Prolimatech MK-26 Review

Prolimatech MK-26 Testing:

Temperature testing will be accomplished by loading the video card to 100% using Unigine's Heaven Benchmark Version 3.0, with MSI's Afterburner overclocking utility for temperature monitoring. I will be using a resolution of 1920x1080 using 8xAA and a five-run sequence to run the test, ensuring that the maximum thermal threshold is reached. The fan speed will be left in the control of the driver package and video card's BIOS for the stock load test, with the fan moved to 100% to see the best possible cooling scenario for the overclocked load test. The idle test will involve a 20-minute cool-down, with the fan speeds left on automatic in the stock speed testing and bumped up to 100% when running overclocked.

• Processor: Core i7 2600K @ 4.4 GHz (100 MHz x 44)
• CPU Cooling: Corsair H100
• Motherboard: GIGABYTE Z68AP-D3
• Memory: Mushkin 991996 Redline PC3-17000 9-11-10-28 16 GB
• Video Card: XFX HD 7970 Black Edition Stock @ OC 1220 MHz core 1800 MHz memory
• PSU: Mushkin 800W Modular
• Hard Drives: Patriot WildFire 120 GB SSD
• Case: Corsair 600T
• Optical Drive: LG DVD-RW
• OS: Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit SP1

Settings

• Monitoring with MSI Afterburner
• Unigine Heaven 3.0 1920x1080 8x AA
• 5-run sequence
• 20-minute idle duration
• Temperature measured in degrees Celsius

Idle performance is substantially improved over the ARCTIC Hybrid and stock cooler, quite surprisingly to be honest after seeing a two part base with such a rough finish. The Hybrid cooler and MK-26 had a 14 °C difference between stock and overclocked loads with the fans running at 100%. I ran it this way because both aftermarket coolers were quiet; the speed increase made no real difference in noise as the system drowned it out and the stock cooler really needed it to maintain acceptable temperatures. Left on automatic control, the MK-26 ran at 63 °C stock load. Stock scores are not as important as overclocked because that is where things really get pushed; at both stock and overclocked load the MK-26 came in two degrees higher than the Hybrid cooler! Even at full speed the Vortex 14 fans were inaudible compared to the rest of the system.

For the temperatures and the night and day difference between stock and the MK-26 it is a no brainer— if you need lower temperatures and quiet operation this is it! Reliability is in favor of the MK-26 as the fans have extremely high lifespans and there isn't a pump like on the Hybrid—even if the fans fail the heat sink will passively cool the core. If the pump or radiator fan fails on the Hybrid things will get hot quickly!