Get a Glimpse of CPU Thermal Performance with PBO on: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Intel's i7-14700K
Thermalright Royal Knight 120 SE Assessment: Affordable and Skewed Design Review
Power limits off, and you've got the red-hot CPU performing at its peak temperature. It's no secret that even the hardiest air or liquid coolers struggle with intensive stress testing on the most demanding CPUs. To provide you with a clearer picture, we'll focus on the CPU's temperature, capturing the maximum wattage it can handle while staying cool.
Let's dive right in! We'll start by testing Thermalright's cooler on AMD's 9950X3D CPU, keeping in mind that my evaluation time was limited.
Thermalright's cooling on the 9950X3D clocked in at an average of 234W. Not too shabby for a top-tier air cooler, but those after the strongest performance should look into the Royal Pretor 130 instead.
Shifting gears, let's see how this same cooler performs on Intel's i7-14700K. In comparison, it delivers second-best results from tested air coolers so far. However, I'll need to test the Royal Pretor 130 on this system to confirm our expectations of extreme performance.
Now, let's not forget about the other vital factor: noise levels. This cooler's loudest operation registers at a moderate 43.4 dBA, making it an acceptable option for most users.
Next, we'll delve into noise-normalized performance. Striking the right balance between fan noise levels and cooling performance is crucial. Fully cranking the fans provides some cooling improvement, but it's a small gain compared to the noise it generates.
We'll be looking at two separate noise-normalized tests. First, we'll evaluate Intel's i7-14700K under traditional testing conditions, with the cooler noise levels capped at 38.9 dBA. Despite impressive results when fans were running full blast, the noise-normalized performance falls short, cooling just 222W—less than FSP's NP5 single tower air cooler and on par with Thermalright's own entry-level single tower cooler.
For AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D, I've recently added noise-normalized testing to the mix. This new test features a couple of tweaks to increase its difficulty. Noise levels for CPUs coolers have been reduced to 37.3 dBA, and I run a maxed MSI RTX 4070 TI Super together with the full CPU load. In this scenario, Thermalright's Royal Knight 120 SE disappoints, delivering cooled capacity that lagged behind Endorfy's Fortis 5 Black. I suspect this poor performance is due to the lower static pressure of the included fans on this cooler.
With the limited data I've garnered so far, I can't definitively say how Thermalright's Royal Knight 120 SE holds up against other coolers in noise-normalized testing on a 9950X3D with an RTX 4070 TI Super under full load. For a thorough understanding, you may need to perform your own testing or wait for official benchmarks from hardware review sites.
As for power limits, my latest reviews have focused more on tests with both the CPU and GPU being stressed. Still, some readers have requested more CPU-only tests. To accommodate these requests, let's examine thermal and noise performance on the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D at stock CPU power settings of 200W. This test offers more promising results for the Royal Knight 120 SE—averaging at 79.2°C and reaching 42.9 dBA on average. That places it just behind LevelPlay's 240mm AIO and a few degrees ahead of Endorfy's Fortis 5.
Next up, we'll challenge the Royal Knight 120 SE with a CPU power limit of 150W and an additional GPU power limit of 290W. In this scenario, the cooler keeps the CPU running at 70.6°C, which should handle even the most intense gaming sessions, while keeping noise levels at a moderate 42.4 dBA.
In a final test, we'll scrutinize the Royal Knight 120 SE under a 140W CPU power limit. This level of power should be within reach for most CPU coolers, making it an accessible benchmark for standard reviews. With this setup, the cooler maintains the CPU at an average of 61.2°C. While this result should be about average, you can achieve cooler temps with an alternative cooler like Arctic's Liquid Freezer III Pro if you're after a lower temperature. Noise levels reach 40.9 dBA in this test.
To wrap up, Thermalright's Royal Knight 120 SE joins the fray as a cost-effective option at $32 USD, providing decent performance on Intel systems. Although it underperforms in noise-normalized testing, it still gives a solid showing. For users who prioritize quiet operation, an alternative cooler may be the better choice.
In the realm of technology, the Royal Knight 120 SE air cooler showcases its performance not only on CPUs like the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D but also Intel's i7-14700K. When it comes to gadgets, including coolers, examining their cooling efficiency, temperature management, and noise levels are all important aspects to consider.
