Methodology
A Ryzen 5 3600 has to be cooled at factory settings, in addition 16GB Crucial Ballistix Sport (2x8GB) DDR4 memory on a MSI B550 Tomahawk (BIOS 7C91vA3). The Asus ROG Strix GTX 1060 6GB is running in zero-fan mode for the CPU stress tests only for the image output, and a Fractal Design Ion Gold 750W serves as the power source, all housed in the Thermaltake Core P3 as an open benchtable.
All records are logged with HWInfo64 v6.30-4240 – 2000ms logging, the specified temperature is derived from the sensor CPU Die (Average). The load of Prime95 produces an average of 88 watts of CPU package power. Since I don’t have air conditioning, the values in the graphs are the delta between room temperature and CPU temperature. This allows all cooling systems to be compared fairly, even if the ambient temperature is different. The thermal paste supplied with the cooler or pre-applied is used in each case.
I determine the sound level with a Voltcraft SL-200 meter at a distance of 40cm, which works in 125ms cycles in Lo mode. The room was measured at 33.3 dB(A), an external sample table is helpful for the breakdown.
Benchmarks
I did a run-through with the fans at standstill, but I tested the other four modes with the pump at maximum speed:
|
Fan |
Mode 1 |
Mode 2 |
Mode 3 |
Mode 4 |
|
Pump speed |
2442 RPM |
2429 RPM |
2432 RPM |
2434 RPM |
|
Sound level |
36.2 db(A) |
37.9 db(A) |
41.8 db(A) |
45.3 db(A) |
|
Ambient temperature |
22,3 – 22,8°C |
22,6 – 23,1°C |
23,0 – 23,2°C |
23,1 – 23,3°C |
Even though the pump is really very quiet even at maximum speed with 33.6 db(A), I also did some more tests with the fans at fixed speed in stage 2:
|
Pump |
50% |
75% |
100% |
|
Pump speed |
1983 RPM |
2223 RPM |
2429 RPM |
|
Sound level |
37.8 db(A) |
37.9 db(A) |
37.9 db(A) |
|
Ambient temperature |
23,5 – 23,6°C |
23,6 – 23,7°C |
22,6 – 23,1°C |
And at this point I have to say that I was a bit disappointed by the cooling performance in direct comparison to the expensive AiO’s. So I tested again to find out where the problem is. First of all, removed the enclosed thermal paste and replaced it with Arctic MX-4, both applied identically:
While with the original thermal paste at maximum speed of the pump and fans on level 2 it was still an average of 52.61°C delta to room temperature, with the MX-4 it is only 49.60. A difference of 3.01°C only by different thermal paste is already considerable.
To test the fans as a variable, here is a completely new run with EK-Vardar S, which I stole from the EK-AIO Elite 360 D-RGB. Before we get to that test run, here’s another comparison of both thermal pastes with the EK fans. Here the difference is still a whole 2.56°C:
And then again complete with MX-4 paste and EK-Vardar S fans in combination:
|
Fan |
50% |
75% |
100% |
|
Pump speed |
1983 RPM |
2223 RPM |
2429 RPM |
|
Sound level |
37.8 db(A) |
37.9 db(A) |
37.9 db(A) |
|
Ambient temperature |
23,8 – 24,2°C |
24,4 – 24,6°C |
24,6 – 24,6°C |
Here is the overview of all the results and comparison to 360mm AiO watercoolers:
- Review NZXT Kraken Z73
- Review EK-AIO Elite 360
- Review Corsair H150i Elite
- Review EK-AIO Basic 360
- Review G.Skill ENKI 360
Summary and conclusion
In this country you can buy the (old) kits from Bykski at EZmodding.com , they start at about 250 Euro for the kits with 240mm radiator and softtube. The variants with 360mm radiator and optional hardtubes cost only 10 euros more each, so the extra cost quickly paid for itself depending on the system. The new kit I have here should also be available soon.
But whether you should buy a kit, of course, you have to think for yourself first. Looking purely at the cooling performance, I’m not very impressed here at first. Almost every 360mm AiO in my tests does better. But if you plan a reasonable tube of thermal paste, the MX-4 and successors are already available for a few euros, it looks a bit better. This kit is still attached to the back, but you have an open loop and not a closed system.
Depending on your taste, the Bykski lighting also has a rare feature: RGB-W instead of just RGB LEDs! So a practically pure white illumination is also possible, without blue shimmer. So at this point you have to ask yourself before buying if the possibility to expand and integrate the graphics card outweighs the few °C of lost cooling power or if you prefer it to be simple, maintenance-free and minimally better. With a better thermal paste in the scope of delivery and more precise quality control, one could even make a purchase recommendation.
The test sample was provided by EZModding without obligation. There was and is no influence on the tests and results. There was also no compensation for expenses and no obligation to publish.
Arctic MX-4, 2019 Edition, 4g (ACTCP00002B 2019)
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