Room Temp

[SUNSfan]

Quick question guys, what room temperature does Anandtech keep when they conduct their tests for heatsinks and such? Thanks.

 

[Spanki]

...would also be helpfull if they listed the voltage used in thier overclocking tests - not everyone is using a X6800 CPU with a 14x multiplier.

 

[jjet67]

I don't know much but can you control your room temp all the time? To run a computer 24/7, I guess you might consider the worst scenario.
I moved to TX from PA and the room temp here is totally different story.

 

[Spanki]

Originally posted by: jjet67
I don't know much but can you control your room temp all the time? To run a computer 24/7, I guess you might consider the worst scenario.
I moved to TX from PA and the room temp here is totally different story.

Yeah, controlling the temp to within a degree or two at all times is not really practical. That's why it's best to list results as "rise over ambient" instead of the hard temperature values. If one heatsink is tested when it's 22C ambient and another heatsink comes up 2-3C worse, but the ambient was 2-3C hotter (even 1C hotter) when that one was tested, then the review should reflect that.

Not that it makes any 'real' difference, but keep in mind the nature of heatsink reviews - the general result of which crowns a "winner" in the eyes of the (some) readers. People read these things not only to "find the best" to buy, but also to validate thier own previous purchase and have a lot of pride in knowing (and telling everyone) that they own "the best". When that "best" is often decided by 1-3C, it becomes important (to some) .

 

[Elias824]

well I doubt that it would be much of an issue as long as the test it in a reasonable sized room with decent airflow, I dont think they would have much of a difference in room temps.

 

[Spanki]

Originally posted by: Elias824
well I doubt that it would be much of an issue as long as the test it in a reasonable sized room with decent airflow, I dont think they would have much of a difference in room temps.

The problem is "much of a difference" can mean several rank levels on the charts. If you look at the latest chart (for load temps) here at AT, look at how many HSFs are in the 38-40C range. If any one of those was hit with an extra 2C of ambient (or visa-versa) it could move pretty far on it's 'percieved' cooling value (note that a chart like this might already give the 'perception' that, for example, the Thermaltake MaxOrb cools better than the Noctua NH-U12F with stock fan under this test setup, because it's higher up on the chart - even though the temps are the same).

Then you have the cumulative affects of (for example) 'most' being tested at 25C ambient, but say maybe one was tested at 23C and another was tested at 27C - now we're talking about a 4C delta...

Finally, at least one person has looked into how ambient temps affect cpu temps and at least with his setup, he was consistantly seeing a 1:2 ratio. ie. Every 1C of ambient, was adding 2C to his cpu temps (this was on a Quad, so I don't know if the same holds true for Duos). So if this is true, we're talking about as much as an 8C swing.

So, all the sudden "not much of a difference" has (potentially) turned into an 8C difference - starting with the Ultra 120 Extreme at the top of AT's latest chart at 32C, you can include 15 other HSF configurations within an 8C swing of there .

I'm fairly certain that this is not the case for this chart, but my point is that a few C of ambient can make a huge difference, when you already have to take other things into account, like the TIM being used and it's application, the amount of mounting pressure achieved for the test, case fans on or off, cpu used in the test and at what voltages, application used to create load conditions, etc.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Elias824
well I doubt that it would be much of an issue as long as the test it in a reasonable sized room with decent airflow, I dont think they would have much of a difference in room temps.

The room temperature will have a direct impact on the CPU temperature. That is a fact.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: SUNSfan
Quick question guys, what room temperature does Anandtech keep when they conduct their tests for heatsinks and such? Thanks.

AnandTech runs their tests @ 22ish degrees Celsius...

 

[manimal]

meat locker temps....

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: manimal
meat locker temps....

LoL!

I built a 'puter for my boss once, in my basement (55 degrees F). OC'ed it - ran orthos for a week - no problem.

When I took it to his house (75 degrees F) it wouldn't even boot!

Man, was I embarrassed!!! I told him, "I swear! I burned it in for a week at my place..."

To make things worse, you couldn't change the settings in BIOS. I had to dissect his machine, in front of him, and move the jumpers & switches around.

Anyway, that's when I learned the importance of ambient temps!