Thermal Performance

Test System

Test Methodology

A Swiftech MCP35x2 pump, an Aquaero 6 XT controller, and a Black Ice Nemesis GTX 480 radiator with Noiseblocker NB-eLoop B12-3 fans complete the loop. The GPU is not placed in the loop to make the only source of heat the CPU and, thus, the CPU block itself. Average flow rate is set to 1 GPM and calibrated in-line temperature sensors are used to measure the coolant's temperature.

Everything required is placed inside a hotbox, and the ambient temperature is set to 25 °C. Thermal paste cure time is taken into account and three separate mounts/runs are done for statistical accuracy and to remove chances of any mounting-related anomalies. For each run, a 30 min AIDA64 load test is used, and CPU core temperatures are measured using the same, with the average core temperature recorded at the end of each run. A delta T of CPU core and loop temperature is thus calculated for each run, with an average delta T that is then obtained across all three runs. This way, the cooling solution is taken out of the picture.

Test Results

Note that metal top blocks generally perform slightly better than the non-metal top blocks in my environmental chamber with active ventilation. I unfortunately also only have one CPU test platform at this time, and I estimate the Intel Core i9-9900K to be consuming north of 200 W in this test, which is still far lower than most HEDT CPUs that can consume more than twice as much. So the smaller gaps between the various blocks here would be exaggerated with a higher heat load of dissipation. Regardless, the average results show the EK-Quantum Magnitude to currently be the best performer on my LGA 115x test setup, so take that as a good sign even if the actual gap is minimal.