Monsoon II Lite: Thermal Electric Cooling Tower
by Wesley Fink on February 6, 2007 6:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Overclocking & Power Requirements
As cooling solutions do a better job of keeping the CPU at a lower temperature, then it is reasonable to expect the overclocking capabilities of the CPU will increase. In each test of a cooler we measure the highest stable overclock of a standard X6800 processor under the following conditions:
CPU Multiplier: 14x (Stock 11x)
CPU voltage: 1.5875V
FSB Voltage: 1.30V
Memory Voltage: 2.20V
nForce SPP Voltage: 1.5V
nForce MCP Voltage: 1.7V
HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: Auto
Memory is set to Auto timings on the 680i and memory speed is linked to the FSB for the overclocking tests. This removes memory as any kind of impediment to the maximum stable overclock. Linked settings on the 680i are a 1066 FSB to a DDR2 memory speed of DDR2-800. As FSB is raised the linked memory speed increases in proportion. The same processor is used in all cooling tests to ensure comparable results.
The Monsoon II Lite reached the highest stable overclock yet seen with this CPU at 3.96 GHz. While the CPU, cooled with the Monsoon II, would boot at speeds of 4.0Ghz, the system was not completely stable. The highest stable speed was 3.96 GHz and voltage needed to be increased to 1.6125V at that speed for complete stability. However, the Monsoon II maintained a comfortable 54C even at 1.6125V.
It is very interesting that the Tuniq actually tested a couple of degrees cooler than the Monsoon II at 3.90 GHz, but that the CPU could not be pushed to even higher speeds with Tuniq cooling. It is not clear why the Tuniq couldn't handle the higher voltages for stable operation above 3.90 GHz, but the Monsoon II Lite hybrid TEC certainly gave an overclocking edge at the top. The Intel retail cooler, at a top 3.73 GHz overclock, is now some 230 MHz behind the overclocking leader.
Power Consumption
A normal HSF, whether a retail Intel cooler or a huge heatpipe tower, is similarly restricted by the amount of power that can be delivered to a fan header. While there are accessory fans that draw more power and require Molex to fan header adapters, in general the power requirement for a cooler is of little concern. A Peltier or TEC cooler is quite different, and the power requirements of a TEC should be a concern when buying a TEC cooler. Vigor specifies the power requirement at 50W at 100% load, which is a relatively low power requirement. To confirm this specification power usage in watts for the entire system was measured with a Kill-A-Watt meter at the wall socket. Measurements were then compared to power requirements for the same system running a Retail Intel HSF.
Power measurements confirm Vigor's specification of a maximum 50W power requirement for the Monsoon II TEC. At both stock speed and overclocked to 3.73 Ghz, the power delta between the Intel retail cooler and the Monsoon II Lite was around 50W. This also was true at both idle and stress conditions.
One very interesting number is the power consumption of the system at a 3.96 GHz overclock. Idle under these conditions it consumed 285W, but the stress of continuous gaming raised the power requirement to 415W. Our test system used an NVIDIA 7900GTX video card. If we had tested the same system with the Peltier and an NVIDIA 8800 the power requirement may well have exceeded our 520W power supply.
Whatever is now required for proper operation of your system, you will need to add 50W for the Monsoon II Lite. In most case this requirement will be negligible, but in some configurations the extra 50W requirement could make a difference.
As cooling solutions do a better job of keeping the CPU at a lower temperature, then it is reasonable to expect the overclocking capabilities of the CPU will increase. In each test of a cooler we measure the highest stable overclock of a standard X6800 processor under the following conditions:
CPU Multiplier: 14x (Stock 11x)
CPU voltage: 1.5875V
FSB Voltage: 1.30V
Memory Voltage: 2.20V
nForce SPP Voltage: 1.5V
nForce MCP Voltage: 1.7V
HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: Auto
Memory is set to Auto timings on the 680i and memory speed is linked to the FSB for the overclocking tests. This removes memory as any kind of impediment to the maximum stable overclock. Linked settings on the 680i are a 1066 FSB to a DDR2 memory speed of DDR2-800. As FSB is raised the linked memory speed increases in proportion. The same processor is used in all cooling tests to ensure comparable results.
The Monsoon II Lite reached the highest stable overclock yet seen with this CPU at 3.96 GHz. While the CPU, cooled with the Monsoon II, would boot at speeds of 4.0Ghz, the system was not completely stable. The highest stable speed was 3.96 GHz and voltage needed to be increased to 1.6125V at that speed for complete stability. However, the Monsoon II maintained a comfortable 54C even at 1.6125V.
It is very interesting that the Tuniq actually tested a couple of degrees cooler than the Monsoon II at 3.90 GHz, but that the CPU could not be pushed to even higher speeds with Tuniq cooling. It is not clear why the Tuniq couldn't handle the higher voltages for stable operation above 3.90 GHz, but the Monsoon II Lite hybrid TEC certainly gave an overclocking edge at the top. The Intel retail cooler, at a top 3.73 GHz overclock, is now some 230 MHz behind the overclocking leader.
Power Consumption
A normal HSF, whether a retail Intel cooler or a huge heatpipe tower, is similarly restricted by the amount of power that can be delivered to a fan header. While there are accessory fans that draw more power and require Molex to fan header adapters, in general the power requirement for a cooler is of little concern. A Peltier or TEC cooler is quite different, and the power requirements of a TEC should be a concern when buying a TEC cooler. Vigor specifies the power requirement at 50W at 100% load, which is a relatively low power requirement. To confirm this specification power usage in watts for the entire system was measured with a Kill-A-Watt meter at the wall socket. Measurements were then compared to power requirements for the same system running a Retail Intel HSF.
Power measurements confirm Vigor's specification of a maximum 50W power requirement for the Monsoon II TEC. At both stock speed and overclocked to 3.73 Ghz, the power delta between the Intel retail cooler and the Monsoon II Lite was around 50W. This also was true at both idle and stress conditions.
One very interesting number is the power consumption of the system at a 3.96 GHz overclock. Idle under these conditions it consumed 285W, but the stress of continuous gaming raised the power requirement to 415W. Our test system used an NVIDIA 7900GTX video card. If we had tested the same system with the Peltier and an NVIDIA 8800 the power requirement may well have exceeded our 520W power supply.
Whatever is now required for proper operation of your system, you will need to add 50W for the Monsoon II Lite. In most case this requirement will be negligible, but in some configurations the extra 50W requirement could make a difference.
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19 Comments
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hox - Friday, February 23, 2007 - link
Looking at your evaluation of this cooler, the screen shot you provide of the Nvidia monitoring software shows a Cpu temp of 49C and a system temp of 35C. Since you state you used this software to monitor temps during your evaluation could you please explain how the worst heat sink (intel stock cooler) started at 41C at idle. What heat sink was in place during your screen shot of the nvidia software? Also more information is needed to evaluate the product, in particular what is the fan arrangement in the mid tower case? Fan Number, CFM, size etc. The performance of each heatsink is highly dependent on the supplied flow of air, and there is considerable variability in how each heat sink works with the available flow. Knowing more about your standard set up would be helpful. Finally many users of the Qx6700 cpu have reported a higher initial tempearture value for this cpu. It would be nice to see in your evaluations an assessment of this processor as it typically runs 10 degrees C hotter than the dual core extremes.customcoms - Tuesday, February 6, 2007 - link
For more information, and real world tests by some of the top overclockers out there, check out this thread: http://www.diy-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6...">http://www.diy-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6...There are real world temperatures AND comparisons with other top cooling, including water. In essence, the results you see here are VERY typical. For instance, processors that would top out at 2.9ghz under HIGH END, CUSTOM WATERCOOLING (TDX block etc.) would then push on to hit 3ghz+ with the TEC. Personally, I'd rather spend the $90 on a the monsoon to reach higher clocks than $300+ watercooling setups, and not have to worry about leakage.
Avalon - Tuesday, February 6, 2007 - link
The Coolit Eliminator sells for about $200, and is similar to the Freezone. I'd definitely like to see a comparison of either. Good review.nickfd - Tuesday, February 6, 2007 - link
For my next rig, I want to use peltier/TEC, but I dont want a 2 pound block on my CPU. I want to use a 1/2" tube liquid loop with reservoir, radiator, and pump. Does anyone have, or can recommend a combination liquid/peltier block, or could point me in direction to look?Thanks much!
Wesley Fink - Tuesday, February 6, 2007 - link
The Coolit Freezone is a liquid/TEC combo. See comments above for more Freezone info.Tiamat - Tuesday, February 6, 2007 - link
Since the peltier "runs" at about 77 F, and it hits about 90 - 110 F in the summer depending on where you live, I wonder if condensation will become a problem for this circumstance.mpc7488 - Tuesday, February 6, 2007 - link
If it's 110 degrees in your house, I feel for you and suggest you sink the $89 towards Central A/C.In all honesty though, condensation is a concern, my brother smoked 2 machines when experimenting with Peltier cooling, water dripped from the heatsink down into the socket.
ViperV990 - Tuesday, February 6, 2007 - link
Shouldn't the target temperature on the cold side of the TEC be the case ambient temperature around the processor to avoid condensation altogether?cheetah2k - Tuesday, February 6, 2007 - link
I think that the comparison with the other coolers is very primitive. You should compare this to the likes of the Coolit Freezone or Eliminator as they too are TEC related coolers. I have the Freezone myself, and i enjoy the overclocking boost it gives my AMD FX-60 sitting stable at 3.15Ghz at 1.52vWesley Fink - Tuesday, February 6, 2007 - link
We wanted to get a wider variety of coolers in our database before tackling the Frezzone review. It should also be pointed out that the self contained six-TEC liquid cooled Freezone has a retail price of $400 and a street price of around $300. This is considerably more expensive than the $89 street price of the Monsoon II Lite. We have heard great things about the Freezone, and we do have one in the lab for testing. However, it is certainly in a different price category than the Monsoon II Lite, which is closer in price to heatpipe tower air coolers.