Noctua Beater? Cooler Master MasterAir MA824 STEALTH CPU Cooler Review
Thermal Testing – an impressively performant Air-based CPU heatsink
As always, our CPU cooler testing has been conducted on an overclocked i9-9900K that is clocked at 4.8GHz at 1.2V. Using this configuration, we test the thermals of our processor using various CPU cooler under heavy loads under OCCT for 30 minutes. This testing is repeated at various fan RPMs, allowing us to create the chart below.
First off, we will say that Cooler Master’s MasterAir MA824 STEALTH has left us thoroughly impressed, with its max RPM (1950 RPM) fan tests offering us thermals that are just a few degrees below their MasterLiquid 360L Core White CPU Liquid Cooler. While this cooler was using lower-end fans than what the MasterAir MA824 STEALTH is equipped with, it is a liquid cooler that is around £10 more expensive. That’s a strong result for an air cooler. Competing with a 360mm CPU liquid cooler is a bug achievement for an air-based heatsink.
While Cooler Master’s MasterAir MA824 STEALTH does not get close to the thermal performance of today’s high-end AIO Liquid Coolers, it is worth remembering that those cooling solutions are in a totally different price bracket than Cooler Master’s MasterAir MA824 STEALTH. At £99, it is a bargain by comparison to most higher-performing liquid coolers. While the MasterAir MA824 STEALTH is expensive for an air cooler, it does have the thermal performance to back it up.
