[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
Today, we reviewed the Cooler Master Blizzard T2 CPU cooler, which features a tower heatsink, two “dual loop” 6 mm heatpipes, and one 92 mm fan. Let’s see if this “compact” cooler performs well.
Figure 1 shows the box of the cooler.
Figure 2 shows the contents of the box: the cooler, a small bag of thermal compound, a manual, and installation hardware.
This cooler is discussed in detail in the following pages.
[nextpage title=”The Blizzard T2″]
Figure 3 illustrates the front of the heatsink. The 92 mm fan with magenta blades covers all the front of the heatsink.
Figure 4 reveals the side of the cooler. Here you can notice that the fan is attached to a frame that fits the heatsink. There are two heatpipes.
The rear of the heatsink is shown in Figure 5. Here it is clear that each heatpipe makes a complete loop.
The top of the heatsink is visible in Figure 6. In most coolers, here are the tips of the heatpipes, but in this cooler, the ends of the heatpipes are in the base.
[nextpage title=”The Blizzard T2 (Cont’d)”]
Figure 7 shows the base of the cooler. Both the tips of each heatpipes make direct contact with the CPU. The surface is smooth but not mirrored.
In Figure 8, you can see the 92 mm fan that comes with the Blizzard T2. Its connector has only three pins (meaning it is not PWM-compatible) and its model is A9225-22RB-3BN-F1 (2,200 rpm, 30 dBA, 2.16 W, 43 cfm). The fan is installed in a frame that makes it very easy to install or remove.
Figure 9 presents the Blizzard T2 heatsink, without the fan.
[nextpage title=”Installation”]
Figure 10 shows the Blizzard T2 with the Intel stock-like pressure clips installed, compatible with LGA775, LGA1150, LGA1155, and LGA1156 CPUs. For use with AMD processors, there is a simple lever that makes it compatible with all sockets.
You must remove the fan before installing the cooler, for better access to the pressure clips. Just press all the four clips to secure the heatsink in place.
After that, just fit the fan to the heatsink.
Figure 12: installation finished
[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. 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: GeForce GT 630
- Video resolution: 1920×1080
- Video monitor: Philips 236VL
- 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 |
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 |
SilverStone AR01 | 11 °C | 46 dBA | 2150 rpm | 53 °C | 42 °C |
Cooler Master Seidon 120M | 16 °C | 52 dBA | 2300 rpm | 58 °C | 42 °C |
Enermax ETS-T40-White Cluster | 16 °C | 50 dBA | 2200 rpm | 63 °C | 47 °C |
Cooler Master Seidon 120XL | 17 °C | 54 dBA | 2250 rpm | 55 °C | 38 °C |
Cooler Master Seidon 240M | 13 °C | 59 dBA | 2200 rpm | 49 °C | 36 °C |
SilverStone AR02 | 9 °C | 46 dBA | 2800 rpm | 60 °C | 51 °C |
Cooler Master V8 GTS | 10 °C | 51 dBA | 1650 rpm | 54 °C | 44 °C |
SilverStone TD03 | 16 °C | 57 dBA | 2350 rpm | 54 °C | 38 °C |
SilverStone TD02 | 17 °C | 57 dBA | 2350 rpm | 50 °C | 33 °C |
Corsair H75 | 29 °C | 51 dBA | 2000 rpm | 71 °C | 42 °C |
Cooler Master Nepton 140XL | 25 °C | 60 dBA | 2150 rpm | 58 °C | 32 °C |
Cooler Master Blizzard T2 | 24 °C | 45 dBA | 2250 rpm | 92 °C | 68 °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 Cooler Master Blizzard T2 CPU cooler include:
- Application: Sockets AM2(+), AM3(+), FM1, FM2, LGA775, LGA 1150, LGA1155, LGA1156
- Dimensions: 3.7 x 3.1 x 5.5 inches (93 x 80 x 140 mm) (W x L x H)
- Fins: Aluminum
- Base: Direct-touch heatpipes
- Heat-pipes: Two 6-mm heatpipes
- Fans: 92 mm
- Nominal fan speed: 2,200 rpm
- Fan air flow: 43 cfm
- Power consumption: 2.16 W
- Nominal noise level: 30 dBA
- More information: https://www.coolermaster.com/
- Average price in the U.S.: Officially, this cooler is not sold in the U.S., as it is targeted to the Latin American market
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The Blizzard T2 is a simple CPU cooler, and it is also quiet, easy to install, and good looking.
Its performance is lower than its more popular brother, the Hyper TX3. But the Blizzard T2 is cheaper, since it is intended to be a replacement for the stock cooler, at which it does well.
The “dual loop” heatpipe design (as it is called by the manufacturer) seems to be one more innovative idea that does not work well.
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