BIOS Setting
We used the default PWM setting for the testing.
Sound Level Testing
We used a standard generic digital sound level meter at 15 inches. It is important to note we use the MicroCool Banchetto 101 Chassis for testing which is an open chassis. This means you are hearing the CPU coolers fan unobstructed.
Thermal Paste
We use Arctic MX-2 for all heatsink cooler tests and in fact we use it for all builds, test or otherwise. We run the AIDA64 Engineer stability test as our burn in programme for thermal paste, which allows the paste to spread out and share the love across the mating surfaces. It is worth doing, we always notice a drop in temperatures after 30 minutes of burn in.
Results
The CPUID only accuracy captures the overclock with the stock reading increased by the turbo mode when opening applications. Stock is 3.3Ghz with a turbo limit of 3.6Ghz.
Stock temperature test near the bottom of the chart, though still beating the likes of the Dark Rock Pro 3, a dual fan flagship cooler. We’ll have a look at the sound performance next to understand what the fan is doing or whether the PH-TC14S is going to struggle with the Intel i7-5820K. There is no TDP rating for the PH-TC14S on the Phanteks website, so we have no real guidance for thermal capability at this time.
Phanteks PH-TC14S CPU Cooler Review
Package - 7.5
Performance - 8.2
Price - 7.8
Consumer Experience - 8.2
7.9
For a single fan cooler it is a little more forgivable to get a little warmer than some of the bigger dual fan coolers, especially under overclocking load conditions for example. The performance of the Phanteks PH-TC14S is definitely there though, a custom fan profile and maybe a second fan if you have the headers and don't mind the extra airflow, you will have a capable cooler that looks the part too.
