Performance

Continuing with the fan discussion, though any 120mm fan can be used GELID has included a Wing 12 PL (Blue LED). The Wing 12 PL was one of the first items we reviewed from GELID, an 1800RPM PWM-equipped fan with a few color options (GX-7 only offers blue). The fan MSRP is around the $20.00 mark, which is a nice value package. This fan runs at a rated 12 to 25 dBA, which can be significantly quieter than other 120mm fans.

GELID has opted for a plastic cap on the GX-7 that hides the top of the heat pipes which gives it a nice, finished look but makes it hard to see their unique arrangement. The heat produced by the processor is emitted in circular fashion, with a concentration of heat in the center and spreading roundly. This creates a problem when trying to utilize any more than five heat pipes in the cooling solution. For example, one of the older arrangements involved seven heat pipes in a horizontal line, the outer pipes largely ineffective since the radius of the heat hardly reaches them to benefit from any cooling. Typically we see manufacturers decrease the number of heat pipes they use. GELID has arranged the heat pipes in the GX-7 in a pentagonal shape, two pipes atop a line of five so that all seven are exposed to sufficient surface area to cool.

GELID has a logical concept, but how does it translate into real-world testing?

Running Prime95 and measuring with RealTemp, the GX-7 finishes a little behind fellow LGA 2011 heat sinks. However, keep in mind that it is pretty consistent with the TPC 812 and has an MSRP a few dollars less. The NH-D14, for instance, retails for about $25.00 more.

The base has a nice mirror finish, which guarantees a uniform surface for better heat transfer with compound.