Page 3 - Test Results
Our test configuration is as follows:
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K @ 4.60GHz
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170X-UD5
RAM: Kingston HyperX Savage Black HX426C15SBK4/64 4x16GB
Graphics: ASUS Dual GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
Chassis: NZXT H700i
Storage: Seagate FireCuda 510 1TB
Power: Seasonic PRIME Ultra Titanium 850W
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
Compared hardware:
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240 Illusion
- Corsair A500
- Noctua NH-D15
- Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
- Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black
All tests were run in our custom built computer to best reflect real life performance. The computer remained in the same location in the same room throughout all tests. The room temperature in our testing lab was around 21c. Stock thermal paste respective to all coolers were used to rate its performance; all pastes were given a proper amount of time for them to fully settle. The fans on all heatsinks were directly connected to the motherboard's 4-pin connector. Computer was turned on and idling for at least one hour for the idling tests. High CPU load results were obtained using the Prime95 in-place large FFTs test with eight worker threads for a minimum of ten minutes or until the temperature was deemed stable.
We tested the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240 Illusion against the Noctua NH-D15 and Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black in single and dual fan configurations. The Corsair A500 and Noctua NH-D15S was also compared. All air coolers on the list are among the best, if not the best, in the market today, making this an interesting performance benchmark. In our charts, we noticed some difference between the regular NH-D15 and its chromax.black version. Possible explanations for the variances in results can be found in our Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black review. Noctua assures us all NH-D15 models sold today will have identical performance, so we will use the chromax.black version as the standard, since the regular NH-D15 used in our tests was made in 2014.
As you can see in our charts above, the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240 Illusion performed very well in our idle test. There is no significant difference between all the coolers and its varying configurations, because the processor in its idle state is not generating a whole lot of heat in the first place. Since the idle test is not a good indicator of a CPU cooler's true performance potential, let us look ahead into the load test results.
In the load test, the test processor, my Intel Core i7-6700K overclocked to 4.60GHz, generates quite a bit of heat that will push any cooler to the limits. The Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240 Illusion came in 3c behind the top-performing NH-D15 chromax.black in dual fan configuration. It remained very close to the rest of the coolers. This result is very good, considering the ML240 Illusion is benchmarked against the best air coolers in the market today. It is well-known there is little difference between high-end air cooling and all-in-one liquid coolers. This automatically puts the MasterLiquid ML240 Illusion in the league of the best cooling products for your CPU. Of course, the performance of air coolers depend on the airflow of your case, whereas liquid coolers are better at removing heat away from your CPU and displacing it elsewhere for faster exhaust.
While this is very subjective, I am quite a picky person on noise and my computer is usually close to completely silent in normal operation. On a scale from 0 to 10 where 0 is silent and 10 is the loudest, I would rate the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240 Illusion equipped with two MasterFan MF120 Halo fans to be at 4.0/10 acoustically with its fan running at full speed. This was the same rating I have given to the NH-D15 chromax.black with a single fan. However, when my computer is idling or under nominal loads -- where it spends most of the time doing on a daily basis -- the water pump and PWM fans slowed down was almost inaudible at 1.5/10. There was no noticeable pump or turbulence noise associated with this cooler. Needless to say, I was both pleasantly surprised and impressed. Overall, in terms of sound emissions, the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240 Illusion is a no doubt excellent choice for quiet PC enthusiasts. If you like epic addressable RGB LED effects to go with it all, this is the cooler to get.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware; Installation
3. Test Results
4. Conclusion
