To test the Swiftech MCX775-V we will be using the
same protocol that we used on all of the LGA 775 heatsink we have
tested prior to this. Upon completion the results will show
how well it fared in comparison against stock Intel heatsink -
Radian Technologies/Crown Helix - Thermalright XP120 using a
Sunon KDE1212PMS3-6A (120mm/83 CFM).
Test Setup
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-8I915P
Duo-A
Processor: P4 - 2.8 GHz Prescott
LGA 775
Video Card: ATI X600 Video Card
256 MB
Hard Drive: Hitachi TravelStar
7K60
Memory: 1 GB Mushkin PC2-4200
Power Supply:
Silenx Luxurae 460 w PSU
Case: Chenbro Xpider
Two - 120mm case fans (front and
rear)
Prior to
installation a very small amount of Arctic Silver Ceramique
thermal paste (supplied with the heatsink) was applied to
the center of the processor and we will allow the downward
force of the heatsink to spread the material for us.
Room
temperature was maintained as close to 21 degrees Celsius/70
degrees Centigrade as possible during our tests.
All Temperatures were monitored with
the Hardcano 12 temperature probe since neither
Speedfan nor MBM work correctly with
this motherboard.
The fan we will be using for our tests is the
Delta
AFB0812SHE which
spins at 4,000 rpm and is rated at 36.1 CFM. Using Swiftech's fan
data we mentioned earlier, this fan would place us in the
Medium noise category.
The only modules activated during Burn-in
Wizard tests were CPU Multimedia Benchmark - CPU Arithmetic
Benchmark
Phase 1 Test
The system will be started and allowed to idle
for 30 minutes to establish our baseline temperature and at that
time the temperature will be recorded.
Next we will start one instance of
Super Pi - a program used
to determine Pi up to 32 millions digits. We will set the
program to find Pi to 16-million digits at which point we will
then start runs of
Sisoft Sandra. Sisoft
Sandra is a very popular benchmark and information utility
program that includes a very handy applet called 'Burn-in
Wizard'. This wizard allows you to run any benchmark (in verify
mode) or burn-in module (or a group of them) either continuously
or a specified amount of time in order to test the stability of
the system.
The first run of Burn-In is set for a priority
of 50% while the second is set for 100% this will insure the
processor is worked at the highest load possible. These tests were allowed to run for total of 30
minutes at which time the temperature was recorded and noted
prior to stopping the each programs.
Phase 2 Tests
Testing for the second phase of our review will
follow basically the same pattern as the first except for one
small detail, that being the increase in speed of the processor.
In effect we raise the FSB of the Gigabyte GA-8I915P Duo-A 245
MHz giving us a speed of 3.4 GHz or 600 MHz overclock. To
achieve this the core voltage was raised from it's default 1.4
volts to 1.475 volts and the VDIMM was raised by .3.
Once again the system was allowed to idle for 30
minutes to allow establish our base line temperature, it was
then recorded. As before Super Pi and Burn-In Wizard were
ran in tandem for a total of 30 minutes at which time the final
temperature was recorded giving us the numbers we will use in
our comparison.
Conclusion
When the final tests were done I knew that the numbers were good
but since I didn't have the Excel spreadsheet open with the
records of past tests on it I didn't realize how good the number
really were. After putting the numbers in for the MCX775-V I almost had
to laugh at how easily it beat its competition.
I should mention this is the first Swiftech product I have
reviewed and I wasn't sure what to expect when I began the
review. I had heard the hype about how good their products were
and I also know how claims seem to get exaggerated in forums, so
what would I find when I reviewed the product myself? Would
their heatsink be as good as everyone claimed them to be?
I sat down last night and tried to think of heatsink that would
perform as well and remain as quite as the MCX775-V, and to be
quite honest with you I can't think of any heatsink that's
currently being made that can compete with it. I realize that's
a pretty bold statement, but I think it's true. Nothing
short of water cooling will probably work any better than what
we reviewed right here today.
It has it all - the workmanship - the engineering - the design -
the performance - the low noise - the good looks, it's the
total package for your LGA 775 system.
If one of your goals is to have the best computer equipment
possible or perhaps you just need a new heatsink for that LGA
775 motherboard that you're getting for Christmas, why not
get the best one available anywhere - The Swiftech MCW775-V?
So head over to
Swiftech's On-Line store
and pick one up today and while your there check out their other
great products.
We want to personally thank the fine folks at
Swiftech
for making this review possible.
Also a special thanks to Gabe for his help coordinating this
review.
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