Corsair Labs Tells Why Quality CPU Cooling is Essential for Core i7 Memory Overclock

[btarunr]

Corsair Labs recently conducted testing to determine whether the use of high-performance DDR3 memory for Core i7 platforms also requires the use of more effective CPU cooling products.

The results clearly show that using high-performance memory results in increased CPU temperatures, due to the higher CPU VTT voltages and Uncore clock speeds required by the IMC (Integrated Memory Controller) in the Core i7 processor. The average load temperature of a Core i7-920 processor cooled by the Intel HSF (heatsink and fan) was 11 degrees C higher when utilizing 2000MHz C8 Dominator GT memory compared to 1333MHz DDR3 memory. The same PC cooled using the Corsair H50 CPU Cooler maintained average CPU core temperatures up to 24 degrees C lower than the stock Intel HSF, and was able to stably cool an overclocked CPU while also maintaining a 2000MHz DDR3 memory frequency.



Standard CPU cooling solutions are inadequate for effectively cooling a Core i7-based PC using memory at frequencies above 1600MHz. Using high-performance memory running at 1866MHz or above (set by the XMP profile), the stock Intel Cooler was unable to stably cool the test PC, resulting in system crashes (BSODs) or processing errors.



Enthusiasts who are looking to overclock Core i7 processors while maximising memory performance will therefore need to remove the additional heat generated due to high-performance memory and CPU overclocking by using a high-performance CPU cooling solution.

The full application note, AN901: The Impact of High-Speed DDR3 Memory on Core i7 Processor Temperatures, is available from the Corsair website here.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[MRCL]

Sooo... better cooling than stock is better than stock cooling.

However, I didn't know that CPU heat was so dependant on the memory used.

 

[Sir Alex Ice]

What a load of crap, these Corsair guys are really getting desperate I'd say.
Of course better cooling is required for overclocking, they must be really insecure and desperate to reinvent the wheel all over again.

 

[Sapientwolf]

At least they try to pitch their products legitimately and do experiments that show you how one of their products may improve your experience with another one of their products (makes sense to promote your own stuff). Nvidia on the other hand markets like I can't stand. Rebranding everything for the third time etc...

 

[memberix]

you need cooler to cool down the processor?

 

[DaveK]

You need a better cooler for overclocking? So you can't get an E4300 from 1.8GHz to 3GHz on the stock cooler? Oh. But you can on the Xigmatek S1283V? Cool. lol

 

[PaulieG]

This cooler looks like the water cooling kit that I see on ebay for $49 from some OEM company. It's probably the same one, rebranded. LOL. I respect Corsair for their ram and power supplies, but damn guys. You need to do better than this.

 

[mudkip]

This cooler looks like the water cooling kit that I see on ebay for $49 from some OEM company. It's probably the same one, rebranded. LOL. I respect Corsair for their ram and power supplies, but damn guys. You need to do better than this.

Yeah , Asetek (OEM ) and NorthQ already released this watercooler before.

Exactly like the corsair h50 only NorthQ has a LED fan

http://www.northq.com/products/coolers/nq3580-1366.html

http://www.asetek.com/content/view/471/229/

 

[tkpenalty]

Its the same as what xigmatek are doing; selling to third party distributors to resell.
Nonetheless, considering how cheap it is, I reckon they're allright.

 

[kid41212003]

You need a better cooler for overclocking? So you can't get an E4300 from 1.8GHz to 3GHz on the stock cooler? Oh. But you can on the Xigmatek S1283V? Cool. lol

It's memory overclocking, not CPU.

Running high frequency memory inrease the cpu temp, and this does not happen with Core 2 duo/quad, because like we all know, the Core i7 has a memory controller (requires higher voltages for higher memory).

 

[Kitkat]

Sooo... better cooling than stock is better than stock cooling.

http://www.hollow-hill.com/sabina/images/no-shit-sherlock.jpg

However, I didn't know that CPU heat was so dependant on the memory used.

verry good cash or charge?

 

[rampage]

as all of us here know it is a obvious thing that better cooling gives a better OC, but people who dont know the i7 fully may not understand the the memory controler is in the cpu not the north bridge and how that relates to OCing the ram/cpu and now that heat from OCing one effects the other more directly now (cpu/ram)

 

[PaulieG]

as all of us here know it is a obvious thing that better cooling gives a better OC, but people who dont know the i7 fully may not understand the the memory controler is in the cpu not the north bridge and how that relates to OCing the ram/cpu and now that heat from OCing one effects the other more directly now (cpu/ram)

Anyone who is using an enthusiast chip SHOULD understand the IMC and VTT stuff. I just can't get over Corsair trying to pass this Asetek crap as a Corsair product. My respect for them just went down a couple on notches. My best bet is that this kit will still not match a true, which really defeats the purpose of water cooling.

 

[Kitkat]

Anyone who is using an enthusiast chip SHOULD understand the IMC and VTT stuff. I just can't get over Corsair trying to pass this Asetek crap as a Corsair product. My respect for them just went down a couple on notches. My best bet is that this kit will still not match a true, which really defeats the purpose of water cooling.

its not a first. see something cool oem, and we wish we thought of it. we buy it, we sell it. (and sometmes we tweak it). Your respect for them shouldnt go down a notch. Theese anouncements are always buttered. The things YOU acualy want too had a "press release" about how they can make u fly if you had wings too. Look them up lol. As for the rebranding tweaking selling thing It hapens wayyyyyyy more than u think.

 

[AltecV1]

that is a nice little water cooling unit

 

[PaulieG]

its not a first. see something cool oem, and we wish we thought of it. we buy it, we sell it. (and sometmes we tweak it). Your respect for them shouldnt go down a notch. Theese anouncements are always buttered. The things YOU acualy want too had a "press release" about how they can make u fly if you had wings too. Look them up lol. As for the rebranding tweaking selling thing It hapens wayyyyyyy more than u think.

Perhaps you misunderstand my annoyance. Of course rebranding happens all of the time. My respect has to do with the quality of what a company decides to rebrand. If they decided to rebrand one of the Swiftech kits or something, because I know they perform well. Just don't take your good name and tarnish it by rebranding crap. That's all I'm saying.

 

[WarEagleAU]

They are stating what some folks may not have known. Of course, no one really uses stock hsf that comes with procs these days (well newtekie1 does and Im sure average joe probablydoes) but most enthusiast dont.

 

[The Average Joe]

They are stating what some folks may not have known. Of course, no one really uses stock hsf that comes with procs these days (well newtekie1 does and Im sure average joe probablydoes) but most enthusiast dont.

Take that back
I most certainly do not use stock

 

[Konceptz]

this should be common sense as the memory controller is on the chip itself......

 

[john625]

I already have my I7 overclocked to 4ghz using corsairs water cooler:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkdOK_uHMy0

 

[Depth]

Oh, so my i7 will run colder if I buy a cooler? It all makes sense now, I thought my Zalman was for mixing paint.