Review: Evercool Heatpipe Low Profile CPU Cooler

Posted by Will Smith

Thursday, 03 February 2011 23:03

Article Index
Review: Evercool Heatpipe Low Profile CPU Cooler
Specifications and Features
Photo Gallery and Closer Look
Installation and Test Procedure
BIOS and Windows Temps
Idle Temps
Load Temps
Overclocked Temps
Verdict and Conclusion

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Introduction

In today's high performance systems, CPU coolers need to cope with the excess heat produced by the processor quickly and effectively, while keeping a noise level that is acceptable. We've all seen large and beefy CPU coolers that can do the job ... take for example the Noctua NH-D14 and the Thermaltake Frio. The Noctua NH-D14 is famed for its excellent cooling performance that's literally silent, while the Thermaltake Frio is designed for overclocking, and is capable of handling upto 220W of heat. In terms of size, both these CPU coolers are among the largest available on the market. In fact, they're so big, we found that some computer chassis were not compatible.

Having said that, size isn't always everything ... really. I've actually seen smaller CPU coolers that can offer the same cooling performance, albeit a little noisy. Anyway, my point is ... for certain PC builds (HTPC/Media PCs) that require a low profile CPU cooler, there's a suitable solution from Evercool. It's called the Evercool Heatpipe Low Profile CPU cooler and it could be the answer you're looking for.

Evercool is based in Taiwan and has a long history for making thermal products. They've been in this business for more than 15 years, and some of you already know Evercool through its CPU coolers, which have been known for its value and affordability. For those who are not familiar with Evercool or their products, here's a quick blurb taken from their website ...

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"During more than 15 years of business, EVERCOOL has gradually moved from original equipment manufacturer to own brand development. The five beliefs: innovation, quality insistence, perfect facilities, competitive price and accurate lead-time ensure EVERCOOL providing of good services and products with good quality to clients, and build a dependable customer loyalty as well.

EVERCOOL can be separated into two words: “ever” and “cool” which means that EVERCOOL products will always avoid computers’ overheating by keeping them cold. The slogan of EVERCOOL is “The Aesthetics of Heat Dispersion”, which refers to the addition of aesthetics into the cooling product design. This concept makes EVERCOOL products different and stylish. In addition, the positive feedback from our clients is the motive power that encourages EVERCOOL to continue with its design innovation."

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In this review, we'll be taking a look at the Evercool Heatpipe Low Profile CPU cooler. Unlike Evercool's other CPU cooler, which they named the Transformer 4, I found it a little strange that they didn't give a name for this CPU cooler. Instead we will have to do with its model SKU number: HPKC-10025EA. The HPKC-10025EA is a low-profile CPU cooler that's designed for a selected number of processor types, which includes AMD (939, AM2+, AM3) and Intel processors, but only LGA 1156 (1155 compatible). You can see the full list of compatible processors here. It features 4 Copper heatpipes with a 6mm thickness, and a large array of Aluminum fins which is cooled by a 10cm fan (3-pin non-PWM). The base of the heatsink unit comes with a "Heat Pipe Contact" feature which allows the heatpipe to come in contact directly with the processor itself. According to Evercool, the 10cm fan spins at 1800 rpm with a low noise level <23 dBA.

The HPKC-10025EA looks pretty decent, and I can see its potential due to its low-profile design. It's one of only a few low-profile CPU coolers that I've come across, which feature heatpipes and a direct touch/contact at the base of the heatsink. The HPKC-10025EA has a pretty small footprint and it's extremely light-weight, weighing in at around 320g. For custom server builds, HTPC and Media PC users, I can see masses of potential with this CPU cooler.

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Due to its low profile design and its compact size, I'm not expecting the cooling performance of the HPKC-10025EA to be astonishing, nor am I expecting it to compete with any of the bigger coolers such as the Noctua NH-D14. However, what I am expecting, is that it should handle my Intel Core i5 - 650 with temperatures that's acceptable.

We'll be testing the Evercool HPKC-10025EA Heatpipe low-profile CPU cooler on our test rig which consist of an Intel Core i5 - 650 @ 3.2Ghz, Gigabyte P55-USB3 motherboard, Geforce GTX 460 SOC, 4Gb Crucial Ballistix DDR3-2133 and a Thermaltake ToughPower XT 875W power supply. It's the same system we've been using to test other CPU coolers.

OK, let's take a closer look at the specifications and features of the Evercool HPKC-10025EA Heatpipe low-profile CPU cooler, on our next page ...