While Cyrorig is a relative newcomer to the well-establish CPU heatsink market, their flagship R1 Ultimate/Universal has all the trappings of a top-tier cooling solution.
December 2, 2014 by Lawrence Lee
| Product | Cryorig R1 Ultimate/Universal CPU Cooler |
| Manufacturer | Cryorig |
| Street Price | US$80 |
Cryorig is a company you’ve probably never heard of, one of the many fledgling manufacturers that have sprouted up left and right trying to capture a piece of the PC enthusiast market. The name is an amalgam of “cryo” and “rig” as their goal is to help users achieve cool running PCs. So it’s fitting that their initial catalogue is specialized, currently focusing only on CPU coolers. While the brand is new, they have plenty of experience in this field as their team is composed of former employees of big names like Thermalright and Prolimatech. Their pedigree is evident in their flagship product, a massive dual fan heatsink dubbed the R1.
| Model | Ultimate | Universal |
| Performance (TDP) | 250 W + | 240 W + |
| Dimensions (with fan) | L142.4 mm x W140 mm x H168.3 mm | L128.5 mm x W140 mm x H168.3 mm |
| Weight (with fan) | 1282 g | 1181 g |
| Weight (without fan) | 936 g | 936 g |
| Heat pipes | 6mm heatpipe x 7 units | 6mm heatpipe x 7 units |
| Front Fin | T = 0.4 mm ; Gap = 2.4 mm | T = 0.4 mm ; Gap = 2.4 mm |
| Front Fin Pcs | 42 PCs | 42 PCs |
| Rear Fin | T = 0.4 mm ; Gap = 1.8 mm | T = 0.4 mm ; Gap = 1.8 mm |
| Rear Fin PCs | 53 PCs | 53 PCs |
| Copper Base | C1100 Pure copper nickel plated | C1100 Pure copper nickel plated |
| Distance From Center | 40 mm | 35.5 mm |
| RAM Height Limit | 30 ~ 35 mm (Fan position adjustable) | Limitless |
| Fan Frame Color | Black | White |
| Fans | ||
| Model | XF140 (Ultimate & Universal) | XT140 (Universal only) |
| Dimension | L140 mm x W140 mm x H25.4 mm | L140 mm x W140 mm x H13 mm |
| Weight | 156 g | 89 g |
| Rated Speed | 700 ~ 1300 RPM ±10 % | 700 ~ 1300 RPM ±10 % |
| Noise Level | 19 ~ 23 dBA | 20 ~ 24 dBA |
| Total Noise Level (both fans) | 41 dBA | 44 dBA |
| Air Flow | 75 CFM | 65 CFM |
| Differences listed in bold. | ||
The Cryorig R1 is huge dual tower heatsink with a seven heatpipe design and a pair of 140 mm fans. It comes in two variants are practically identical, to the point where the weight, fin count, and fin density are exactly the same. Both have an asymmetric shape with the fin-stacks pushed forward for better compatibility, but the Universal is further off center and its back fan is a slim 13 mm thick model to ensure it clears the memory slots completely. The Ultimate, with two matched fans of standard 25 mm thickness offers better performance, but like many such coolers, it hangs over a portion of the DIMM slots.
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It seems kind of silly to have two separate products so similar but tall heatspreaders are popular amongst enthusiasts despite the interference issues they cause and their dubious benefits. The Ultimate offers an additional 17 mm of clearance in total, 5 mm from shifting over the heatsink body and another 12 mm due to the thinner fan. Cryorig seems to focus heavily on compatibility, providing precise schematics for each of their heatsinks and even a “compatibility tester” which you can print out at home and fold into an origami replica of the product to place on your motherboard.
The R1 has two more differentiating features. Each tower is actually comprised of two different fin-stacks, a silver and black portion, with the latter being more densely packed. The intake section is loose while the exhaust section is tight, forcing the air passing through it to speed up as it exits. The fans are also mounted in an unusual way. It sports traditional wire fan clips but they attach to plastic housings that snap onto the heatsink. This allows the user to adjust the fans’ vertical position easily but it also covers up a good portion of the heat dissipation area.
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Considering the size of the coolers, the packaging is rather compact. However, the interior box containing the heatsink is encapsulated in a completely unnecessary and extremely tight fitting sleeve. We wouldn’t normally bother commenting on such a minute detail, but it’s seriously frustrating to pull off and should go immediately into the recycling bin.
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The R1 ships with all the necessary mounting hardware which includes backplates for both Intel and AMD installations, a screwdriver, a tube of thermal compound, a dual fan adapter, and a tube of thermal compound. It also comes with two extra sets of fan clips which doesn’t quite make sense as it seems impossible to mount four fans, and an additional set of rubber dampers that aren’t designed for non-Cryorig models. The installation guide is packed with a registration card (registering extends the warranty), and a single-use isopropanol pad to help clean the heatsink base and processor.
PHYSICAL DETAILS
The R1 shares a similar construction to other dual tower/fan heatsinks aside from its asymmetrical shape. It has a copper base, 7 x 6 mm thick copper heatpipes, and 42/53 fins aluminum fins, all of which are nickel-plated and soldered together. Each tower is 43 mm thick and the gap in the middle is 27 mm, so there’s barely any clearance behind the center fan. It weighs 940 g on its own while each thick/thin stock fan is an additional 160/90 g.
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INSTALLATION
The most critical aspect of installation is firm, maximum contact
between the base and the CPU heatspreader for efficient heat conduction. Ideally
it should also be a simple procedure with the user having to handle as few pieces
of hardware as possible. The R1’s mounting system qualifies as outstanding as it uses a similar system to other high-end manufacturers with well-constructed the components and ease of assembly.
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TESTING
Before thermal testing, we took some basic physical measurements of the radiator for comparison.
| Approximate Physical Measurements | |
| Weight | 940 g (heatsink only) 1180 g (with Universal fans) 1240 g (with Ultimate fans) |
| Height | 164 mm |
| Fin count | 53 / 42 |
| Fin thickness | 0.42 mm |
| Fin spacing | 1.78 / 2.37 mm |
| Vertical Clearance* | 44 mm |
| * measured from motherboard PCB to bottom fin of heatsink | |
| Large Heatsink Comparison: Average Fin Thickness & Spacing | ||
| Heatsink | Fin Thickness | Fin Spacing |
| SilverStone Heligon HE02 | 0.52 mm | 3.30 mm |
| Thermalright HR-01 Plus | 0.45 mm | 3.15 mm |
| Thermalright HR-02 Macho | 0.34 mm | 3.12 mm |
| Thermalright HR-22 | 0.53 mm | 2.74 mm |
| Scythe Ninja 3 | 0.39 mm | 2.64 mm |
| Noctua NH-U12P | 0.44 mm | 2.63 mm |
| Noctua NH-C12P | 0.47 mm | 2.54 mm |
| LEPA LV12 | 0.51 mm | 2.38 mm |
| Noctua NH-D14 | 0.43 mm | 2.33 mm |
| Thermalright Archon SB-E | 0.49 mm | 2.33 mm |
| Phanteks PH-TC12DX | 0.39 mm | 2.30 mm |
| GELID Tranquillo Rev.2 | 0.40 mm | 2.30 mm |
| GELID GX-7 Rev.2 | 0.31 mm | 2.25 mm |
| be quiet! Dark Rock 2 | 0.38 mm | 2.22 mm |
| Phanteks PH-TC14PE | 0.40 mm | 2.21 mm |
| Prolimatech Armageddon | 0.51 mm | 2.08 mm |
| Cryorig R1 Ultimate/Universal | 0.42 mm | 1.78 / 2.37 mm |
| Zalman CNPS10X Quiet | 0.40 mm | 2.00 mm |
| Prolimatech Megahalems | 0.50 mm | 2.00 mm |
| Scythe Ashura | 0.43 mm | 1.97 mm |
| NZXT Havik 140 | 0.41 mm | 1.91 mm |
| Scythe Mugen-2 | 0.31 mm | 1.89 mm |
| SilverStone Tundra TD03 (radiator) | 0.43 mm | 1.86 mm |
| SilverStone Argon AR01 | 0.30 mm | 1.85 mm |
| Thermalright Venomous X | 0.53 mm | 1.84 mm |
| Scythe Mugen 4 | 0.30 mm | 1.82 mm |
| Noctua NH-C14 | 0.38 mm | 1.79 mm |
| Enermax ETS-T40 | 0.40 mm | 1.79 mm |
| Noctua NH-D15 | 0.46 mm | 1.79 mm |
| Scythe Yasya | 0.32 mm | 1.78 mm |
| Enermax Liqtech 120X (radiator) | 0.46 mm | 1.76 mm |
| be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim | 0.42 mm | 1.73 mm |
| SilverStone Argon AR03 | 0.42 mm | 1.72 mm |
| Noctua NH-U14S | 0.42 mm | 1.72 mm |
| Cogage TRUE Spirit 1366 | 0.40 mm | 1.70 mm |
| Scythe Kotetsu | 0.35 mm | 1.66 mm |
| Scythe Grand Kama Cross | 0.38 mm | 1.66 mm |
| Zalman CNPS9900 MAX | 0.16 mm | 1.59 mm |
| Thermalright Silver Arrow | 0.32 mm | 1.57 mm |
| Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus | 0.43 mm | 1.54 mm |
| Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme Rev.C | 0.56 mm | 1.52 mm |
| NZXT Kraken X31/X41 (radiator) | 0.15 mm | 1.07 mm |
| NZXT Kraken X61 (radiator) | 0.13 mm | 1.02 mm |
Testing on larger heatsinks like this one is done on our
LGA1366 heatsink testing platform. A summary of the test system and
procedure follows.
Key Components in LGA1366 Heatsink Test Platform:
- Intel Core i7-965 Extreme
Nehalem core, LGA1366, 3.2GHz, 45nm, 130W TDP. - Asus
P6X58D Premium ATX motherboard. X58 chipset. - Asus
EAH3450 Silent graphics card. - Intel
X25-M 80GB 2.5″ solid-state drive. Chosen for silence. - 3GB QiMonda
DDR3 memory. 3 x 1GB DDR3-1066 in triple channel. - Seasonic X-650 SS-650KM
650W ATX power supply. This PSU is semi-passively cooled. At the power levels
of our test platform, its fan does not spin. - Arctic Silver
Lumière: Special fast-curing thermal interface material, designed
specifically for test labs. - Noctua 140 mm fan (used when possible with heatsinks that fit 140x25mm
fans) - Nexus 120 mm fan (used when possible with heatsinks that fit 120x25mm
fans) - Nexus 92 mm fan (used when possible with heatsinks that fit 92x25mm
fans)
The systems are silent under the test conditions, except for the CPU cooling
fan(s).
Normally, our reference fans are used whenever possible, the measured details
of which are shown below.
| Reference Noctua 140mm fan Anechoic chamber measurements | ||
| Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
| 12V | 1250 RPM | 28~29 dBA |
| 9V | 990 RPM | 21 dBA |
| 8V | 880 RPM | 18 dBA |
| 7V | 770 RPM | 15~16 dBA |
| 6V | 660 RPM | 13 dBA |
| Reference Nexus 120 mm fan Anechoic chamber measurements | ||
| Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
| 12V | 1080 RPM | 16 dBA |
| 9V | 880 RPM | 13 dBA |
| 7V | 720 RPM | 12 dBA |
| Reference Nexus 92 mm fan Anechoic chamber measurements | ||
| Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
| 12V | 1470 RPM | 17 dBA |
| 9V | 1280 RPM | 14 dBA |
| 7V | 1010 RPM | 12 dBA |
Measurement and Analysis Tools
- Extech 380803 AC power analyzer / data logger for measuring AC system
power. - Custom-built, four-channel variable DC power supply, used to regulate
the fan speed during the test. - PC-based spectrum analyzer:
SpectraPlus with ACO Pacific mic and M-Audio digital
audio interfaces. - Anechoic chamber
with ambient level of 11 dBA or lower - Various other tools for testing fans, as documented in our
standard fan testing methodology. - SpeedFan,
used to monitor the on-chip thermal sensors. The sensors are not calibrated,
so results are not universally applicable. The hottest core reading is used. - Prime95,
used to stress the CPU heavily, generating more heat than most real applications.
All instances are used to ensure full stress. - CPU-Z,used to monitor the CPU speed to determine when overheating occurs.
- Thermometers to measure the air temperature around the test platform
and near the intake of the heatsink fan.
Noise measurements are made with the fans powered from the lab’s variable DC
power supply while the rest of the system is off to ensure that system noise
do not skew the measurements.
Load testing was accomplished using Prime95 to stress the processor, and the
graph function in SpeedFan was used to ensure that the load temperature is stable
for at least ten minutes. The temperature recorded is the highest single core
reading. The stock fans were tested at various voltages to represent a good
cross-section of airflow and noise performance.
The ambient conditions during testing were 10~11 dBA and 21~23°C.
STOCK FAN MEASUREMENTS
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| Specifications: Cryorig R1 Ultimate/Universal (Thick) Stock Fan | |||
| Manufacturer | Cryorig | Power Rating | ? |
| Model Number | XF140 | Airflow Rating | 76 CFM |
| Bearing Type | High Precision Low Noise (Sleeve) | Speed Rating | 700 ~ 1300 RPM |
| Frame Size | 140 x 140 x 25 mm (120 mm mounting holes) | Noise Rating | 19 ~ 23 dBA |
| Hub Size | 41 mm | Header Type | 4-pin PWM |
| Blade Diameter | 131 mm | Starting Voltage | 5.0 ~ 5.5 V |
| Cable Length | 30 cm | Weight | 150 g |
| Corner Type | Open | Retail Availability | Yes |
Additional notes: | |||
The larger XF140 fan is equipped with smooth, featureless blades that are gently curved but the lack of separation between each blade and the total count (11) is somewhat unusual for a 140 mm variant. It’s a 1300 RPM PWM model with a dubious noise rating of 19~23 dBA (if this is correct at one meter’s distance, it would be a revolutionary miracle fan). The mounting holes are spaced the same as 120 mm models and are fitted with rubber damping pads with slits to accommodate the tight-fitting fan clips
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According to ASUS’ Fan Xpert2 utility, its effective PWM control range bottoms out at just under 700 RPM which is right in line with the specifications.
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| Specifications: Cryorig R1 Universal (Thin) Stock Fan | |||
| Manufacturer | Cryorig | Power Rating | ? |
| Model Number | XT140 | Airflow Rating | 65 CFM |
| Bearing Type | High Precision Low Noise (Sleeve) | Speed Rating | 700 ~ 1300 RPM |
| Frame Size | 140 x 140 x 13 mm (120 mm mounting holes) | Noise Rating | 20 ~ 24 dBA |
| Hub Size | 44 mm | Header Type | 4-pin PWM |
| Blade Diameter | 131 mm | Starting Voltage | 4.0 ~ 4.5 V |
| Cable Length | 30 cm | Weight | 90 g |
| Corner Type | Open | Retail Availability | Yes |
Additional notes: | |||
The thinner XT140 has a similar frame structure but the blades are slim, almost finger-like, and more numerous. The hub is also noticeably larger which creates a greater dead spot at the center.
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According to ASUS’ Fan Xpert2 utility, it the minimum speed is 730 RPM on PWM control, so it has a similar upper and lower limit as the thicker XF140.
| Stock Fan Measurements: Cryorig R1 | ||||
| Voltage | XF140 Speed (XT140 Speed)* | SPL@1m | ||
| 1 x XF140 (single fan) | 2 x XF140 (Ultimate) | XF140 + XT140 (Universal) | ||
| 12V | 1390 RPM (1390 RPM) | 35 dBA | 38~39 dBA | 36 dBA |
| 9V | 1120 RPM (1200 RPM) | 27~28 dBA | 30 dBA | 31 dBA |
| 7V | 910 RPM (1030 RPM) | 22 dBA | 24 dBA | 25~26 dBA |
| 6V | 800 RPM (940 RPM) | 19 dBA | 20~21 dBA | 22~23 dBA |
| 5V | 690 RPM (850 RPM) | 14 dBA | 16~17 dBA | 20 dBA |
| 4.5V | 590 RPM (760 RPM) | 12 dBA | 14 dBA | 17 dBA |
| *Applicable to R1 Universal only. Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle from the center of the heatsink. Ambient noise level: 10~11 dBA. | ||||
The measurable noise difference between the Ultimate and Universal’s fans is quite interesting. The Ultimate’s fans are only louder at 12V — as the voltage is reduced, it actually becomes quieter, beating the Universal at every test level by 1~3 dB. The two fans have a similar nominal speed, but the larger XF140 slows down quicker. Subjectively, we also find that the XT140 sounds worse, so in the end, the Ultimate’s matched fans have better acoustics and are capable of achieving a lower overall noise level to boot.
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The acoustics of the Ultimate’s two XF140 fans are mostly innocuous for 140 mm models. It has a mostly smooth sound with some low frequency hum audible at closer distances. Its profile is mostly broadband with little tonality resulting in a relatively even frequency distribution.
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With the Universal’s mismatched fans, we can see the difference right away in the frequency analysis. This odd couple produces multiple minor tonal peaks mainly due to the thinner fan. Our XT140 sample has noticeable chuffing at lower speeds (~1000 RPM and below); It sounds like the blades are constantly hitting a soft piece of fabric giving off the impression it’s off-kilter or damaged. At higher speeds this effect disappears, but then it emits much more noise.
TEST RESULTS
| Test Results: Cryorig R1 Ultimate vs. Universal | ||||
| Fan Voltage | Ultimate | Universal | ||
| SPL@1m | Thermal Rise | SPL@1m | ||
| 12V | 38~39 dBA | 34°C | 35°C | 36 dBA |
| 9V | 30 dBA | 36°C | 36°C | 31 dBA |
| 7V | 24 dBA | 36°C | 38°C | 25~26 dBA |
| 6V | 20~21 dBA | 37°C | 38°C | 22~23 dBA |
| 5V | 16~17 dBA | 41°C | 39°C | 20 dBA |
| 4.5V | 14 dBA | 42°C | 41°C | 17 dBA |
| Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle from the center of the heatsink. Ambient noise level: 10~11 dBA. | ||||
While the Universal is handicapped with the thinner fan, it actually didn’t make that much difference in our thermal tests. At similar noise levels, the Ultimate has the advantage at almost every level but the results are quite close. It’s clear you don’t give up much performance for the Universal’s superior compatibility.
| Test Results: Cryorig R1 Ultimate w/Stock Fans | ||||
| Fan Voltage | Single Fan | Dual Fan | ||
| SPL@1m | Thermal Rise | SPL@1m | ||
| 12V | 35 dBA | 37°C | 34°C | 38~39 dBA |
| 9V | 27~28 dBA | 39°C | 36°C | 30 dBA |
| 7V | 22 dBA | 40°C | 36°C | 24 dBA |
| 6V | 19 dBA | 41°C | 37°C | 20~21 dBA |
| 5V | 14 dBA | 45°C | 41°C | 16~17 dBA |
| 4.5V | 12 dBA | 49°C | 42°C | 14 dBA |
| Cryorig R1 Ultimate w/Ref. 140 mm Fan (NF-P14) | ||||
| 12V | 31 dBA | 38°C | 34°C | 34 dBA |
| 9V | 24 dBA | 39°C | 36°C | 26 dBA |
| 8V | 20 dBA | 40°C | 36°C | 22~23 dBA |
| 7V | 17 dBA | 43°C | 37°C | 18~19 dBA |
| 6V | 14 dBA | 46°C | 41°C | 15~16 dBA |
| Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle from the center of the heatsink. Ambient noise level: 10~11 dBA. | ||||
With the two heatsinks having differing back fans, it begs the question of whether a second fan is even necessary. For most of its range, the dual fan configuration has a 4°C advantage, a slightly larger difference that what we typically see with single tower heatsinks. However, at the ultra low 4.5V level, the gap widens to 7°C. Even though the second fan produces more noise, the difference in performance is enough to make it the more efficient option. Using our reference Noctua NF-P14 fans in lieu of the stock models yields similar numbers.
HEATSINK COMPARISON TABLES
| °C Rise Comparison: CPU Coolers with Dual Fans | ||||||||||||
| SPL (dBA@1m) | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
| NZXT Kraken X61 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 37 | ||||||||
| Prolimatech Genesis* (reference fans) | 35 | 36 | 37 | 39 | ||||||||
| Thermalright Silver Arrow | 35 | 38 | 40 | |||||||||
| Noctua NH-C14 | 36 | 37 | 39 | 41 | ||||||||
| Thermalright HR-22* (reference fans) | 37 | 38 | 39 | |||||||||
| Noctua NH-D15 | 38 | 39 | 40 | |||||||||
| Thermalright HR-02 Macho* (reference fans) | 36 | 37 | 40 | |||||||||
| Cryorig R1 Ultimate (reference fans) | 37 | 41 | ||||||||||
| Phanteks PH-TC14PE | 38 | 39 | 41 | |||||||||
| Cryorig R1 Ultimate | 37 | 41 | 42 | |||||||||
| Scythe Mugen 4* (reference fans) | 39 | 40 | 42 | |||||||||
| NZXT Havik 140 | 39 | 41 | ||||||||||
| Cryorig R1 Universal | 39 | 41 | ||||||||||
| Phanteks PH-TC12DX | 41 | 44 | ||||||||||
| Cooler Master Seidon 240M | 40 | 43 | 53 | |||||||||
| SilverStone Tundra TD03 | 40 | |||||||||||
| SilverStone Heligon HE02* (reference fans) | 44 | 46 | ||||||||||
| Enermax Liqtech 120X | 44 | 45 | ||||||||||
| Zalman CNPS9900DF | 48 | 50 | 53 | |||||||||
| SPL (dBA@1m) | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
| Air-cooled heatsinks in dark green, liquid coolers in dark blue *Models lacking dual stock fans tested with dual reference Noctua NF-P14 fans. | ||||||||||||
Compared to previous coolers we’ve tested with dual fans, the Ultimate and Universal fall somewhere in the middle, performing on par with coolers like the Scythe Mugen 4 and Phanteks PH-TC14PE. It’s a decent showing but the margins are slim enough that a ~3°C deficit lands it well short of the leaders.
| °C Rise Comparison: CPU Coolers with Single/Dual Stock Fan(s) | ||||||||||||
| SPL (dBA@1m) | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
| NZXT Kraken X61 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 37 | ||||||||
| Prolimatech Genesis* (reference fans) | 35 | 36 | 37 | 39 | ||||||||
| Thermalright Silver Arrow | 35 | 38 | 40 | |||||||||
| Noctua NH-C14 | 36 | 37 | 39 | 41 | ||||||||
| Scythe Kotetsu | 35 | 38 | 41 | 42 | ||||||||
| Thermalright HR-22* (reference fans) | 37 | 38 | 39 | |||||||||
| Noctua NH-D15 | 38 | 39 | 40 | |||||||||
| Thermalright Archon SB-E | 39 | 40 | 43 | |||||||||
| Phanteks PH-TC14PE | 38 | 39 | 41 | |||||||||
| Thermalright HR-02 Macho | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 43 | |||||||
| Scythe Mugen 4 | 40 | 42 | 45 | |||||||||
| Noctua NH-U14S | 38 | 40 | 43 | |||||||||
| Cryorig R1 Ultimate (reference fans) | 37 | 41 | ||||||||||
| NZXT Kraken X41 | 38 | |||||||||||
| NZXT Havik 140 | 39 | 41 | ||||||||||
| be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim | 40 | 41 | 42 | |||||||||
| Cryorig R1 Ultimate | 37 | 41 | 42 | |||||||||
| Scythe Yasya | 40 | 43 | ||||||||||
| Cogage TRUE Spirit 1366 | 41 | 43 | 46 | |||||||||
| Cryorig R1 Universal | 39 | 41 | ||||||||||
| Zalman CNPS10X Quiet | 40 | 42 | 47 | |||||||||
| Scythe Grand Kama Cross | 40 | 41 | 44 | 49 | ||||||||
| Scythe Ashura | 42 | 44 | ||||||||||
| Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus | 41 | 44 | 54 | |||||||||
| Cryorig R1 Ultimate (single fan) | 40 | 41 | 45 | 49 | ||||||||
| Phanteks PH-TC12DX | 41 | 44 | ||||||||||
| Silverstone Argon AR03 | 41 | 43 | 48 | |||||||||
| Scythe Ninja 3 | 44 | 46 | ||||||||||
| SilverStone Argon AR01 | 42 | 44 | 50 | |||||||||
| Titan Fenrir | 43 | 45 | 47 | |||||||||
| Cooler Master Seidon 240M | 40 | 43 | 53 | |||||||||
| SilverStone Tundra TD03 | 40 | |||||||||||
| SilverStone Heligon HE02* (reference fans) | 44 | 46 | ||||||||||
| Antec Kühler H20 620 | 42 | 44 | 47 | |||||||||
| LEPA LV12 | 45 | 48 | 52 | |||||||||
| Zalman CNPS9900 MAX | 45 | 47 | 49 | |||||||||
| NZXT Kraken X31 | 43 | 44 | 47 | |||||||||
| Enermax Liqtech 120X | 44 | 45 | ||||||||||
| GELID Tranquillo Rev.2 | 48 | 49 | 50 | |||||||||
| be quiet! Dark Rock 2 | 48 | 52 | 55 | 61 | ||||||||
| Zalman CNPS9900DF | 48 | 50 | 53 | |||||||||
| GELID GX-7 Rev.2 | 49 | 51 | 56 | |||||||||
| Core i7-980X Stock Cooler | 53 | 62 | ||||||||||
| Enermax ETS-T40 | 49 | 55 | 64 | |||||||||
| Core i7-920 Stock Cooler | 64 | FAIL | ||||||||||
| SPL (dBA@1m) | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
| Single/Dual fan air-cooled heatsinks in light/dark green. Single/dual fan liquid coolers in light/dark blue. *Fanless models tested with dual reference Noctua NF-P14 fans. | ||||||||||||
When we add single fan heatsinks into the mix, the resulting picture is less flattering. A myriad of smaller coolers, all of which carry lower price-tags than the R1, perform similarly or better, even though R1 is equipped with dual fans.
MP3 SOUND RECORDINGS
These recordings were made with a high
resolution, lab quality, digital recording system inside SPCR’s
own 11 dBA ambient anechoic chamber, then converted to LAME 128kbps
encoded MP3s. We’ve listened long and hard to ensure there is no audible degradation
from the original WAV files to these MP3s. They represent a quick snapshot of
what we heard during the review.
These recordings are intended to give you an idea of how the product sounds
in actual use — one meter is a reasonable typical distance between a computer
or computer component and your ear. The recording contains stretches of ambient
noise that you can use to judge the relative loudness of the subject. Be aware
that very quiet subjects may not be audible — if we couldn’t hear it from
one meter, chances are we couldn’t record it either!
The recording starts with 5 second segments of room ambiance, then the fan
at various levels. For the most realistic results, set the volume so that
the starting ambient level is just barely audible, then don’t change the volume
setting again.
- Cryorig R1 Ultimate stock fans at 1m
— 5V/690 RPM (16~17 dBA@1m)
— 6V/800 RPM (20~21 dBA@1m)
— 7V/910 RPM (24 dBA@1m)
— 9V/1120 RPM (30 dBA@1m)
— 12V/1390 RPM (38~39 dBA@1m)
- Cryorig R1 Universal stock fans at 1m
— 4.5V, 590/760 RPM (16~17 dBA@1m)
— 5V, 690/850 RPM (16~17 dBA@1m)
— 6V, 800/940 RPM (20~21 dBA@1m)
— 7V, 910/1030 RPM (24 dBA@1m)
— 9V, 1120/1200 RPM (30 dBA@1m)
— 12V, 1390/1390 RPM (38~39 dBA@1m)
FINAL THOUGHTS
At a glance, the Cryorig R1 has all the makings of a high performance heatsink from any of the big name manufacturers. When you look and handle it, it just feels solid and well-polished. It’s of a beastly size, the nickel-plating gives it a nice sheen, and the fans are attractive and adorned with rubber dampers and sleeved cables. The mounting system is very secure and idiot-proof, the fan clips fit are snug, and all the accessories are neatly packed. Scrub the name off the box and fans and it could easily pass for a Noctua, Thermalright or Prolimatech.
Unfortunately, for these big models to justify their price, they need to offer top-notch performance. There are quite a few heatsinks much smaller in size and lower in cost that can compete and/or beat the R1 in overall efficiency. There’s no one aspect we can point to where it’s clearly deficient. We might clip the fans to the heatsink directly rather than using plastic brackets, which add needless complexity and possibly hinder thermal performance.
As for the two different versions, the Ultimate is clearly the superior of the two. Its cooling ability is only slightly better but the sound it produces is more pleasant. The Universal’s thin back fan generates noticeable chuffing at lower speeds and the thick/thin fan combination emits extra noise. This isn’t a big penalty to pay for improved memory compatibility if you need it, but keep in mind the Universal isn’t special in this regard. Like the Ultimate, a plethora of alternatives exist that can fill its role. There are a many thin single towers coolers for which this isn’t a problem, and among the bigger models, both the Thermalright HR-22 and HR-02 have asymmetric designs that clear the memory slots as well.
Our thanks to Cryorig
for the R1 Ultimate/Universal CPU cooler samples.
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SPCR Articles of Related Interest:
NZXT Kraken G10 Graphics Adapter
NZXT Kraken X61 28cm Liquid Cooler
Enermax Liqtech 120X AIO Liquid CPU Cooler
LEPA LV12 Direct-Touch Heatsink
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