Page 3 - Test Results
Our test configuration is as follows:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Motherboard: MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS
RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4-3200 2x8GB
Graphics: MSI GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER VENTUS 8GB OC
Chassis: FSP CMT510 Plus
Power: FSP Hydro PTM+ 850W
Storage: Patriot Viper VPN100 512GB
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro x64
Compared hardware:
- SilverStone IceGem 280
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML280 Mirror
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO V2
- ARCTIC Freezer A13 X
- Reeven Justice II RC-1207
All tests were run in our custom-built computer to best reflect real-life performance. The computer remained in the same place and room for all tests. The ambient temperature of the room was roughly 18 degrees Celsius. The thermal paste applied to each cooler was stock respective to their manufacturers to rate its performance. Sufficient time between testing was ensured for the paste to settle. The fans on all heatsinks were connected to the same motherboard's 4-pin connector. The test 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 sixteen worker threads for a minimum of 15 minutes and recorded when the temperature was deemed stable. The SilverStone IceGem 280 was tested using the stock fans sent from the factory in a pull configuration installed in the front of the case. The performance was compared with the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML280 Mirror, Hyper 212 EVO V2, ARCTIC Freezer A13 X, and the Reeven Justice RC-1207. The purpose of this comparison is to find the relative performance between products, but do keep in mind there are different types and performance classes of coolers here. The temperature results for each cooler was measured with AIDA64 Engineer, which records the CPU’s integrated thermal sensor for maximum accuracy. Each temperature result was calculated by taking the maximum value of the cores inside of the CPU.
In the idle test, the SilverStone IceGem 280 came out ahead against all the other tested coolers. The IceGem 280 was able to beat out the next competitor by a full 4 degrees Celsius, which is quite impressive given the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML280 Mirror is also a high performance AIO cooler. The difference in performance was larger than anticipated, but understandable as this cooler was designed to cool processors like the Ryzen Threadripper. The cooler’s performance was more than satisfactory, but the idle test aside, let us look at the test that really matters.
After enough time of stressing the CPU, I was able to push these five coolers to their limits to see what they could do. After running Prime95 for about 45 minutes, the SilverStone IceGem 280 was able to stabilize the CPU's temperature at 67 degrees Celsius. The difference in temperature was only slightly smaller, but still noticeable, than the idle test. The difference between the IceGem 280 was 3 degrees lower than the next cooler, but once again, these results were still very impressive as the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML280 Mirror is a premium AIO cooler. The IceGem 280’s performance was absolutely wonderful in keeping the CPU cool under heavy workloads. It is important to remember the IceGem 280 is primarily designed for the Ryzen Threadripper, meaning the full performance cannot really be shown unless it is being used on a Threadripper CPU.
Taking noise into consideration, the sound produced from the cooler is very important for many users. In my setup, I am running the cooler and its two fans with an additional single fan as an exhaust in my case. On a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is absolute silence and 10 is an explosion, I would rate the SilverStone IceGem 280 at 1.5 when idle and 4.5 when under heavy loads. The fan was close to silent when idle, feeling more like background noise. During heavier loads when the fan was spinning at a higher RPM, the difference in noise was apparent, but this is understandable given the fan’s rated airflow. In my day-to-day use, my computer usually never undergoes workloads heavy enough to push these fans at their maximum RPM. The SilverStone IceGem 280 delivered excellent cooling performance while remaining mostly silent under menial tasks.
Taking all of this into account, the SilverStone IceGem 280 is an excellent cooler, having admirable cooling performance that produces a minuscule amount of noise under smaller loads and remaining reasonable under heavy loads.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware, Installation
3. Test Results
4. Conclusion
