Setup and test results …
Configuration …
For our test system we used following configuration:
Intel Core i5 4460 @ 3200 MHz with 0.99 Volt
MSI B85M-E45 Rev. 2.0
2x 4GB DDR3-1600
MSI GeForce GTX960 4GB OC
Cooler Master 500W Silent PSU
Fractal Design Define R5 Case
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit Service Pack 1
For measurement we used following tools: Prime95 V28.7, Furmark V1.17.0.0, MSI Afterburner V4.1.1 and SpeedFan V4.51
Thermal grease: Cooler Master MasterGel 1,85W/mK (supplied)
The ambient temperature was at 20°C.
First, we have tested the cooler with full pump speed. With a PWM signal of 60%, the pump produces a less audible sound spectrum, so we took advantage of this setting for a second run.
For silent mode the Cooler Master fans have been set to 600 rpm. For a maximum cooling, the fans have been set to 2000 rpm. In idle only Windows and SpeedFan was running. Load is managed with small FFTs test of Prime95. Here, no power saving features has been disabled in the BIOS/UEFI.
Cooler Master MasterLiquid 240 test results …
Here is the Cooler Master MasterLiquid 240 compared to boxed cooler of Intel’s Core i5-4460. The Intel boxed cooler could be tested not under load in silent mode, because the temperatures to quickly ran out of control.
In the range of 75-90% the pump generated an unpleasant noise spectrum, so that this area should be avoided. Also notice that the pump is significantly louder when the speed is frequently changed. For us, a two-tier system seems to be ideal, ~ 60% (2000 RPM) for idle mode and 100% (2800 RPM) when the temperatures rise.
The fans are real sneaker! Not exceeding 900 rpm you can’t hear them about a half a metre away when the chassis is closed. At 2000 rpm, you can hear the noise of the air flow, but no noise of the fans themselves.
The cooling performance breaks no records, but it is in the midfield of the AiO coolers in the same size we have tested.
Because the supplied heat sink compound has a fairly low coefficient of heat control, we have done another test running with other paste of 8.5 W/mK: While the idle temperatures remained unchanged, the temperatures under load could be reduced about 2 °C!
We explained the differences in measuring CPU temperatures and how to overclock in detail in our Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 OC guide.
Cooler Master MasterLiquid 240 result and general impression …