Scythe Orochi CPU Cooler

Testing Methodology
 
In order to test the Scythe Orochi, I have decided to target the two main areas that should cover our broad spectrum of readers here at Overclock3D. I will be assessing the Scythe Orochi under the following conditions:

* Cooling performance (Idle, load and overclocked)
* Noise

The test setup for today’s performance review will be comprised of:

* Intel C2D Q6600 Processor (G0 stepping);
* ASUS P5B Deluxe wi-fi/ App motherboard;
* 2GB’s OCZ PC2-6400 Titanium RAM;
* Thermaltake Xaser VI case;
* 80GB Western Digital SATAII HDD;
* Scythe Orochi CPU Cooler

* Scythe Kama Cross CPU Cooler
* Intel quad-core reference heatsink
* Noctua NT-H1 thermal paste.

I have explained my testing methodology for each phase of the performance review below:

Cooling performance

I will be testing the Scythe Orochi on my Q6600 (G0 Stepping) processor to assess the heatsink’s ability to handle the heat-load of a quad-core, especially since Scythe state that the Orochi is ‘quad-core ready’. Whilst many HTPC enthusiasts would not be using a quad-core CPU as the processor of choice, instead opting for a lower spec’d Intel C2D or AMD X2 dual-core processor, I have decided to test the heatsink with my Q6600. CPU load will be simulated using 2 x instances of Stress Prime 2004 ORTHOS Edition.

Ambient temperature will be taken using a standard mercury thermometer and allowing it time to normalise. Processor idle/load and overclocked temperatures will be obtained using Core Temp 0.99, and an average taken over the four cores…purely to make plotting the chart a little easier to read. All testing will be conducted 3 times and an average taken to ensure the uniformity of results. The Intel reference heatsink, Kama Cross and the Scythe Orochi will be tested, removed, and then re-installed a total of three times to ensure the elimination of any poor mounting issues.

 
While I would have liked to have included some larger heatsinks like the Mugen, Noctua NH-U12P and Thermalright Extreme into the comparison, they weren’t available at the time of testing.
 
Ambient temperatures during testing ranged from 23.3 – 23.6 degrees Celsius. Case temperatures ranged from 25.6 degrees Celcius at idle through to 28.5 degrees Celsius during overclocking.

Noise

Possibly the hardest part of any CPU Cooler review is summarising the level of noise given out by the fan, should it have one included. The threshold for what is considered ‘noisy’ varies from person to person and therefore what I may consider quiet, another person may consider extremely loud. For this reason, all reviews from this point forward will be using a dBA meter to measure the level of noise output by the fan.

All noise measurements are taken in a quiet room with the dBA meter located approximately 500mm away from the heatsink.