Heatsink testing methodology*

• Each heatsink test consists of two parts, Real Test and Synthetic Test.
• Real Testing is performed in a real system, while Synthetic is done using methods that simulate thermal loads.
• Stable thermal loads are used in order to have accurate results, more specifically thermal load is produced by power resistors.
• The thermal load wattage is 30,60,90,120,150,180,210 watts. This covers a really wide range of processors and also overclocked states at wattages of 180 and 210 watts.
• Temp readings are taken from a sensor inside a copper plate that is the exact size of the processor tested in order to simulate the cpu with the best way.
• For reading the temperature I am using a high sensitivity digital multimeter.
• Thermal paste used in each test is Noctua NT-H1 because it has very quick break-in time.
• The copper piece that simulates the processor is not perfectly sanded, because the actual processor heatspreaders are never mirror polished.This happens again to have as accurate results as possible.
• Sound pressure levels are measured with a high sensitivity digital sound pressure meter, from 20cm away of the cooler inside a sound proof box to eliminate any external noise of echo.   
• Also please be informed that the installation procedure of each cpu cooler is shown in a dummy board without an actual cpu, just to take the photos and show the procedure. 

Power supply testing methodology

• Each psu test consists of two parts, Real Test(with a real system) and Synthetic Test(simulate loads).
• For Synthetic testing of power supplies I am using a homemade tester that consists of multiple power resistors and amperometers.
• This allows me to control with pin point accuracy the exact load at each rail
• One more reason to test psu's with this method is that high power power supplies(800+ watts) are very difficult to be tested with a normal system.With the tester I am using I can achieve loads of up to 1800 watts.
• Readings are taken with a high sensitivity digital multimeter, and if required a voltage drop diagram is made.
• In order for a test to be considered successful the psu has to be able to perform it for 2 hours.
• Noise levels are recorded from 10cm away from the back of the psu(air exhaust) 

Thermal paste testing methodology

• For testing pastes, I use a 230w peltier in order to have a high thermal load and make the differences bigger and noticeable.(plz note that actual thermal load produced is ~180w because the rated 230w is with 15.6v and I am using 12v)
• Room temp is at 24 dergees always
• Coolermaster V8 with Nanoxia 12cm fan@1800rpm is used
• Temps are taken from a copper plate between peltier and cooler(simulating a cpu heatspreader)
• Temps are taken with a digital IR thermometer for accuracy
• Before every new paste everything is cleaned with alcohol
• For every paste I do the break-in time as is specified by the manufacturer
• Each reading is taken 5 times to ensure accuracy, if anything abnormal is noticed the test is done from the beginning.

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