Performance

Temperature data was obtained by directly reading the Athlon64 thermal diode with a MAX6655 reader which offers an accuracy of 0.125°C. The CPU, cabling, diode reader setup has been calibrated in a water bath over a 0°C - 75°C range. Room temperature was kept at 20°C, data has been normalized if necessary.

Idle means Windows sitting at the desktop for 30 minutes. Load is after 30 minutes of Prime95. The different clock/voltage settings are representative of an un-overclocked, medium overclocked and heavily overclocked system. The high voltage settings were used to get a sufficient heat output on the CPU, not to reach the overclock.


The Scythe Katana Cu delivers excellent cooling performance. Especially the low fan controller setting is impressive. It is extremely quiet, yet loses only about 3°C on load, no matter which overclock/voltage. Another thing to note is that the cooler climbs up the ranking with higher heat loads.


On the high setting, this cooler does not really impress that much regarding fan noise. But what is really amazing is the low setting. As mentioned before it loses only 3°C under load, but the fan noise is less than three times as quiet! When running on low, it is so quiet that even in a quiet room you can barely hear it when placed on the table. No way you can hear it inside a case.