CoolIT Freezone Elite results on a QX6850

[imported_spike99]

I just got CoolIT Freezone Elite and wanted to share my results....

My PC:
OS: VISTA 64BIT
CPU: QX6850
MOBO: Asus Striker Extreme
MEM: 4GB
CASE: CM STACKER 830
PSU: 850 Watts
GPU: EVGA 8800 ULTRA
Monitor SOFTWARE: Everest Ultimate
ROOM TEMP: 25C

Below testing was done with an open case so as not to take into account heat accumulation on closed case. I did not record core2 thru core4. Temps for core2 thru core4 were lower than core1.

Below temps are recorded in celcius. I did not run any testing with low settings.

3GHz (stock)
IDLE Medium
cpu... 32
core1 44

LOAD Medium
cpu... 54
core1 68

IDLE High
cpu... 23
core1 33

LOAD High
cpu... 47
core1 60

3.66Ghz, vcore 1.5375
IDLE Medium
cpu... 45
core1 57

Load Medium
cpu... 76
core1 86

IDLE High
cpu... 34
core1 45

Load High
cpu... 76
core1 86

Short version of above:
QX6850 @ 3.00
High fan 23 idle, 47 load. Increase of 24C
Medium fan 32 idle, 54 load. Increase of 22C

QX6850 @ 3.66
High fan 34 idle, 76 load. Increase of 42C
Medium fan 45 idle, 76 load. Increase of 31C

To me all numbers look good except when I stress test @ 3.66GHz. It is very odd that both medium & high settings both have same temperatures of 76C (cpu) & 86C (core1). It appears to me that Freezone Elite does not handle very good a quad core... or I'm doing something wrong...

I had checked the review done on Freezone Elite from nordichardware and the numbers are very very off from mine. Although they only over clock to 3.52Ghz and they use different CPU (QX6800), It is similar to my setup. They also mention that they had MOBO issues and were not able to continue overclock past 3.52Ghz.

When setting setting to High, the fan is very loud so I think I will set my setting to medium temporarily.

Note: Freezone Elite came with its own thermal grease already placed on water block so I did not add any additional thermal grease.

 

[aigomorla]

this is what ive been telling people for many many many months now.

You cant TEC a quadcore properly becaues you'll overshoot most tecs.

Tec's aircooled via heat sinks are even worse.


The Freezeone uses TEC's to replace the radiator which is something very stupid. The cost of energy to raise or lower water by 1C is too expensive, and very costly.

That is also why your tec's cant handle it at a higher heat load and your getting bad temps. :X



So maybe people will finally believe me when i say a medium class water unit would destory this TEC or any TEC setup you can get unless its a fully customed TEC running 437W TECs.

 

[PCTC2]

Compared to the medium @ 3.0GHz results, my Ultra120 (NOT EXTREME nor lapped) performs equally well for a hella lot less of money.

 

[imported_spike99]

OK,

Today I retested Freezone Elite, but this time I laid PC on its side with side panel open. Previously I had my PC upright but side panel opened.

I'm only testing at 3.66GHz, since I'm not interested in stock speed.

It made some difference as shown below
QX6850 @ 3.66
High fan 29 idle, 61 load. Increase of 31C
Medium fan 43 idle, 66 load. Increase of 23C

Although, it made some difference I still think the dramatic increase in temp from idle temp is very high.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: spike99
OK,

Today I retested Freezone Elite, but this time I laid PC on its side with side panel open. Previously I had my PC upright but side panel opened.

I'm only testing at 3.66GHz, since I'm not interested in stock speed.

It made some difference as shown below
<<<QX6850 @ 3.66
High fan 29 idle, 61 load. Increase of 31C
Medium fan 43 idle, 66 load. Increase of 23C

Although, it made some difference I still think the dramatic increase in temp from idle temp is very high.

wait this doesnt make sense.
Your temps dropped 15C because you laid it down sideways?

Also how big of a difference is medium and high to impact the idle that much yet keep the max at that level. And how long are you stressing the machine? It can take up to 10min to reach max deltaT of coolant for that little kit.

did you happen to take ambient temps when you took this reading?

 

[imported_spike99]

wait this doesnt make sense.
Your temps dropped 15C because you laid it down sideways?

Yes.

Also how big of a difference is medium and high to impact the idle that much yet keep the max at that level.

.
I don't understand your question. Please re-phrase.

And how long are you stressing the machine? It can take up to 10min to reach max deltaT of coolant for that little kit.

did you happen to take ambient temps when you took this reading?

I got temp results after ~ 15mins of stress testing. And yes, I previously mentioned that my room temp was 25C.

Note:
These temps were taken when vcore was set at 1.5375. I previously had same CPU (I RMA'd old PC due hardware issues) and assumed that this was the correct vcore for this new PC. Last night I started to check what's the lowest vcore for this PC and I still need to do some more testing but it looks stable with vcore set at 1.425. It failed at 1.4, still need test vcore between 1.4 - 1.425.

Currently vcore is at 1.425 and Medium Fan idle temp is now 32C.

Also, latest temps i have given is cpu temp not core temps. Usually core temp is about 10-15 C higher. I'm going first find what is the lowest vcore and then repost my temps... but I expect same results of 22C increase for Medium fan and ~ 30 C for High fan.

 

[imported_spike99]

OK, So I finally found my PC to be stable at the same vcore of 1.425 and I retested.

Below are my results.

QX6850 @ 3.66 vcore 1.425 Room Temp 26C

High fan cpu 21 idle, 49 load. Increase of 28C
High fan core#1 31 idle, 61 load. Increase of 30C

Medium fan cpu 34 idle, 54 load. Increase of 20C
Medium fan core#1 45 idle, 68 load. Increase of 23C

As expected from my previous results.... When setting High Fan, temp increase is in the high 20's and Medium Fan, temp increases in the low 20's.

Compared to my previous Cooler (Vigor Monsoon Lite II), Freezone Elite is much much better.

Initially I was not very happy with my results but I believe this is a result of having my vcore way too high than it should have been.

Any questions, pls let me know.