Introduction

The Prolimatech Panther is a CPU cooler with a tower heatsink, four heatpipes and a 120 mm fan with LEDs. It seems to be a smaller version of the Armageddon CPU cooler, which we already reviewed. Let’s test it and see how well it performs.

The Panther comes in a black cardboard box with no transparent windows, as shown in Figure 1.

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Figure 1: Package

Figure 2 shows the contents of the box: heatsink, fan, a syringe of thermal compound, manual, and installation hardware. Although the Panther comes with only one fan, it supports two, coming with the clips necessary to install both.

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Figure 2: Accessories

Figure 3 displays the Panther heatsink.

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Figure 3: The Panther heatsink

This cooler is discussed in detail in the following pages.

The Prolimatech Panther

Figure 4 illustrates the front of the cooler. Here you can see that the heatpipes are disposed side-by-side, in a straight line.

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Figure 4: Front view

Figure 5 reveals the side of the relatively narrow heatsink. Here (and in Figure 6) you can notice a unique feature of the Panther: the fins are not whole, but are split into two halves and interleaved at the middle of the heatsink.

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Figure 5: Side view

In Figure 6, you can see the top of the heatsink, where the tips of the heatpipes are visible. You can also observe the same logo seen on the box, resembling a cat (well, probably a panther).

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Figure 6: Top view

The Prolimatech Panther (Cont’d)

In Figure 7, you can see how the nickel-plated heatpipes are distributed from the base to the heatsink.

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Figure 7: Heatpipes

Figure 8 reveals the base of the cooler, which is smooth but not exactly mirrored.

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Figure 8: Base

In Figure 9, you can see the fan that comes with the Panther. This fan has red LEDs, and it is compatible with PWM control.

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Figure 9: Fan

Installation

We were surprised with the ease of installation of this cooler. On the other hand, the Panther supports only sockets 1155 and 1156 CPUs from Intel, and sockets AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, and FM1 AMD processors. There is no support for socket 775 and socket 1366 CPUs, and socket 2011 processors are supported through special screws that must be purchased separately.

The first step is to screw both clips seen in Figure 10 to the base of the cooler. There is a pair of clips for socket 1155 (that also fit sockets 1156 and 2011) and another pair for AMD sockets.

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Figure 10: Clips installed

Then you must locate the backplate according to your CPU (Figure 11 shows the backplate for sockets 1155 and 1156; there is another one for AMD CPUs) on the solder side of the motherboard.

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Figure 11: Backplate

After that, place the cooler over the CPU and hold it, fastening the four spring-loaded, easy-to-reach thumbscrews.

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Figure 12: Heatsink installed

In Figure 13, you can see the cooler with the fan installed and the LEDs glowing. (The wire clips make this step a piece of cake.)

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Figure 13: Fan glow

How We Tested

We tested the cooler with a Core i7-860 CPU (quad-core, 2.8 GHz), which is a socket 1156 processor with a 95 W TDP (Thermal Design Power). In order to get higher thermal dissipation, we overclocked it to 3.3 GHz (150 MHz base clock and 22x multiplier), keeping the standard core voltage (Vcore), which was the maximum stable overclock we could make with the stock cooler. Keep in mind that we could have raised the CPU clock more, but to include the stock cooler in our comparison, we needed to use this moderate overclock.

We measured noise and temperature with the CPU idle and under full load. In order to get 100% CPU usage in all threads, we ran Prime 95 25.11 with the "In-place Large FFTs" option. (In this version, the software uses all available threads.)

We compared the tested cooler to the Intel stock cooler with a copper base (included with the CPU), as well as with other coolers. Note that in the past, we tested coolers with a socket 775 CPU, and we retested some "old" coolers with this new methodology. This means you can find different values in older reviews than the values you will read in the next page. Every cooler was tested with the thermal compound that accompanies it.

Room temperature measurements were taken with a digital thermometer. The core temperature was read with the SpeedFan program (available from the CPU thermal sensors), using an arithmetic average of the core temperature readings. During the tests, the left panel of the case was open.

The sound pressure level (SPL) was measured with a digital noise meter, with its sensor placed 4" (10 cm) from the fan. We turned off the case and video board cooler fans so they wouldn't interfere with the results. This measurement is only for comparison purposes, because a precise SPL measurement needs to be made inside an acoustically insulated room with no other noise sources, which isn't the case here.

Hardware Configuration

• Processor: Core i7-860
• Motherboard: Gigabyte P55A-UD6
• Memory: 2 GB Markvision (DDR3-1333/PC3-10700 with 9-9-9-22 timings), configured at 1,200 MHz
• Hard disk: Seagate Barracuda XT 2 TB
• Video card: Zotac GeForce GTS 250
• Video resolution: 1680x1050
• Video monitor: Samsung Syncmaster 2232BW Plus
• Power supply: Seventeam ST-550P-AM
• Case: 3RSystem L-1100 T.REX Cool

Operating System Configuration

• Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1

Software Used

• Prime95
• SpeedFan

Error Margin

We adopted a 2 ^oC error margin, meaning temperature differences below 2 ^oC are considered irrelevant.

Our Tests

The table below presents the results of our measurements. We repeated the same test on all coolers listed below. Each measurement was taken with the CPU at idle and at full load. In the models with a fan supporting PWM, the motherboard controlled the fan speed according to core load and temperature. On coolers with an integrated fan controller, the fan was set at the minimum speed on the idle test and at full speed on the full load test.

		Idle Processor			Processor at Full Load
Cooler	Room Temp.	Noise	Speed	Core Temp.	Noise	Speed	Core Temp.
Intel stock (socket 1156)	14 ºC	44 dBA	1700 rpm	46 ºC	54 dBA	2500 rpm	90 ºC
Cooler Master Hyper TX3 G1	14 ºC	47 dBA	2050 rpm	33 ºC	56 dBA	2900 rpm	62 ºC
Zalman CNPS10X Extreme	14 ºC	45 dBA	1400 rpm	27 ºC	53 dBA	1950 rpm	51 ºC
Thermaltake Silent 1156	14 ºC	44 dBA	1200 rpm	38 ºC	49 dBA	1750 rpm	69 ºC
Noctua NH-D14	14 ºC	49 dBA	1250 rpm	27 ºC	49 dBA	1250 rpm	53 ºC
Zalman CNPS10X Performa	14 °C	46 dBA	1500 rpm	28 °C	52 dBA	1950 rpm	54 °C
Prolimatech Megahalems	14 °C	40 dBA	750 rpm	27 °C	60 dBA	2550 rpm	50 °C
Thermaltake Frio	14 °C	46 dBA	1450 rpm	27 °C	60 dBA	2500 rpm	50 °C
Prolimatech Samuel 17	14 °C	40 dBA	750 rpm	40 °C	60 dBA	2550 rpm	63 °C
Zalman CNPS8000A	18 ºC	43 dBA	1400 rpm	39 ºC	54 dBA	2500 rpm	70 ºC
Spire TherMax Eclipse II	14 ºC	55 dBA	2200 rpm	28 ºC	55 dBA	2200 rpm	53 ºC
Scythe Ninja3	17 ºC	39 dBA	700 rpm	32 ºC	55 dBA	1800 rpm	57 ºC
Corsair A50	18 ºC	52 dBA	1900 rpm	33 ºC	52 dBA	1900 rpm	60 ºC
Thermaltake Jing	18 °C	44 dBA	850 rpm	34 °C	49 dBA	1300 rpm	60 °C
GlacialTech Alaska	18 °C	43 dBA	1150 rpm	36 °C	51 dBA	1600 rpm	60 °C
Deepcool Gamer Storm	18 °C	43 dBA	1100 rpm	35 °C	48 dBA	1600 rpm	62 °C
Corsair A70	26 °C	56 dBA	1900 rpm	40 °C	56 dBA	1900 rpm	65 °C
Deepcool Ice Blade Pro	23 ºC	45 dBA	1200 rpm	38 ºC	52 dBA	1500 rpm	64 ºC
AC Freezer 7 Pro Rev. 2	23 °C	47 dBA	1750 rpm	44 °C	51 dBA	2100 rpm	77 °C
Corsair H70	27 ºC	60 dBA	1900 rpm	37 ºC	60 dBA	1900 rpm	61 ºC
Zalman CNPS9900 Max	27 °C	55 dBA	1600 rpm	38 °C	58 dBA	1750 rpm	63 °C
Arctic Cooling Freezer 11 LP	25 ºC	45 dBA	1700 rpm	51 ºC	49 dBA	1950 rpm	91 ºC
CoolIT Vantage	26 ºC	60 dBA	2500 rpm	37 ºC	60 dBA	2500 rpm	62 ºC
Deepcool Ice Matrix 600	25 °C	46 dBA	1100 rpm	41 °C	53 dBA	1300 rpm	69 °C
Titan Hati	26 ºC	46 dBA	1500 rpm	40 ºC	57 dBA	2450 rpm	68 ºC
Arctic Cooling Freezer 13	27 ºC	49 dBA	1950 rpm	41 ºC	53 dBA	2300 rpm	70 ºC
Noctua NH-C14	26 ºC	52 dBA	1300 rpm	37 ºC	52 dBA	1300 rpm	61 ºC
Intel XTS100H	26 ºC	49 dBA	1200 rpm	42 ºC	64 dBA	2600 rpm	68 ºC
Zalman CNPS5X SZ	23 ºC	52 dBA	2250 rpm	38 ºC	57 dBA	2950 rpm	69 ºC
Thermaltake SlimX3	21 ºC	50 dBA	2700 rpm	46 ºC	50 dBA	2750 rpm	99 ºC
Cooler Master Hyper 101	21 ºC	50 dBA	2600 rpm	38 ºC	57 dBA	3300 rpm	71 ºC
Antec Kühler H2O 620	19 ºC	52 dBA	1400 rpm	34 ºC	55 dBA	1400 rpm	58 ºC
Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 Pro	20 ºC	46 dBA	1100 rpm	36 ºC	49 dBA	1300 rpm	62 ºC
GlacialTech Siberia	22 °C	49 dBA	1400 rpm	34 °C	49 dBA	1400 rpm	61 °C
Evercool Transformer 3	18 °C	46 dBA	1800 rpm	33 °C	51 dBA	2250 rpm	65 °C
Zalman CNPS11X Extreme	20 ºC	51 dBA	1850 rpm	34 ºC	56 dBA	2050 rpm	61 ºC
Thermaltake Frio OCK	15 °C	44 dBA	1000 rpm	27 °C	64 dBA	2200 rpm	51 °C
Prolimatech Genesis	18 ºC	49 dBA	1050 rpm	30 ºC	49 dBA	1050 rpm	54 ºC
Arctic Cooling Freezer XTREME Rev. 2	15 °C	41 dBA	1050 rpm	32 °C	44 dBA	1400 rpm	60 °C
NZXT HAVIK 140	16 °C	48 dBA	1250 rpm	29 °C	49 dBA	1250 rpm	55 °C
Antec Kühler H2O 920	18 °C	41 dBA	650 rpm	29 °C	64 dBA	2500 rpm	49 °C
Zalman CNP7X LED	18 °C	45 dBA	1950 rpm	33 °C	48 dBA	2150 rpm	58 °C
EVGA Superclock	14 °C	43 dBA	1300 rpm	27 °C	58 dBA	2350 rpm	47 °C
Evercool Transformer 4	15 °C	46 dBA	1500 rpm	26 °C	53 dBA	1950 rpm	52 °C
Xigmatek Dark Knight	18 °C	47 dBA	1700 rpm	30 °C	53 dBA	2150 rpm	57 °C
Xigmatek Aegir	15 °C	44 dBA	1500 rpm	27 °C	50 dBA	1950 rpm	52 °C
Cooler Master GeminII S524	16 °C	45 dBA	1300 rpm	29 °C	53 dBA	1800 rpm	58 °C
Enermax ETS-T40-TA	16 °C	40 dBA	1050 rpm	28 °C	48 dBA	1800 rpm	55 °C
Corsair H80	14 °C	42 dBA	2150 rpm	25 °C	52 dBA	2150 rpm	47 °C
Akasa Venom Voodoo	13 °C	40 dBA	1000 rpm	26 °C	48 dBA	1500 rpm	51 °C
Xigmatek Thor's Hammer	15 °C	44 dBA	1500 rpm	30 °C	50 dBA	2000 rpm	55 °C
Cooler Master Hyper 612 PWM	19 °C	45 dBA	1400 rpm	30 °C	52 dBA	1900 rpm	54 °C
Xigmatek Loki	17 °C	44 dBA	1850 rpm	34 °C	55 dBA	2750 rpm	60 °C
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO	14 °C	44 dBA	1250 rpm	26 °C	50 dBA	1750 rpm	50 °C
Xigmatek Gaia	17 °C	44 dBA	1250 rpm	32 °C	46 dBA	1500 rpm	61 °C
Rosewill RCX-ZAIO-92	21 °C	48 dBA	2050 rpm	37 °C	54 dBA	2600 rpm	68 °C
Thermalright True Spirit 120	16 °C	41 dBA	1000 rpm	30 °C	46 dBA	1400 rpm	55 °C
Corsair H100	20 °C	55 dBA	2000 rpm	29 °C	59 dBA	2000 rpm	50 °C
Zalman CNPS12X	20 °C	47 dBA	1200 rpm	31 °C	47 dBA	1200 rpm	58 °C
Thermalright Macho	23 °C	41 dBA	1100 rpm	36 ° C	44 dBA	1300 rpm	61 °C
NZXT HAVIK 120	21 °C	55 dBA	1800 rpm	37 °C	55 dBA	1800 rpm	66 °C
Zalman CNPS11X Performa	19 °C	44 dBA	1450 rpm	30 °C	48 dBA	1600 rpm	57 °C
Enermax ETD-T60-VD	24 ºC	46 dBA	1400 rpm	37 ºC	54 dBA	1900 rpm	63 ºC
Prolimatech Panther	26 °C	46 dBA	1400 rpm	39 °C	51 dBA	1750 rpm	68 °C

In the graph below, at full load you can see how many degrees Celsius hotter the CPU core is than the air outside the case. The lower this difference, the better is the performance of the cooler.

Main Specifications

The main specifications for the Prolimatech Panther CPU cooler include:

• Application: Sockets 1155, 1156, AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, and FM1 processors
• Dimensions: 5.1 x 2.0 x 6.3 inches (130 x 50 x 161 mm) (W x L x H)
• Fins: Aluminum
• Base: Nickel-plated copper
• Heat-pipes: Four 6-mm copper heatpipes
• Fan: 120 mm with red LEDs
• Nominal fan speed: 1,600 rpm
• Fan air flow: Not informed
• Maximum power consumption: 3.6 W
• Nominal noise level: Not informed
• Weight: 1.3 lb (570 g)
• More information: http://www.prolimatech.com
• Average price in the U.S.*: USD 55.00

* Researched at FronzenCPU.com on the day we published this review.

Conclusions

The Prolimatech Panther is very well-made with the usual Prolimatech construction quality. The installation is simple and it looks awesome thanks to the fan with red LEDs.

It has good cooling performance with low noise level. However, the Panther promised more than it delivered. Apparently, the fan is too weak for the heatsink used, with high fin density and interleaved fins at the center. Putting the hand behind the heatsink when it is working, we cannot “feel” the air flowing through it. Maybe by using two strong fans in a push-pull configuration, the Panther heatsink can deliver all of its potential, but since our methodology is to test all coolers “as is,” doing that test would not be fair to the other coolers we tested so far.

The only problem with the Prolimatech Panther is its low price/performance ratio, which is a big issue for the Average Joe. Therefore, we are giving it the Hardware Secrets Bronze Award.