Ever since overclocking has started gaining popularity, the demand for better cooling, be it air or water has started increasing. CPU makers have always provided stock coolers which would barely manage to keep the CPU at acceptable temperatures at stock speed but thats about it. This meant that there was very little room left for one to overclock even if he could, since the cooler just couldn't manage to keep the temperatures under control.
Due to price constraints and of course to dissuade people from over clocking, CPU makers have always bundled mediocre coolers with their CPU's. This is where third party air cooler makers come into the picture. Although a bit expensive, they are pretty much worth the extra money you pay.
Depending on the application there are several different models available. There are some which are light in weight, yet much more efficient than stock coolers and which also allow you some mild overclocking.
Then there are those which are huge and heavy but are very efficient when it comes to keeping temperatures under control even with very high overclocks.
Today we have with us here 3 different coolers, couple of fans, thermal pastes to test. Basically, all the basic ingredients that you need for starting your overclocking endeavors.
Today we will be testing the Cogage True Spirit, Noctua NH-U12P SE2 and our old workhorse, the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme.
Please bear in mind that all these 3 coolers cater to different segments.
Now that you are aware of what we would be doing today, let’s get on with it, without wasting much time
Note - Review is very picture heavy, 56K users are warned
[BREAK=Packaging and a closer look at the coolers. Cogage TRUE Spirit]
First in line is Cogage True Spirit. Before continuing, let us tell you in brief about ‘Cogage’. ‘Cogage’ is a brand which has been recently started by none other than ‘Thermalright’. As you might be aware, Thermalright is known to make high end coolers targeted at enthusiasts but not everyone is an enthusiast or an overclocker.
This is where Cogage came into existence. A different entity catering to the average Joe using the parent company's expertise to make mid range coolers at affordable prices.
The test sample we’ve received is a newer revision with a different box than the earlier version and another little change which we will reveal later on.
The box opens like a book to reveal the cooler on one side and detailed specs on the other
Note - The default cooler comes with the mounting mechanism for Socket 1366. Kits for other sockets have to be purchased separately.
Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3 mounting mechanism is simple and effective. A very useful feature added is that thanks to a new swing arm retention clamp the cooler can be attached in both orientations i.e facing the rear of the case or the top.
Socket 1156 Retention Kit
Socket 1366 Retention Kit
Stock 120mmx25mm fan supplied with the cooler, rated at 1000-1800RPM
Packaging is very secure; a zip tie holds the cooler in place while neatly designed holes on top prevent it from moving inside the box
Appearance wise the True Spirit does resemble the TRU and feels like the TRUE's younger brother
Polished caps on top give a neat look to the cooler instead of the normal pinched heatpipes. Nice touch!
4x 6mm Copper heatpipes
Finishing isn't the best but that is understandable considering the price
LGA 1156 and LGA1366 retention clamps have the respective socket names stamped on it to make it easier to find out which clamp is for which socket.
A nice touch for users who are new to using after market coolers or are not hardware enthusiasts.
After getting lukewarm response for the earlier push pin type of mounting Cogage has changed the mounting mechanism for the LGA1366 socket to the more convenient bolt thru kit in this new revision. Interestingly though, this time around, they have used a plastic washer for the joints of the ‘X’ shape clamps which fasten the cooler on the CPU, very much like the famous ‘washer mod’ for the TRUE. Looks like Thermalright is listening to the community.
Due to this little addition, the mounting becomes very firm which makes the contact much better due to the added pressure.
This results in better heat transfer and hence better performance from the cooler. We will see how much difference it makes later in our tests
[BREAK=Noctua NH-U12P SE2]
The next cooler we have is the Noctua NH-U12P SE2. Noctua, although a relatively new company, has some brilliant products which are well engineered and ooze with excellent build quality. To be honest we haven’t ever before come across build quality like Noctua so far.
6 Years warranty, this goes to show how much confidence the company has in their product.
Without fans the cooler doesn't weigh much. Size wise, its a pretty large cooler and you expect it to be heavy but its not.
Note the all round compatibility, very useful and future proof, thus adding value to your investment.
The cooler is bundled with two premium quality fans, Noctua NF-P12 each of which cost ~ $23 and a very good quality TIM as well.
This cooler is priced at around $75 and since Noctua has not yet officially entered India you can either procure it from some site which directly delivers to India (performance-pcs, sidewinder) or else through KMD from the forums.
All mounting kits for different sockets are packed separately and properly labeled to avoid confusion, very systematic. Even the instruction manual is written is simple, easy to understand manner.
These are the two Noctua NF-P12 fans included with the cooler as standard equipment. You can use either one fan or both in push-pull config. Noctua fans are well known for their biblical silence and due to this they are expensive too.
Nine blades with Vortex-Control Notches, the secret to its silence
These components are common for all platforms and include a case badge, the thermal compound, four clips for attaching the fans, anti-vibration rubber strips, the famous Low-Noise and Ultra-Low-Noise-Adaptors (which I really don’t feel are needed as the fans are whisper quiet even at full speed).
Special mention is give to the case badge which is quite different since its made out of metal is of very good quality, a welcome addition to my already huge collection of case badges, hehehe.
The Intel backplate comes with a special rubber padding which is only needed for LGA 775
Compatibility for LGA 775/1156/1366.
The rear of the backplate clearly mentions which holes match which socket to prevent any confusion.
The cooler comes packed in a plain white cardboard box. There’s minor room for improvement here, packing it in some soft material is recommended because both the Notua cooler’s I’ve got had some slightly misaligned fins due to being rubbed against the cardboard backside.
The base is covered by a piece of plastic which fits firmly and protects the base from scratches.
The wide fin spacing is for maximum performance with quiet and low CFM fans
Now that we have gone through the package and contents of each cooler in detail, lets move on to the installation part.
Although most coolers come with an installation guide which is pretty self explanatory for a person who has a rough idea about computer hardware in general.
Still there are others who might find it challenging to install the cooler even if there is an installation manual.
Hence we have decided to include a few pictures of different steps involved while mounting the cooler. This is not a guide or a tutorial but a way of making it simpler to mount such coolers.
[BREAK=Installation]
[BREAK=Installation continued...]
Noctua’s SecuFirm2 installation is a bit lengthy but very easy to do, so not a matter of concern for people installing a third party HSF for the first time.
Also please note that a backplate is not provided by Noctua since the default backplate which comes with all AMD motherboards can be used for installation.
[BREAK=Test Setup]
AMD Platform –
AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition CPU
Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT UD5P Motherboard
Crucial Value Series DDR3 1333MHz CL9 Kit
Gigabyte Nvidia Geforce 7200GS Graphic Card
Seventeam ST600-EAD PSU
Seagate SATA II 500GB Hard Drive
Intel Platform –
Intel Core i7 920 ‘D0’ CPU
Gigabyte EX58 UD3R Motherboard
Crucial Value Series DDR3 1333MHz CL9 Kit
Gigabyte Nvidia Geforce 7200GS Graphic Card
Seventeam ST600-EAD PSU
Seagate SATA II 500GB Hard Drive
Testing methodology –
OS used was Windows 7 x64. Lin-X 0.64 was used for stress testing the CPU. Lin-X is known to utilize the available resources pretty well. This means that all the cores would be loaded completely.
We used CoreTemp 0.99.5 for monitoring and logging the temperatures.
All temperatures are in Degrees Celsius, ambient temperature were ~ 28C.
The tests were conducted at different speeds and with different configs as follow,
AMD Platform –
1) CPU at stock speed and volts with heatsinks passively cooled except the stock HSF which was actively cooled by its stock fan. A single Noctua NF-P12 fan was used to simulate case cooling.
2) CPU at 3.6GHz/1.424V and coolers actively cooled with 1 Noctua NF-S12B Fan. Stock HSF was not included from here on because it could not handle the load. Two Noctua NF-P12 fans were used to simulate case cooling.
3) CPU at 3.95GHz/1.5V with 2 x Nidec TriBlade Fans in Push-Pull config. (Each fan is rated at 130CFM) .Two Noctua NF-P12 fans were used to simulate case cooling.
Intel Platform –
1) CPU at stock speed and volts with coolers passively cooled while stock HSF was actively cooled by stock fan. A single Noctua NF-P12 fan was used to simulate case cooling.
2) CPU at stock speed and volts with coolers cooled by a single Noctua NF-S12B Flx fan
2) CPU at 3.6GHz/1.2V with coolers actively cooled by single Noctua NF-S12B Fan. Two Noctua NF-P12 fans were used to simulate case cooling.
3) CPU at 4.3GHz/1.42V with coolers cooled by 2 x Nidec TriBlade Fans in Push-Pull config. (Each fan is rated at 130CFM). Two NMB 120mm 140CFM fans were used since this is a no hold barred test with total disregard to noise and practicality.
While doing this review, we decided to try out thermal pastes sent by Gelid Solutions. Usually we use Arctic Cooling MX-2 or Arctic Silver 5 but we’ve read a lot about the GC-Extreme and were eager to try it out.
Both the pastes are electrically non-conductive which translates to ‘you no fry hardware if you get some paste on pcb/components’ and since they don’t require any curing time you should be able to see the results right away.
Both the thermal pastes come in shrink wrap packing and are bundled with a handly little knife like tool for applying the paste evenly, novel idea !
Although Gelid is a fairly unknown brand in India, after testing these pastes, we can safely say that they can easily keep up with the best paste available i.e the Arctic Cooling MX2
The following graph should give you a good enough idea about its performance.
Having completed the preliminaries now let’s move on to the interesting part of actually testing the coolers
[BREAK=Test Results: AMD Platform]
We can see from the above graph that even with active cooling, the stock HSF in spite of being made by AVC and having two heatpipes cannot beat the other heatsinks even if they were passively cooled. As for the heatsinks, the Noctua manages to beat the other two heatsinks marginally, thanks to its superior finishing of the contact surface and better mounting which results in much better heat transfer.
It is interesting to see that the Cogage manages to keep up with TRUE here even though it has much 2 heatpipes lesser than TRUE. This goes to show that the Cogage is not just a stripped down version of the TRUE.
CPU at 3.6GHz/1.424V and coolers actively cooled with 1 Noctua NF-S12B Fan. Stock HSF was not included from here on because it could not handle the load. Two Noctua NH-P12 fans were used to simulate case cooling.
Noctua again manages to beat Cogage and True at idle. Between the Cogage and TRUE, the TRUE manages to beat the Cogage under load. Overall we can say that all the three coolers are almost equal in performance.
CPU at 3.95GHz/1.5V with 2 x Nidec TriBlade Fans in Push-Pull config. (Each fan is rated at 130CFM) .Two Noctua NH-P12 fans were used to simulate case cooling
The picture changes here completely. TRUE starts showing its power when cooled with high CFM fans. Cogage and Noctua are on par. We expected the Noctua to excel here. Not that it doesn’t do well but since it’s a bigger cooler with more heatpipes, we expected it to be on par with the TRUE and comprehensively beating the Cogage.
All these tests show that these coolers can very easily handle latest gen AMD cpu’s without breaking a sweat and you couldn't go wrong with any of them.
[BREAK=Test Results: Intel Platform]
CPU at stock speed and volts with coolers passively cooled while stock HSF was actively cooled by stock fan. A single Noctua NH-P12 fan was used to simulate case cooling.
As expected the stock HSF just cannot keep up with the other heatsinks..
The TRUE has a abysmal result here, being beaten by the other coolers by nearly 8-9C, this is due to the fact that our TRUE like most other TRUE’s does not have a perfectly flat base and I did not use the normal washer mod to keep a even playing field and the results reflect it.
CPU at stock speed with coolers cooled by Noctua S12B-FLX
The TRUE manages to recover here due to the added ventilation here, Noctua still leads the field
CPU at 3.6GHz/1.2V with coolers actively cooled by single Noctua NF-S12B Fan. Two Noctua NH-P12 fans were used to simulate case cooling
The Cogage keeps up with the big boys and the results are neck to neck. Although there is noticeable difference in idle temperatures, all the coolers are evenly matched when it comes to load temperatures. Here we would like to specially mention that the addition of that washer in the retension clamp of Cogage helps in securing the mounting and hence exerting good pressure to allow better contact between the cooler and the CPU,resulting in improved heat transfer.
CPU at 4.3GHz/1.42V with coolers cooled by 2 x Nidec TriBlade Fans in Push-Pull config. (Each fan is rated at 130CFM)
Temperatures soar in this test and all the coolers struggle to handle the load. This is not cause for concern since this scenario is very unlikely to be seen at a normal users place. Disabling HT reduces temperatures by a large margin and all three coolers can touch 4.5GHz easily which is very commendable for an air cooler.
[BREAK=The Noctua NF-S12B Flx fan]
Before wrapping up this review, we would like to share with you some test results from our testing of the Noctua NF-S12B Flx fan which was sent by Noctua along with the cooler.
All tests were performed with the Cogage on the Intel platform at 3.6GHz
Contents include the fan, voltage adaptors to make the fan even more silent, another case badge, screws and grommets.
Silicon rubber grommets to prevent vibrations being passed from the fan to the case.
Contenders -
The reason for having a special mention of this fan in this review is that unlike other fans, Noctua has put in efforts while designing this fan. Since Noctua fans are well known for being extremely silent, this one is no exception.
Do not be fooled by its USP of silence. Just because it is silent, doesn’t mean it cannot perform well. From the above graph we can see that by using Cogage and this fan on Corei7 running at 3.6GHz, it is able to keep the temperatures within acceptable limits.
Although the fan is a bit expensive, it will be a huge hit amongst people who crave for silence and also amongst watercooling enthusiasts whose primary goal is to achieve good cooling with minimal noise.
For people wondering which fan to choose for which purpose, Noctua has a nifty little guide on its site –
Noctua.at - sound-optimised premium components "Designed in Austria"!
“We principally recommend the NF-S12B for the following applications:
Case ventilation (with the exception of very restrictive fan grills, filters or significant obstruction to airflow)
CPU coolers with wide fin-spacing
Water-cooling radiators with wide fin-spacing
All applications where minimum noise emission has first priority
We principally recommend the NF-P12 for the following applications:
CPU coolers with tight fin-spacing
Water-cooling radiators with tight fin-spacing
Power supplies
Storage solutions
Cases with very restrictive fan grills and filters
All applications with significant obstruction to airflowâ€
[BREAK=Conclusion]
Since we have been using the TRUE for testing for some time now, we had a fair idea as to how it would perform. We have to admit here that performance of Cogage has been the revelation of this entire test session. Handling a Corei7 running at 4.3GHz at full load is no easy task. The Noctua is no slouch either and keeps up with both the coolers.
From the above results, we can see that all the coolers perform almost equal to each other. Kudos to both Noctua and Cogage since they are 4 heatpipe coolers compared to TRUE which is a 6 heatpipe one.
It would be unfair to conclude that TRUE performed below its expectations because TRUE has been there in the market for a very long time whereas Cogage and Noctua were launched later.
We think that Thermalright tried to improve the shortcomings in TRUE while designing the Cogage and we must say that they have succeeded in doing so.
One might think that since Noctua and Cogage perform almost similarly, why you would want to pay the premium for Noctua over Cogage. We would do so for the simple reason - the quality of the product and the attention to detail. The Noctua just oozes with quality and engineering. It is pretty simple, if we were on a tight budget, we would go for the Cogage with eyes closed and the Noctua if budget is not the deciding factor.
To sum it up both the coolers are good in their own way and have their own USP and both of them excel in the segments they are targeted at. The Cogage True Spirit’s results prove that it’s not just old wine in a new bottle; the small yet vital changes have propelled it to the top in its class of coolers.
The Noctua NH-U12P SE2 in spite of been optimized for optimal performance with low to ultra-low fans easily keeps up with the TRUE which performs best when used with high CFM noisy fans.
Score Card
Cogage True Spirit -
Features : 8/10
Performance : 9/10
Value For Money : 10/10
Overall : 9/10
Noctua NH-U12P SE2 -
Features : 10/10
Performance : 9/10
Value For Money : 8/10
Overall : 9/10
Thanks to Thermalright and Noctua for the review samples
Please Digg the review here -
LGA 1366 HSF's reviewed: Noctua Vs Cogage
Due to price constraints and of course to dissuade people from over clocking, CPU makers have always bundled mediocre coolers with their CPU's. This is where third party air cooler makers come into the picture. Although a bit expensive, they are pretty much worth the extra money you pay.
Depending on the application there are several different models available. There are some which are light in weight, yet much more efficient than stock coolers and which also allow you some mild overclocking.
Then there are those which are huge and heavy but are very efficient when it comes to keeping temperatures under control even with very high overclocks.
Today we have with us here 3 different coolers, couple of fans, thermal pastes to test. Basically, all the basic ingredients that you need for starting your overclocking endeavors.
Today we will be testing the Cogage True Spirit, Noctua NH-U12P SE2 and our old workhorse, the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme.
Please bear in mind that all these 3 coolers cater to different segments.
Now that you are aware of what we would be doing today, let’s get on with it, without wasting much time
Note - Review is very picture heavy, 56K users are warned
[BREAK=Packaging and a closer look at the coolers. Cogage TRUE Spirit]
Cogage True Spirit
First in line is Cogage True Spirit. Before continuing, let us tell you in brief about ‘Cogage’. ‘Cogage’ is a brand which has been recently started by none other than ‘Thermalright’. As you might be aware, Thermalright is known to make high end coolers targeted at enthusiasts but not everyone is an enthusiast or an overclocker.
This is where Cogage came into existence. A different entity catering to the average Joe using the parent company's expertise to make mid range coolers at affordable prices.
The test sample we’ve received is a newer revision with a different box than the earlier version and another little change which we will reveal later on.
The box opens like a book to reveal the cooler on one side and detailed specs on the other
Note - The default cooler comes with the mounting mechanism for Socket 1366. Kits for other sockets have to be purchased separately.
Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3 mounting mechanism is simple and effective. A very useful feature added is that thanks to a new swing arm retention clamp the cooler can be attached in both orientations i.e facing the rear of the case or the top.
Socket 1156 Retention Kit
Socket 1366 Retention Kit
Stock 120mmx25mm fan supplied with the cooler, rated at 1000-1800RPM
Packaging is very secure; a zip tie holds the cooler in place while neatly designed holes on top prevent it from moving inside the box
Appearance wise the True Spirit does resemble the TRU and feels like the TRUE's younger brother
Polished caps on top give a neat look to the cooler instead of the normal pinched heatpipes. Nice touch!
4x 6mm Copper heatpipes
Finishing isn't the best but that is understandable considering the price
LGA 1156 and LGA1366 retention clamps have the respective socket names stamped on it to make it easier to find out which clamp is for which socket.
A nice touch for users who are new to using after market coolers or are not hardware enthusiasts.
After getting lukewarm response for the earlier push pin type of mounting Cogage has changed the mounting mechanism for the LGA1366 socket to the more convenient bolt thru kit in this new revision. Interestingly though, this time around, they have used a plastic washer for the joints of the ‘X’ shape clamps which fasten the cooler on the CPU, very much like the famous ‘washer mod’ for the TRUE. Looks like Thermalright is listening to the community.
Due to this little addition, the mounting becomes very firm which makes the contact much better due to the added pressure.
This results in better heat transfer and hence better performance from the cooler. We will see how much difference it makes later in our tests
[BREAK=Noctua NH-U12P SE2]
Noctua NH-U12P SE2
The next cooler we have is the Noctua NH-U12P SE2. Noctua, although a relatively new company, has some brilliant products which are well engineered and ooze with excellent build quality. To be honest we haven’t ever before come across build quality like Noctua so far.
6 Years warranty, this goes to show how much confidence the company has in their product.
Without fans the cooler doesn't weigh much. Size wise, its a pretty large cooler and you expect it to be heavy but its not.
Note the all round compatibility, very useful and future proof, thus adding value to your investment.
The cooler is bundled with two premium quality fans, Noctua NF-P12 each of which cost ~ $23 and a very good quality TIM as well.
This cooler is priced at around $75 and since Noctua has not yet officially entered India you can either procure it from some site which directly delivers to India (performance-pcs, sidewinder) or else through KMD from the forums.
All mounting kits for different sockets are packed separately and properly labeled to avoid confusion, very systematic. Even the instruction manual is written is simple, easy to understand manner.
These are the two Noctua NF-P12 fans included with the cooler as standard equipment. You can use either one fan or both in push-pull config. Noctua fans are well known for their biblical silence and due to this they are expensive too.
Nine blades with Vortex-Control Notches, the secret to its silence
These components are common for all platforms and include a case badge, the thermal compound, four clips for attaching the fans, anti-vibration rubber strips, the famous Low-Noise and Ultra-Low-Noise-Adaptors (which I really don’t feel are needed as the fans are whisper quiet even at full speed).
Special mention is give to the case badge which is quite different since its made out of metal is of very good quality, a welcome addition to my already huge collection of case badges, hehehe.
The Intel backplate comes with a special rubber padding which is only needed for LGA 775
Compatibility for LGA 775/1156/1366.
The rear of the backplate clearly mentions which holes match which socket to prevent any confusion.
The cooler comes packed in a plain white cardboard box. There’s minor room for improvement here, packing it in some soft material is recommended because both the Notua cooler’s I’ve got had some slightly misaligned fins due to being rubbed against the cardboard backside.
The base is covered by a piece of plastic which fits firmly and protects the base from scratches.
The wide fin spacing is for maximum performance with quiet and low CFM fans
Now that we have gone through the package and contents of each cooler in detail, lets move on to the installation part.
Although most coolers come with an installation guide which is pretty self explanatory for a person who has a rough idea about computer hardware in general.
Still there are others who might find it challenging to install the cooler even if there is an installation manual.
Hence we have decided to include a few pictures of different steps involved while mounting the cooler. This is not a guide or a tutorial but a way of making it simpler to mount such coolers.
[BREAK=Installation]
Cogage True Spirit on AMD Socket AM3 platform
Cooler facing the rear of the cabinet
The swingarm retention clip
Cooler facing the top of the cabinet
Cooler facing the rear of the cabinet
The swingarm retention clip
Cooler facing the top of the cabinet
Cogage True Spirit on Intel LGA1366 Platform
[BREAK=Installation continued...]
Noctua NH-U12P SE2 on AMD AM3 Platform
Noctua’s SecuFirm2 installation is a bit lengthy but very easy to do, so not a matter of concern for people installing a third party HSF for the first time.
Also please note that a backplate is not provided by Noctua since the default backplate which comes with all AMD motherboards can be used for installation.
Noctua NH-U12P SE2 on Intel LGA 1366 Platform
Due to the SecuFirm2 there is absolutely no way the cooler can shift or move which is a common problem for bolt-thru kits which can lead to small scratches on the IHS of the cpu.
[BREAK=Test Setup]
Test Setup
AMD Platform –
AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition CPU
Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT UD5P Motherboard
Crucial Value Series DDR3 1333MHz CL9 Kit
Gigabyte Nvidia Geforce 7200GS Graphic Card
Seventeam ST600-EAD PSU
Seagate SATA II 500GB Hard Drive
Intel Platform –
Intel Core i7 920 ‘D0’ CPU
Gigabyte EX58 UD3R Motherboard
Crucial Value Series DDR3 1333MHz CL9 Kit
Gigabyte Nvidia Geforce 7200GS Graphic Card
Seventeam ST600-EAD PSU
Seagate SATA II 500GB Hard Drive
Testing methodology –
OS used was Windows 7 x64. Lin-X 0.64 was used for stress testing the CPU. Lin-X is known to utilize the available resources pretty well. This means that all the cores would be loaded completely.
We used CoreTemp 0.99.5 for monitoring and logging the temperatures.
All temperatures are in Degrees Celsius, ambient temperature were ~ 28C.
The tests were conducted at different speeds and with different configs as follow,
AMD Platform –
1) CPU at stock speed and volts with heatsinks passively cooled except the stock HSF which was actively cooled by its stock fan. A single Noctua NF-P12 fan was used to simulate case cooling.
2) CPU at 3.6GHz/1.424V and coolers actively cooled with 1 Noctua NF-S12B Fan. Stock HSF was not included from here on because it could not handle the load. Two Noctua NF-P12 fans were used to simulate case cooling.
3) CPU at 3.95GHz/1.5V with 2 x Nidec TriBlade Fans in Push-Pull config. (Each fan is rated at 130CFM) .Two Noctua NF-P12 fans were used to simulate case cooling.
Intel Platform –
1) CPU at stock speed and volts with coolers passively cooled while stock HSF was actively cooled by stock fan. A single Noctua NF-P12 fan was used to simulate case cooling.
2) CPU at stock speed and volts with coolers cooled by a single Noctua NF-S12B Flx fan
2) CPU at 3.6GHz/1.2V with coolers actively cooled by single Noctua NF-S12B Fan. Two Noctua NF-P12 fans were used to simulate case cooling.
3) CPU at 4.3GHz/1.42V with coolers cooled by 2 x Nidec TriBlade Fans in Push-Pull config. (Each fan is rated at 130CFM). Two NMB 120mm 140CFM fans were used since this is a no hold barred test with total disregard to noise and practicality.
The Test bench
While doing this review, we decided to try out thermal pastes sent by Gelid Solutions. Usually we use Arctic Cooling MX-2 or Arctic Silver 5 but we’ve read a lot about the GC-Extreme and were eager to try it out.
Both the pastes are electrically non-conductive which translates to ‘you no fry hardware if you get some paste on pcb/components’ and since they don’t require any curing time you should be able to see the results right away.
Gelid Solutions GC-2
Gelid Solutions GC-Extreme
Both the thermal pastes come in shrink wrap packing and are bundled with a handly little knife like tool for applying the paste evenly, novel idea !
Although Gelid is a fairly unknown brand in India, after testing these pastes, we can safely say that they can easily keep up with the best paste available i.e the Arctic Cooling MX2
The following graph should give you a good enough idea about its performance.
[BREAK=Test Results: AMD Platform]
AMD Platform
CPU at stock speed and volts with heatsinks passively cooled except the stock HSF which was actively cooled by its stock fan. A single Noctua NF-P12 fan was used to simulate case cooling.
We can see from the above graph that even with active cooling, the stock HSF in spite of being made by AVC and having two heatpipes cannot beat the other heatsinks even if they were passively cooled. As for the heatsinks, the Noctua manages to beat the other two heatsinks marginally, thanks to its superior finishing of the contact surface and better mounting which results in much better heat transfer.
It is interesting to see that the Cogage manages to keep up with TRUE here even though it has much 2 heatpipes lesser than TRUE. This goes to show that the Cogage is not just a stripped down version of the TRUE.
CPU at 3.6GHz/1.424V and coolers actively cooled with 1 Noctua NF-S12B Fan. Stock HSF was not included from here on because it could not handle the load. Two Noctua NH-P12 fans were used to simulate case cooling.
Noctua again manages to beat Cogage and True at idle. Between the Cogage and TRUE, the TRUE manages to beat the Cogage under load. Overall we can say that all the three coolers are almost equal in performance.
CPU at 3.95GHz/1.5V with 2 x Nidec TriBlade Fans in Push-Pull config. (Each fan is rated at 130CFM) .Two Noctua NH-P12 fans were used to simulate case cooling
The picture changes here completely. TRUE starts showing its power when cooled with high CFM fans. Cogage and Noctua are on par. We expected the Noctua to excel here. Not that it doesn’t do well but since it’s a bigger cooler with more heatpipes, we expected it to be on par with the TRUE and comprehensively beating the Cogage.
All these tests show that these coolers can very easily handle latest gen AMD cpu’s without breaking a sweat and you couldn't go wrong with any of them.
[BREAK=Test Results: Intel Platform]
Intel Platform
CPU at stock speed and volts with coolers passively cooled while stock HSF was actively cooled by stock fan. A single Noctua NH-P12 fan was used to simulate case cooling.
As expected the stock HSF just cannot keep up with the other heatsinks..
The TRUE has a abysmal result here, being beaten by the other coolers by nearly 8-9C, this is due to the fact that our TRUE like most other TRUE’s does not have a perfectly flat base and I did not use the normal washer mod to keep a even playing field and the results reflect it.
CPU at stock speed with coolers cooled by Noctua S12B-FLX
The TRUE manages to recover here due to the added ventilation here, Noctua still leads the field
CPU at 3.6GHz/1.2V with coolers actively cooled by single Noctua NF-S12B Fan. Two Noctua NH-P12 fans were used to simulate case cooling
The Cogage keeps up with the big boys and the results are neck to neck. Although there is noticeable difference in idle temperatures, all the coolers are evenly matched when it comes to load temperatures. Here we would like to specially mention that the addition of that washer in the retension clamp of Cogage helps in securing the mounting and hence exerting good pressure to allow better contact between the cooler and the CPU,resulting in improved heat transfer.
CPU at 4.3GHz/1.42V with coolers cooled by 2 x Nidec TriBlade Fans in Push-Pull config. (Each fan is rated at 130CFM)
Temperatures soar in this test and all the coolers struggle to handle the load. This is not cause for concern since this scenario is very unlikely to be seen at a normal users place. Disabling HT reduces temperatures by a large margin and all three coolers can touch 4.5GHz easily which is very commendable for an air cooler.
[BREAK=The Noctua NF-S12B Flx fan]
Before wrapping up this review, we would like to share with you some test results from our testing of the Noctua NF-S12B Flx fan which was sent by Noctua along with the cooler.
All tests were performed with the Cogage on the Intel platform at 3.6GHz
The fan
Contents include the fan, voltage adaptors to make the fan even more silent, another case badge, screws and grommets.
Silicon rubber grommets to prevent vibrations being passed from the fan to the case.
Contenders -
Test Results
The reason for having a special mention of this fan in this review is that unlike other fans, Noctua has put in efforts while designing this fan. Since Noctua fans are well known for being extremely silent, this one is no exception.
Do not be fooled by its USP of silence. Just because it is silent, doesn’t mean it cannot perform well. From the above graph we can see that by using Cogage and this fan on Corei7 running at 3.6GHz, it is able to keep the temperatures within acceptable limits.
Although the fan is a bit expensive, it will be a huge hit amongst people who crave for silence and also amongst watercooling enthusiasts whose primary goal is to achieve good cooling with minimal noise.
For people wondering which fan to choose for which purpose, Noctua has a nifty little guide on its site –
Noctua.at - sound-optimised premium components "Designed in Austria"!
“We principally recommend the NF-S12B for the following applications:
Case ventilation (with the exception of very restrictive fan grills, filters or significant obstruction to airflow)
CPU coolers with wide fin-spacing
Water-cooling radiators with wide fin-spacing
All applications where minimum noise emission has first priority
We principally recommend the NF-P12 for the following applications:
CPU coolers with tight fin-spacing
Water-cooling radiators with tight fin-spacing
Power supplies
Storage solutions
Cases with very restrictive fan grills and filters
All applications with significant obstruction to airflowâ€
[BREAK=Conclusion]
Since we have been using the TRUE for testing for some time now, we had a fair idea as to how it would perform. We have to admit here that performance of Cogage has been the revelation of this entire test session. Handling a Corei7 running at 4.3GHz at full load is no easy task. The Noctua is no slouch either and keeps up with both the coolers.
From the above results, we can see that all the coolers perform almost equal to each other. Kudos to both Noctua and Cogage since they are 4 heatpipe coolers compared to TRUE which is a 6 heatpipe one.
It would be unfair to conclude that TRUE performed below its expectations because TRUE has been there in the market for a very long time whereas Cogage and Noctua were launched later.
We think that Thermalright tried to improve the shortcomings in TRUE while designing the Cogage and we must say that they have succeeded in doing so.
One might think that since Noctua and Cogage perform almost similarly, why you would want to pay the premium for Noctua over Cogage. We would do so for the simple reason - the quality of the product and the attention to detail. The Noctua just oozes with quality and engineering. It is pretty simple, if we were on a tight budget, we would go for the Cogage with eyes closed and the Noctua if budget is not the deciding factor.
To sum it up both the coolers are good in their own way and have their own USP and both of them excel in the segments they are targeted at. The Cogage True Spirit’s results prove that it’s not just old wine in a new bottle; the small yet vital changes have propelled it to the top in its class of coolers.
The Noctua NH-U12P SE2 in spite of been optimized for optimal performance with low to ultra-low fans easily keeps up with the TRUE which performs best when used with high CFM noisy fans.
Score Card
Cogage True Spirit -
Features : 8/10
Performance : 9/10
Value For Money : 10/10
Overall : 9/10
Noctua NH-U12P SE2 -
Features : 10/10
Performance : 9/10
Value For Money : 8/10
Overall : 9/10
Thanks to Thermalright and Noctua for the review samples
Please Digg the review here -
LGA 1366 HSF's reviewed: Noctua Vs Cogage
