Evercool HPK-10025EA - Printer Friendly version

1. Features

Manufacturer	Evercool
Model	HPK-10025EA
Price	$25
Category	Entry level users

The Evercool HPK-10025EA is a new low-profile cpu cooler for Socket 775 systems. Using a universal clip, the cooler can be installed in any Intel i7 CPU up to the high end Core i7-965.

- Product features

4 heatpipes in 6mm and H.D.T. Tech can make the maximum cooling efficiency.
Application for intel core i7 & P4 LGA775 series.
The 10cm extremely quiet fan provides more air flow while using.
Compatibility with
- Pentium 4 Socket T 505~571/620~672
- Pentium D Socket T 805~840/915~960
- Pentium 4 Processor Extreme Edition Socket T 3.73G
- Core 2 Duo Processor Socket T E4300~E8600
- Core 2 Extreme Processor Socket T QX6700~QX9650
- Core 2 Quad Processor Socket Q6600~Q9550
- Core i7 Processor I7-920~940
- Core i7 Processor Extreme Edition I7-965
Overall Dimension : 118x 110 x 67 mm
Heat Sink Material : 4 Heatpipes + Al Fin + H.D.T. Core
Bearing Type : EL long life bearing
(Life Expectancy at 25°C 50000HR)
Rated Speed : 1800±15% RPM
Noise Level : <23 dBA
Rated Voltage : 12 V.DC
Weight : 320 g

2. Package, installation

The Evercool HPK-10025EA comes in small-sized transparent plastic box:

The retail price of the product is around $25, as found in several online stores. The product is fully compatible with the LGA 1366 and the LGA 775 sockets - AM2 users you are out of luck.

In the package there is the cpu cooler and the mounting solution for sockets LGA 1366 or LGA 775. The design of the main cooler is rather simple with a 100mm fan on the top. The main cpu cooler body is made of aluminum fins with four heatpipes (6mm diameter) coming across:

The base follows the H.D.T design, which we first saw in products from XigmaTek:

Installing the Evercool HPK-10025EA will take you some minutes. First you have to place the included screws (bolts) in edge holes for LGA 1366 and to the next hole for the LGA 775 socket. Then you need to put the washers to the bolts as well as to the back of the motherboard after you flip it. Using a philips screwdriver you secure the cpu cooler on the motherboard. While it's not that hard to do it, it will need you to remove your motherboard out of the case first.

3. How we test

For our tests we used an open air testbed with the following configuration:

CPU: Intel Core7-920 Retail
Case: Open Air testbed
Motherboard: Asus P6T Deluxe Bios 1403
Memory: 3x1GB Crucial PC3-1066
PSU: OCZ 720W
HDD: WD 80JB
Operating system Windows XP with all the latest updates installed
Software: OCCT v2.0.1 & CoreTemp 0.99.3
Thermal Paste: Tuniq TX-2
Idle time: ~30min
Load time: ~30min
The RPM speed controllable via SmartFan BIOS or via external hardware controller

We tried to produce the the highest possible temperature inside our test PC using the OCCT v2.0.1 software with a custom 30mins (mixed) operation.

We left both CPU cores running at full load for ~30 minutes. All temperatures were logged using the CoreTemp 0.99.3 and the software. We also followed two overclocking scenarios:

Intel Core i7-920 @ 2.66GHz
Vcore: 1.1000V
Other BIOS values: Auto

Intel Core i7-920 @ 3.60GHz
Vcore: 1.26250V
DDR3 Voltage: 1.64V
Other BIOS values: Auto

We measured the produced noise with a Precision Gold N09AQ Environment Meter. All measurements were made at a distance of 30cm away from the cpu cooler running at full speed. For all the coolers we used the same thermal compound from Tuniq, the TX-2.

4. Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-920 processor we used for our tests produces enough heat even at stock speeds.

The Evercool HPK-10025EA cooler kept the CPU temperature at 56 degrees C, which is just 2 degrees C lower than Intel's stock cooling solution:

Pushing the Intel Core-i7 920 to work at 3.60GHz requires more power and thus, the CPU produces more heat.

The Intel stock cooler gave us around 90 degrees Celsius, while the Evercool HPK-10025EA managed to keep the cpu temperature down to 82degrees C.

Let's have a look to the noise levels.

As it was expected, Intel's stock cooler produces the lowest noise ( 37dB). The Evercool HPK-10025EA produced 48dB at full speed ad around 42dB when it was operating at low RPM.

Pricewise, the Evercool HPK-10025EA will not cost you more than $25, which is a very good price:

5. Final words

The Evercool HPK-10025EA is a product aims at HTPC users, aka cases with small height and increased demand for efficient heat dissipation. The product is possibly the most compact CPU cooler we have ever tested in our labs. It packs an 100mm fan at the top and H.D.T. design for the base, which is also met in many other CPU coolers. Pairing this product with an Intel Core i7-920 gave us a good overview of the product's features.

Let's summarize the facts:

According to our tests, the Evercool HPK-10025EA lowered the temperature of the Core i7-920 by 8 degrees Celsius compared to Intel's stock solution, especially under overclocking. When the CPU was running at stock voltages, the cooler was lowered the temperature of the CPU by just 2 degrees C.

At full RPM., the noise we measured was 48dB, which is noisier than what the Intel stock fan.

The retail price ( ~$25) of the product reflects its target group. We have to do with one of the cheapest cpu coolers you can buy for the iNtel Core i7 platform.

Overall, the Evercool HPK-10025EA is a decent product that will lower the temperature of your processor compared with the CPU bundled with your Core i7 processor. The cooler will do a nice job under overclocking too. But its main advantage is its small dimensions, which make it ideal for HTPC users.

Retail package
Design
Motherboard compatibility
Installation time
Copper Base quality

Pros:

+ Good retail package
+ Works Intel LGA1366/775 platforms
+ Low retail price
+ Will lower the temperatures of your processor compared with the stock cooler
+ Good noise level when fan is operating at low speed

Cons:

- Doesn't support AMD platform
- Relatively low cooling efficiency when Core i7 runs at stock voltages