_animation_delay=”0″ data_border_style=”default” data_shortcode_id=”wg0k3ra7mn”][cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”jj0eiugmg” button_link=”http://www.reeven.com/justice2″ button_target=”blank” button_text_align=”center” button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Product on Review : Reeven Justice II CPU Cooler [/cmsmasters_button]

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[cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”5xm4nx54o” button_link=”http://www.reeven.com/” button_target=”blank” button_text_align=”center” button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Manufacturer: Reeven[/cmsmasters_button]

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Important note: REEVEN provided the sample for this review although we are providing our honest and objective product review based on our testings.

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Introduction

All the way back in 2016 we took a look at Reeven’s Justice CPU cooler, which was a very solid and affordable single-tower CPU cooler. Fast forward to today and Reeven has updated this cooler with a similar, yet current design.

Just like the original the Reeven Justice II is a single-tower air cooler that sports a 120 mm cooling fan and six 6mm-thick copper heatpipes. Reeven has actually cut-down the number of heatsink fins and made the gaps between them larger to help air pass through easier, the cooler is designed in an asymmetrical way so that you won’t have any clearance issues, the fan has also been upgraded and they have ditched the yellow fins.

Does Reeven have another winner on their hands? Read on as we find out!

 

[/cmsmasters_featured_block][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row data_shortcode_id=”06dwitmbef”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”4yksht5wet” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Technical Specifications[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_table shortcode_id=”m91insmuwc” caption=”General specifications” animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Sockets supported (Intel)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]LGA 115X / 1366 / 2011-V3 / 2066[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Sockets supported (AMD)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]AM2(+) / AM3(+) / FM1 / FM2(+) / AM4

[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Overall Dimension[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”](W)125 x (H)155 x (D)100mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Fan Speed[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]300 ~ 1200RPM[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Noise Level[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]5.83 ~ 25.1dBA[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Weight (with Fan)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]920g (with fan)[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][/cmsmasters_table][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”flb7l9gmhq” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Packaging & Bundle[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”4a0x2irsz” animation_delay=”0″]

The Justice II comes in Reeven’s typical retail packaging. On the front there is a picture of the cooler and it lets us know the compatibility, which is pretty much all current sockets. Flipping over to the back we have a full list of specifications and a diagram of the cooler giving exact dimensions.

Looking at the side of the box many of the features of the cooler are detailed. Finally on the other side it just says “Justice II”. I think that if you were at the store you would have more than enough information about the cooler to make an informed buying decision.

Getting everything out of the box we have the heatsink, fan, mounting hardware, fan clips, thermal paste, and a user’s guide.

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”yt2prbiu6q” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Closer Look[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”aaj8kvslgw” animation_delay=”0″]

The Reeven Justice II looks very much like your typical single-tower cooler. It has official dimensions of 125 x 155 x 100mm (WxHxD), which means you should have no problem fitting it in most cases / systems.

Starting with the fan this cooler sports Reeven’s Zephyros II 120mm fan, which makes use of a fluid dynamic bearing and an interesting blade design with slots cut-out of each fan blade. This PWM fan will run anywhere from 300 – 1200 RPM, pushing 12.73 – 50.93 CFM of air, with a noise level between 5.83 – 25.1 dBA.

Looking at the cooler from the side we can see the aluminum fin stack. As I mentioned earlier Reeven has decreased the total number of fins from the previous version and made the spacing between them larger so air could pass through easier. This heatsink has an asymmetrical design so you won’t run into any clearance issues. From the back we can see the heatpipes, which go up into the heatsink, more on that in just a second.

The top of the heatsink is capped-off with a piece of black aluminum which has the Reeven logo on it.

Moving down to the bottom of the cooler we have six nickel-plated copper heatpipes that go into the base of the cooler and back out and up into the heatsink tower in a “U” fashion. The base of the cooler is pretty clean, although we can spot some machining marks. The base is also made of nickel-plated copper.

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[cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”8d584ouuhk” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Installation[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”cy085pxmcb” animation_delay=”0″]

We will be installing the Reeven Justice II in our Ryzen test system so this installation guide will be for the AM4 socket. The first thing you are going to want to do is remove the AM4 mounting bracket completely.

After you have it removed you are going to want to find the backplate. The backplate has holes for AM3/AM4 and Intel sockets. Be sure to follow the installation guide to see what holes to use for the backplate bolts. Put the backplate bolts through the back of the backplate and install the silicon washers on the other side. If you’ve done everything correctly your backplate should look like the second picture below.

Now take the backplate and place it behind your motherboard very carefully threading the bolts through the holes around your CPU socket. Next take the spacers and install them on top of the bolts. Then take the mounting bracket and secure it to the bolts using the four included nuts. The mounting bracket actually says “TOP” so you know you have it installed correctly.

Now go ahead and take the heatsink tower and carefully place the mounting bar on the bottom in the small groove. Then apply the included thermal paste and place the tower on top of your CPU lining up the screws on the mounting bar with the holes on the mounting bracket. Then simply secure the cooler with the screws.

The last thing to do is install the fan, which uses clips and is quite easy to install. Even with the fan installed you can see there are no clearance issues at all as the fan doesn’t cover any of our RAM slots.

 

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”d6xw2yow1q” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Test Setup & Methodology[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”9qoaa5lg6m” animation_delay=”0″]

As I mentioned we installed the Reeven Justice II in our Ryzen test system, which is comprised of the following hardware.

Reeven Justice II CPU Cooler

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
Cooling: Reeven Justice II CPU Cooler
Motherboard: ASUS Prime X470-PRO
Graphics Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 Ti OC Edition
Memory: HyperX Predator RGB DDR4-2933 16GB
Storage: Gigabyte UD Pro 512GB
Power: Corsair RM850x

We will be comparing the to the following CPU coolers tested on the same hardware.

– AMD Wraith Prism RGB
– AMD Wraith Spire
– Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition
– Cooler Master MasterAir MA410M
– Cooler Master MasterAir MA620P
– Cooler Master MasterAir MA620M
– Cryorig C7 Cu
– Cryorig H7 Plus
– Noctua NH-U12A
– Reeven Brontes
– Scythe Mugen 5 TUF Gaming Alliance
– Scythe Big Shuriken 3
– Scythe Ninja 5

 

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”33pedpum1″ type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Benchmarks[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”07kyjxnt7g” animation_delay=”0″]

For performance testing we will first test idle temperatures. These are taken on the Windows 10 desktop and hour after the system has been turned on.

Moving on to load testing we will be running the AIDA64 system stability test with the CPU only checked. This puts a full load on our CPU. We run this test for 1 hour and record the highest temperature throughout the test.

Looking at the results we can see that the Justice II sits pretty much right in the middle of our test group, which is not bad by any means.

We have just upgraded to a new dB meter which we place a few inches in front of our memory to get a reading for noise levels. Here are those results.

As you can see the Justice II is the quietest out of the three coolers tested.

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[cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”9uuaudw9i” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Conclusion[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”t23m8s4ss8″ animation_delay=”0″]

The Reeven Justice II is a nice upgrade over the original version and does everything that it is supposed to do. It kept our Ryzen 7 2700X nice a cool during both idle and load tests. Installation is a breeze and the included instructions are easy to follow. The fan is very quiet, even during load. And overall the cooler will look good in your build.

There really is not much bad to say about this cooler. Starting with cooling power this cooler sits right in the middle of our test group, which is not bad at all. During full load it kept our Ryzen 7 2700X at 57.38C, which is far below the thermal throttling limit. On top of doing a great job with cooling the fan is very quiet. You are barely going to hear it if you have it installed in a case.

We’ve seen some pretty bad mounting systems over the years when it comes to air coolers, but Reeven’s implementation with the Justice II is not really complicated at all and as I mentioned the instructions are easy to follow. Reeven has also ensured that you won’t run into any clearance issues with this cooler as even with the fan installed you are not overlapping your RAM slots.

The Justice II is selling at our favorite online retailer for $49.99, which is not a horrible price, but the Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition is a full $10 cheaper and you get an RGB fan with that cooler. So that is something to think about.

**Pros:
– Nice upgrades over the original
– Good overall performance
– Very quiet fan
– Easy installation
– No clearance issues

**Cons:
– Other coolers priced lower that perform better

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CategoriesCooling PC COMPONENTS By Khalil Be.

Deepcool Castle 240EX Review

[cmsmasters_row data_shortcode_id=”k0ie41q8e” data_padding_bottom_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_bottom_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_bottom_tablet=”0″ data_padding_top_tablet=”0″ data_padding_bottom_laptop=”0″ data_padding_top_laptop=”0″ data_padding_bottom_large=”0″ data_padding_top_large=”0″ data_padding_bottom=”50″ data_padding_top=”0″ data_bg_parallax_ratio=”0.5″ data_bg_size=”cover” data_bg_attachment=”scroll” data_bg_repeat=”no-repeat” data_bg_position=”top center” data_color=”default” data_bot_style=”default” data_top_style=”default” data_padding_right=”3″ data_padding_left=”3″ data_width=”boxed”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″ data_shortcode_id=”wg0k3ra7mn” data_border_style=”default” data_animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”cclicid0db” button_link=”https://deepcool.com/product/gamerstorm/CPULIQUID/index.shtml” button_target=”blank” button_text_align=”center” button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Product on Review : Deepcool Gamer Storm Castle 240EX[/cmsmasters_button]

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[cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”3s5c7um429″ button_link=”https://deepcool.com/product/gamerstorm/CPULIQUID/index.shtml” button_target=”blank” button_text_align=”center” button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Manufacturer: DEEPCOOL[/cmsmasters_button]

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Important note: DEEPCOOL provided the sample for this review although we are providing our honest and objective product review based on our testings.

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Introduction

We looked at the Gamer Storm Castle 240 RGB a little over a year ago and since then some subtle but welcomed changes have been made, today we look at the Castle 240EX.

One of the biggest additions is their anti-leak system. Deepcool have been developing this anti-leak technology for three years now and are pushing it hard on their latest AIO cooling loops, hopefully taking away one of the biggest risk factors of putting, what is essentially, a quantity of conductive liquid into your system. The anti-leak mechanism works by incorporating a rubber ‘bung’ into the radiator where the elastic properties of the rubber can accommodate for pressure, and therefore volume, changes within the loop.

Other changes include Deepcool removing the RGB 120mm fans and replacing them with black TF120 S fans, as well as being able to change the orientation of the Gamer Storm logo within the pump enclosure.

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RGB lighting remains on the pump housing, with support for GIGABYTE’s RGB Fusion Sync, ASRock’s Polychrome Sync, MSI’s Mystic Light Sync and ASUS Aura Sync.

Within the pump enclosure is a stronger motor featuring a pressure charging impeller that’s driven by 3-phase power, along with rounded internal corners and a double chamber design for all-round improvements within the pump.

With the removal of the RGB fans, you’d typically expect the price to drop but it’s risen by £15 in the UK and a similar amount in other markets, so what do we get for the extra money? Let’s find out.

Deepcool on the Gamer Storm Castle 240EX:

CASTLE 240EX is equipped with Deepcool’s exclusive Anti-leak Technology. The technology helps the system achieve an automated pressure balance, which will significantly improve operation safety of AIO liquid cooling systems.
With this technology, Deepcool is setting a new standard for liquid cooling systems.

[/cmsmasters_text][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row data_shortcode_id=”m65ehtm9pl”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”y1gffbi6rp” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Technical Specifications[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_table shortcode_id=”r3zsuqwtku” caption=”General specifications” animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Sockets supported (Intel)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]LGA20XX/1151/1150/1155/LGA1366[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Sockets supported (AMD)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]TR4/AM4/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2/FM2+/FM2/FM1[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Coldplate material: [/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Copper[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Thermal paste[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Pre-applied[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Tube length[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]310 mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]LED Power Consumption[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]2.25w[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]LED Type[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Addressable RGB LED[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Pump Noise[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]17.8 dB(A)[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Radiator Dimensions[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]282×120×27 mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][/cmsmasters_table][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”byywgdzuc” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Packaging & Bundle[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”92mi3z89fw” animation_delay=”0″]

As is evident in the photograph, the packaging is battered and bruised from its trip from Taiwan, despite being in an outer box and surrounded by bubblewrap, but the internals have made it in tip-top shape so it’s done its job.
The front shows a large picture of the cooling loop, a brief mention of the anti-leak tech inside, and some manufacturer’s RGB logos in the bottom-left.

The reverse of the box gives a specifications table, neatly laid out, with some brief bullet point features. There are also some detailed diagrams of the exact dimensions of each component to help ensure the loop will fit into your chassis.

Alongside the cooling loop and radiator fans, there’s a detailed instruction leaflet for both AMD and Intel socket types, an in-line SATA to RGB controller, all the mounting hardware need and a replacement for the Gamer Storm logo that we’ll touch on in more detail later.

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”rrkvli1bae” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Closer Look[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”5qu0r2g902″ animation_delay=”0″]

Starting with the pump enclosure, which stands around 70mm in diameter and 70mm tall, has been given a complete overhaul inside. Deepcool have rounded off internal corners to optimise the flow of water, upgraded their dual chamber design to increase heat exchange efficiency and reduce operating noise.

Bolstering their efficiency improvement efforts, they’ve also increased the number of fins on the backside of the copper cold plate by 25% to improve heat absorption into the coolant loop.

The lid on top of the pump is removable, allowing you to remove the Gamer Storm logo and replace it with a mirrored replacement, or to orientate it whichever way you like, if you need to have the pump mounted at 90° to vertical, for example. It’s finishing touches like this that really make a product great.

The radiator isn’t anything special, as they typically aren’t. The only notable feature is the rubber anti-leak measure in the bottom-left.

The included Gamer Storm TF 120S fans have been adapted for increased static pressure, a characteristic which is desirable for their intended use of being mounted onto a radiator. There’s no RGB lighting here but they look smart as-is.
Each corner is adorned with a rubber pad, helping to reduce vibration transmission from the fan into the radiator and then into the computer case.

Bolting the fans up to the radiator is a simple task with the provided screws.

Installation

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Starting the installation process, you first mount the pins into the corresponding slots on the backplate, with one side being designed for Intel and the other AMD. The manual tells you clearly which ones to use and the black plastic caps locks everything into place.

Next up you need to mount the relevant mountings to the bottom of the pump enclosure. Each mounting point is countersunk with the exact same angle on the screwhead to ensure each mounting arm is seated perfectly.

Using the included mounting screws, it’s definitely a good idea to install the radiator before the pump enclosure. We’ve also installed, or at least tried to, the backplate mount, where you can see the four mounting pegs outside of each corner for the LGA 1156 socket.

When installing the pump, it’s a very tricky job holding the backplate in place, manoeuvring the pump into the correct location and also clamping it down with the thumb screws. It was just about doable with one pair of hands but really this is a two-person job. Most backplates will be put into place then mounted from the front-side before the pump goes anywhere near.

Another issue we faced at this point was tightening up the thumbscrews. They’ve been recessed at the top to take a flathead or Phillips screwdriver but the threaded pins from the backplate come through the centre and push the screwdriver back out, making the final half a turn almost impossible with a screwdriver, which is exactly when you want to use a screwdriver!

All things considered, the mounting procedure on an Intel socket could definitely be revised and improved but once it’s in, it’s in.

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”edlsl0ecfj” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Test Setup & Methodology[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”f6nypju0rd” animation_delay=”0″]

Due to popular demand, we have retired the long-standing cooling rig that we once used and replaced it with a shiny new system with an Intel Core i7 9700K at its heart. This should benefit you, the reader, in a couple of ways. The first being it can provide you with results on a CPU that is currently available to buy and secondly, the mounting instructions on our installation page will be far more relevant than the outgoing LGA 2066 was, with its pre-installed backplate.

We perform two individual testing routines with each CPU cooler that we receive – temperatures and acoustics. The system used is as follows and all tests are performed at stock frequencies.

Processor – Intel Core i7 9700K
Motherboard – GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS MASTER
Memory – Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB – 2666MHz – C16
Video Card – XFX AMD Radeon RX560
Power Supply – Corsair RM650x
Storage Drive – Western Digital Black SN750 1TB NVMe SSD
Case – Corsair Crystal Series 280X RGB
Monitor ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q

To keep our tests consistent, we always review CPU coolers as they come out of the box – with their factory cooling fans, as the manufacturer intended and as the consumer expects. It should, however, be noted that we do not use supplied thermal paste but instead, Noctua NT-H1 paste to, again, ensure consistency. The paste is applied and the CPU allowed to run for a couple of hours, at idle, to ensure any and all updates or processes are completed to give a true idle reading.

In the first test we record the idle and load temperatures across a 60 second period, with the results logged to file. This way we can provide you with an accurate average temperature over a longer period, instead of, for example, a maximum or minimum temperature. We believe this is the fairest possible method and most representative of what is going on as temperatures will fluctuate even with a consistent load on the CPU. We have three case fans on the front of the PC running with the door closed for this test.

We aim to measure acoustics with our second test, this time with the three case fans on the front disabled and all other ambient noise reduced to an absolute minimum. Our testing room measures around 25dB(A) without the system running. We measure the system acoustics for 60 seconds with the microphone in a set and unchanging position with the chassis door removed completely. An average is then taken across the 60 seconds.

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”hbz0tj275t” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Benchmarks[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”btrkt3a7gj” animation_delay=”0″]

Thermal Results

We start off by letting the CPU cooler “bed in” for a couple of hours, to ensure the paste has time to move around and form an even layer, after which an idle result is taken.

 

At this point we hand over to AIDA64 and the built-in system stability test is ran for 20 minutes to generate a consistent 100% load on the 9700K. A temperature reading is then taken at the end of test.

Acoustic Results

We take our first reading from the CPU cooler at idle.

 

We then run the AIDA64 test and once the temperature measurements are complete, we quickly move in and get an acoustics reading, with the stress test still running.

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The original Castle 240 offered a great value RGB offering with quiet fans and good cooling performance, however, with the 240EX, things are a little different.

Firstly, getting rid of the RGB fans seems like a bit of a mistake, the RGB lighting on those was beautiful with the synchronised effects on the pump housing. We get that not everyone likes RGB lighting, but you then wouldn’t be buying a pump with any RGB lighting, with the pump still pushing out plenty of light shows. Having said that, the RGB lighting that is on the pump housing is beautiful, the effects are smooth and transitions are diffused perfectly. It’s not the brightest RGB but the colours are incredibly deep.

The cooling performance of the loop is certainly up there with the best, it kept our 9700K plenty cool enough, but the acoustic performance was let down somewhat by the fans. This is a surprise compared to the performance of the previous iteration of the Castle 240, where acoustics were kept well under control by the RGB fans.

Having explained earlier in the review the big changes made to the pump and its enclosure, idle noise is kept to an absolute minimum, the pump makes barely any noise whatsoever. It’s not something we’ve isolated and measured scientifically between the different AIOs that we’ve tested but we’re pretty sure this is the quietest and we must applaud Deepcool on their efforts.

Installation is also a problem, with the pump being very difficult to install with only a single set of hands. You will absolutely need to ask a friend or partner to help you with this. Installing a CPU cooler shouldn’t be a two-person task, if you ask us.

The Gamer Storm Castle 240EX has a lot going for it but the TF 120S fans let it down hugely with their loud audible output at high loads.

**Pros:
+ Silent pump
+ Beautiful RGB
+ Supports all current Intel and AMD sockets including TR4
+ Easy to re-orientate the central Gamer Storm logo**Cons:
– Tricky to install to an Intel LGA 1156 socket
– Loud fans under load
– Pricey

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CategoriesPC COMPONENTS Reviews Storage By Khalil Be.

WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive

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Important note: WESTERN DIGITAL provided the sample for this review although we are providing our honest and objective product review based on our testings.

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Introduction

Not that long ago we took a look at Western Digital’s SN750 solid state drive, but it was the initial drive, not the one with the integrated heatsink. When Western Digital first announced the SN750 they showed it with this very sexy heatsink designed by EK Water Blocks. While you don’t need the heatsink, the drive works perfectly fine without it and does not overheat, the heatsink just looks so awesome it will definitely add that little bit of extra flare to your build. As a reminder this drive offers sequential read and write speeds of 3470 MB/s and 3000 MB/s respectively so let’s jump in!

 

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[/cmsmasters_text][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row data_shortcode_id=”jb4d2qlzr”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”6vwxbhqyw5″ type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Technical Specifications[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”aylvt3xgx” animation_delay=”0″]

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”e0qcps7vuf” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Packaging & Bundle[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”6usanwx44″ animation_delay=”0″]

The WD SN750 comes in a very nice retail package. Compared to the non-heatsink version the picture of the drive on the front does show it with the heatsink installed. Also on the front it tells us the capacity and speeds.

WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive

Flipping over to the back there is another photo of the drive with the heatsink installed and a little more information. We can also see that the drive has a 5-year warranty.

WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive

Opening the box up and getting everything out we have the WD 750 drive with the heatsink pre-installed and a user’s guide. I really like that the heatsink is pre-installed. Many times we’ve seen drives with heatsinks, but you need to install the heatsink yourself.

WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive

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Taking a first look at the WD SN750 drive with the heatsink installed it really catches your eye. The heatsink sits on top of the drive and have a set a ridges on top. Towards the bottom right it says WD_Black SN750 and there is a small EK logo.

WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive

With the heatsink installed the drive is a little larger than your typical SSD, but in terms of height as well as width. It is 8.10 mm tall and 24.2 mm wide, this is compared to the 2.38 mm tall and 22 mm wide of the normal drive without the heatsink.

WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive

Flipping the drive over all of the information is printed on the back. It gives you the model number, serial number, and more.

WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive

On the side of the drive are four small screws that when removed will allow you to take the heatsink off.

WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive

For those wondering what is under the hood of this drive it is designed completely in-house by WD. So you have a Western Digital controller, DRAM cache chip, and two WD 3D NAND chips.

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To get things started you’ll need to install the WD Black SN750 in an open M.2 slot on your motherboard. Since this drive with the heatsink installed is a little larger you are going to want to make it will actually fit. We tried on a few different boards but ran into issues where the heatsink was just a little too wide.

 

 

WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive
We finally ended up getting the drive installed in the middle M.2 slot on our board.

 

 

WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive
For those wondering if the height of the heatsink would be an issue it is not, you can see that the drive is nice and snug under our graphics card.

 

 

WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive WD Black SN750 1TB Solid State Drive
For testing the drive we will be using the following benchmarking programs, we have provided links to each so you can run the benchmarks on your drive for comparison.

 

Sisoftware Sandra Physical Disks Benchmark (download)
ATTO Disk Benchmark (download)
CrystalDiskMark 64bit (download)
AS SSD Benchmark (download)
Anvil Storage Utility Professional (download)
PCMark 8 – Storage Benchmark (download)
AIDA64 Storage Benchmark (download)

We also made these optimization changes…

– No power saving options in the BIOS
– ACHI enabled in the BIOS
– Windows 10 User Account Control (UAC) is disabled
– Windows 10 power saving settings are disabled

So let’s get into testing!

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Keep in mind for testing the advertised speeds for this drive are 3470 MB/s read and 3000 MB/s write.

Our first test is SiSoftware Sandra’s Physical Disks benchmark. We run both the read performance and write performance tests. Click on the images below to see the full-size results.

 

 
The read test yielded 3.19 GB/s whereas the write score was 2.77 GB/s.

 

ATTO Disk Benchmark measures transfer rates across specific lengths. ATTO uses RAW data, our transfer sizes ranged from 0.5 to 8192kb. ATTO is usually our definitive benchmark for solid state drives.

CrystalDiskMark is our next test and it has a sequential read / write test as well as a 512k and 4k random read / write test.

AS SSD Benchmark is next. This benchmark contains four synthetic as well as three practice tests. The main benchmark will give you scores in MB/s as well as IOPS.

 

 

 

 
The AS SSD Copy Benchmark gives you the speed and time it would take to load an ISO, Program and Game.

 

 

 

Finally we have the AS SSD Compression benchmark.

The next test is Anvil Storage Utilities, which is a really great piece of software. The SSD benchmark gives you scores for both read and write as well as a combined score.

Next up is PCMark 8, we will be running the typical Storage Benchmark.

We have added back AIDA64’s Disk Benchmark to our testing. The linear test will actually scan from the first physical sector to the last on the test drive. This gives a good representation of sustained read / write operations. First We will be running the linear read test using a 1MB block size.

Then finally the linear write test using a 1MB block size.

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We will be comparing the WD Black SN750 to a handful of other NVMe drives we’ve reviewed lately. Let’s see how it does…

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As we mentioned in our original review of the WD SN750 not that much has changed from last years WD Black NVMe drive. We have the same controller and NAND, the only real improvements that were via the firmware and with this version you have that sexy heatsink. When it comes to performance this drive is at the top of our charts in most of the tests and performed right up to it advertised speeds.

This is of course the version that comes with the EK-made heatsink. Since we reviewed the version of the drive without the heatsink we can tell you that the drive does not need a heatsink in most cases. It does not over-heat or throttle. But depending on where your M.2 drive is mounted you may want the extra cooling that the heatsink provides. Besides offering better cooling the heatsink is just plain sexy. Out of all of the M.2 drives we’ve reviewed with heatsinks this drive definitely has to be the best looking. WD did a good think by working with EK. This drive is going to add the little bit of extra flare to your build.

The only real issue with the heatsink is that it makes the M.2 drive larger than normal. So you are going to want to make sure the drive will actually fit on your motherboard. We ran into issues on a few boards where there was another heatsink really close to the M.2 slot.

Right now the 1TB version of the WD SN750 (no heatsink) is 218.56 at our favorite online retailer. The version with the heatsink is $279.99, so that is just over a $60 difference, which is a lot just for a heatsink, and one that you really don’t need in most cases. EK also sells a very similar M.2 heatsink for $17.49.

At the end of the day this is one of the best performing M.2 NVMe drives we’ve tested this year. If you do opt for the heatsink version be prepared to pay a hefty premium for it.

**Pros:
– One of the fastest M.2 drives we’ve reviewed this year
– WD SSD toolbox software
– Heatsink looks amazing
– 5-year warranty

**Cons:
– You pay a hefty premium for the heatsink
– Heatsink is not needed

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CategoriesCooling PC COMPONENTS Reviews By Khalil Be.

Fractal Design Celsius+ S28 Prisma Review

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Important note: FRACTAL DESIGN provided the sample for this review although we are providing our honest and objective product review based on our testings.

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Introduction

Based in Gothenburg, Fractal Design are a leading designer within the PC hardware market, primarily focussing on cases, power supplies and cooling equipment.

The all-in-one watercooling market is swamped with options from many high-end brands, including Fractal, so it can be hard to find the one that suits your needs best. Fractal Design reckon their Celsius+ range of AIOs take watercooling to a new level, so we’ll put our sample under the microscope and see what’s what.

 

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Featuring ARGB on both the pump face and on the Prisma AL-series fans, with RGB lighting orchestrated by an on-radiator controller, lighting is well-catered for. The AL-series fans also piggyback off the on-radiator controller, all of which claims to help provide a clutter-free installation with minimal visible wires. RGB control is supported by Gigabyte’s RGB Fusion, ASUS Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light Sync, ASRock Polychrome Sync and Razer’s Chroma RGB API.

The Celsius+ Prisma range is available with a 240mm, 280mm or a 360mm radiator, all of which are backed by a whopping 5-year warranty. Today we’re examining the 280mm (2x 140mm) version that promises a lot but does it deliver?

Fractal Design on the Celsius+ S28 Prisma:

Celsius+ takes AIO water cooling to a new level with an ARGB-accented pump face, a fully redesigned block and an upgraded on-radiator PWM fan hub with ARGB support.

[/cmsmasters_text][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”xnw1uexmgb” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Technical Specifications[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_table shortcode_id=”llxj6ae64v” caption=”General specifications” animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Sockets supported (Intel)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]1200, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2011-3, 2066[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Sockets supported (AMD)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, AM4, FM1, FM2, FM2+, TR4 (via included bracket in AMD Threadripper box)[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Coldplate material: [/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Copper[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Thermal paste[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Pre-applied[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Tube length[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]400 mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Tube material[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Low-permeability rubber with braided nylon sleeve[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Fittings, block side[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Articulating 90-degree elbow[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Fittings, radiator side[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Straight rotary[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Fan control[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Dual mode (Auto/PWM)[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][/cmsmasters_table][cmsmasters_table shortcode_id=”p9xewkfs6f” caption=”Fan specifications” animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Fan type[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Prisma AL-14 PWM ARGB[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Rotational speed[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]500 – 1700 RPM[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Bearing[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]LLS[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]PWM control[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]YES[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Acoustical noise (full speed)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]34.1 dBA [/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Maximum air flow [/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]103.9 CFM [/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Maximum static pressure[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]2.38 mm H2O [/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Input voltage [/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]12V DC [/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Maximum input current[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]0.18A [/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]MTBF[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]100,000 hours[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][/cmsmasters_table][cmsmasters_table shortcode_id=”r5jwu03oza” caption=”Pump specifications” animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Rotational speed[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]800-2800 RPM in normal use, 3500 RPM during thermal protection mode that activates if liquid temperature is over 60°C [/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Bearing type[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Ceramic bearing and shaft[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]PWM control [/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]YES[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Acoustical noise (full speed)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]20 dBA[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Maximum pressure, 50°C[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”] 1.46 mm H2O[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Maximum air flow [/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]103.9 CFM [/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Maximum static pressure[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]2.38 mm H2O [/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Input voltage [/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]12V DC [/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Input current (without fans): 0.36A[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]0.36A [/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]MTTF[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]50,000 hours[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Block height[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]45 mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Block measurements (with fittings)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]86 x 75 mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Block diameter (main block body)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]62 mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][/cmsmasters_table][cmsmasters_table shortcode_id=”yyialw34n” caption=”Radiator specifications” animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Dimensions [/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]143 x 30 x 324 mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Housing material[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Aluminum [/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Fin material [/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Aluminum[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Fan screw threads[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]6-32[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][/cmsmasters_table][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”6qoyrgy7mo” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Packaging & Bundle[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”swwpyb3w1f” animation_delay=”0″]

In a suitably sized box lives the Celsius+ S28 Prisma, though a photo and the title is about all you’ll get on the front.

The other 3 main faces of the box give more details and dimensions to give a solid idea as to what you’re dealing with.

Chucked in with the AIO loop is a large user guide, all the mounting hardware that you need for AMD and Intel and a couple of 140mm Prisma AL-14 cooling fans.

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”qb3hl8a57u” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Closer Look[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”wq503elcqr” animation_delay=”0″]

In a matte-plastic housing with a soft rubber coating, the pump enclosure is particularly small for a device of this type. RGB lighting is emitted from the outer edge of the face, which we’ll demonstrate later.
The outside can be clicked between PWM or AUTO which adjusts the fan and pump speeds.

The underside of the pump, as is the case with all ASETEK-design AIOs, features a smooth copper coldplate with pre-applied thermal paste.

At 30mm thick, the radiator is a little thicker than your typical 25mm rads, with the increase in thickness theoretically providing additional cooling capacity.

Something that we’ve not seen before is the radiator-mounted fan/RGB controller. This runs the cabling through the sleeved pump tubes to the pump enclosure to help tidy up the system.

Providing the airflow is a pair of Fractal Design Prisma AL-14 ARGB fans, boasting a maximum static pressure of 2.38mm H2O with an operating range of between 500 and 1700 RPM.

Bolting the fans onto the radiator is super easy, with pre-tapped holes that accommodate the screws very well.

Fractal have fitted each side of their AL-14 fans with rubber sections to provide vibration damping.

 

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[cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”6fso7qj9ww” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Installation[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”hqty5gm59y” animation_delay=”0″]

Pushing the backplate through from the reverse side of the motherboard is the first step, then screwing in four standoffs to secure it into place.
We then clean off the factory-applied thermal paste and apply Noctua’s NT-H1 paste to equalize the playing field within our testing.

Next up is installing the radiator into the top of the case. At this point we’ve already installed the fans so the cables point towards the rear, for neatness. Due to the 30mm thick radiator, installation was incredibly tight but it just about fit into our CORSAIR 680X chassis. The additional thickness on the radiator should aid cooling capacity so it’s a trade off that we’re happy with, up to a point.

Time to install the pump enclosure. Thanks to the radiator-mounted fan and RGB controller, the cabling is very simple; there’s a single PWM and RGB connection to connect to your motherboard. You then adjust the housing to either PWM (where your motherboard will control the fan/pump speed) or AUTO (where the AIO controls everything).

Considering the 30mm radiator, we had a slightly more difficult time to get this installed than we usually do, but it’s in and just about fits. Hopefully the thicker radiator translates to better thermal performance.

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”ccc11flpqd” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Test Setup & Methodology[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”c4opa3vpif” animation_delay=”0″]

Due to popular demand, we have retired the long-standing cooling rig that we once used and replaced it with a shiny new system with an Intel Core i7 9700K at its heart. This should benefit you, the reader, in a couple of ways. The first being it can provide you with results on a CPU that is currently available to buy and secondly, the mounting instructions on our installation page will be far more relevant than the outgoing LGA 2066 was, with its pre-installed backplate.

We perform two individual testing routines with each CPU cooler that we receive – temperatures and acoustics. The system used is as follows and all tests are performed at stock frequencies.

Processor – Intel Core i7 9700K
Motherboard – GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS MASTER
Memory – Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB – 2666MHz – C16
Video Card – XFX AMD Radeon RX560
Power Supply – Corsair RM650x
Storage Drive – Western Digital Black SN750 1TB NVMe SSD
Case – Corsair Crystal Series 280X RGB
Monitor ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q

To keep our tests consistent, we always review CPU coolers as they come out of the box – with their factory cooling fans, as the manufacturer intended and as the consumer expects. It should, however, be noted that we do not use supplied thermal paste but instead, Noctua NT-H1 paste to, again, ensure consistency. The paste is applied and the CPU allowed to run for a couple of hours, at idle, to ensure any and all updates or processes are completed to give a true idle reading.

In the first test we record the idle and load temperatures across a 60 second period, with the results logged to file. This way we can provide you with an accurate average temperature over a longer period, instead of, for example, a maximum or minimum temperature. We believe this is the fairest possible method and most representative of what is going on as temperatures will fluctuate even with a consistent load on the CPU. We have three case fans on the front of the PC running with the door closed for this test.

We aim to measure acoustics with our second test, this time with the three case fans on the front disabled and all other ambient noise reduced to an absolute minimum. Our testing room measures around 25dB(A) without the system running. We measure the system acoustics for 60 seconds with the microphone in a set and unchanging position with the chassis door removed completely. An average is then taken across the 60 seconds.

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”cvcre9jtle” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Benchmarks[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”o6g4wtifp” animation_delay=”0″]

Thermal Results

For thermal results we have all case fans running and only a single 120mm fan on our Corsair H100i Pro RGB radiator. We then measure the thermal results at idle, both at 1000 RPM and maximum RPM:

And then again after a 20 minute Stability Test within AIDA64:

Acoustic Results

For our acoustic results, all other fans in the case are disabled and the Corsair’s H100i Pro RGB’s pump is turned down to quiet (roughly 1100 RPM) and measure the fan noise at 1000 RPM, both as a case fan and as a radiator fan:

And then again at maximum RPM:

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It’s been over 2 years since we reviewed an AIO loop from Fractal Design so we had no idea which way this would go. The relatively high price tag definitely influenced what we expected from it though.

Focussing on cosmetics, the loop is super stylish with some really lovely materials used. We particularly liked the feel and appearance of the pump housing with the matte-plastic/rubber and thin light ring with vibrant and vivid colors. Shame that we can’t say the same about the RGB fans which lacked any kind of punch or life, they really let the side down and were miles away from what we expected to see from the product images on Fractal’s website.

Installation was easy with special thanks to Fractal’s cable management efforts, this really helped to tidy up the internals and also made installation faster than competing AIOs.

Performance across the board was very strong, the acoustics were kept incredibly low while thermal levels were impeccable. We couldn’t really ask anything more of the loop if performance is your main consideration; we suspected that the twin 140mm fans and the thicker-than-usual radiator would help with performance and it certainly did. We also loved the ability to flick the pump housing between AUTO or PWM to give you the chance to crank fan/pump curves up if you needed even more cooling.

All things considered, the Fractal Design Celsius+ S28 Prisma is a really good looking, well-performing, quiet cooling kit, but those who are seeking a strong RGB output should look elsewhere.

** Pros:
+ Looks great when unlit
+ Premium materials used
+ Easy installation
+ Very good cable management
+ 5-year warranty
**Cons:
– Pricey
– Poor RGB on the fans

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