The SilverStone Permafrost PF120, PF240, and PF360 ARGB AIO Coolers Review
by E. Fylladitakis on June 17, 2020 10:00 AM ESTTesting Results, Maximum Fan Speed
Our maximum speed testing is performed with both the fans and the pump of the kit powered via a 12V DC source. This input voltage should have the pump and fans matching the speed ratings of the manufacturer. As per SilverStone’s specifications, the fans should have a rotational speed of 2200 RPM. According to our tachometer, the speed of the fans is spot-on at 2200 RPM. Furthermore, the speed difference between the six fans we tested was negligible, indicating great manufacturing quality and minimal deviations.
| Core Temperature, Constant Thermal Load (Max Fan Speed) |
A glance at the average thermal performance charts reveals that the new SilverStone Permafrost coolers perform as expected of their size and technology. Their raw performance falls very close to that of similarly sized coolers, outperforming some and losing to others. The average thermal resistance of 0.0732 °C/W that the PF360 achieves is remarkable for any kind of CPU cooler, yet it does not break any records and is overshadowed by the impressive 0.0773 °C/W figure that the PF240 achieved. The smaller PF120 has a substantial performance gap compared to its larger counterparts but does perform well for a single 120 mm AIO cooler.
In terms of acoustics, SilverStone’s engineers did an excellent job. Despite that the fans supplied with the Permafrost coolers are relatively high-speed, the sound pressure levels of all three coolers are comparatively low. As a result, the larger coolers end up outperforming models that use one or even two fewer fans.
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drexnx - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
wish we'd get a teardown of the pumpblock, seems like after many years of asetek stagnation we're finally seeing performance move forward again in AIOswarrenk81 - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
page 2 typo: "The bottom of the main block assembly reveals a sizable, square cooper block."eastcoast_pete - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
Maybe my information is outdated, but isn't there a small, but significant difference in the overall shape (slightly concave vs. slightly convex) of AMD's vs. Intel's heat spreaders that can really affect cooling performance? I may have missed it, but are the copper blocks "fitted" to the respective CPU type? If not, some of that cooling potential is likely being wasted.Also, with current "enthusiast" kind Intel CPUs reaching over 250 W TDP at peak use, any chance of showing results with a steady 250 or 200 W load?
PeachNCream - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
I'm seeing a drop down menu option to select various wattage from 60W up 340W including the 200W and 250W options you would like.eastcoast_pete - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
Yeah, I should have been clearer; that comment/request was in regard to the last graph, which doesn't have the drop-down selection, and is for 100W only.Interestingly, no response by anyone yet on the question about the shape of the copper block; I didn't think it'd matter, until I read some tests that showed a pretty significant difference depending on how true the heatsink matches the heat spreader's shape
p1esk - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
"the contact plate is not large enough to cover Ryzen Threadripper processors"OK thanks
Arbie - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
For those interested, the Noctua NH-D15 is close to the Fractal Design S36 here, except that there's no data on Noctua above 38 dBA:https://www.anandtech.com/show/14621/the-noctua-nh...
Beaver M. - Saturday, June 20, 2020 - link
And thats with 2 fans.Plus you always have the option to sound-insulate your case, which helps a lot on air coolers, while the pumps of AIOs are pretty impossible to get silent due to their vibration.
edwardav54 - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
No RGB please.AdditionalPylons - Thursday, June 18, 2020 - link
If my colleague working with permafrost research would be into stationary PCs I'd buy this for him at once. =)That said, I may consider this in a mITX build for myself at some point.
(I've only had one AIO - an Asetek for LGA775, years ago. Wasn't bothered with the relatively minor pump noise. Have since used Noctua air coolers and been happy with that.)