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Product:
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SilverStone Nitrogon NT06 CPU Cooler |
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Price:
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$58 (CDN) / $53 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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SilverStone Technology
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Author:
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Hi-TEK
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Date:
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May 29th, 2006
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Rating:
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The process of mounting the SilverStone Nitrogon NT06 CPU Cooler requires a series of steps and must be completed
before the motherboard is mounted inside a case. For my particular installation on an AMD Socket 939 platform, in
order keep the unit stationary, two screws are inserted into a nylon washer from the top of the motherboard secured into the rear mounting bracket. The two screws are covered with another
set of nylon washers and motherboard stand-offs.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The heatsink is inserted onto each screw and pushed down onto the dye of the CPU core to establish contact. In order to
secure the heatsink, two additional spring loaded bolts are tightened on each side using a criss-cross pattern. Overall
the process is a little time consuming and not as easy as heatsink designs that use the stock retention bracket. Prior
to mounting the Nitrogon NT06 a thin layer of Artic Silver Alumina Thermal Compound was applied to the core of the CPU.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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Testing:
To start performance tests, I assembled the following pieces of hardware to complete the system:
- Gigabyte GA-K8N-SLI Motherboard
- AMD Athlon 64 3200+ CPU
- WinFast PX6800 GT TDH Video Card
- Western Digital WD2000 Caviar SE 200GB SATA HD
- 2 x Corsair XMS Xpert TWINX2048-4000PT DDR Modules
- LG GCE-8525B CD-RW Drive w/ SuperLink
- LG GSA-H10N Super-Multi Internal DVD Writer
- Panasonic 1.44 Floppy Drive
- Enermax Liberty 500W ATX 12V Ver2.2 Power Supply
- Ultra Black Aluminus ATX Mid-Tower Case
The "Burn-In Wizard" from SiSoft Sandra 2005 SR2 is used to put the CPU under concentrated load for a pre-determined
amount of time. The options selected in "Burn-In Wizard" run the CPU and CPU Multimedia benchmarks for approximately
15 minutes. The system is left alone for approximate 15 minutes before the burn-in test is performed. Maximum
temperatures are measured in degree Celsius and recorded using an independent thermal probe and GigaByte's Easy Tune
4 for idle and full load. Ambient room temperature was measured at 28 degrees Celsius. For comparison, I will be
testing the SilverStone Nitrogon NT06 CPU Cooler against the Spire SP741B3 DiamondCool II HSF Cooler.
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Click image for larger view
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Running the SilverStone Nitrogon NT06 CPU Cooler against the Spire SP741B3 DiamondCool II HSF Cooler in a number of
performance tests provided some impressive results. The Nitrogon NT06 demonstrated better cooling results in idle and
load modes. Overall test results for idle temperatures measured approximately 31°C-37°C respectively, with 3°C difference
between both models. Significant performance results were achieved by adjusting the RPM of the FM122 to full speed
during load modes where NT06 managed a 5°C decrease while maintaining decent system level temperatures. In terms of
overall noise levels the Spire SP741B3 DiamondCool II is a much quieter heatsink where the noise level from the FM122
cooling fan on the NT06 at full speed is unbearable. Both products utilize heat pipe technology in their designs but you can see
that a larger and faster cooling fan makes a significant difference in performance results. Cooling fans that move more
CFM will provide better performance long term but results may vary.
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Conclusion:
Product revision is not uncommon in a competitive market that dictates that manufacturers come up with new cooling
designs for the PC platform. SilverStone is still a relatively new player in the cooling market with only six heatsink
coolers in the Nitrogon product line. The latest and greatest NT06 does a decent job catering to both AMD and Intel
platforms with a universal clipping mechanism. The overall construction of the NT06 is good and designed to accommodate
120mm cooling fans of all shapes and sizes. Consumers will appreciate the inclusion of 3 embedded heat pipes for
enhanced thermal cooling as well as bonded aluminum fins which optimize the airflow and prevent obstruction. The copper
core is very smooth with a few notable machine marks on the base which could be improved in future revisions. The FM122
120mm cooling fan compliments the Nitrogon NT06 very well and includes a mini fan controller that can be used to adjust
RPM speed and noise levels. During my evaluation I didn't experience too many issues with the Nitrogon NT06, other than
the fact that your motherboard must be removed prior to installation and the inclusion of generic thermal compound
included in the package. Overall, I am rating the SilverStone Nitrogon NT06 CPU Cooler and award a final rating of
8.5 out of 10. If you have any questions regarding this review
be sure to visit the SilverStone Technology website for more information or
discuss them in our forums.
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Pros:
- Three heat pipe design
- Bundled mini fan controller and 120mm cooling fan
- Compatible with most systems
- Good cooling performance
- Good documentation and retail packaging
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Cons:
- Large
- Generic thermal paste
- Requires motherboard removal prior to installation
- FM122 cooling fan at full speed is unbearable
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Error processing SSI file
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Error processing SSI file
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