XIGMATEK ADDENDUM

Recently we reviewed the Xigmatek S1283 cooler and while it was a down right impressive cooler, Xigmatek felt it could have done even better and requested we redo the testing using a different TIM application methodology. Honestly, when manufactures come to us and complain that following standard installation instructions is not good enough (for them) I’m usually less then sympathetic when it comes to their “do over” requests.

In most cases, good bad or indifferent the results should be comparable to what you an actual paying customer will be able to achieve. My increased experience may allow me to get slightly better than the average user but it should be fairly close; and more importantly using the same mounting methodology for all reviews allows for a more “apples to apples comparison”. The only time I am enthusiastic about coming back and changing my methodology is if the manufacturer intends to significantly diverge from my normal methodology and recommend a radically different approach. In this case this is exactly what is going to happen. Due to the passionate work of Olin Coles over at Benchmark Reviews Xigmatek will start to include installation instructions for a radically different approach to TIM application.

Rather than using a ball or line application, Mr. Coles recommends two lines of TIM be applied to the two center metal posts. With this method it has been found to provide significantly better coverage than the more typical method. For an in-depth look at this ingenious technique you should refer to:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.ph...1&limitstart=5


Before we start the retesting phase I would like to add a little background on my testing methodology which I usually use. Before testing any CPU cooling solution I mount and remount the cooler numerous times using slightly different amounts of TIM each time until I get what I consider the right amount. I then make note of this amount and use it for my 4 rounds of tests. How am I able to accurately reproduce how much TIM I use each time? The answer is I use a 1cc syringe which has had the needle removed, and I manually transfer TIM from the a 30gram tube of MX-2 to it (its messy but the reproducible results are worth it). Since the graduations are in .01cc I can accurately reproduce my TIM application amount from test to test. For most CPU cooling solutions it takes about 4-6 applications for me to find the perfect amount; but for the Xigmatek S1283 it took 11 times. Using the new and improved method it took 5 times, and it was found two lines of 0.03 +/- .005 CCs of MX2 was optimal. All tests were run 4 times (two with fan mounted N-S and two with it mounted E-W) and only the best score was recorded.

E4600 Results

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