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Home » Prolimatech Armageddon CPU Cooler Review

Prolimatech Armageddon CPU Cooler Review

[nextpage title=”Introduction”]

Today we are reviewing Prolimatech Armageddon CPU cooler, which has a slim tower heatsink with six U-shaped heatpipes and room for two 140 mm fans. Will it perform well in our tests? Let’s see.

Armageddon box is quite small since the heatsink is slim and it comes with no fans.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 1: Box.

Inside the box we found the heatsink, manual, installation hardware and a tube of thermal compound.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 2: Box contents.

In the next pages we will see this cooler in detail.

[nextpage title=”The Armageddon”]

In Figure 3 you have a front view of the cooler. Note it has two independent heatsinks, each one connected to one of the tips of the six heatpipes.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 3: Front view.

In Figure 4, you can see the side of the cooler. Note how the heatsink is just a little bit wider than the base of the cooler.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 4: Side view.

In Figure 5, you can see the heatpipes in detail. Armageddon is different from most coolers we saw so far because the heatpipes are not positioned in a straight line, but side by side, which means all of them receive direct airflow.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 5: How the heatpipes are distributed.

In Figure 6, you can see the top of the cooler, where you can check the position of the heatpipes.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 6: Top view.

[nextpage title=”The Armageddon (Cont’d)”]

In Figure 7, you can see the base of the cooler, which is smooth but with no mirror-like finishing. Note that Prolimatech says the base of their coolers doesn’t have a mirror-like finishing on purpose: according to them this provides the best performance and users should not try to polish the base.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 7: Base.

Prolimatech Armageddon does not comes with fans, but the manufacturer sent us two Xigmatek XLF-F1453 fans (140 mm, 1000 rpm, 16 dBA, 63.5 cfm) with the cooler, so we tested it with these fans. Keep in mind that if you use other fan(s) the results may be different from that we found.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 8: Fans.

In Figure 9, you can see Armageddon with the fans installed. A highlight of this cooler are the clips that hold the fans, called "armaclips". They are really practical, making it easy to install or to remove the fans.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 9: Fans installed.

In Figure 10, you can see the backplate used by this cooler.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 10: Backplate.

[nextpage title=”Installation”]

Armageddon installation system is identical to the one seen on Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. B, which we tested some time ago. First you must attach two aluminum bars to the motherboard, screwing them to the backplate.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 11: Aluminum frame.

After that you need to put the cooler in place and attach it to the frame, using a third aluminum bar.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 12: Installed on the motherboard.

Then you install the fans, as you can check in Figure 13.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 13: Fans installed.

In Figure 13, you can see the cooler inside our case.

Prolimatech ArmageddonFigure 14: Installed in our case.

[nextpage title=”How We Tested”]

We are adopting the following methodology for our CPU cooler reviews.

First, we chose the CPU with the highest TDP (Thermal Design Power) we had available, a Core 2 Extreme QX6850, which has a 130 W TDP. The choice for a CPU with a high TDP is obvious. To measure the efficiency of the tested cooler, we need a&
nbsp;processor that gets very hot. This CPU works by default at 3.0 GHz, but we overclocked it to 3.33 GHz, in order to heat it as much as possible.

We took noise and temperature measurements with the CPU idle and under full load. In order to achieve 100% CPU load on the four processing cores we ran Prime95 with the "In-place Large FFTs" option, and three instances of the StressCPU program, all at the same time.

We also compared the reviewed cooler to the Intel stock cooler (with copper base), which comes with the processor we used, and also with some other coolers we have tested using the same methodology.

Temperature measurements were taken with a digital thermometer, with the sensor touching the base of the cooler, and also with the core temperature reading (given by the CPU thermal sensor) from the from the SpeedFan program, using an arithmetic average of the four core temperature readings.

The sound pressure level (SPL) was measured with a digital noise meter, with its sensor placed 4" (10 cm) from the fan. We turned off the video board cooler so it wouldn’t interfere with the results, but this measurement is only for comparative purposes, because a precise SPL measurement needs to be made inside an acoustically insulated room with no other noise sources, which is not the case here.

Hardware Configuration

  • Processor: Core 2 Extreme QX6850
  • Motherboard: Gigabyte EP45-UD3L
  • Memory: 4 GB G.Skill F2-6400CL5S-2GBNY (DDR2-800/PC2-6400 with 5-5-5-15 timings), configured at 800 MHz
  • Hard drive: 1 TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 (ST31000528AS, SATA-300, 7200 rpm, 32 MB buffer)
  • Video card: PNY Verto Geforce 9600 GT
  • Video resolution: 1680×1050
  • Video monitor: Samsung Syncmaster 2232BW Plus
  • Power supply required: Seventeam ST-350BKV
  • Case: 3RSystem K100

Software Configuration

  • Windows XP Professional SP3

Software Used

  • Prime95
  • StressCPU
  • SpeedFan

Error Margin

We adopted a 2 °C error margin, i.e., temperature differences below 2 °C are considered irrelevant.

[nextpage title=”Our Tests”]

On the tables below you can see our results. We ran the same tests with the coolers shown on below tables. Each test ran with the CPU idle and then with the CPU fully loaded. On BigTyp 14Pro, TMG IA1, NH-U12P and ISGC-300 the tests were done with the fan at full speed and at minimum speed. The other coolers were connected directly to the motherboard and it controls the fan speed based on CPU load level and temperature on PWM models. ISGC-400, iCEAGE Prima Boss, Megahalems Rev. B, Thermaltake SpinQ VT, Zalman CNPS10X Flex, Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme, Tuniq Propeller 120 and Zalman VF2000 LED were tested at minimum speed on idle test and at maximum speed on full load test.

CPU Idle

Cooler Room Temp. Noise Fan Speed Base Temp. Core Temp.
Intel stock 14 °C 44 dBA 1000 rpm 31 °C 42 °C
BigTyp 14Pro (min) 17 °C 47 dBA 880 rpm 29 °C 36 °C
BigTyp 14Pro (max) 17 °C 59 dBA 1500 rpm 26 °C 34 °C
Akasa Nero 18 °C 41 dBA 500 rpm 26 °C 35 °C
Cooler Master V10 14 °C 44 dBA 1200 rpm 21 °C 26 °C
TMG IA1 (max) 16 °C 47 dBA 1500 rpm 22 °C 30 °C
TMG IA1 (min) 16 °C 57 dBA 2250 rpm 21 °C 30 °C
Zalman CNPS10X Extreme 16 °C 44 dBA 1200 rpm 21 °C 29 °C
Thermaltake ISGC-100 18 °C 44 dBA 1450 rpm 35 °C 49 °C
Noctua NH-U12P (low) 15 °C 42 dBA 1000 rpm 20 °C 30 °C
Noctua NH-U12P 15 °C 46 dBA 1400 rpm 20 °C 28 °C
Noctua NH-C12P 17 °C 46 dBA 1400 rpm 23 °C 28 °C
Thermaltake ISGC-200 21 °C 43 dBA 1100 rpm 31 °C 35 °C
Schythe Kabuto 22 °C 42 dBA 800 rpm 29 °C 34 °C
Arctic Cooling Alpine 11 Pro 20 °C 43 dBA 1500 rpm 32 °C 39 °C
ISGC-300 (min) 18 °C 42 dBA 800 rpm 26 °C 30 °C
ISGC-300 (max) 18 °C 46 dBA 1400 rpm 24 °C 26 °C
SilverStone NT06-E 21 °C 66 dBA 2600 rpm 30 °C 41 °C
Zalman CNPS9700 NT 22 °C 48 dBA 1700 rpm 28 °C 35 °C
Scythe Mugen-2 17 °C 41 dBA 700 rpm 25 °C 30 °C
ISGC-400 (min) 17 °C 44 dBA 850 rpm 24 °C 30 °C
Cooler Master Vortex 752 20 °C 48 dBA 1700 rpm 32 °C 44 °C
iCEAGE Prima Boss (min) 22 °C 42 dBA 1000 rpm 29 °C 36 °C
Evercool Buffalo 17 °C 51 dBA 1850 rpm 22 °C 29 °C
Scythe Big Shuriken 20 °C 42 dBA 900 rpm 31 °C 39 °C
Cooler Master Hyper TX3 21 °C 44 dBA 1700 rpm 30 °C 39 °C
Titan Skalli 20 °C 43 dBA 1200 rpm 27 °C 34 °C
Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. B 21 °C 40 dBA 800 rpm 28 °C 32 °C
Zalman CNPS9900 NT 23 °C 45 dBA 900 rpm 30 °C 34 °C
Cooler Master Hyper N620 21 °C 44 dBA 1200 rpm 28 °C 34 °C
Nexus LOW-7000 R2 23 °C 46 dBA 1400 rpm 33 °C 42 °C
Evercool HPK-10025EA 20 °C 54 dBA 1900 rpm 27 °C 34 °C
Evercool HPH-9525EA 23 °C 50 dBA 1900 rpm 38 °C 49 °C
iCEAGE Prima Boss II 23 °C 42 dBA 1000 rpm 29 °C 35 °C
Thermaltake SpinQ VT 24 °C 45 dBA 950 rpm 32 °C 39 °C
Titan Fenrir 21 °C 42 dBA 950 rpm 29 °C 35 °C
Zalman CNPS 10 Flex 23 °C 40 dBA 800 rpm 32 °C 39 °C
Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme 24 °C 43 dBA 1100 rpm 30 °C 37 °C
Gelid Tranquillo 22 °C 41 dBA 850 rpm 29 °C 36 °C
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 20 °C 45 dBA 1200 rpm 27 °C 35 °C
Spire TherMax Eclipse 20 °C 58 dBA 2300 rpm < font size="1">25 °C 34 °C
Tuniq Propeller 120 20 °C 43 dBA 1050 rpm 24 °C 33 °C
Nexus VCT-9000 20 °C 44 dBA 600 rpm 28 °C 37 °C
Coolink Corator DS 19 °C 45 dBA 1050 rpm 25 °C 32 °C
CoolIT ECO 17 °C 43 dBA 900 rpm – 32 °C
Zalman VF2000 LED 17 °C 43 dBA 1300 rpm 28 °C 36 °C
Cooler Master Vortex Plus 17 °C 45 dBA 1400 rpm 23 °C 34 °C
Prolimatech Armageddon 17 °C 48 dBA 1050 rpm 20 °C 25 °C

CPU Fully Loaded

Cooler Room Temp. Noise Fan Speed Base Temp. Core Temp.
Intel stock 14 °C 48 dBA 1740 rpm 42 °C 100 °C
BigTyp 14Pro (min) 17 °C 47 dBA 880 rpm 43 °C 77 °C
BigTyp 14Pro (max) 17 °C 59 dBA 1500 rpm 35 °C 70 °C
Akasa Nero 18 °C 48 dBA 1500 rpm 34 °C 68 °C
Cooler Master V10 14 °C 54 dBA 1900 rpm 24 °C 52 °C
TMG IA1 (max) 16 °C 47 dBA 1500 rpm 27 °C 63 °C
TMG IA1 (min) 16 °C 57 dBA 2250 rpm 25 °C 60 °C
Zalman CNPS10X Extreme 16 °C 51 dBA 1900 rpm 24 °C 50 °C
Thermaltake ISG-100 18 °C 50 dBA 1800 rpm 58 °C 93 °C
Noctua NH-U12P (low) 15 °C 42 dBA 1000 rpm 28 °C 59 °C
Noctua NH-U12P 15 °C 46 dBA 1400 rpm 25 °C 54 °C
Noctua NH-C12P 17 °C 46 dBA 1400 rpm 37 °C 76 °C
Thermaltake ISGC-200 21 °C 48 dBA 1900 rpm 42 °C 68 °C
Scythe Kabuto 22 °C 47 dBA 1200 rpm 38 °C 63 °C
Arctic Cooling Alpine 11 Pro 20 °C 51 dBA 2300 rpm 49 °C 85 °C
ISGC-300 (min) 18 °C 42 dBA 800 rpm 36 °C 64 °C
ISGC-300 (max) 18 °C 46 dBA 1400 rpm 31 °C 56 °C
SilverStone NT06-E 21 °C 66 dBA 2600 rpm 39 °C 96 °C
Zalman CNPS9700 NT 22 °C 56 dBA 2600 rpm 34 °C 63 °C
Scythe Mugen-2 17 °C 46 dBA 1300 rpm 28 °C 54 °C
ISGC-400 (max) 17 °C 47 dBA 1400 rpm 36 °C 69 °C
Cooler Master Vortex 752 20 °C 55 dBA 2300 rpm 48 °C 92 °C
iCEAGE Prima Boss (max) 22 °C 53 dBA 2000 rpm 35 °C 59 °C
Evercool Buffalo 17 °C 51 dBA 1850 rpm 32 °C 67 °C
Scythe Big Shuriken 20 °C 50 dBA 1500 rpm 51 °C 85 °C
Cooler Master Hyper TX3 21 °C 53 dBA 2700 rpm 39 °C 66 °C
Titan Skalli 20 °C 47 dBA 1550 rpm 37 °C 69 °C
Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. B 21 °C 61 dBA 2600 rpm 30 °C 51 °C
Zalman CNPS9900 NT 23 °C 56 dBA 2000 rpm 34 °C 54 °C
Cooler Master Hyper N620 21 °C 50 dBA 1650 rpm 32 °C 56 °C
Nexus LOW-7000 R2 23 °C 53 dBA 1900 rpm 45 °C 74 °C
Evercool HPK-10025EA 20 °C 54 dBA 1900 rpm 39 °C 69 °C
Evercool HPH-9525EA 23 °C 50 dBA 1900 rpm 58 °C 100 °C
iCEAGE Prima Boss II 23 °C 56 dBA 2100 rpm 32 °C 56 °C
Thermaltake SpinQ VT 24 °C 52 dBA 1500 rpm 40 °C 68 °C
Titan Fenrir 21 °C 50 dBA 1600 rpm 33 °C 58 °C
Zalman CNPS 10 Flex 23 °C 61 dBA 2600 rpm 33 °C 59 °C
Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme 24 °C 56 dBA 1900 rpm 35 °C 60 °C
Gelid Tranquillo 22 °C 46 dBA 1450 rpm 31 °C 60 °C
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 20 °C 52 dBA 1900 rpm 32 °C 64 °C
Spire TherMax Eclipse 20 °C 58 dBA 2300 rpm 29 °C 73 °C
Tuniq Propeller 120 20 °C 55 dBA 1900 rpm 36 °C 68 °C
Nexus VCT-9000 20 °C 50 dBA 850 rpm 43 °C 88 °C
Coolink Corator DS 19 °C 56 dBA 1800 rpm 32 °C 62 °C
CoolIT ECO 17 °C 54 dBA 1850 rpm – 62 °C
Zalman NF2000 LED 17 °C 51 dBA 2200 rpm 43 °C 97 °C
Cooler Master Vortex Plus 17 °C 57 dBA 2700 rpm 33 °C 78 °C
Prolimatech Armageddon 17 °C 48 dBA 1050 rpm 24 °C 56 °C

The next graph shows how many degrees Celsius the CPU core was hotter than room temperature during our idle tests.

 Prolimatech Armageddon

The next graph gives you an idea on how many degrees Celsius the CPU core was hotter than room temperature during our full load tests.

 Prolimatech Armageddon

[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]

Prolimatech Armageddon main features are:

  • Application: Socket LGA1156 and 1366 processors (officially; we could easily install it on our socket LGA775 CPU).
  • Fins: Aluminum.
  • Base: Copper.
  • Heat-pipes: Six copper heat-pipes.
  • Fan: Two 140 mm (not included).
  • Nominal fan speed: N/A.
  • Fan air flow: N/A.
  • Maximum power consumption: N/A.
  • Nominal noise level: N/A.
  • Weight: 1.65 lbs (750 g).
  • More information: https://www.prolimatech.com
  • Average price in the US*: USD 65.00

* Researched at Amazon.com on the day we published this review.

[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]

When we first look Armageddon we instantly remembered Prolimatech Megahalems, which we tested some time ago. We were not so sure about what to expect: it is thinner than its older brother, but taller. And the placement of the heatpipes, side by side (not in-line as with most tower coolers) made us to expect to achieve an excellent performance with this cooler, but honestly we had second thoughts.

The product advertising puts a lot of focus on its slim design, but this is not a big deal: the cooler with both 140 mm fans installed uses more space inside the case than most "non-slim" coolers. It is also a very tall cooler — the tallest CPU cooler that we’ve tested so far.

It has a good looks, but with no bells and whistles. If it will draw you attention or not will depend on the fans you install. The noise level will depend on the fans as well.

Regarding performance, we think the numbers may not tell the whole story. Armageddon kept our CPU 9 °C hotter than Megahalems (which was the best-performing CPU cooler we’ve tested to date). This means it has a very good performance (better than many good CPU coolers) and we could easily say "forget Armageddon: Megahalems costs the same and is far better". But keep in mind that Megahalems was tested using a 120 mm fan spinning at 2,600 rpm, while Armageddon was tested with two 140 mm fans spinning only at 1,050 rpm. Keep also in mind that Armageddon performed exceptionally well with the CPU idle.

In conclusion, Prolimatech Armageddon is an excellent cooler and must be considered as a good purchase if you have a wide case and can get good-performance 140 mm fans. We are giving it our Silver Award.

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