Enermax ETD-T60 CPU Cooler

 

Performance.

As usual we used the tried and tested set up.

Gigabyte UD3R V2
Intel i7 950 @ 4GHz 1.25v
Mushkin Radioactive 2000MHz
HIS 6850
Corsair Carbide 400R
Corsair AX750w

For the first test we set our i7-950 overclocked to 200×20 @ 1.25v for a clock speed of 4.0GHz. We allow the system to idle for 10 minutes and then run Prime95 ‘maximum heat maximum stress’ setting for a further 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes we note the temperatures of all cores and the ambient temperature of the room. An average of all cores is taken, then the ambient temperature is removed from this figure and this gives us the delta temperature. Delta is the temperature difference above ambient which is a truer reflection of the heat-sink performance rather than mere maximum figures. Testing in an Igloo or the Sahara would give vastly different maximum temperatures, yet the Delta could be the same.

INSERT GRAPH HERE.

Ave temp 74.25

Ambient 16.5

LOAD s DELTA T OF 57.75

 

The second test follows all steps from above but with a 200×21 @ 1.35v for 4.2GHz overclock, the extra voltage in this test allows us to see if the heat-sink can cope when extreme loads and overclocks are applied. Not unexpectedly the T-60 failed this test with all cores exceeding the critical cut off of 90 degrees within a few minutes.

 

The graphs and figures above don’t really tell the whole story with this cooler.  As the T60 is a top down cooler it’s also able to offer cooling to the voltage regulation circuitry positioned adjacent to the CPU socket.  The lower temps enabled by the added airflow over the VRMs, Chokes and MOSFETS will not only improve the scope and stability of an overclock, but will also decrease the likelihood of failure of these items.

 

Conclusion

 

So what have we got here?  In simple terms strap this cooler on and you can clock an i7 950 to 4.0GHz  it might get a bit warmer than some others as the graphs show, but this it’s well within the safe zone, and remember that these temps represent the highest temps you’re likely to get under extreme torture test conditions.  It’s very unlikely that you’ll get it anywhere near that with real world applications.  Try to take it up to 4.2 however and it closes the door on you getting all hot and bothered and exceeding the 90 degree upper limit in a matter of minutes.

So it’s a bit of a failure then?  Far from it actually.  When you think about it a bit more, keeping at the forefront of your mind what sort of cooler this actually is.  Lets not kid ourselves that this is a giant killer, it’s not.  it’s not meant to be and it’s not marketed as such.  It’s a low profile top down cooler that will fit in pretty much all but the tiniest cases.  Perhaps aimed at HTPCs or maybe SFF builds where a bit of a light show might be desirable.  With that in mind 4.0GHz with a delta T of 57.75 on one of intels toasty i7 chips isn’t a bad performance by any means.  I have to be honest I was expecting this cooler to be much worse and it just wasn’t.

As I want to give a balanced review I’m trying very hard to think of negatives with regards to the T60 without sounding like I’m being pedantic but I’m having a spot of bother.  The light show might not to everyones taste, but if you like LEDs on your CPU cooling fans then without doubt there is a greater selection of modes on offer here than on any other I’ve seen.  If you don’t like the thought of lights but do like the thought of this cooler then you can just turn them off, either that or save yourself a few bob and buy the TB version which comes fitted with the classic TB silence fan (minus the cowling seen in the TA model).  While on the subject of the fan, or more specifically the cowling it sits in, as the cowling of course is pretty much the only bit of the cooler you see when you look into your case it totally hides the rest of the Nickel coated splendour of the of the cooler underneath  I think I’m stretching “pedantic” a bit if I want to call that a negative point however.

The T60 is not an out and out overclockers cooler, but then it’s not trying to be, but neither is it without a great many merits.  In assessing it we have to consider where it fits into the market place.  If space isn’t an issue then there are cheaper better performing alternatives out there, such as its cousin the T40 or the Thermolab Trinity.  If space is an issue however then the T60 has to be compared with other low profile coolers, as by definition we will have ruled out any of the conventional tower types as alternatives.  There are quite a few of these at the bottom end of the price bandings, with few looking like they might be able to manage an overclock of any description.  There a are a few other options further up the price bandings, notably the Cocage MST-140 and the The Antec Khuler Shelf, but again neither of these really look up to the job.  I was going to include the Noctua NH-C12P as it is a top down cooler, but given it’s bigger than a fair few traditional tower type coolers and has a propensity to cause RAM encroachment issues I think it’s ruled itself out of this comparison

And so to the price, perhaps the only thorn in the side of this cooler.  £50 is a lot to pay for a cooler but if you’re building a small form factor or HTPC where space is at a premium owing to the amount of kit that has to be squeezed into such a small space, and where through case airflow is likely to be compromised as a result, then the T60 offers you the ability to undertake this build whilst still putting a decent overclock within reach and while offering the advantages of additional airflow over the all important  Voltage regulation circuitry area.

Yes it’s a bit steep, but if you need it, it’s worth it.