Comparative test: 46 Cool Coolers

Materials used

For whoever delves into the world of CPU-coolers, there are some principles not to be overlooked. First of all the choice of which metal is used to make the cooler is important for its capacity to cool. Cheaper coolers are made of aluminium, more expensive ones out of copper and some models are made out of a combination of these two metals. Although, as a raw material, copper is 2,5 times more expensive than aluminium, it’s a much better conductor of heat. Especially with the larger CPU-coolers it’s important that the heat generated by the processor is spread out through the cooling block as efficiently and as quickly as possible. Cooling blocks made of copper are better suited for this. At least as important are the size and the shape of the cooling block: the bigger the surface, the more heat can be dissipated into the air. Although more difficult to manufacture, the more expensive models have larger amounts of cooling-fins than cheaper models and therefore operate more efficiently. The capacity of a CPU-cooler is also dependant on the type of fan which is used. The more hot air a fan can displace, the better the cooling will be. As we already wrote in our case-fan comparison test in the previous edition, one should not be deterred by big fans. Often the big ones are quieter than the small ones.

Tower coolers blow directly towards the rear of the casing.

Tower

More manufacturers are switching to so called tower-models for their high-end coolers. With such a cooler, the fan is placed perpendicular to the cooling block and the fresh air is being directed straight through the cooling block. When mounted, the fan directs the air towards the rear or the case where an outtake fan forces it out. This faster airflow is the biggest advantage of such CPU-coolers, the hot air leaves the case as quickly as possible. With conventional CPU-coolers the fan blows downwards, directly towards the direction of the processor. The airflow hits the processor more directly – cooling it better, the heated air however swerves into all directions and stays more or less within the case. Still a conventional cooler has an added advantage which is that on motherboards the current stabilisers – the electrical components which supply the processor with the correct current – are located around the socket and thereby benefit from the airflow around the cooler. Should you not be planning to overclock, it is of little value to actively cool the current stabilisers and you’d be better off with a tower model cooler.