Cooler Master GeminII: Performer or Poser?
by Wesley Fink on April 30, 2007 2:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
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: 1.90V
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 memory speed of DDR2-800. As FSB is raised the linked memory speed increases in proportion. The same processor is used in all cooling tests to ensure comparable results.
The Cooler Master GeminII with the best of the dual fan configurations reached 3.85GHz in the overclocking test. This was below the top coolers evaluated so far, which generally reached 3.90GHz to 3.94GHz with the same CPU and configuration. The design of the Gemini II seemed voltage limited to 1.5635V on this 680i motherboard, since any attempt to go higher in voltage for a higher overclock would crash. This compares to 1.6V capability with the top air coolers in our tests. Consider that the 3.85GHz result was with a high output fan with noise at more than 50 dB-A - nearly 60 dB-A, which is as loud as our tests have reached so far. The other three fan configurations all topped out at an overclock of 3.83GHz, which is even worse.
The overclocking results are even more disappointing when you compare cooling results under stress to the best air coolers we have tested. Considering the amount of board real estate required by the GeminII, the heavy weight of the cooler, and the dual fans putting out massive amounts of airflow, the overclocking results are extremely disappointing. The best air cooler tested topped out at 3.94GHz. The rest of the best air coolers reached 3.90GHz. 3.83GHz is average performance, and no challenge for the best tested so far.
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: 1.90V
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 memory speed of DDR2-800. As FSB is raised the linked memory speed increases in proportion. The same processor is used in all cooling tests to ensure comparable results.
The Cooler Master GeminII with the best of the dual fan configurations reached 3.85GHz in the overclocking test. This was below the top coolers evaluated so far, which generally reached 3.90GHz to 3.94GHz with the same CPU and configuration. The design of the Gemini II seemed voltage limited to 1.5635V on this 680i motherboard, since any attempt to go higher in voltage for a higher overclock would crash. This compares to 1.6V capability with the top air coolers in our tests. Consider that the 3.85GHz result was with a high output fan with noise at more than 50 dB-A - nearly 60 dB-A, which is as loud as our tests have reached so far. The other three fan configurations all topped out at an overclock of 3.83GHz, which is even worse.
The overclocking results are even more disappointing when you compare cooling results under stress to the best air coolers we have tested. Considering the amount of board real estate required by the GeminII, the heavy weight of the cooler, and the dual fans putting out massive amounts of airflow, the overclocking results are extremely disappointing. The best air cooler tested topped out at 3.94GHz. The rest of the best air coolers reached 3.90GHz. 3.83GHz is average performance, and no challenge for the best tested so far.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
44 Comments
View All Comments
acejj26 - Monday, April 30, 2007 - link
Page 4...MHz, not GHzAnnihilatorX - Monday, April 30, 2007 - link
I have a feeling that the size of CPU coolers is directionaly proportional to the trend of global warmingDon't take this too seriously
Though the CPU TDPs are relatively constant at ~110W for high end CPUs, the coolers have been more and more elaborate.
Wesley Fink - Monday, April 30, 2007 - link
While TDP (Thermal Design Power or Thermal Design Point)has not varied a great deal recently, the wattage demands of a CPU in overclocking are MUCH higher than at stock speed, and they increase as the overclocking goes up as it dramaticlly does with the current Core 2 Duo processors. The more elaborate cooler designs are to effectively cool in the highest possible overclocking configuration OR to more efficiently cool with less air volume (noise reduction).We evaluate coolers using both these criteria - overclocking and relative noise.
Were we to evaluate coolers on just how well they cooled at rated CPU speed - which we do include in our reviews as "Stock Speed Performance" - our results table would likely look different and our recommendations would also be different.
pannivas - Monday, April 30, 2007 - link
Maybe I haven’t searched hard enough, but until now this cooler is the only cooler that can fit my Zalman HD135 HTPC case 130mm(H) and perform good as well as silently.stromgald - Monday, April 30, 2007 - link
The Thermalright XP-120 is also a good option for low-profile cases. I saw a review where it performed better than the Thermalright MST-6775, which is in this review, so I think it should be in the ball park of the Gemini II. It's also probably cheaper since it's smaller, and quieter since it only uses one 120mm fan.yacoub - Monday, April 30, 2007 - link
So basically if you're someone who is looking for a cooler that's average amongst the top aftermarket coolers in prowess, offers a lower height that should fit in just about any case, can mount twin 120mm fans, is practically silent in operation with the right fans, and directs airflow down over the board removing the need for an additional fan to do the that, it could be seen as a good product worth using?Wesley Fink - Monday, April 30, 2007 - link
If you need a shorter cooler this could be a good choice. It can definitely be "silent" with the right fan(s). It does cool much better than the Intel retail fan.thechucklesstart - Monday, April 30, 2007 - link
If you set up the fans in a pull configuration if it would increase cooling?Most vehicles have a pulling fan on their radiator because it is more efficient than a pushing fan and this situation seems similar.
Wesley Fink - Monday, April 30, 2007 - link
All Cooler Master diagrams and specifications show the fans mounted to blow air down toward the motherboard and components. We tested the fans mounted as Cooler Master specified. The fan wounting direction could be reversed if that is what you choose.BladeVenom - Monday, April 30, 2007 - link
I think it's would be worth testing. He's not the only one wondering if it might be better that way.