Cooler Master V6 GT CPU Cooler Review

[AkG]

Low Speed Fan Performance Results

Low Speed Fan Performance Results

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The V layout to the heatpipes really does work and this is easily the best example of quality design beating brute force. The Frio is a very good CPU cooling solution but it does take a “bigger hammer” approach to cooling whereas the V6 GT is more like a scalpel cutting heat with surgical precision. To be blunt this cooler really is only one of few that we would even entertain thoughts of using in combination with the Noctua NF-P1200 when running at an anemic 900 rpm!

 

[AkG]

Dual Fan Performance Results / Sound Level Testing

Dual Fan Performance Results

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Since the V6 GT comes with two great fans it really is no wonder that it loves dual fan setups. As really is becoming a recurring theme, when the same fans are used the Frio is simply not as effective as the Cooler Master unit but the Prolimatech is still better.

Sound Level Testing

While everyone "hears" noise differently there is one easy way to remove all subjectivness and easily compare different fans: use a sound level meter. This way you can easily compare the various fans noise envelopes without us colouring the results and see what fans fit within your personal comfort level. Of course, we will endeavour to try and explain the various results (which are taken at a 30 inch distance) to help you our readers get an even better understanding of how loud a cooler's stock fan is, but even if you discount our personal opinions, the fact remains numbers don't lie. All fans are tested with both voltage regulation / PWM turned off.

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Yes these fans are loud; however they are also extremely FAST fans and the noise they make is mainly wind noise and not bearing noise / whine. More importantly these fans will STAY at this level for a long time to come, unlike sleeve bearing fans.

 

[AkG]

Conclusion

Conclusion

There is an old maxim that says “quantity has a quality all of its own” and in our opinion, the Cooler Master V6 GT personifies this. It isn’t an absolutely massive heatsink of Noctua D14 stature nor is it a slim little thing like the Cogage TRUE Spirit but it makes use of a multitude of heatpipes, densely packed fins and two high speed fans to get the job done. And let us tell you: it does this job very, very well indeed.

While it may look a lot like the Thermaltake Frio, the V6’s V-style heatpipe array gives it an efficiency edge at not only lower heat loads but also in low air movement environments. It really is an innovative twist on your typical layout that actually works as advertised. With this secret weapon the V6 GT acts more like an HDT cooler yet it still has the mass and fin array design to keep things cool at even high heat loads.

When you take an extremely effective design and pair it up with what can only be described as two very good fans the result is a stock configuration that leaves darn near all other coolers in the dust. These are fans that can make even the mighty Scythe S-Flex “G” green with envy. The fact that Cooler Master has bundled two of them with the V6 is a testament to just how much their competitors are charging for similar products.

This is not to say all is perfect with the V6 GT. It may be more efficient and thus can overcome the inherent limitations of the smaller heatpipes but we can’t help but wonder what performance would have been like if larger 8mm units were used. Sadly, the Prolimatech still has an edge over the V6 GT and was thus able to outperform it in quite a few higher heat load tests. It is just important to remember that while the Megahalems may still sit near the top of our charts, the V6 is nipping at its heels and still comes with a pair of included high performance fans.

With that being said, this new heatsink is truly worthy of your attention and should be on your short list. For its ability to cool with the best of them we award the Cooler Master V6 GT our Dam Good award. The fact that its forward thinking heatpipe design is partly responsible for this we also award the V6 GT our Dam Innovative award. This really is an impressive product in nearly every way.


Pros:

- Great Looks
- Great Stock Fans
- Great cooling performance
- Good Value
- Innovative heatpipe layout works as advertised
- Can be mounted to both Intel and AMD system with included equipment


Cons:

- LED requires a MOLEX connector

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