FrostyTech Mk.III Synthetic Thermal Heatsink Test Results Intel Core i7, Extreme Edition class heatsinks tested at a 200W heat load. Results based on readings from a 38x38mm copper interface die with 200W heat load on the Intel version of the Mk.III Test Platform. Temperature results listed for each heatsink were calculated by determining the rise over ambient temperatures at time of test. Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available here. Socket LGA2011/1366 compatible CPU heatsinks
manufacturer:	model no.:	*fan speed:	200w thermal test (°c)	noise level (dba)
Coolermaster	Nepton 280L	high	10.6	58.8
Coolermaster	Nepton 140XL	high	11.8	59.6
Coolermaster	Seidon 240M	high	13.4	55.6
Silverstone	Tundra TD02	high	13.6	53.0
Coolermaster	Glacer 240L	high	14.1	52.5
NZXT	Kraken X60	high	14.5	60.7
Noctua	NH-U14S		17.0	47.3
Coolermaster	Seidon 120V	high	17.5	54.3
Coolermaster	Nepton 140XL	low	17.9	44.2
NZXT	Kraken X40	high	18.2	59.4
Silverstone	Tundra TD03	high	18.7	58.1
Silverstone	Argon AR01	high	18.8	53.0
Coolermaster	Eisberg 240L	high	19.1	50.5
Raijintek	Themis	high	19.7	52.8
Coolermaster	V8 GTS	high	20.0	59.7
Corsair	Hydro H80i	high	21.1	64.0
Noctua	NH-U12S		21.1	46.2
Raijintek	Ereboss	high	21.4	49.7
Zalman	Reserator 3 Max	high	21.6	58.9
Scythe	Mugen 4	high	21.7	41.9
Zalman	LQ315	high	21.9	50.8
Silverstone	NT06-P	high	22.1	51.6
Raijintek	Aidos	high	23.0	55.6
Zalman	LQ310	high	23.8	52.7
Zalman	LQ320	high	25.5	50.2
Silverstone	NT01-Pro	high	35.8	40.4
			200w thermal test (°c)	noise level (dba)
*heatsinks are ranked according to the 125w thermal test results column (rise over ambient temp.). low temperatures with low noise levels are considered best. for reference heatsinks with variable-speed fans, only the high speed (12v) fan test result is included in the comparison sheet; more detailed results reside in each specific heatsink review.

Frostytech's socket LGA2011 Intel synthetic thermal test platform stresses socket LGA2011/1366 compatible heatsinks with a 200W heat load. Keep in mind that the AMD Integrated Heat Spreader and Intel LGA2011 Integrated Heat Spreader both measure ~38x38mm, so these test results can be extrapolated to AMD processor scenario's as well.

With a 200W heat load applied by the Intel LGA2011/1366 version of FrostyTech's synthetic thermal test platform, the Coolermaster Nepton 140XL yielded an excellent temperature result of just 11.8°C over ambient at stock fan speed. Reducing the speed of the Nepton 140XL's twin 140mm PWM fans to 800RPM saw test temperatures increase to 17.9°C over ambient.

I'm not sure we really need to sum this review up for you, but here goes. At full fan speed the Coolermaster Nepton 140XL and its larger brother, the Nepton 280L, are nearly matched within the limits of our test platforms. Were heat loads in the 250W to 300W range, the Nepton 280L would invariably gain the advantage due to its much larger heat exchanger. As it stands though, if you're aim is to operate either of these self contained CPU liquid coolers at full fan speed, with no deference to noise level, I think the Coolermaster Nepton 140XL is the better deal of the two. It's smaller, which makes installation simpler and it offers nearly the same level of cooling performance all the way up to 200W TDP.

The defining line between the Nepton 140XL and 280L comes when fan speed is dialed back to 800RPM. At this much quieter RPM, the Nepton 280L comes out ahead by a good margin. You'll have to check out Frostytech's review of the Nepton 280L for more details on that front.

Any way you look at it, Coolermaster have a real winner in the Nepton 140XL. The larger diameter (15.5mm OD) Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene tubing, mix of 140mm fans and new generation pump head / waterblock have, for now, made quite the splash in the world of All-in-One CPU liquid coolers. Highly recommended.

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