At the end of last year, the company well-known to our regular readers for its tests of liquid and air cooling systems announced a new CPU cooler . It falls into the mid-budget price segment, as the recommended retail price for the cooling system is set at $30. This is quite a competitive price point, as there are dozens of very strong models of CPU coolers in the mid-segment with an interesting combination of price and performance. Just how well the SE-224-XT Basic will navigate this turbulent market, we will tell you in today’s article.
Technical Specifications and Recommended Price
| Specification Name | |
| Cooler dimensions (H × W × D), fan size, mm | 155 × 125 × 75 |
| (120 × 120 × 25) | |
| Total weight, g | 636 (493 – radiator) |
| Radiator material and construction | Tower design made of aluminum plates with 4 copper heat pipes of 6 mm diameter, which are part of the base (Direct Touch 3.0 technology) |
| Number of radiator fins, pcs. | 46 |
| Thickness of radiator fins, mm | 0,45 |
| Distance between fins, mm | 2,0 |
| Calculated radiator area, cm² | 5 112 |
| Thermal resistance, °C/W | n/a |
| Fan type and model | ID-Cooling ID-12025M12S |
| Fan blade/stator diameter, mm | 113 / 40 |
| Weight of one fan, g | 139 |
| Fan rotation speed, RPM | 700–1800 (±10%) |
| Airflow, CFM | 76.16 (max.) |
| Noise level, dBA | 15,2–32,5 |
| Static pressure, mm H2O | 2.16 (max.) |
| Number and type of fan bearings | 1, hydrodynamic |
| Fan mean time to failure, hours/years | n/a |
| Nominal/start voltage of the fan, V | 12 / 4,3 |
| Fan current, A | 0,2 |
| Declared/measured power consumption of the fan, W | 2,40 / 2,86 |
| Fan cable length, mm | 430 |
| Compatibility with CPUs for sockets | Intel LGA115x/2011(v3)/2066 AMD Socket AM4 |
| Maximum CPU TDP level, W | 180 |
| Additional (features) | Option to install a second fan, thermal paste ID-TG15 (8.5 W/(m·K), 1.5 g) |
| Warranty period, years | 2 |
| Recommended price, $ | 30 |
Packaging and contents;
The ID-Cooling SE-224-XT Basic cooler is packaged in a compact cardboard box, colored black and orange. The front of the packaging contains a photo of the cooler and the model name.
The sides and back will inform potential buyers about the maximum TDP level, supported platforms, technical specifications, and key features of the new product.
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In addition to the radiator with a fan, enclosed in foam inserts, the cooler package includes an instruction manual and a flat box with accessories.
The latter contains a mounting plate for motherboards with Intel processors, two pairs of steel guides, a set of screws, spacers, and washers, as well as four wire clips for securing two fans on the radiator.
Additionally, the SE-224-XT Basic comes with a syringe of new thermal paste weighing 1.5 grams. Its declared thermal conductivity must be at least 8.5 W/(m·K), which places it among the top thermal interfaces available today.
The cooler manufactured in China comes with a two-year warranty. As mentioned earlier, it should be priced at $30. Although it is not yet available in Russia, typically the prices of ID-Cooling products in retail networks are very close to the recommended prices, and often even lower.
Design features
ID-Cooling SE-224-XT Basic is an extremely simple tower-type cooling system for CPUs, but that doesn’t make it look dull or mundane. The serrated aluminum heatsink, nickel-plated heat pipes, black top plate with the company's logo, and fan with aggressive blades all contribute to making the SE-224-XT Basic distinctive and visually appealing.
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However, neither the cooler nor its fan features any lighting effects, meaning this is a basic and maximally straightforward model. If someone requires a version with lighting, they can choose from at least , equipped with various LEDs.
The cooler is relatively compact and lightweight. Its dimensions are 155 × 125 × 75 mm, and it weighs 636 grams, with 493 grams accounted for by the heatsink.
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The heatsink consists of 46 aluminum plates without nickel plating, measuring 120 × 48 mm and 0.45 mm thick. The plates are pressed onto four heat pipes with a distance of 2.0 mm between the fins. The calculated surface area of the heatsink is 5112 cm2.
Approximately half of the sides of the heatsink are closed off by the bent ends of the fins.
Both wide sides of the plates have triangular cutouts to minimize the airflow resistance from the fan and enhance the cooler's efficiency at low RPM.
The top plate of the heatsink is painted black, and in the center, the ID-Cooling logo is prominently displayed. A paper sticker is attached to the base to protect it from accidental scratches, while the copper pipes are safeguarded against oxidation.
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The cooler features four nickel-plated copper heat pipes with a diameter of 6 mm. They are arranged in a chessboard pattern within the fins to distribute heat flow as evenly as possible.
The contact between the fins and the heat pipes is fully implemented around their diameter, with no gaps for 'locks'. There are no solder joints here.
The base of the ID-Cooling SE-224-XT Basic radiator is made using third-generation Direct Touch 3.0 technology. The manufacturer claims a 30% increase in heat exchange efficiency compared to the previous version of direct-contact bases. Visually, there are no technological breakthroughs in the base of the cooler, and the distance between the pipes, filled with aluminum, is 1.5 mm.
The quality of the base processing and its flatness are at the usual level for Direct Touch coolers: there is no 'mirror' polishing here (and never is), but there are no complaints about its flatness.
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The cooler is equipped with a single 120 mm ID-Cooling ID-12025M12S fan featuring a black frame and a dark gray nine-blade impeller with a diameter of 113 mm.
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This model boasts increased static pressure, which can reach 2.16 mm H2O at a maximum speed of 1800 RPM. The maximum airflow is rated at 76.16 CFM, and the noise level ranges from 15.2 to 32.5 dBA. The PWM control support allows the fan speed to be reduced to 700 RPM.
The 40 mm diameter stator, mounted on three round and one rectangular (cable) post, is covered with a film sticker containing information about individual electrical specifications.
At 12 V and maximum speed, the fan consumed 2.86 W, which is slightly higher than the specified 2.4 W in the specifications. The starting voltage is 4.3 V, and the cable length is 430 mm. The lifespan of the hydrodynamic bearing is not specified in the fan's characteristics.
There are soft silicone inserts in the corners of the plastic fan frame, through which the fan makes contact with the radiator.
The fan is secured with wire clips that insert into the frame holes and latch onto the notches on the side edges of the radiator fins.
Since the radiator is symmetrical, and there are additional brackets included with the cooler, the ID-Cooling SE-224-XT Basic can be equipped with a second 120mm fan for exhaust from the radiator. However, the radiator is narrow (just 48mm), so the benefit from the second fan will be minimal.
Compatibility and installation
For some reason, ID-Cooling does not publish an electronic version of the installation manual on its website, but even without it, the SE-224-XT Basic can be easily installed on any supported CPU socket. It supports all modern platforms, except for AMD Socket TR4. We installed the new model on a board with an LGA2066 socket, for which threaded bushings need to be screwed into its mounting posts first.
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Next, metal guides with studs in the center are attached to these posts.
After applying thermal paste to the processor’s heat spreader, the radiator without a fan is placed on it and evenly tightened with two spring-loaded screws.
The radiator is low-profile – only 43mm from the board to the bottom plate and even less to the fan. However, since it is narrow, it does not interfere with RAM modules with large heat spreaders. Even on a tight board like the ASRock X299 OC Formula, we had no issues placing the ID-Cooling SE-224-XT Basic.
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The cooler installed on the processor has a height of 160mm, which means it will fit in the vast majority of vertically oriented cases.
Inside the case, the cooler looks quite ordinary and unremarkable. Just a 'workhorse' without trendy lighting and bright accents.
Source: 3dnews.ru
