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Cooler Master Hyper N520 CPU Cooler Review

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Value

Value


The term “Value” is such an amorphous term that it truly has different meanings for different people. For some a CPU cooler is only as good as it overclocking potential, for others it is how quiet it does its job; for others still it’s how effective it is for its cost. We here at HWC try to provide as many answers as possible for the term “Value”. Hopefully by this point in the review people looking at OC potential or loudness levels will have a fairly good idea of what its Value is. For the “best bang for the buck” crowd we have included a chart below showing how much each 1*c less costs when compared to Intel’s FREE stock cooler. No consideration has been made for noise levels, “looks” or any other extraneous factors; this is just raw performance vs. monetary cost. For any cooler which performs worse than the Intel stock cooler a rating of “FAIL” will be given. For any cooler which has a “Value” of more than $10 per 1*C a rating of “FAIL” will be used in the graph but the chart will list its actual “value”.

All prices are based on either their MSRP (if no e-tailer prices were available at review time) or the online price they sold for at the time of their review. IF a CPU cooler does not include a fan the price of a Scythe F has been included ($12).

To make it as easy as possible for you to modify this ratio we have also included the various coolers temperature difference so if you do come across one of them on sale you can easily modify its “Value” rating. We here at HWC are in no way saying this is the definitive answer to “Value”, rather it should be considered another tool to help you make your final decision. After all something is only as “valuable” as what you consider it to be.


Q6600 Cooling Value


Please Note: This chart has be calculated based upon the differences between Intel stock cooler’s average load at its highest OC on a Q6600 @3.0GHz versus various after market coolers average load temperatures (in their stock configuration with stock TIM) also on a Q6600 @ 3.0GHz.

q6600_cost.jpg


q6600_cost_chart.jpg


When you take into account the price of all that copper the value of this cooler goes from slightly above average to fairly impressive; and when you think about all the engineering experience and tweaks it become a down right good value!


i7 920 Cooling Value


Please Note: This chart has be calculated based upon the differences between Intel stock cooler’s average load at its highest OC on a 920 @ 3.42GHz versus various after market coolers average load temperatures (in their stock configuration with stock TIM) also on a 920 @ 3.42GHz.

i7_cost.jpg


i7_cost_chart.jpg


It is sad to say it but the value of this cooler is not in its monetary value, rather it is in the fact this cooler is a relatively small unit which does not compromise efficiency. Remember the old adage: “silence is golden” and add in the idea that big is easy…making a small kick ass cooler is hard and you will start to realize where the value of the N520 comes from. If your only concern is bang for buck value this may not be the best one for you….BUT if you can find this guy on sale we’d grab it quick.
 
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Conclusion

Conclusion


When it was all said and done and the fat lady had not only sung but left the building we were left with one heck of a good opinion of the Cooler Master N520. Actually, “good opinion” doesn't cover it, we LIKE this thing...we like it a LOT. We love the idea of a moderate size, dual fan cooler and to us the N520 is the embodiment of this philosophy. It’s big enough to handle most people's needs, it is also quiet enough to meet all but a true Silent PC enthusiast's needs and it’s small enough that most users will not have to worry about getting a side door closed…maybe even a side door with 25mm thick 120x120mm fan. This combination of skills is not something most tower coolers can boast to having.

With all that being said, is this cooler perfect? NO, buts it’s awfully darn close. If the N520 designers had gone for a triple HDT base instead of a solid copper one this cooler would probably be giving the OCZ Vendetta 2 and Xigmatek coolers a run for their money in the performance arena...and maybe even the Prolimatech Megahalems. If they had also gone for a more multi-faceted face design the numbers would probably also be better than what you see now. Indeed, had had those same engineers gone for slightly higher performance fans and included a pentameter (like the V8 needlessly has) this cooler would not only performed better but also have had the ability to fine tune its noise envelope which is better than voltage control only.

In the grand scheme of things the above complaints are more nit-picking than anything and the N520 is now our new favourite “go to cooler” when monster overclocking is not a priority. While it may not win any awards from us this cooler IS a very, very good product and should be on your list of coolers to take a second (and third…and fourth.) look at. IF you understand the limitations of it and work within this well delineated performance envelope you will end up with one heck of a reliable cooler; one which will give you years of quiet performance.

Pros
- Dual fan design
- Good performance from a 92mm size cooler
- Copper base
- Same installation and parts as the V series of CM coolers
- Top Quality material and construction
- Good size

Cons
- only 92mm fans
- not really designed for high end OC’ing
- While smaller than some still won’t fit in all HTPCs
 
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