Enzotech Ultra-X: If Looks Could Chill
by Wesley Fink on June 27, 2007 3:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Conclusion
It would have been great to see the Enzotech Ultra-X top our cooling test results. This is not because we have a bias in favor of Enzotech, but because a cooler as beautifully finished as the Ultra-X deserves recognition. Unfortunately the best we can say about the Enzotech is that it is the best of the down-facing coolers by a small margin in overclocking, which is a notch below the top-performing heatpipe towers. This is certainly not bad performance, but it is not the best we have tested at AnandTech.
Nothing we have measured in this review of the Enzotech Ultra-X has changed our opinion of the influence of air cooler design on cooler performance. The heatpipe towers with side-facing fans are the top-performing coolers we have tested, in both overclocking ability and cooling efficiency. The best designs with down-facing fans perform in a second tier category just below the top heatpipe towers. The Enzotech Ultra-X performs in that category. That means the top of the air cooler list is still the domain of the Thermalrights, Tuniq Tower 120, and a few push-pull configured towers.
This makes the Ultra-X a beautifully built gem of a cooler with solid engineering of the installation kits for Intel 775 and AMD. The Enzotech is relatively easy to install, but you will have to remove the motherboard to install the Ultra-X. Like many other top coolers the Enzotech Ultra-X is heavy at 835g, but the installation is solid on every motherboard we tried. This is a cooler that attaches to the board securely enough that you won't worry about the cooler falling off when you least expect it. Ultra-X is still a big cooler and you will need to take precautions when moving your system, but the install is solid.
The fan choice for the Ultra-X, however, is not a particularly good selection. It is very noisy at highest speed, where it is most effective at cooling. At lowest speed it is reasonably quiet, but the output borders on anemic. Look back through our reviews of coolers and choose a fan that better balances air output and noise. Fortunately almost any 25mm thick 120mm fan can be mounted on the Ultra-X (though that's an additional cost to an already pricey cooler). Another plus is that the included rheostat for varying fan speed will work on almost any fan with a 3-pin connector, and that means it can be used with almost any 120mm fan.
We really appreciate the obvious quality that went into the manufacturing of the Enzotech Ultra X. The mirror finish mounting base is a very satisfying sight compared to the rough, poorly-machined surfaces seen on far too many coolers today. However, it is hard to argue for mirror-finishes and thoughtful well-engineered installations when you can't find any performance improvements. In the end the Ultra-X still suffers from the same shortfalls as other down-facing coolers, and its cooling efficiency is not even as good as a few of the better down-facers. Overclocking fares a bit better, but then we have a noisy obtrusive fan. If you admire quality production you will like the Ultra-X, but the performance and noise levels still leave a lot to be desired. This is particularly true when you factor in that the Enzotech Ultra-X is one of the more expensive air coolers we have tested. There are better values available in the air cooling market.
It would have been great to see the Enzotech Ultra-X top our cooling test results. This is not because we have a bias in favor of Enzotech, but because a cooler as beautifully finished as the Ultra-X deserves recognition. Unfortunately the best we can say about the Enzotech is that it is the best of the down-facing coolers by a small margin in overclocking, which is a notch below the top-performing heatpipe towers. This is certainly not bad performance, but it is not the best we have tested at AnandTech.
Nothing we have measured in this review of the Enzotech Ultra-X has changed our opinion of the influence of air cooler design on cooler performance. The heatpipe towers with side-facing fans are the top-performing coolers we have tested, in both overclocking ability and cooling efficiency. The best designs with down-facing fans perform in a second tier category just below the top heatpipe towers. The Enzotech Ultra-X performs in that category. That means the top of the air cooler list is still the domain of the Thermalrights, Tuniq Tower 120, and a few push-pull configured towers.
This makes the Ultra-X a beautifully built gem of a cooler with solid engineering of the installation kits for Intel 775 and AMD. The Enzotech is relatively easy to install, but you will have to remove the motherboard to install the Ultra-X. Like many other top coolers the Enzotech Ultra-X is heavy at 835g, but the installation is solid on every motherboard we tried. This is a cooler that attaches to the board securely enough that you won't worry about the cooler falling off when you least expect it. Ultra-X is still a big cooler and you will need to take precautions when moving your system, but the install is solid.
The fan choice for the Ultra-X, however, is not a particularly good selection. It is very noisy at highest speed, where it is most effective at cooling. At lowest speed it is reasonably quiet, but the output borders on anemic. Look back through our reviews of coolers and choose a fan that better balances air output and noise. Fortunately almost any 25mm thick 120mm fan can be mounted on the Ultra-X (though that's an additional cost to an already pricey cooler). Another plus is that the included rheostat for varying fan speed will work on almost any fan with a 3-pin connector, and that means it can be used with almost any 120mm fan.
We really appreciate the obvious quality that went into the manufacturing of the Enzotech Ultra X. The mirror finish mounting base is a very satisfying sight compared to the rough, poorly-machined surfaces seen on far too many coolers today. However, it is hard to argue for mirror-finishes and thoughtful well-engineered installations when you can't find any performance improvements. In the end the Ultra-X still suffers from the same shortfalls as other down-facing coolers, and its cooling efficiency is not even as good as a few of the better down-facers. Overclocking fares a bit better, but then we have a noisy obtrusive fan. If you admire quality production you will like the Ultra-X, but the performance and noise levels still leave a lot to be desired. This is particularly true when you factor in that the Enzotech Ultra-X is one of the more expensive air coolers we have tested. There are better values available in the air cooling market.
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GlassHouse69 - Friday, June 29, 2007 - link
This screams for a simple fan swap. Either a Nexus fan, a Yate loon, or a Papst 120. That with a front fan controller would make this a very decent cooler without the noise.mpelle4456 - Thursday, June 28, 2007 - link
I think it’s great that Anandtech is doing reviews on heat sinks, but I can’t get behind some of your methodology – i.e., the “highest stable overclocking” tests for heat sinks.There are so many, many variables at play when overclocking a computer, that unless every test was done with exactly the same components – the exact same CPU, the exact same motherboard, the exact same RAM, and so on – all the exact same hardware, with the exact same BIOS settings and software – then the test is not in any way valid.
Tests using the same model/brand CPU’s or RAM just don’t it – there are way too many variations between different CPU’s and steppings. An Opteron 170 CCB1E 0550VPMW might perform totally different to an Operton 170 CCBWE 0609FPAW. The same is true with RAM and other similar components.
The rest of the tests are more valuable – assuming that each of the 20 or so heat sinks were tested with the same model processors.
The best, most useful methodology I have seen was used by Joe Citarella over at Overclockers.com -- http://www.overclockers.com/articles373/p4sum.asp">http://www.overclockers.com/articles373/p4sum.asp
In their tests, they used a die simulator which put out a specific, precise amount of heat.
Their results are expressed as xx C/W (x degrees centigrade cooling per CPU watt – e.g., “To calculate what to expect for other CPUs, for every watt the CPU radiates, the heatsink will cool the core by the (C/W x watts) plus ambient temp. For example, at a fan inlet temp of 25 C, a C/W of 0.25 with a CPU radiating 50 watts means that the CPU temp will be 50 x 0.25 = 12.5 C over ambient temp, or 37.5 C.”
Unfortunately, it appears they discontinued their air cooling reviews some time ago.
Wesley Fink - Friday, June 29, 2007 - link
You are correct in stating highest overclock tests need all variables to remain the same. We DO use the excat same CPU, motherboard, RAM, BIOS settings. Hard Drive, and Software/OS image for all cooler overclocking tests.That is why we will retest a few representative coolers and start a new database when we make to the change to a new test bed. Ot os also why we are slow to change our test beds once they are established.
BigMacKing - Friday, June 29, 2007 - link
even in the same case?If it is, most of your cooler reviews will be worthless, unless users use the same case as you.
punko - Friday, June 29, 2007 - link
I'm not the sharpest stick in the umbrella stand, but I assume the case is standing normally, so the MB is vertical and the cooler is standing "sideways".With the down coolers, the heat pipes may disturbe the exhaust airflow. There are two possible arrangements at 90 degrees to each other. Would this affect things?
Note, also would apply to towers, which way do you point the fan? toward the exhaust vent?
For this cooler, there are 4 possible configurations, as the heatpipes are only on one side.
Is there any reason to suspect that the orientation of the cooler would have any difference?
Making sure the heated air is exhausted from the case is key, as is making sure you have a clear passage of cool air. any chance of recirculating the warm air will reduce cooling. the Towers have the advantage as the exhaust air would be moving the air not at the MB but directly at the exaust vent.
Just a thought
Tuffrabbit - Thursday, June 28, 2007 - link
Looks like the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme is going to be the winner for quite some time... But please keep bringing on all contenders ! Another great bout !magreen1 - Thursday, June 28, 2007 - link
I laughed out loudjebo - Thursday, June 28, 2007 - link
I wonder if the extra "bend" in heatpipes inherent in top-down coolers is preventing them from keeping up with the side-blowing coolers?Either way, each review solidifies my plan to pick up an Ultra 120 extreme once I make my quad-core upgrade :)
strikeback03 - Friday, June 29, 2007 - link
I'm wondering if it might be the extra length of the heatpipes before they get to the cooling fins. More heat would build up in the processor if it can't be moved away as efficiently.joetron2030 - Thursday, June 28, 2007 - link
First, I've really been enjoying these cooler tests. Very informative and I've been keeping track for my next build.One thing I would like to see, that I haven't seen so far, is a chart/graph that lists all of the tested coolers by weight. Considering one of the things mentioned in these tests is the weights of some of these coolers, it would be nice to be able to add that in as another point of comparison between these coolers. Unless, of course, their weights are all relatively close to one another.
Thanks for the consideration!