Xigmatek HDT-S1284 Achilles Review





Official Xigmatek Achilles Website Link : Click Here

Xigmatek S1283 Red-Scorpion Review: Click Here

If interested to any of the Xigmatek Product?? Go to Prodigius's thread: Click Here

CPU cooling has always been important for the overclocker, but due to dual and quad cores it's becoming increasingly
important for the casual user too. Water cooling and phase change are both great ways of cooling a CPU; however the
extremes of these methods are both very expensive and can be rather risky. This is the reason why Air Cooling is still
used today, though don't label it as boring, air cooling has changed dramatically over the past 3 years.

Today I will be looking at the latest Xigmatek product, the "Xigmatek HDT-S1284 Achilles" which features the new 4x
8mm heatpipe and also inherit from its sibling the anti-vibration rubber and 120mm 4 white LED fan. So let's take this
cooler out for a spin and see how well it performs...

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Content

1. Overview / Features / Specifications / Application
2. Specification Comparison Between HDT-S1283 vs Red-Scorpion vs Achilles
3. A Closer Look
4. Problem With Previous SS-Kit
5. Test bed
6. Performance
7. Conclusion

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1. Overview / Features / Specifications / Application









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2. Specification Comparison Between HDT-S1283 vs Red-Scorpion vs Achilles

The specifications for comparison were taken from each of the product box. Take note that some of the specification printed
on the box are difference from what is posted in the Xigmatek website.



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3. A Closer Look

This time the box for this new Achilles has changed compared to its previous sibling which is HDT-S1283 and Red-Scorpion,
which uses plastic and cardboard instead of cardboard box only. But it is missing the foam for additional protection. This
time the theme color for Achilles is golden color which represent Royalty.



This post has been edited by vincentlaw: Jul 31 2008, 05:04 PM

The SPECIFICATION is were stated on the back of the box as usual and good news this time the spec printed on the box were
same with posted on the official website. On the both side of the box were stated the FEATURES and APPLICATION.



Inside the box we have even bigger heatsink now, a LED fan, a bag of accessories and lastly a manual. This time the heatsink
is made up of 4x Heatpipes instead of 3x for its sibling, the vanilla-S1283 and Red-Scorpion. It resemble the same features
from its siblings which is the Heat-Direct-Touch (H.D.T). Xigmatek has combined the efficient design of FOUR!! exposed copper
heatpipes with an extremely durable and quiet 4-white-LEDs 120mm fan in this Achilles.





Since the use of copper in their 8mm heatpipes were very successful, therefore this Achilles inherits it too. It can tremendously
improve the evaporation and condensation cycle in the HDT-S1284 Achilles. The heatpipes was coated with nickel except the base.

Looking from the top down, the small dimples in the aluminum fins for the spoiler to attach to is GONE!. Which means no more
radiating fins anymore. Wonder why they excluded it. Below is the 360' look.



This post has been edited by vincentlaw: Apr 18 2008, 01:53 PM

And here is how the base looks like. A new 4x 80mm heatpipe look with a total of 38mm long from the 1st heatpipe to the last
heatpipe.









Here is the combination of the fan + heatsink. The 120mm 4-white-LED fan are exactly the same as the Red-scorpion one. It still
inheriting the slightly the dull lightings from the Red-Scorpion Fan but at least it is much better compared to the vanilla S1283
which is only black.

This post has been edited by vincentlaw: Apr 17 2008, 11:27 PM

The accessories provided isn't much different from its siblings, LGA775 and AMD processors (754/ 939/ 940/ AM2 respectively)
included. The Intel socket 775 clips use the standard push-to-lock plastic clips that insert into the four motherboard holes around
the processor socket. AMD Athlon64 processors on 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+ work with a modified spring clip that attaches to the
lugs on the AMD heatsink retention frame. A cam lever at one end of the clip applies pressure to the heatsink base directly. The
AMD clip is tool free, but the metal is thin and tends to bend towards one side or another after clamping pressure is applied. 3-pin
to Molex converter, thermal compound, 2-screws are included too in the package. Take note that the packaging for the thermal
compound has changed. Wondering how it performs.





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4. Problem With Previous SS-Kit

NOTE: Please take note that this SS-Kit used for any previous Xigmatek product included HDT-S1283 and Red-Scorpion were not
able to use back on this Achilles. This is because the Achilles screw were made smaller therefore previous SS-Kit version which have
bigger screw and screw holes isn't going to be compatible with it. Picture below show the difference of the screw and screw holes size
used. So the Achilles testing were carried out with Push-Pin only.

NOTE: I strictly recommend users to use the SSKit because the PPKit (PushPinKit) really bend my motherboard into quite extreme condition. I can even feel and see its like a small hump at the back of the motherboard. That is bad for long term use.




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5. Test Bed

Software
Windows Vista Ultimate Edition Service Pack 1
Everest Ultimate Edition 4.10.1126
CoreTemp 0.97.1 (LINK)
CPU-Z 1.42 (LINK)
PRIME95 v25.6 Build 6 (LINK)

Hardware
HSF = Xigmatek s1283 Red-Scorpion (with SS-Kit) & Xigmatek s1284 Achilles (with Push-Pin)
Processor = Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66ghz 1333FSB 4mb L2-cache G0-Stepping
Motherboard = Gigabyte P35-DS3 (Rev1.0)
Memory = 4x 1gb Kingston Value Ram DDR2-800mhz
Graphic Card = Asus 8800GT TOP Edition 512mb (700/1750/2000)
Power Supply = Silverstone Strider ST56F 560W
Casing = Cooler Master CM690 With 5x 120mm Silent/LED Fan
[1x Front-Bottom(Intake), 1x Bottom(Intake), 1x Back(Exhaust), 1x Top(Exhaust), 1x Side Panel(Intake)]

Thermal Compound = Artic Cooler MX-2 High Performance Thermal Compound

NOTE: Test is done with EIST, C1E, TM2 and virtualization turning OFF



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This post has been edited by vincentlaw: Apr 19 2008, 07:19 PM

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6. Performance





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7. Comparison of Area Contact Between Processor and Heatsink

For Xigmatek S1283 Red-Scorpion



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For Xigmatek S1284 Achilles



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8. Conclusion

The Xigmatek HDT-S1284 Achillles is a massive cooler (even bigger than Red-Scorpion) with 4x 8mm heat pipes. The great upside of such
a larger heatsink is the use of a large fan, which does significantly decrease the noise level and it does manage to cool the CPU well. So if
you are looking for a quiet alternative to that stock cooler, the very well built Achilles is a good choice as it will also cool the surrounding
components which cost around ~RM229. If you are seeking a cheaper solution yet a good performance cooler, Red-Scorpion is your 2nd
choice.

The Fan was extremely quite as same as Red-Scorpion fan, which they are the same. Cant hear anything from 1 meter away with side panel
closed even at its full speed which is 1,500rpm. Really a recommended cooler if you have the buck to spend on. On idle it loses to it sibling,
the Red-Scorpion, but it SHINE when it comes to 100% Stress LOAD. It won Red-Scorpion in this part. But we are more concern to the LOAD
temperature more than IDLE, where we don't want our processor to reach a danger temperature zone. Hence, this cooler is a good choice if
you have the budget for it. Predicted that it will be more benefitial to AMD proc because the area contact will be much larger due to
the size of the AMD processor.

Pros
- 4x 8mm Heatpipe!!!!
- H.D.T. design
- Anti-Vibration Rubber
- Quality
- Very quiet fan
- Replaceable fan
- PWM fan
- Great performance when LOAD

Cons
- LED Fan is not as bright, attractive, and nice as in advertise picture
- Will not fit in all cases (interm of height)
- The Box is not as firm as its siblings.
- Lost performance when IDLE

Common Note:
- More benefitial to AMD processor, Area contact. (Predicted)
- Less benefitial to Intel Processor, Area contact. (Predicted)

This post has been edited by vincentlaw: Apr 19 2008, 07:34 PM

OK..finally the benching for intel 45nm side is done


just to add a lil bit more to vincent's review, here's some brief comparison pictars between s1283 red scorpion n s1284 achilles

btw...i got the modded screw kit from ckhoong too

THE MODDED SCREW KIT


THE COOLER: achilles on teh left and red scorpion on teh right (achilles is a bit fat )


THE SCREW KIT MOUNTING: again achilles on teh left and red scorpion on teh right


CASING CLEARANCE




OTHERS
during the installation, i discover a minor bad news for DFI DK P35 user and those with big NB cooler... as all of us know the NB cooler is quite high and its quite impossible to install even vanilla s1283 on the mobo in vertical condition but no problem at all when we installed it horizontally... but with this s1284 rather fat n tough built and i would say its quite hard to bend the fins for vertical installation although i didnt try it (cos this cooler is not mine to try)

so the only way for me to install this cooler is via horizontal position only...but due to the fat build of this cooler, it occupies more space around it n the fan actually have to be installed a one or two fins higher to avoid the NB cooler




btw, just to highlight.. this s1284 doesnt comes with a spoiler like s1283..but thats not really important i would say



TEST BED

Motherboard: DFI DK P35-T2RS
Ram: 2x1GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-6400
Processor: Intel Penryn 45nm E8400
Graphic Card: G92 8800GTS 512MB
Psu: Silverstone Strider ST56F 560W
Casing: CM690

Cpu Cooler: Red Scorpion and Achilles only (both with SS kit)
Thermal Compund: Artic Cooling MX-2
Ambient temperature: around 25c in an air-cond room

This post has been edited by tkh_1001: Apr 22 2008, 01:15 AM

WOKEY... finally the performance chart is ready thanks to the kind help from YAB ham_revilo

IDLE



LOAD



the results i get whether on LOAD or IDLE from this Achilles seems to be almost the same like the one i get with Red Scorpion...i actually didnt really believe it myself but when i checked the s1284 once again, the contact is good n the TIM spreading is all done correctly...so i guess maybe we need more people to test n clarify the results

anyways...hopefully this cooler can get a real big boost from the AMD camp compared to Intel like what vincent said

btw, just in case if u guys are wondering about my TIM spreading





last but not the least, i would like to say thanks ckhoong for letting me to have the chance to test this sexy cooler!

feel free to tell me if u guys have anything to comment

This post has been edited by tkh_1001: Apr 22 2008, 02:07 AM

vincent and tkh, pls post some pics on the 1284 la.... i wanna see how is the pipe and design like...

thanks anyway...

can this cooler mount 120mm X2???

Can it Fit into Asus Striker ll Formula? Anyone tested before?

got pic already ma.... but slowly add la...

sorry ya if i occupied the space that u wanted to use macam tak cukup place for ur review ajer?

then how?? belanja me minum lor....

hahahha vincent bab blj minum laju jerk dier erk........hahahaha

damn,this cooler is nice
but too bad need to hold my temptation for awhile b4 actually have enough bullet for it

edited:
any test with quad?

This post has been edited by coolice: Apr 17 2008, 11:49 PM

sh!t...already in the market?

yup ckhoon just receive some samples and gave to vincent for reviews.......

bro, this thing baru reach la.... so currently only vincent and ckhoong has it and i guess both of them doesnt has striker now... so too bad... y not u get one and test it on ur own??

This post has been edited by ham_revilo: Apr 18 2008, 12:18 AM

i just got mine today
will conduct testing ASAP!