A comprehensive study of the twin tower architecture - Noctua NH-D14 complete works

Endless disscutions revolve around many heatsink reviews lately, as the air-cooling technology is getting closer and closer to it's maximum potential. Intel Core i7 proved to be the nightmare of any heatsink company, as the high TDP, large IHS surface and huge transistor count demand state of the art retention systems and flawless heatsink designs in order to keep the beast at safe, comfortable temperature levels. Old testing methods are left behind in the dust, since the new generation of cooling monsters need thorough investigations, unlike nothing we have seen in the past. And while there still are those unable to face the realities of 2010, most of the respectable hardware reviewing sites are changing their testing methodology, with more and more users demanding comprehensive testing on modern platforms.

A new king is born, one like nothing we have seen before. From pasive cooling to extreme TDP experiments, the new monster is challenging his competitors, in a fight where only the best can survive. With the shadow of the new colossus showing up in the distance, the argument regarding how heatsinks should be tested is once again in every enthusiasts mind. Should we use a more scientifical approach, or should we stick with real life conditions? Should we test in open-stand, or in case? Should we test on LGA 775 quad-cores, or on the monstruous Nehalem? Should we use a low, medium or high TDP? Should we use low, medium or high rpm fans? Should we test with stock fans or reference ones?

What if I tell you that we can do ALL those stated above, and much more? Establishing the new air-cooling champion is no easy task, and my colleague Poparamiro was caught in the lab for the last 3 months, trying to do exactly this. Also, he tried to see why some Thermalright IFX 14 reviews showed great performance, while others were showing numbers not even suitable for a Thermalright product. And if IFX 14 puts us in this dillema, what's up with the twin tower architecture? How does NH-D14 compare to IFX14 and Asus Triton 88? How do they all compare to the ex air-cooling king, Prolimatech Megahalems / Megashadow?

See the epic battle of the titans in this grueling test, on 2 platforms (LGA 775 and LGA 1366), in case and on the open stand, from fanless to 6000 rpm, from low TDP good for silent computing up to a whooping 4400MHz / 1.6v vCore / 1.65v vQPI Nehalem. And if you do not like reading 65 pages with Google Translator, I am sure that the armada of graphs will be more then enough to answer any question left unanswered in this territory.

A comprehensive study regarding the twin tower architecture - Noctua NH-D14 vs Thermalright IFX14, Asus Triton 88 and Prolimatech Megashadow, with fanless bonus vs Z600 and extreme TDP bonus vs TRUE Copper @ lab501 | Google Translator required