Rage3D Cooler Master Hyper Z600 Review Rage3D Cooler Master Hyper Z600 ReviewThe criteria used to select a CPU cooler varies from person to person. Some are looking for something silent, some are looking for the ultimate in cooling to aid in their overclocking endeavors, and some are looking for the balance point between those two extremes. Cooler Master appears to be targeting all three groups with their upcoming Hyper Z600 CPU cooler, an enormous cooler designed to run in one of three modes: passive, with a single 120mm fan, or with two 120mm fans in a push/pull configuration. Introduced at ceBIT 2008 with an expected release date in late April, will this cooler have what it takes to earn a place of honor in your air-cooled system? Join Rage3D as we review the Cooler Master Hyper Z600.
 Cooler Master Hyper Z600 |
First, lets see what Cooler Master has to say about their Z600:
 Features |
 Specifications |
 Cooling Performance |
 Thermal Configurations |
 Package Contents |
 CPU Support |
 2D Drawings |
Testing Configuration
We'll be testing the Cooler Master Hyper Z600 on our recently upgraded testbed:
We elected to use Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound instead of the included 'Cooler Master Supreme Thermal compound' to more closely match the configuration the cooler's target market would do, as well as provide a more consistent basis for future comparisons.
We equipped the Z600 with a single new Noctua NF-P12 120x120x25mm fan, (1300RPM, Airflow: 92,3 m³/h) for the non-passive testing. Dual fan tests, configured in a push/pull arrangement, are not included because a second fan simply wouldn't fit. However, also due to the size of the Z600, installation placed the cooler within an inch of the rear exhaust fan, allowing us to somewhat replicate the push/pull design by testing with the exhaust fan in both on and off configurations.
Testing Methodology
Ambient temps throughout the test were maintained at 22C.
Unfortunately, this upgrade wasn't free of hiccups, with processor compatibility issues putting us way beyond schedule. We're still experiencing random issues, and haven't yet been able to push the new processor to its limits, but that certainly won't prevent us from seeing how this new cooler performs.
First Impressions
Cooler Master didn't disappoint with their presentation and packaging. The box is huge, indicative of the contents, and protects the cooler well. Everything is nicely organized, making it easy to find the right parts for your installation needs.
 Cooler Master Z600 |
 Cooler Master Z600 |
 Cooler Master Z600 |
Our first look at the cooler itself was somewhat shocking. Yes, we'd read the specs so had an idea of what to expect but, wow, it is one big cooler. In fact, while the included clips don't accommodate such a configuration, one could manage to mount four 120MM fans on this monster, though the resulting windstorm might suck debris and small rodents into the maelstrom.
 CM Z600 |
 CM Z600 - Heatpipes |
 CM Z600 - Base |
Next, lets take a look at the Z600 with our 120MM Noctua NF-P12 installed. Its almost a shame to 'tarnish' the beauty of this cooler with a brown cooling fan, but the Noctua more than makes up for its color scheme with its performance. The bracket system used takes a bit of getting used to. Yes, it basically just hangs onto the cooler loosely, made looser since we chose to use the Noctua's 'vibration compensators' instead of fan screws, but it never budged during testing. From a tester's perspective, it was actually pretty nice not to have to mess with anything solid mount, especially after the chore presented when installing the Hyper Z600 to the motherboard. Bottom line? Fan mounts are nicely designed. Due to the size of the cooler, you may find that you won't be able to install two fans in a push/pull configuration, but the option exists if you have the space.
 Z600 + Noctua |
 Z600 + Noctua |
 Z600 + Noctua |
Hyper Z600 Installation Process
 Z600 Accessory Kit |
 Z600 LGA775 Mounting Kit |
 Z600 LGA775 Mounting Brackets |
 Z600 LGA775 Mounting Brackets |
 Z600 LGA775 Backplate |
 Z600 LGA775 Installation |
Six frames hardly does the process involved justice. We cannot comment on installing this cooler on an AMD socket motherboard, but we sincerely hope that fewer steps are required for that platform. The LGA775 installation was a multi-stepped process requiring the assembly of several components prior to actually installing the cooler to the motherboard. This isn't such a bad thing if you're an 'install it and leave it' sort of user, but those of us with an addiction to regularly swapping hardware will tire of the procedure rather quickly. One would hope that Cooler Master R&D will come up w/ an equally secure, but less involved installation system for their future products.
This bracket design, seen previously in Cooler Master's GeminII cooler, is effective and very secure. Both installing and/or uninstalling the Z600 requires that the motherboard be removed from the chassis because the nuts are positioned on the backplate side of the cooler. We prefer designs that simply require removal of the motherboard to put the backplate into position, allowing users to install and/or uninstall the cooler separately if they need to access a component, reapply thermal paste, or whatever other reason one might be motivated to pull a cooler.
Hyper Z600 Installed
 Cooler Master Z600 |
 Cooler Master Z600 |
 Cooler Master Z600 |
Clearance is good, at least on our Abit IP35 Pro motherboard. Cooler Master has done a solid job with their heatpipe design to ensure that the cooler body doesn't come in contact with motherboard components. The Z600 looks magnificent, which is very good since it will certainly be the main eye-catcher in any system that can hold it! Speaking of which, those with a motherboard to side panel space of less than 17CM, probably less if the side panel is equipped with a fan, will likely find this cooler to be too large, at least if they wish to close their case.
Another issue that users may encounter will be DIMM slot proximity. We were unable to use our admittedly huge set of Corsair Dominator DDR2-1066 modules during this test, with or without their cooling fan module, except in a passive configuration.
Now that we've introduced you to the Hyper Z600, lets move on to the testing
portion of our review.
We will test five different configurations today, including four different fan setups (one passive) along with one overclocking run. We'll be measuring the variations in both idle and load temps (measured in Celsius) between each configuration.
Passive (rear exhaust disabled) - 42C Idle / 63C Load
 Passive Idle |
 Passive Load |
Our Cooler Master Cosmos incorporates three 120mm fans, one at the rear and two overheard, near within close proximity of the processor. In fact, the rear exhaust fan is within about an inch of the cooler, preventing us from testing a push/pull configuration. Because of this proximity, we opted to run a set of tests with the fan disabled, to better replicate a passive configuration.
Passive (rear exhaust enabled) - 42C Idle / 60C Load
 Passive + Exhaust Idle |
 Passive + Exhaust Load |
In the above tests, we reactivated the rear exhaust 120mm fan while leaving the Z600 without a fan attached. The results show that, with the Z600 in passive mode, improved results may still be obtained with a chassis with superior airflow.
Single Noctua NF-P12 fan (rear exhaust disabled) - 41C Idle / 56C Load
 Noctua Idle |
 Noctua Load |
Improved airflow may help, but having a fan attached directly to the cooler provides us with significant benefits over passive mode. Unless space or acoustics is an issue, we certainly support Cooler Master's recommendation on using a fan when using a higher performance processor.
Single Noctua NF-P12 fan (rear exhaust enabled) - 39C Idle / 53C Load
 Noctua + Exhaust Idle |
 Noctua + Exhaust Load |
Airflow + active cooling = win. In this configuration, the Hyper Z600 turns in extremely competitive results. We look forward to seeing how it will stack up against future CPU coolers on this same testbed.
Overclocking Results
 |
To say that we were impressed with overclocking performance would be quite the understatement. While our overclock was a relatively meager 20% over stock, seeing only an approximate 1C rise in temperature was pretty amazing. The Q9450 wasn't too shabby either, requiring only a minimal bump from the default 1.175v vcore up to 1.205v to maintain stability at 3.2GHz (we also bumped MCH voltages up to 1.33v). Unfortunately, we never achieved full stability past 3.2GHz with this configuration so are forced to limit our overclocking results to the above numbers.
To summarize, our idle temps ranged from 39C to 42C, with the high mark being posted with, not surprisingly, the Z600 in a passive configuration. At load, temps ranged from 53C to 63C, a larger spread but not a surprising one. And, for a 2.66GHz quad core processor, the results are very solid.
Notes: Reading Intel Core 2 core temps is an uncertain business. With intel not publishing the relevant values, a certain measure of guesswork enters the equation. We used RealTemp 2.41 for our testing, with the TjMax value left at the default 95C setting per the author's recommendation.
Pros:
Cons:
 Cooler Master Hyper Z600 |
Upon first seeing the Hyper Z600's specifications, we were skeptical of the claim that it would perform well in a passive configuration. This was, in large part, due to our experiences with Cooler Master's GeminII cooler, also marketed as a passive cooler, which performed well with fans attached but was poorly suited toward a passive design. Lets be clear of one thing: this is no GeminII.
We were pleasantly surprised to find that Cooler Master can rightfully label the Hyper Z600 as a passive cooler, performing well on even a slightly overclocked quad core processor. Adding active cooling and excellent airflow, however, are the key to turning a well-performing passive cooler into a solution that should compete with the best tower designs on the market.
Do note, however, that the Cooler Master Cosmos played a significant role in the result seen due to its superior airflow. Still, even with the rear exhaust fan disabled, the Z600 continued to perform quite well (dual top exhaust fans were still functioning). Bottom line? This is a superb cooler for those with a chassis that offers sufficient real estate.
Thank you to Cooler Master for giving us the opportunity to review their Hyper Z600 CPU Cooler for our readers.