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Testing notes: Both the idle and stress tests are run for 20mins and then the lowest/maximum values are recorded. FurMark is used to place 100% load on all GPU(s) for a 20 minute period. The room’s ambient temperature is kept at a constant 21 degrees. When testing the coolers we remount them onto the GPU three times and record the idle/load data. Each time the thermal paste is wiped clean from both the GPU and the heatsink base. The best result is displayed rather than the average of all the recorded data. The heatsinks that come with their own fan are naturally tested with that particular fan. The heatsinks that do not come with a fan are all tested with the same fan, that fan being the Thermalright TR-1212PSL which operates at between 1000~1800 RPM. However please note that the original MK-13 results were recorded with a pair of Thermaltake ISGC 12cm fans which were operating at 1300 RPM. For testing purposes we lock the fan in at 1500 RPM and monitor this speed throughout the testing process. For heatsinks that take 140mm fans the Xigmatek XLF-F1453 is used and this fan is rated at just 1000 RPM. At this speed the fan moves 63.5 CFM while working at a whisper quiet 16 dBA. These fans are retailing for roughly $13 US at the time of writing this. Because we record the temperatures using EVEREST Ultimate Edition, the same version is used every time with the same graphics card using the exact same BIOS revision. Also please note that all tests have been conducted using vertical motherboard orientation, positioned upright in a traditional tower computer case.
 Please note as mentioned above, the Prolimatech MK-13 + new VRM configuration has been paired with slightly faster 120mm fans when compared to the original Prolimatech MK-13. As a result the idle temperature dropped by 6 degrees, which was unexpected given the fans are only 200-RPM faster. Nevertheless, it is the VRM results that we are most interested in, and here we see the new improved heatsink reduce the idle temperature of the Radeon HD 5870 VRM by 5 degrees. At idle this is lower than the standard cooler and the Thermalright VRM-R5.
 Once under load we see that the GPU temperature of the Prolimatech MK-13 configuration with the new VRM is much the same as the original, despite the slight discrepancy in fan speed. This means that the MK-13 is around 12 degrees hotter than the Thermalright Spitfire when using similar fan configurations. Still, even at 57 degrees the MK-13 is a massive improvement over the standard cooling. However, again it is the VRM results that we are most interested in. As you can see, the original heatsinks did a rather poor job, with VRM temperatures reaching 86 degrees which is considerably higher than the 51 degrees of the standard cooler. The new MK-13 VRM cooling does improve the situation, but with a load temperature of 76 degrees, things are still quite hot. Although we saw a 12% decrease in the VRM load temperature with the new MK-13, it was still almost 50% hotter than the standard VRM cooling. This is a disappointing result for Prolimatech, as it means that the Thermalright VRM-R5 does a far better job. It is worth mentioning that the VRM-R5 is passively cooled, sharing air-flow from the CPU cooler. When we did mount a dedicated fan on the VRM-R5, load temperature dropped to just 41 degrees. |
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Blaster |
Posted on: 04/22/2010 01:21 PM
I love my MK-13 but it needs better VRM cooling! Even better than the new improved version. |
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TheHusky |
Posted on: 04/22/2010 01:25 PM
Meh that didn't really help much now did it. |
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TurboT |
Posted on: 04/23/2010 01:35 PM
For these highend cards they should just make coolers designed only for the GeForce GTX 480 and Radeon HD 5870 rather than this universal stuff. Arctic-Cooling use to do that well... |
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JaccoW |
Posted on: 05/18/2010 06:08 PM
I still think this coller should be used with the Thermalright VRM-R5. Is that possible, I mean does it fit? Because that would be a very good cooling and silent combination. |
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Steve Posts: 80 Joined: 2010-02-08 |
Posted on: 05/19/2010 03:31 AM
Posted by JaccoW on 05/18/2010 07:08 PM
Yes the VRM-R5 will work fine with the MK-13 and you are right it would make for a nice combo. |