Vigor's Monsoon II TEC CPU Cooler

Test Setup

I've often been criticized for using an old, hot-running, poorly-overclocking early revision Core 2 Duo E6700, a stepping that actually precedes retail samples and a valid criticism that I'd like to address. Unfortunately, Tom's Hardware Guide has a limited number of test processors to support all of its contributors and in-house editors, and getting a replacement would probably require ruining the sample I already have.

While any opportunity to get a new test processor is appreciated, testers should treat company property with respect. That thought has been just one reason behind the 1.50V core limit in previous articles, with 3.46 GHz consistently achievable across several platforms. Another reason for this voltage selection is that most air coolers allow the processor to exceed stable heat levels if core voltage is increased marginally.

But desperate times call for desperate measures, and a 3.46 GHz overclock barely got the competing coolers warm! Rather than use an insane voltage that would guarantee quick processor failure, a common "extreme-overclockers" setting of 1.65V was chosen as one that "might" cause processor failure but probably not before testing was complete.