Test System and Temperature Results

Test System

Testing Procedure

All testing is done at a room temperature of 23°C (73°F) with a 1°C margin of error. The coolers are tested with Turbo, EIST, and C1E enabled, which will allow the CPU to clock down to a low 1.6 GHz while idle, or clock up to proper speeds under stock and overclocked conditions. The retail Intel Core i7-4770K I use for testing at stock is set to load-optimized defaults with the CPU's voltage at a static 1.15 V. Overclocked, the processor is running at 4.2 GHz on the CPU and 3.9 GHz on cache, with respective voltages set to 1.20 V and 1.15 V. During all these tests, fans are set to run at 100% in the BIOS, with temperatures being recorded by AIDA64.

The idle test will consist of the CPU sitting idle at the desktop for 15 minutes. This will allow for a stable temperature reading that will be recorded at the end of those 15 minutes.

Wprime's and AIDA64's CPU test represent typical multi-threaded loads. Both offer consistent results, with one being a benchmarking application and the other a stability test. Both are run for 15 minutes before the peak reading during the test is recorded and taken as the result. This test lets enthusiasts know what temperatures they can expect to see with games and applications. Wprime is set to eight threads while AIDA64 is configured to stress the CPU, FPU, cache, and system memory.

AIDA64 offers maximum heat generation when set to stress just the FPU in the stability test, which will really push the CPU. This test represents extreme loads much like LinX, Prime95, and other extreme stress tests many users are familiar with.

Idle Temperatures

At idle, Deepcool's Gamer Storm Maelstrom 240 does well under both stock and overclocked settings. It even manages to tie for the top spot in the charts with the system overclocked.

Typical Load Temperatures

In Wprime, the first typical load test, the Maelstrom 240 performs solidly. It doesn't take the top spot, but it does stay near the top of the charts. However, the Corsair H105 steals its thunder, which is in part due to its noisier and faster fans and a thicker radiator.


Firing up Aida64's CPU benchmark, the Maelstrom 240 falls back towards the middle of the pack. Granted, it performance in these tests seems to be worse than is actually the case. Honestly: With the CPU overclockedn, this cooler is still performing well against high-end air coolers in the same price bracket. Stock settings have the Maelstrom fall back a bit, but even so, there is only a 4°C difference between Deepcool's product and the Corsair H105 at the top of the chart.

Max Load Temperatures

Now for the torture test. Using Aida 64 to maximize heat by loading the CPU's FPU, we see the Gamer Storm Maelstrom 240 hold its own in both tests. It only falls 2°C behind the Corsair H110 and 2-3°C behind Noctua's NH-D15, which is nothing to scoff at. Overall performance is pretty damn solid for their first AIO liquid CPU cooler.