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 LGA2011-3 / 2011 /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
Coolermaster	Nepton 240M	high	15.1	50.6
Noctua	NH-D15	high	15.8	49.8
NZXT	Kraken X60	low	16.6	41.1
Noctua	NH-U14S		17.0	47.3
Coolermaster	Seidon 120V	high	17.5	54.3
NZXT	Kraken X40	high	18.2	59.4
Reeven	Okeanos RC-1402	high	18.3	54.2
Reeven	Ouranos RC-1401	high	18.4	52.5
Silverstone	Tundra TD03	high	18.7	58.1
Silverstone	Argon AR01	high	18.8	53.0
X2 Products	Eclipse IV	high	19.1	57.4
Coolermaster	Eisberg 240L	high	19.1	50.5
Reeven	Justice RC-1204	high	19.2	48.5
BeQuiet	Dark Rock Pro 3	high	19.5	43.7
Raijintek	Themis	high	19.7	52.8
Coolermaster	V8 GTS	high	20.0	59.7
BeQuiet	Dark Rock 3	high	20.9	41.8
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	Pallas	high	22.2	43.2
DeepCool	Gamer Storm Lucifer	high	23.0	52.5
Raijintek	Aidos	high	23.0	55.6
Reeven	Hans RC-1205	high	23.1	49.4
Silentium	Fera2 HE1224	high	23.4	37.6
Zalman	LQ310	high	23.8	52.7
Coolermaster	Hyper D92	high	24.1	53.4
Scythe	Ashura Shadow (SCASR-1000SE)	high	24.2	51.4
Raijintek	Nemesis	high	24.6	47.8
BeQuiet	Shadow Rock Slim	high	24.7	40.4
BeQuiet	Shadow Rock 2	high	24.9	43.3
Zalman	LQ320	high	25.5	50.2
npowertek	NPH-1366-115HC (LGA1366)	high	28.7	44.8
Dynatron	G556 (LGA1366/2U)		29.1	68.4
Dynatron	G555 (LGA1366/2U)		30.4	67.8
Dynatron	G666 (LGA1366/2U)		31.8	68.7
Silverstone	NT01-Pro	high	35.8	40.4
nPowerTek	NPH1366-140HC (LGA1366)	high	36.3	48.1
Zalman	FX-100 (w/h ZM-F2 fan)		36.9	28.5
Dynatron	G199 (LGA1366/1U)		47.6	62.6
Zalman	FX-100 (hor, ver)		63.0	0.0
			200w thermal test (°c)	noise level (dba)
*heatsinks are ranked according to the 200w 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 NZXT Kraken X60 liquid cooling solution yields an excellent temperature result of just 14.5°C over ambient at stock fan speeds (60.7dBA noise).

Reducing the speed of both 140mm PWM fans on the Kraken X60's large heat exchanger saw test temperatures rise to 16.6°C over ambient while noise output fell to 41.1dBA.

The NZXT Kraken X60 features twin 140mm fans on a relatively large aluminum heat exchanger that manages to raise the cooling performance threshold nicely. The downside is that users will need a pretty large full tower gaming case to be able to accommodate the NZXT Kraken X60. What the Kraken X60 really needs is a PC chassis with top-mounted fan vents so hot air can be exhausted up and out of the computer case.

In any case, NZXT's Kraken X60 is a very capable self-contained liquid cooling solution for processors up to 200W TDP. At full fan speed the twin 140mm fans are loud, but owing to the large 140mm+140mm sized heat exchanger, there's not a whole lot of penalty from running the fans at a slower, quieter speed. In Frostytech's tests, the change was within 3°C! That's impressive. Recommended, provided your computer case can accommodate the NZXT Kraken X60's large heat exchanger.

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