Deepcool CPU Air Cooler Roundup: Playing it Too Safe?
by Dustin Sklavos on February 23, 2013 12:01 PM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Deepcool
Testing Methodology
If you've been keeping up with our case reviews, our testing methodology for the fans here is going to seem relatively similar in some ways. Our test system may seem a bit unusual in more than a few ways, but stick with me and I'll explain why I put it together and tested it the way I did.
| Fan and Radiator Testing Configuration | |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-2700K overclocked to 4.4GHz @ 1.4V |
| Motherboard | Zotac Z77-ITX WiFi |
| Graphics | Intel HD 3000 IGP |
| Memory | 2x4GB Crucial Ballistix Sport Low Profile DDR3-1600 |
| Drives | Kingston SSDNow V+ 100 64GB SSD |
| Power Supply | Rosewill Hive 650W 80 Plus Bronze Modular |
| Enclosure | BitFenix Shinobi XL Window |
The processor, with its healthy voltage boost and overclock, throws a pretty substantial amount of heat at our cooling system. Testing with an i7-2700K at stock speeds would defeat the purpose; Intel's own stock cooler can handle that, we want to "separate the men from the boys" so to speak.
I needed a case that could produce adequate airflow, handle all of the different cooling systems without much trouble, and did not include any sound dampening features. You might be surprised at just how difficult that was to find, but BitFenix came to the rescue and sent over a Shinobi XL. BitFenix's enclosure didn't get the best review when I tested it, but it's actually ideal for this testbed. I removed every case fan but the front intake, which I ran at 5V to prevent it from affecting acoustics while still providing adequate airflow.
Since a dedicated GPU wasn't needed, one wasn't used. This prevents a graphics card from generating additional heat or noise or deflecting airflow.
Thermal and acoustic test cycles were done the same way as our case reviews. First, the system is left powered and idle for fifteen minutes. At this point the sound level is tested, room ambient temperature is recorded, and idle temperatures are recorded. Then eight threads of small FFTs in Prime95 are run for fifteen minutes, and load temperatures are recorded.
Each cooler was tested using its available presets; the PWM-controlled coolers were tested between 30% and 100% using motherboard control.
Thank You!
Before moving on, we'd like to thank the following vendors for providing us with the hardware used in our roundup.
- Thank you to iBuyPower for providing us with the Intel Core i7-2700K.
- Thank you to Zotac for providing us with the Z77-ITX WiFi motherboard.
- Thank you to Kingston for providing us with the SSDNow V+ 100 SSD.
- Thank you to Crucial for providing us with the Ballistix Sport Low Profile DDR3.
- Thank you to Rosewill for providing us with the Hive 650W 80 Plus Bronze PSU.
- Thank you to BitFenix for providing us with the Shinobi XL Window enclosure.
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Voidman - Sunday, February 24, 2013 - link
I just have to congratulate you for using the word "ameliorating" in a review.coffeejunkee - Sunday, February 24, 2013 - link
Hmm, bit disappointed to be honest, with the review itself and with the coverage of these Deepcool coolers. I can understand leaving out some of the more similar coolers, but at least list full specs (especially min and max fan rpm) and the prices for them.Also, using a mITX board with different cpu socket placement and then complaining about the backplate not lining up with the motherboard tray cutout seems a bit silly. Furthermore, I don't understand why you don't use the chassis exhaust fan. Such a fan helps aircoolers a lot but you have to sacrifice it with many aio liquid coolers, thereby making the comparison unfair. Complaining about fanclips seems like exaggerating to me as well, never had a problem with them myself.
Including the stock cooler is nice, but this way it's pointless. All we know now is that it fails at 4.4 Ghz (big surprise) and it's below your db measurement floor at idle (yes, idle it's pretty quiet but wait till it spins up). So include some baseline results with the cpu running at stock too. And like others said, include Hyper 212+ or Evo too, even if CM doesn't send you one there really is no excuse for a leading tech site like Anandtech not to spend a measly 30$ on this very popular cooler.
For now sticking with xbit labs and spcr, have a look at their cooler reviews to see how it's done.
Beenthere - Sunday, February 24, 2013 - link
As with many Chinese products these DeepFool coolers can best be described technically as CRAP. They are OE suppliers only because their products are cheap, not because they are effective coolers. Like many OE suppliers, DeepFool wants to cash in on technically challenged retail consumers with inferior products. They reap far greated profits in retail than in wholesale sales.The clueless will buy some of these inferior coolers not knowing any better and that is what DeepFool is counting on. Most technically challenged consumers buy products based on looks, LED's, colors, review hype and price. Few enthusiasts are technically literate enough to actually understand accurate technical data vs. hype. The Assassin is the only DeepFool cooler that will sell on looks and it's really a poor cooler for the size as other review sites have confirmed.
Frosty Tech has an excellent database of all of the modern CPU coolers and their thermal efficiency based on proper scientific lab quality testing. Don't get fooled by half-arsed reviews done by websites who use an improper HSF testing methodology with many uncontrolled variables including CPU TDP. There are many poor review sites and few proper review sites for CPU coolers both air and water. If you understand proper testing methodology you'll understand why FT's database is so valuable.
In the interest of not encouraging companies to sell Chines CRAP, I'd suggest that consumers "Just say NO" to these garbage coolers.
Dustin Sklavos - Sunday, February 24, 2013 - link
I'm trying to figure out why we haven't banned you yet.JeBarr - Sunday, February 24, 2013 - link
If you think all Chinese products are junk then you are living in the past and regurgitating an old truth that mostly no longer applies. I won't comment on whether that applies to these particular coolers, but according to a handful of review sites might not be too far off.I would agree that Frostytech employs superiour testing methodology for HSF, but even there you don't see coolers tested in both horizontal and vertical orientation except for a few instances when the manufacturer claims the product is intended for one or the other, with the SilverStone Heligon being the most recent example I can recall. I've yet to find a site with both a large number of samples and comprehensive testing methods.
Your renaming of the company was nicely done though and put a smile on my face this morning :D
JeBarr - Sunday, February 24, 2013 - link
quote: "Tower coolers are pretty much the way to go these days if you're going to air cool your CPU"I must be one of the few remaining DIYers that find situations where the "down-draft" coolers are the way to go. Even when the motherboard is vertically mounted I find this can be true. Especially with budget cases lacking top and/or bottom vents. Traditional ATX chassis employs front and rear fans with at most an additional side fan or two.
I've found that mounting a side intake fan compliments the down-draft cooler especially if connected to CPU fan header. Of course, every situation is unique and I couldn't very well ask a reviewer to test every possible combination.....but I would like you, Dustin, to consider adding at least two or three down-draft samples in the future.
CeriseCogburn - Sunday, February 24, 2013 - link
I picked up a load of these Deepcool for Sandy Bridge /Ivy 1155 socket for a very good price - the lower end type one Theta 15 PWM, has a nice 100mm 4 pin pwm - a good plastic back plate with metal posts and the easy top screws.So for the price it was worth it just for the fans.
Also, last night I noticed these come in a Logisys branding - the color of the blue fan blades is a dead giveaway if you're looking around.
Ninhalem - Monday, February 25, 2013 - link
I can understand if you want to go for a quieter system or if you don't have the money, but why is there a need for air cooling on the CPU block now when CLWC's (closed loop water cooler) are relatively cheap and perform better than air (the amount of heat that water can whisk away is much higher than air).CeriseCogburn - Thursday, March 14, 2013 - link
I can OC a SB to 4.8 all day long on one of these cheap $7 theta's.WHY would anyone spend $50 or $100 on a water cooler, and try to JUSTIFY it ?
I don't care if you splurge out, but to claim you're doing yourself a favor and everyone else should go along is INSANE.
We have that kind of attitude, then when it comes to cpu's, we have the penny pinching AMD fanboys screeding about a few bucks, then slapping on a $100 water cool loop ?
What about the video card price whiners, which are in fact EVERYONE in all those articles - they WB&M up a crybaby storm, and next thing you know they drop $150 on a case, and another $125 on a water loop they do not even need at all... yet 2 minutes ago they raged out in corpo profit hatred about $20 more for an nVidia card...
If you want to splurge go ahead, have fun and do it. Just don't pretend it meets any bang for the buck, and DON'T EVER whine about any computer product for home building then in some bang for the buck bull session.
random2 - Monday, February 25, 2013 - link
I've read a large amount of technical writings over the years relating to PC building and repairs, and you are one of the very few people I have seen come forward and call out Intel on their cheap, hard to use and failure prone mounting system for their coolers.Intel if you're listening...it's time to get with the new millennium.