Review for PC Temperatures Part 1: COOLER MASTER RR-H101-22FK-RA

I recently put a new cooling system into my PC rig, it consists of 3 extra case fans and a new heatsync. I am one who is very careful of my temperatures and I like to check them via my bios readings and through applications in Windows 7 (Speedfan). But to those people out there who think they are getting 20C on your core temps, what is the temperature of your room? Room temperature is generally 21-25C and unless you're living in a refrigerator, or have a cooling system other than air, there is no way you can cheat the laws of thermal dynamics.

First up, my new CPU cooler.

COOLER MASTER RR-H101-22FK-RA

Compared to the stock cooler for an AMD Phenom II x4 955, this cooler is a slight upgrade. At a cost of only $15, it seemed worth an attempt to upgrade to something a little beefier for a possible overclock in the future (as of now my CPU is nowhere near being the bottleneck of my rig).

Note: These temperatures are read from Speedfan and not the bios. They are not the calculated Core temperatures Speedfan also gives, but the sensor readings from the board.

Stock HS&F Idle Temps:
32-35C
COOLER MASTER RR-H101-22FK-RA Idle Temps:
29-31C

Total Change: 3-6C cooler

(stress tested with Starcraft 2 and prime95)

Stock HS&F Average Load Temps:
45-49C
COOLER MASTER RR-H101-22FK-RA Average Load Temps:
41-45C

Total Change: 4-8C cooler

So, as you can see there was a small change between the stock heatsync and the new Cooler Master RR-H101. I would say, on average the difference was about 3-4C; which isn't too bad for only a $15 cooler. This particular cooler also doesn't fully cover the top of the larger Phenom II chips, but does fit more snugly on Athlon X2 and other AM2 chips. I would advise spending twice the money on a quality cooler to net you better performance. However, if you're just looking to extend the life of your CPU by shaving off a few degrees, or replacing a dead cooler, this is a nifty upgrade. I have also heard many people complaining about the abilities of the stock AMD Phenom II x6's cooler, and that this was a inexpensive solution to decent temperatures.

Next up for review is the new pride of my case:
The "Scythe DFS123812-3000 "ULTRA KAZE" 120 x 38 mm Case Fan"

Product website link: http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=2964