I am using the Noctua D15 with a 7800 and Noctua's optional AMD offset kit for better performance. I am able to hit and sustain boost speeds with no problems.
Thanks. I looked at Microcenter and saw almost $100 coolers which are only rated for 150 W (on the box), not even enough for 170 W TDP, and somewhat cheaper coolers without Watt ratings but with similar CFM (after all that is what matters, right?).
That Thermalright Spirit 120 SE says 105W BTW, I doubt it is good for 170W TDP CPU.
Appreciate the review. $80 is still ridiculously expensive for a HSF when you can buy the Thermalright Phantom Spirit for $33 and get similar performance. I would like to see a review of this HSF on Anandtech.
I get and support where you're coming from. A good condition used laptop can sink you for under $200 (new laptops start at around that price as well though adequate future proofing is more or less a $400 laptop) and for your $80 here you get a single component that doesn't compute anything on its own that you have to be bothered to put together yourself. What a waste! But also, in fairness, that DIY segment is collapsing as we learn we can just use a phone we already own or carry our computer anywhere in the form of a power-efficient and inexpensive laptop so prices relative to inflation have fallen a bit lately so $80 isn't all that bad these days. Still though, I agree with you that it's an utterly stupid venture to go purchasing an overpriced, non-movable desktop PC more than 20 years in to this century and most of the world agrees if you look at sales of hardware.
Well, perhaps true for your use case -- but you'll pry my fixed gaming PC out of my cold dead hands. Sure I =could= get a laptop with an external GPU but when I looked at that I ended up with a very large laptop with all kinds of luggability issues -- so stayed with my desktop and thin/light laptop solution with no compromises for either use case.
Gaming laptop? Those are a huge waste of money and effort as well. There really is no need for a dGPU of any sort if you use a bit of selectivity in the types of things you use your computer for although, I do understand a lot of people don't know any better and are sedentary being a computer screen for a substantial number of hours of their lives. I hope you can find other ways to have fun someday.
How does this compare to a budget cooler like the 7-pipe Phantom Spirit? At half the price I am willing to bet it is still swinging. You could upgrade to Noctua fans and still be in the same ballpark for noise and performance. I suppose the looks are "pedestrian", but I don't drive a bro-dozer either.
Thank you for including the Noctua NH-C14S in your testing. Since I like downdraft coolers, I appreciate having more data on it and how it compares to other popular models.
I'm not sure I get the point of an arbitrary 50% value for the low fan speed test when all models are going to be at different RPM and noise levels. What exactly is so special about the 50% value for it to be the normalization constant? Why not noise normalize instead at a steady decibel level?
Much like you said, it is an arbitrary point, showing the capacity of the cooler at low airflow.
We are doing far better than "normalizing" at a single dB level. Instead, we take measurements at several levels and compose the TRvsSPL chart. It shows the capacity of every cooler across its entire operational range and how airflow affects its performance (slope). If I were, for example, to set a "standard" dB level, there would undoubtedly be cases where the cooler would not be able to operate there at all. Check this review's chart for example. If I chose 33 dB(A) as the "normalized level", the Dark Rock Elite would not be able to reach it. If I chose 36 dB(A), the NH-U12S could not reach that. There would be chaos across the reviews. It would be far easier and faster for me to test a single point rather than taking multiple measurements and generating the graph but that is just bad practice.
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peevee - Tuesday, January 16, 2024 - link
Who could recommend a good air cooler for AMD 7950x, not overpriced?meacupla - Tuesday, January 16, 2024 - link
For a 7950X?Noctua D15, or get a 280mm or 360mm AIO CLC.
peevee - Thursday, January 18, 2024 - link
D15 is quite expensive (and I do not see TDP Wattage spec anywhere), CLC is not air cooler I have asked for.StevoLincolnite - Friday, January 19, 2024 - link
Good thing we generally don't care what you asked for.But a 280mm/360mm is probably the best bang for buck you can get either way.
meacupla - Friday, January 19, 2024 - link
https://noctua.at/en/noctua-standardised-performan...Googer - Monday, January 22, 2024 - link
I am using the Noctua D15 with a 7800 and Noctua's optional AMD offset kit for better performance. I am able to hit and sustain boost speeds with no problems.nubie - Tuesday, January 16, 2024 - link
Thermalright Phantom Spirit SE 7-pipes is like $35. Should cool 230w (Stock 7950x under load).peevee - Thursday, January 18, 2024 - link
Thanks. I looked at Microcenter and saw almost $100 coolers which are only rated for 150 W (on the box), not even enough for 170 W TDP, and somewhat cheaper coolers without Watt ratings but with similar CFM (after all that is what matters, right?).That Thermalright Spirit 120 SE says 105W BTW, I doubt it is good for 170W TDP CPU.
usiname - Friday, January 19, 2024 - link
The rated TDP is tested diferently by all manufacturers so the only option is to watch reviews, TechPowerUp have good comparison on Ryzen 7900x.IlllI - Friday, February 2, 2024 - link
Hmm maybe Scythe Fuma 3...? I see it on amazon for $50Footman36 - Tuesday, January 16, 2024 - link
Appreciate the review. $80 is still ridiculously expensive for a HSF when you can buy the Thermalright Phantom Spirit for $33 and get similar performance. I would like to see a review of this HSF on Anandtech.PeachNCream - Sunday, January 21, 2024 - link
I get and support where you're coming from. A good condition used laptop can sink you for under $200 (new laptops start at around that price as well though adequate future proofing is more or less a $400 laptop) and for your $80 here you get a single component that doesn't compute anything on its own that you have to be bothered to put together yourself. What a waste! But also, in fairness, that DIY segment is collapsing as we learn we can just use a phone we already own or carry our computer anywhere in the form of a power-efficient and inexpensive laptop so prices relative to inflation have fallen a bit lately so $80 isn't all that bad these days. Still though, I agree with you that it's an utterly stupid venture to go purchasing an overpriced, non-movable desktop PC more than 20 years in to this century and most of the world agrees if you look at sales of hardware.RLees - Sunday, January 21, 2024 - link
Well, perhaps true for your use case -- but you'll pry my fixed gaming PC out of my cold dead hands.Sure I =could= get a laptop with an external GPU but when I looked at that I ended up with a very large laptop with all kinds of luggability issues -- so stayed with my desktop and thin/light laptop solution with no compromises for either use case.
PeachNCream - Sunday, January 21, 2024 - link
Gaming laptop? Those are a huge waste of money and effort as well. There really is no need for a dGPU of any sort if you use a bit of selectivity in the types of things you use your computer for although, I do understand a lot of people don't know any better and are sedentary being a computer screen for a substantial number of hours of their lives. I hope you can find other ways to have fun someday.nubie - Tuesday, January 16, 2024 - link
How does this compare to a budget cooler like the 7-pipe Phantom Spirit? At half the price I am willing to bet it is still swinging. You could upgrade to Noctua fans and still be in the same ballpark for noise and performance. I suppose the looks are "pedestrian", but I don't drive a bro-dozer either.mode_13h - Thursday, January 18, 2024 - link
Thank you for including the Noctua NH-C14S in your testing. Since I like downdraft coolers, I appreciate having more data on it and how it compares to other popular models.krazyfrog - Friday, January 19, 2024 - link
I'm not sure I get the point of an arbitrary 50% value for the low fan speed test when all models are going to be at different RPM and noise levels. What exactly is so special about the 50% value for it to be the normalization constant? Why not noise normalize instead at a steady decibel level?E.Fyll - Saturday, January 20, 2024 - link
Much like you said, it is an arbitrary point, showing the capacity of the cooler at low airflow.We are doing far better than "normalizing" at a single dB level. Instead, we take measurements at several levels and compose the TRvsSPL chart. It shows the capacity of every cooler across its entire operational range and how airflow affects its performance (slope). If I were, for example, to set a "standard" dB level, there would undoubtedly be cases where the cooler would not be able to operate there at all. Check this review's chart for example. If I chose 33 dB(A) as the "normalized level", the Dark Rock Elite would not be able to reach it. If I chose 36 dB(A), the NH-U12S could not reach that. There would be chaos across the reviews. It would be far easier and faster for me to test a single point rather than taking multiple measurements and generating the graph but that is just bad practice.
RLees - Sunday, January 21, 2024 - link
The 1st image on the last page appears to be the Dark Rock Pro 4 cooler, not 5.Correct?
Ryan Smith - Monday, January 22, 2024 - link
No, that is the DRP 5. All of these photos were taken at the same time. (Plus we don't even have a DRP 4)