Overclocking

As cooling solutions do a better job of keeping the CPU at a lower temperature, it is reasonable to expect the overclocking capabilities of the CPU will increase. In each test of a cooler we measure the highest stable overclock of a standard X6800 processor under the following conditions:

CPU Multiplier: 14x (Stock 11x)
CPU voltage: 1.5875V
FSB Voltage: 1.30V
Memory Voltage: 2.20V
nForce SPP Voltage: 1.35V
nForce MCP Voltage: 1.7V
HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: Auto

Memory is set to Auto timings on the 680i and memory speed is linked to the FSB for the overclocking tests. This removes memory as any kind of impediment to the maximum stable overclock. Linked settings on the 680i are a 1066FSB to a DDR2 memory speed of DDR2-800. As the FSB is raised the linked memory speed increases in proportion. The same processor is used in all cooling tests to ensure comparable results.

Highest Stable Overclock (MHz)

The 3RSystem iCEAGE reached a stable 3.87 GHz, which is similar to other second tier heatpipe towers. This is better than any down-facing cooler and just below the 3.90GHz to 3.94GHz of the top performing heatpipe towers. This is comparable to several other heatpipe towers tested with just one fan. The performance is competent but doesn't lead the pack with the top heatpipe towers reaching 3.90 to 3.94GHz with the same CPU on the same test bed.

Scaling of Cooling Performance Noise
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  • crimson117 - Thursday, June 21, 2007 - link

    In this picture, the fins at the top right are bent out of place. Did it ship that way?

    http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/cooling/2007/3...">http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/cooling/2007/3...

    So much for that quality assurance sticker!
  • Wesley Fink - Thursday, June 21, 2007 - link

    Yes, it shipped that way. I take pictures straight out of the package - before testing. I did catch the bent fins at the top and straightened them out before mounting. Using a wide flat blade like a putty knife generally works pretty well for straightening.
  • Souka - Thursday, June 21, 2007 - link

    The bent fins increase air turbalance... which improves cooling.... right? :P
  • yacoub - Thursday, June 21, 2007 - link

    Oh come on, first of all that likely happened during shipping and second it almost certainly doesn't impact the performance... it's not like they broke off.
  • crimson117 - Thursday, June 21, 2007 - link

    Well, to some it's important that products don't arrive damaged. If the product was able to shift around so much in its packaging that it dented several fins, who's to say it didn't knock something else out of alignment?

    I'd pay a bit more for a securely packaged product over one that is easily dented during shipping.
  • Goty - Thursday, June 21, 2007 - link

    I would like to see how all of these heatpipe towers would do with a fan with higher flow and static pressure like a SilenX ixtrema or the like. If anything, the lower sound output would be worth it.
  • Deusfaux - Thursday, June 21, 2007 - link

    pleaseeee!
  • SilthDraeth - Thursday, June 21, 2007 - link

    I just searched for that cooler, and it looks awesome. I would like to see it reviewed. If it can cool great and look like that, then more power to them.
  • strikeback03 - Thursday, June 21, 2007 - link

    I'm not sure "awesome" is the word I would use. "Unique" fits though.
  • insurgent - Thursday, June 21, 2007 - link

    the mounting system is exactly the same as the ones PC Cooler uses for their heatsinks... I believe that's the same company Zalman sued for copying their hsf designs.

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