Test System & Temperature Results

Test System

Testing Procedure

All testing is done at a room temperature of 23°C (73°F) and 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, the CRYORIG R1 Universal performs as expected, with temperatures within 1-2°C of the competition at stock and overclocked.

Typical Load Temperatures

In Wprime, the R1 Universal manages to tie all other high-end air coolers with ease while the CPU is at stock or overclocked. Add a third fan and it even manages to come within 1°C of the Corsair H110 in the overclocked test.


Firing up Aida64's CPU benchmark, CRYORIG's R1 Universal begins to show what it is made of by tying the H110 at stock and when overclocked. Add a third fan and it actually manages to beat the competition by 1°C.

Max Load Temperatures

During the AIDA64 FPU test, the R1 Universal manages to tie or beat the other top-end air coolers. When the third fan is added, it manages to top all competitors, which makes it the best performer under heavy load.