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 even after only 30 minutes of burn-in.
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 cooler’s fan unobstructed. If you place any fan or cooler in an enclosed chassis, the sound results should be quieter in most situations.
Results
Stock results first, with a solid temperature performance but not at the top of the list, helped by the sound performance which is just about joint top position with the Noctua NH-U12S.
The Scythe Ninja 5 doesn’t really break a sweat during the AIDA64 Stress test and no throttling was observed or recorded.