Overall Performance (Intel)
To calculate each cooler’s overall performance, I take into account three factors, the CPU’s temperature, wattage, and frequency, by using the following equation:
(Wattage / Temperature) x Frequency
Each chart shows the cooler under test as 100% and every other product’s performance as relative to it.
The overall performance in the Intel system might not look good with the first glimpse at the results, but look how close it is to the standard D15 G2 without the washers mod. The difference is lower than 2%! Moreover, the Thermalright cooler performs almost identically to the DeepCool Assassin models at 20 and 25 dBA. At 30 dBA, the Mugen 6 Black has a notable lead, and so does the way more expensive D15 G2. The performance differences are more significant at full fan speed, mainly because the Thermalright cooler is among the less noisy ones at full fan speed.
Performance Per Price (Intel)
With a $37-40 price tag (depending on the store and the period), this cooler is a steal! The Scythe Mugen 6 follows with a large distance.
I think the low cost is because of the location of the company and of their manufacturing site. They can afford to undercut the competition (as any company based in most parts of E/SE Asia should be able to do), especially with China keeping the value of their currency artificially low to keep companies there.
It’s great to have your review since so many people blindly point to the PA120 nowadays for Intel, instead of remembering that it’s not the top Intel air cooler.
Honestly, after so many decades of heatsinks, I think the science is already out there as to optimal fin density, materials, etc. Asking for a ton of money, like Noctua always does after ripping off TR designs all those years ago, is a combination of the high cost of having a German-based company, and greed. It’s like when Linus justified the cost of his screwdriver with 2 years of research when there are better products out there are a fraction of the cost.
I think the only thing that is missing is results from overclocking and/or very hot CPUs. I suspect that the PA120 will not handle the hottest CPUs as well as they did in this test.