[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
We tested the SilverStone NT06-PRO CPU cooler. It has a horizontal heatsink, six heatpipes, a 120 mm fan, and is 3.2”(82 mm) tall, which makes it a viable option for small form factor (SFF) cases.
Figure 1 shows the box of the cooler.
Figure 2 shows the contents of the box: heatsink, fan, a small syringe of thermal compound, a manual, and installation hardware.
Figure 3 displays the NT06-PRO heatsink.
Figure 3: The SilverStone NT06-PRO heatsink
This cooler is discussed in detail in the following pages.
[nextpage title=”The NT06-PRO “]
Figure 4 illustrates the front of the heatsink. You are able to see the tips of the heatpipes at the heatsink and inside the base. The fins are almost rectangular.
Figure 5 reveals the side of the cooler. The height from the bottom of the heatsink to the level of the base is 2.0” (52 mm).
Figure 6 shows a rear view of the cooler, where the curves of the heatpipes are visible.
The top of the heatsink is visible in Figure 7.
[nextpage title=”The NT06-PRO (Cont’d)”]
Figure 8 shows the base of the cooler. It is a nickel-plated copper plaque, not polished enough for a mirror-like aspect.
In Figure 9, you can see the 120 mm PWM fan that comes with the NT06-PRO. Its model is HA1220H12SA-Z, its nominal speed is 2,200 rpm, and airflow of 74 cfm. This fan is slim (20 mm height).
Figure 10 presents the NT06-PRO with the fan installed. There are four rubber pads to be glued to the corners of the fan in order to absorb vibration.
The manufacturer suggests installing the fan below the heatsinks, blowing air upwards, directly into the heatsink. In this position, there is a clearance of only 1.26” (32 mm) under the fan, so you can only install it over the memory modules if you have no modules taller than that under the fan. If the fan interferes with the memory modules, you can choose to install the fan over the heatsink (it will not be a problem if you are using a regular case, but may not be feasible if you are using a small form factor case) or to rotate the cooler in 180 degrees, letting the fan run over the motherboard voltage regulator area.
[nextpage title=”Installation”]
Figure 11 shows the backplate for use with AMD and Intel processors with the screws inserted in the holes for use with socket LGA1155.
Figure 11: Backplate with screws
After inserting the screws from the solder side, insert four plastic spacers from the component side, then place the metal bars shown in Figure 12, holding them with four thumbnuts.
Figure 12: Metal frame installed
Then, install the cooler over the CPU, holding it with two screws. In our system, we were not able to install the cooler with the fan over the memory modules, so we installed it with the fan over the voltage regulator heatsinks.
[nextpage title=”How we tested”]
We tested the cooler with a Core i5-2500K CPU (quad-core, 3.3 GHz), which is a socket LGA1155 processor with a 95 W TDP (Thermal Design Power). In order to get higher thermal dissipation, we overclocked it to 4.0 GHz (100 MHz base clock and x40 multiplier), with 1.3 V core voltage (Vcore). This CPU was able to reach 4.8 GHz with its default core voltage, but at this setting, the processor enters thermal throttling when using mainstream coolers, reducing the clock and thus the thermal dissipation. This could interfere with the temperature readings, so we chose to maintain a moderate overclocking.
We measured noise and temperature with the CPU under full load. In order to get 100% CPU usage in all cores, 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 other coolers we already tested, and to the stock cooler that comes with the Core i5-2500K CPU. Note that the results cannot be compared to measures taken on a different hardware configuration, so 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 on the next page. Every cooler was tested with the thermal compound that comes with 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 panels of the computer case were closed. The front and rear case fans were spinning at minimum speed in order to simulate the “normal” cooler use on a well-ventilated case. We assume that is the common setup used by a cooling enthusiast or overclocker.
The sound pressure level (SPL) was measured with a digital noise meter, with its sensor placed near the top opening of the case. 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 is not the case here.
Hardware Configuration
- Processor: Core i5-2500K
- Motherboard: ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z
- Memory: 16 GB G.Skill Sniper (DDR3-1600/PC3-12800), configured at 1,600 MHz
- Hard disk: Seagate Barracuda XT 2 TB
- Video card: MSI GeForce GT 210 1 GB
- Video resolution: 1920×1080
- Video monitor: Samsung SyncMaster P2470HN
- Power supply: Seventeam ST-550P-AM
- Case: Cooler Master HAF 922
Operating System Configuration
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1
Software Used
Error Margin
We adopted a 2°C error margin, meaning temperature differences below 2°C are considered irrelevant.
[nextpage title=”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 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 full speed.
Cooler | Room Temp. | Noise | Speed | Core Temp. | Temp. Diff. |
Intel stock cooler | 18 °C | 41 dBA | 2000 rpm | 97 °C | 79 °C |
Cooler Master Hyper TX3 | 18 °C | 50 dBA | 2850 rpm | 69 ºC | 51 °C |
Corsair A70 | 23 °C | 51 dBA | 2000 rpm | 66 ºC | 43 °C |
Corsair H100 | 26 °C | 62 dBA | 2000 rpm | 64 ºC | 38 °C |
EVGA Superclock | 26 °C | 57 dBA | 2550 rpm | 67 ºC | 41 °C |
NZXT HAVIK 140 | 20 °C | 46 dBA | 1250 rpm | 65 ºC | 45 °C |
Thermalright True Spirit 120 | 26 °C | 42 dBA | 1500 rpm | 82 °C | 56 °C |
Zalman CNPS12X | 26 °C | 43 dBA | 1200 rpm | 71 °C | 45 °C |
Zalman CNPS9900 Max | 20 °C | 51 dBA | 1700 rpm | 62 °C | 42 °C |
Titan Fenrir Siberia Edition | 22 °C | 50 dBA | 2400 rpm | 65 °C | 43 °C |
SilenX EFZ-120HA5 | 18 °C | 44 dBA | 1500 rpm | 70 °C | 52 °C |
Noctua NH-L12 | 20 °C | 44 dBA | 1450 rpm | 70 °C | 50 °C |
Zalman CNPS8900 Extreme | 21 °C | 53 dBA | 2550 rpm | 71 °C | 50 °C |
Gamer Storm Assassin | 15 °C | 48 dBA | 1450 rpm | 58 °C | 43 °C |
Deepcool Gammaxx 400 | 15 °C | 44 dBA | 1500 rpm | 60 °C | 45 °C |
Cooler Master TPC 812 | 23 °C | 51 dBA | 2350 rpm | 66 °C | 43 °C |
Deepcool Gammaxx 300 | 18 °C | 43 dBA | 1650 rpm | 74 °C | 56 °C |
Intel stock cooler | 18 °C | 41 dBA | 2000 rpm | 97 °C | 79 °C |
Xigmatek Praeton | 19 °C | 52 dBA | 2900 rpm | 83 °C | 64 °C |
Noctua NH-U12P SE2 | 18 °C | 42 dBA | 1300 rpm | 69 °C | 51 °C |
Deepcool Frostwin | 24 °C | 46 dBA | 1650 rpm | 78 °C | 54 °C |
Thermaltake Frio Advanced | 13 °C | 56 dBA | 2000 rpm | 62 °C | 49 °C |
Xigmatek Dark Knight Night Hawk Edition | 9 °C | 48 dBA | 2100 rpm | 53 °C | 44 °C |
Thermaltake Frio Extreme | 21 °C | 53 dBA | 1750 rpm | 59 °C | 38 °C |
Noctua NH-U9B SE2 | 12 °C | 44 dBA | 1700 rpm | 64 °C | 52 °C |
Thermaltake WATER2.0 Pro | 15 °C | 54 dBA | 2000 rpm | 52 °C | 37 °C |
Deepcool Fiend Shark | 18 °C | 45 dBA | 1500 rpm | 74 °C | 56 °C |
Arctic Freezer i30 | 13 °C | 42 dBA | 1350 rpm | 63 °C | 50 °C |
Spire TME III | 8 °C | 46 dBA | 1700 rpm | 70 °C | 62 °C |
Thermaltake WATER2.0 Performer | 11 °C | 54 dBA | 2000 rpm | 49 °C | 38 °C |
Arctic Alpine 11 PLUS | 11 °C | 45 dBA | 2000 rpm | 82 °C | 71 °C |
be quiet! Dark Rock 2 | 10 °C | 41 dBA | 1300 rpm | 58 °C | 48 °C |
Phanteks PH-TC14CS | 16 °C | 47 dBA | 1300 rpm | 58 °C | 42 °C |
Phanteks PH-TC14PE | 16 °C | 48 dBA | 1300 rpm | 57 °C | 41 °C |
SilverStone HE01 (Q) | 19 °C | 44 dBA | 1150 rpm | 63 °C | 44 °C |
SilverStone HE01 (P) | 20 °C | 57 dBA | 2050 rpm | 62 °C | 42 °C |
Thermaltake WATER2.0 Extreme (S) | 17 °C | 44 dBA | 1250 rpm | 52 °C | 35 °C |
Thermaltake WATER2.0 Extreme (E) | 17 °C | 53 dBA | 1900 rpm | 50 °C | 33 °C |
Deepcool Neptwin | 11 °C | 46 dBA | 1500 rpm | 56 °C | 45 °C |
SilverStone HE02 | 19 °C | 49 dBA | 2000 rpm | 64 °C | 45 °C |
Zalman CNPS9900DF | 23 °C | 45 dBA | 1400 rpm | 68 °C | 45 °C |
Deepcool ICE BLADE PRO V2.0 | 22 °C | 43 dBA | 1500 rpm | 67 °C | 45 °C |
Phanteks PH-TC90LS | 24 °C | 47 dBA | 2600 rpm | 95 °C | 71 °C |
Rosewill AIOLOS | 20 °C | 40 dBA | 1600 rpm | 94 °C | 74 °C |
Corsair H60 | 20 °C | 49 dBA | 2000 rpm | 64 °C | 44 °C |
Zalman LQ310 | 27 °C | 51 dBA | 2050 rpm | 65 °C | 38 °C |
Noctua NH-L9i | 24 °C | 44 dBA | 2500 rpm | 95 °C | 71 °C |
NZXT Respire T40 | 20 °C | 45 dBA | 1850 rpm | 76 °C | 56 °C |
NZXT Respire T20 | 21 °C | 45 dBA | 1900 rpm | 77 °C | 56 °C |
Zalman LQ315 | 20 °C | 52 dBA | 1950 rpm | 57 °C | 37 °C |
Corsair H80i (Quiet) | 19 °C | 44 dBA | 1100 rpm | 61 °C | 42 °C |
Corsair H80i (Maximum) | 19 °C | 57 dBA | 2500 rpm | 55 °C | 36 °C |
NZXT Kraken X40 (Silent) | 25 °C | 44 dBA | 1050 rpm | 66 °C | 41 °C |
NZXT Kraken X40 (Extreme) | 25 °C | 53 dBA | 1650 rpm | 62 °C | 37 °C |
Zalman LQ320 | 20 °C | 52 dBA | 2100 rpm | 57 °C | 37 °C |
Corsair H100i (Quiet) | 22 °C | 45 dBA | 1150 rpm | 58 °C | 36 °C |
Corsair H100i (Maximum) | 22 °C | 61 dBA | 2500 rpm | 54 °C | 32 °C |
NZXT Kraken X60 (Silent) | 26 °C | 46 dBA | 1000 rpm | 62 °C | 36 °C |
NZXT Kraken X60 (Extreme) | 26 °C | 60 dBA | 1650 rpm | 60 °C | 34 °C |
Prolimatech Genesis Black Series | 25 °C | 46 dBA | 1150 rpm | 69 °C | 44 °C |
Phanteks PH-TC12DX | 25 °C | 51 dBA | 1850 rpm | 74 °C | 49 °C |
Corsair H90 | 23 °C | 51 dBA | 1550 rpm | 61 °C | 38 °C |
Corsair H110 | 27 °C | 58 dBA | 1500 rpm | 60 °C | 33 °C |
Evercool Venti | 23 °C | 49 dBA | 2250 rpm | 72 °C | 49 °C |
Thermalright Archon SB-E X2 | 22 °C | 45 dBA | 1400 rpm | 68 °C | 46 °C |
Scythe Kabuto II | 20 °C | 41 dBA | 1450 rpm | 67 °C | 47 °C |
Prolimatech Megahalems Red Series | 20 °C | 51 dBA | 1500 rpm | 63 °C | 43 °C |
Zalman FX100 (fanless) | 18 °C | NA | NA | 98 °C | 80 °C |
Zalman FX100 (92 mm fan) | 18 °C | 50 dBA | 2850 rpm | 69 °C | 51 °C |
Gelid The Black Edition | 21 °C | 45 dBA | 1650 rpm | 66 °C | 45 °C |
Thermalright AXP-100 | 22 °C | 42 dBA | 2400 rpm | 76 °C | 54 °C |
SilverStone NT06-PRO | 19 °C | 50 dBA | 2400 rpm | 72 °C | 53 °C |
In the graph below, 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.
In the graph below, you can see how many decibels of noise each cooler makes.
[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]
The main specifications for the SilverStone NT06-Pro CPU cooler include:
- Application: Sockets AM2(+), AM3(+), FM1, FM2, LGA775, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1366, and LGA2011
- Dimensions: 5.5 x 5.5 x 3.2 inches (140 x 139 x 82 mm) (W x L x H)
- Fins: Aluminum
- Base: Nickel-plated copper
- Heat-pipes: Six 6 mm copper heatpipes
- Fans: 120 mm
- Nominal fan speed: 2,200 rpm
- Fan air flow: 73.9 cfm
- Power consumption: 3.96 W
- Nominal noise level: Not informed
- Weight: 1.54 lb (700 g)
- More information: https://www.silverstonetek.com/
- Average price in the U.S.*: USD 58.00
* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The SilverStone NT06-PRO is a very good cooler, with flexibility as the main highlight. It performed nicely in the suggested configuration (fan under the heatsink, blowing upwards), but you can mount it with the fan over the heatsink (gaining clearance under the heatsink, but increasing its total height), or even running it with two fans for maximum performance.
The SilverStone NT06-PRO is very well made, with a robust and simple installation mechanism. Due to its flexibility, quality, and good performance, it receives the Hardware Secrets Silver Award.
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