Part 1: Megahalems vs Super Mega

As indicated in the introduction, this article is a comparison review between the ProlimaTech Megahalems and the updated Super Mega model. The ProlimaTech Megahalems has earned our Editor's Choice Award, and proven itself against the competition time and time again. If you're looking for a comparison between the Megahalems and Thermalright Venomous-X, or some other cooler, please refer to the countless tests we've previously published in our Featured Reviews: Cooling section.

Overclockers are known for being particular to their equipment, which is why Benchmark Reviews changes our format with each new project. Although it's impossible to nail-down which cooling fan is the overwhelming choice for overclocker projects, most enthusiasts would agree that fans with the best static pressure and highest airflow are the most appropriate. To best capture the equipment used by our audience, independent tests were performed by two different review staff: Olin Coles (that's me) and David Ramsey.

In my tests, the Intel Core i7-920 processor was overclocked to 3.8GHz @ 1.40V; not the highest overclock possible, but still perfectly stable. While some enthusiasts may dare to trespass beyond this voltage, Benchmark Reviews needed our test system to remain functional long enough to complete testing for these products under several different conditions. Our readers must remember that every product must pass testing on the same motherboard and processor, and if one of these fail all the testing must be redone completely.

Each heatsink was tested in succession, using fresh thermal paste for each installation. Two different cooling fan models were used in my tests: a single 120x120x38mm Scythe Ultra Kaze (133.6 CFM @ 45.9 dBA) or two Noctua NF-P12 fans (54.3 CFM @ 19.8 dBA) configured in a push-pull set. All fans were directly connected to the power supply. Knowing that this article would stir some controversy, the highest and lowest results were thrown out with the remainder included below:

Megahalems vs Super Mega: High-Output Scythe Ultra Kaze

As you might have noticed, the Scythe Ultra Kaze tests are split into two voltages: 1.375 and 1.40V. The first round of tests were conducted at 1.375V, but when ProlimaTech asked us to re-test I decided 1.40V would show more separation between results. In test series #5, I decided to use the new Super Mega top-plate and 70LB screws on both cooler.

My first round of tests demonstrated that the Megahalems performed better than the Super Mega, yet ProlimaTech felt that I may have received a faulty sample and exchanged it with a new unit for re-testing. This time I wanted to create as much difference as possible between heatsinks, and since I noticed that ProlimaTech's testing used a set of silent-running fans it made sense to duplicate this setup. Our test lab is not stocked with any 'Blue Vortex' 140mm fans, so I chose to re-test their second Super Mega heatsink sample with a pair of Noctua NF-P12 fans to best illustrate cooling performance from a silent computing perspective:

Megahalems vs Super Mega: Silent Noctua NF-P12 (x2)

Using Noctua NF-P12 fans and a second (replacement) ProlimaTech Super Mega heatsink sample for testing, the Megahalems once again proved itself to be the better of these two models. While the difference favored Megahalems by 0.77~1.40°C using a high-output Scythe Ultra Kaze fan, the new Super Mega version trailed behind 1.92~2.42°C with a pair of silent Noctua NF-P12 fans cooling an overclocked/overvolted processor.

ADDENDUM 23-JUNE-2010: Benchmark Reviews has tested the ProlimaTech Megahalems and Super Mega using a pair of 140mm Xigmatek XLF-F1453 fans in push/pull configuration.

Megahalems vs Super Mega: Xigmatek 140mm (x2)

Despite the differences, the Super Mega still performed at the very top of our all-time results, and matched the Thermalright Venomous-X. My own tests were now complete, but the project still wasn't finished yet! After all of the benchmarks were conducted, I sent the heatsinks to another technician in our review staff for a second set of independent tests...

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