Test System & 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

Idle temperatures with one fan installed are nothing special. Its performance places it toward the back of the pack at stock and when the CPU is overclocked. Granted, idle performance is not indicative of overall cooling performance.

Typical Load Temperatures

The Fera 2 HE1224 again places toward the back of the pack at stock in the first load test. However, it climbs toward the middle of the pack and beats the often recommended Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO by 1°C once the CPU has been overclocked and even manages to improve its performance greatly during the overclock test once a second fan has been installed.


Pushing a heavier workload with AIDA64's CPU stability test has the Fera 2 HE1224 again falling to the back of the pack at stock. A second fan does improve performance in our stock test by 3°C. With an overclock applied, the cooler does much better, placing in the middle of the pack. A second fan even has it challenge much more expensive products by the competition.

Max Load Temperatures

Cranking up the work load with AIDA64's FPU test, it's easy to see what coolers offer the best performance, and while the Fera 2 HE1224 is not at the top of charts, it does rather well all the same. Keeping in mind its $24 price tag with one fan and $29 total with a second fan, it fails to impress at stock; however, it offers better-than-expected performance once the CPU has been overclocked. SilentiumPC's Fera 2 HE1224 manages to beat out far more expensive competitors, such as the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO and Scythe Katana 4. Add a second fan and it will challenge coolers that are nearly double its price - overall, an exceptional cooler for the money.