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Testing Rig

Hardware
CPU
Intel Pentium 4 2.0Ghz Northwood
Heatsink & Fan
Intel Retail
Motherboard
Asus P4T533-C w/1008 Beta 1 BIOS
Memory
512MB OCZ PC1066
Hard Drive
IBM 80GB 120GXP 7200 RPM ATA100

CD-RW

Plextor 40-12-40
Sound Card
SB Live! 5.1
Video Card
Leadtek GeForce4 Ti-4600 128MB

Greaseware
Nanotherm Retail
Ice2, Blue2 (provided by ESG Associates)
Nanotherm Silver XTC
Samples 1, 2, & Experimental (provided by ESG Associates)

Software
Operating System
Windows XP Pro SP1
Video Drivers
Detonator 30.87
Application
From 3DMark2001SE Build 330: default benchmark at 1024x768@32bpp.
Temperature Utility
Motherboard Monitor 5.200

Results
Temperature
Ice2
Blue2
Silver XTC Sample #1
CPU High
98º F
98º F
96º F
CPU Avg
91º F
93º F
93º F
Case High
84º F
86º F
86º F
Case Avg
82º F
84º F
84º F

Temperature
Silver XTC Sample #2
Silver Experimental
CPU High
96º F
96º F
CPU Avg
93º F
93º F
Case High
86º F
86º F
Case Avg
84º F
82º F

Results

Fascinating. Ice2 has the lowest average CPU temp, but ties Blue2 for the highest CPU peak temp. The Silver samples had almost identical results. The experimental sample ties with Ice2 for the lowest average case temp. It appears that with the motherboard out of the case, cooling hits a "brick wall." No standard thermal solution, as it would seem, can lower the heat below this threshold. Funny, even in a case, this P4 runs much cooler than my old P3 700 overclocked to 933 MHz.

Conclusion

Although Blue2 is very good, viewing the numbers, it's pretty easy to pick the winner--Ice2. But Ice2 only "wins" by a nose. With the lowest average CPU and case temps, this is a top notch grease that costs pennies per application and will last for years. Both the Silver XTC and experimental samples show great promise, but as they are not in production form (and an unknown pricing scheme), it would be premature to give them a nod just yet.

William Yaple
10/31/02

 





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