Could someone please explain this to me?

[MrGrim]

I recently got a Duron 800 and I've been looking for a good cooler. In all the reviews of respectable sites (Anandtech, 2cooltek, etc.) that I've read, all the coolers are awfully close in perfomance. The difference between them is usually 1C - 2C degrees. That is what I simply can't understand.

Here we have the massive Aplha PEP66 and the rather small FOP32, in all the reviews the difference between them (using the same fans) is 1C-2C degrees. If size doesn't matter (if the reviews are saying the truth it doesn't) then what's the point of having coolers like the Alpha PEP66? Just to take up space and make it difficult to install? There certainly is no point in getting the PEP66 instead of the FOP32, since 2C degrees is not going to make that big of a difference.

Another example would be the Hedgehog 238M and the TaiSol CEK734092. According to all the reviews the TaiSol HS is better than the Hedgehog which costs more than double! I understand that the Hedgehog is made all out of copper, thus more expensive, but what is the point of making an expensive product that performs worse than a cheaper one?

My point being, either the reviews are completely wrong, or there are some very stupid HS manufacturers out there (which I doubt). If anyone can shed any light on this, I would really appreciate it.

 

[Mykex]

Well at least on the first comparison I think the stock pep66 comes with a 23.5cfm fan the FOP32-1 a 26cfm Fan. So the pep would be more efficiant and quieter. As for the size its not that much bigger overall 94x62x60pep VS 70x61.8x41fop and the size is pretty much dictated by the side flow design. I guess thats an answer...or at least I tryed.

 

[Grendel99]

They might perform the same. But some are louder, but you could replace the fan. Some of the clips are harder to get on than others and little stuff like that.

 

[Jalapeno]

MrGrim,

it pretty much comes down to your personal preference. If you are not going to overclock your CPU, you will be safe with the retail HS/fan combo. If you don't want to brag to your friends about the "bad ass" cooling you have in your system, then again, you will be safe with the retail HS/fan combo.

If you intend to overclock, then by all means get yourself a quality HS/fan combo like the Alpha, GlobalWin, Taisol, Hedgehog... You get what you pay for - quality, but there is not much difference between the high-end units and, 1C lower might not justify a lot of $$$...

Don't get caught up in the "race"!

 

[Mikewarrior2]

Reviews in general are completely wrong. Cant' judge 2cool's yet because he hasn't finished. Trainwrecker and Frostytech have good reviews.

Also, it is general condition of socket-thermistors to compress heatsink temp differences. a 1C socket-thermistor reading can mean a 4C core temp difference, etc...

Mike

 

[johneetrash]

<< Another example would be the Hedgehog 238M and the TaiSol CEK734092. According to all the reviews the TaiSol HS is better than the Hedgehog which costs more than double! I understand that the Hedgehog is made all out of copper, thus more expensive, but what is the point of making an expensive product that performs worse than a cheaper one? >>



i dont think the cek (or the cgk) outperforms the hedgehog... i think the cgk has a better heatsink design tho, and if you stuck the 7k delta on both, the cgk would outperform the hedgehog (i think i read that at hardocp but i dont remember, it's late and im not thinking straight!)

 

[MrGrim]

I see. Well I've got a FOP32, and being a previous owner of a PEP66 I just thought that it wasn't enough. I guess I'm gonna stick with it. No point getting another cooler since the difference is minimal.

Thanx for your replies.

 

[Phunktion]

also most of the performance discrepancies could have to do with the quality of the install.. the better you install any HS the better it'll perform.. i.e. globbing loads of thermal grease on the die won't make for good cooling..
when it comes to these Heatsinks you should just buy a bare version of the one you like (best fit for your MB etc., size vs. performance is an issue on some boards) and buy a good fan seperately.. unless you are gonna clock 250+ the 1 to 3 degree difference won't matter too much and with a good fan any of these heatsinks are perfect for overclocking anyway..

 

[Mikewarrior2]

the problem is that the 1-3C &quot;read&quot; difference in reviews is more like a 4-15C core temp difference, and 15C can make a difference in overclocking.


Mike

 

[MrGrim]

Mikewarrior stop doing that. You are going to make me buy a new HS. So do you think that getting a TaiSol would make a difference? Remember that I currently own a FOP-32.

 

[Mikewarrior2]

No. You've got a split group in heatsink performance, or as I like to rank them. The in-betweens are the Taisol CEK733092, CEK734092, and a few others. The bottom tier include the SuperOrb, ChromeOrb, Mini-SuperOrb, Coolermasters, etc.

Then the big boys, the hedgehogs, the FOPs, the PAls/Peps, and the CGKs. You are not going to benefit switching your FOP to a taisol, unless you want a unit that has quieter operation. Even then, the overclocking limit will probably remain the same.


Mike

 

[MrGrim]

I see. Thanx all.