Tom's CPU Cooler Charts...

[Basard]

Well, I read the first part of this article (http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/20/cpu_cooler_charts_2008/), and just now the second part.

It seems to me that either Intel's new CPUs run too hot, or Tom's is doing something horribly wrong with their tests. They don't make any mention of overclocking the QX6850 tested with all of the coolers, so how is it that THE best cooler they test runs the CPU at over 60C? Do these Intel chips really run that hot, or what?

Also in the article, they seem to be flip-flopping between PWM, high fan speed, and low fan speed... using whichever they see fit on whatever cooler. I'm not sure if it's the fault of the cooler that maybe they HAVE to do the flip flopping... but it seems to me that if somebody were to buy one of the coolers in the article, then you would want to keep fan speed on high, as your goal is to keep the cpu cool. I dunno, what do you guys think?

I remember that somebody bought toms hardware like a year or 2 ago.... I forget who it was though. Tom's really is starting to suck, and so are a couple other of my favorite sites.

And, finally, what was the deal with the physics card, stuck into reviews of the day, from techpowerup, you guys reviewed that like months ago. (pic included) Although, I never actually saw the review to begin with, so I guess it was kinda nice to see.

[trog100]

i want adequate cooling as quietly as possible.. i think most people do.. but not all.. some like fan noise even.. but fans going flat out all the time isnt what i want.. no way..

i dont think 60 C is that hot either.. but i would be out numbered here with that one..:)

trog

[zCexVe]

I'm not quiet right on those reviews.I agree and like their work with VGA,CPU HDD charts.But in air coolers they don't seem to be very good IMHO.Besides air cooling is overall.Not just depends on only the CPU cooler.As to your rigs' airflow setup different coolers will function differently.Best air cooler may be worst in your setup.For example, you have rear exhaust and a CPU cooler blowing into them in push-pull action that will cool greatly.But if you have cooler blowing upwards there is a little trouble.

[Kreij]

I too found the recent cooler reviews a bit odd. They failed the cooler that I have because of installation problems. I installed mine in about 10 minutes with no problems at all.

I run it at 100% all the time, and while it is far from silent, it is quiet compared to my pair of X1950XTXs running at 100%.

It only dropped my temps a few degrees, but that's not bad considering I had a good cooler to begin with (Scythe Mine).

[surfsk8snow.jah]

Review's overall pretty good, but isn't as good as I've expected out of Tom's in the Past. The whole 46% fail rate or whatever was pretty comical however.

Btw, ofcourse Thermalright is gonna win... are u even kidding me? haha

[Basard]

Don't get me wrong, I've been a big fan of Tom's for like 10 years almost. After reading both of those CPU chart articles though, I feel kinda like I lost part of my life that I can't get back.

Does anybody have a quad core that runs that hot at stock speeds? I've never had a chip faster than my current 4000+ so I may just not know how hot those things run.

[calvary1980]

And, finally, what was the deal with the physics card, stuck into reviews of the day, from techpowerup, you guys reviewed that like months ago. (pic included) Although, I never actually saw the review to begin with, so I guess it was kinda nice to see.

BFG and Asus manufacture or buy from Ageia and sell the PhysX card not much to it really. could be an update to the review or there is something wrong with the Review Database because it isn't coming up for me.

- Christine

[cdawall]

god that thing runs hot? 66C on H20 :roll:

i want to see how they review the gemini II it should be amusing

[EnergyFX]

So what... a cooler has to be easy to install in order to 'pass'?? WTF

I suspect these guys are members of AAA because changing a flat tire is impossible to accomplish. Flat tire = fail?

*rolleyes*

**rolleyes again**

[tkpenalty]

Tom's hardware has just gone down the drain lately...

[JaYp146]

Tom's hardware has just gone down the drain lately...

QFT. The only part of Tom's site that I visit are the GPU charts, which are pretty accurate.

Beyond that, it's just one :wtf: after another.

[Oliver_FF]

I love the way that on tomshardware whenever they overclock stuff they recommend the Zalman CNPS-9500 or 9700, and neither have appeared in their tests yet. I'd have thought it'd be one of the first contenders considering they seem to have a plentiful supply of them...

[Basard]

Just in case your interested, Part 3 is out now at Tom's... Guess what the final conclusion of a solid days work was... "Box coolers are not good for overclocking..."

Some how box coolers beat scythe ninjas by landslides too.

Speaking of 46% fail rate... Thats about my RMA status at newegg. Seems like half the stuff I order from there needs an RMA. I just had to send my Crucial Ballistix back, ordered some G.Skill in it's place.