Cooling Efficiency Tests

I would like to say right away that Aquagate Max didn’t limit the overclocking potential of our processor, because even when the radiator fans were working in quiet mode, our quad-core Yorkfield remained stable at 4004MHz frequency with the Vcore set at 1.6V in the mainboard BIOS (~1.57V according to monitoring utilities). All tests were performed with the CPU overclocked to this point. The results turned out pretty interesting:

First of all I would like to comment on the dependence of the Aquagate Max results on the performance of the radiator fans. If we compare identical SilverStone fans with different rotation speeds, we will see that when the rotation speed of both fans increases from ~1100RPM to ~2630RPM, the CPU cooling efficiency improves by 4ºC. I have to admit that this difference is not really impressive considering how dramatic the acoustic difference is between these two operational modes. At the same time we can’t really tell how efficient the original Cooler Master fans are at the same quiet ~1100RPM rotation speed, but at the maximum and loud ~2400RPM the ensured only 2ºC improvement compared with the SilverStone quiet mode.

Now comes the most interesting part: replacing the default water block of Cooler Master Aquagate Max with Zalman ZM-WB5. If we compare these water blocks in identical conditions (i.e. with identical pair of radiator fans), then Zalman solution will show 6-7ºC better results. Not bad, I guess. Moreover, Zalman ZM-WB5 is not one of the best water blocks out there, although it is totally worth the $30 you will have to pay for it.

Note that it was the third-party water block that allowed Aquagate Max to outperform a super-cooler from ZEROtherm in both: quiet mode and at maximum fan rotation speed. Unfortunately, Cooler Master liquid cooling system is as efficient as the air cooler only when its default fans rotate at their maximum speed., while the super air-cooler had its fan running at moderate ~1360RPM.