Maximum frequency, noise, and installation thoughts
| Maximum stable frequency @ 1.4V | ||
|---|---|---|
| Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme | Corsair Hydro H50 | Intel PIB cooler |
| 4050 | 4050 | 3900 |
The last test shows the maximum stable frequency that's achieved by the various coolers when VCore is raised to 1.4V in BIOS. Heat-related issues ensure that the reference heatsink falters first. The two better-performing coolers facilitate a 4GHz-plus clock-speed.
Noise and installation
| Cooler | Corsair Hydro H50 | Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme | Intel stock cooler |
|
Fan
|
Corsair 120mm | Thermalright 120mm | Intel 92mm |
| Approx. price at time of writing | £59.79 |
£42.54 £52.31 (with 1,600rpm fan) |
£15 |
| Ease of installation | 8/10 | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Time taken for installation | 15 minutes | 10-15 minutes | 5 minutes |
| Noise level (idle) | 7/10 |
8/10 | 6/10 |
| Noise level (load) | 7/10 | 8/10 | 4/10 |
Installation
The following comments are inherently more subjective than the hard-and-fast numbers provided on the previous page.
The easiest cooler to install is the Intel PIB, which uses pushpins and, therefore, doesn't require through-the-motherboard mounting. Thermalright's Ultra 120 eXtreme is also simple but requires the X-shaped retention bracket to be positioned one screw at a time. It can be slightly frustrating because of the force needed to hook up the four screws to the backplate.
Corsair's Hydro H50 is neither complicated nor awkward, yet it requires the fan and radiator to be mounted.
Noise
The quietest of the trio is the comparison Thermalright Ultra. It has a single 120mm fan that spins at <1,500rpm at all times. Intel's reference heatsink's fan runs all the way up to 2,500rpm when under the cosh, and the difference between idle and load is immediately obvious - the fan is loud when at full chat.
Corsair's Hydro H50 has a couple of noise-making components. The supplied fan spins at 1,700-1,750rpm and it's suggested to leave this without the usual speed-management in place. Secondly, the pump's impeller spins at 1,450rpm. Neither is particularly load, sure, but are a touch noisier than the Thermalright.
The Hydro H50 does away with one fan in the system - the exhaust fan - and depending on how loud yours is, the H50 could be quieter in a different setup.