For testing, I decided
to test the cooler by using the included thermal
grease which is high quality. We placed a layer
on the CPU and left the system running in order
for the thermal paste to stabilize for about 24
hours. Since the Amanda cooler does not support
any kind of fan speed control but only automatic
power control via the PCI card, we took thermal
readings at the maximum operational speed only.
CPU load was achieved by running Prime95 torture
test (blend) and Super Pi simultaneously for 30
minutes. The idle temperature measurements were
noted after the system was resting at the windows
desktop for 30 minutes. Ambient temperature is
maintained (as accurately as possible) at 26 degrees
Celsius at the time of the test. SpeedStep is
not supported with our CPU stepping.
dont have flash installed? then click here
for a jpeg
Taking
the above results into consideration, we can say
that we were extremely impressed by the performance
of the Amanda cooler. Despite our initial doubts
and horrible experience with old air based TEC
coolers, the Amanda proved us wrong entirely.
It also has a very clever design. While the processor
is idle the TEC is barely powered; just enough
to keep the processor cool and not waste unnecessary
power. When we loaded the processor, overclocked
or not, it seems that the cooler is trying to
maintain the temperature at about 40 Celsius degrees.
Our particular processor was unstable at 4GHz
with any conventional air cooler we have tested
up to date, but with the Amanda cooler it became
100% up to 4060MHz, so it did give us an overclocking
edge over conventional air cooling. Despite the
higher power drain which the dual core processor
consumes at 4GHz with the voltage set to 1.45V,
the Amanda kept it a mere 1 Celsius degree higher
than running the same processor at stock speed
and voltage, 1.2GHz lower. It is also worth remembering
this is perhaps the hottest processor currently
available, two truly power hungry cores on the
same chip.
TechHeaven design based on BlackTeal
adapted by craig5320 & Zardon. Additional artwork/DH logo by Zardon.
Review coding Zardon.
DH logo & Artwork may NOT be used without express permission of
the Administration Team, protected under Copyright Law.
