|
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
