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

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

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

will do in ½hr time.... touching up the last part

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Added on April 18, 2008, 1:23 amokay it should consider done... if u all found any mistake in grammar/ spelling which would like to correct me... kindly pm me the mistake and correction for it... DO NOT post it there... thx

This post has been edited by vincentlaw: Apr 18 2008, 02:24 AM

lol no worries.... currently even ckhoong himself dont have compatible achilles sskit.... thats why forced to use PushPin... the only reason i can think of that it loses on idle bcoz the heat generated from the 2x core in the middle of the processor didnt spread the heat to the side of the IHS, therefore only 2x heatpipe dissipating the heat on idle...... whereas when load... the whole processor IHS will heat up and thats when the side 2 heatpipe which is contacted only half of it start to functioning and dissipate heat.... there is a waste of ½heatpipe from each side... so to my prediction, its much more benefitial to AMD processor where their processor have larger area of contact and will fully utilizing 4 heatpipe (direct contact)....

just my personal opinion thou.... no solid prove...

This post has been edited by vincentlaw: Apr 18 2008, 02:32 AM

yape not compatible... the screw hole for Achilles is much smaller, thus the big screw from s1283 cannot be use.... unless u can find screw which have small diameter while having big head... but the SSkit will be loose also if u do so unless u tighten it very tight.... refer to the picture in "trouble with sskit section"

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Added on April 18, 2008, 1:30 pmwhy not? its only slightly bigger only for the fins... what mobo u using?

This post has been edited by vincentlaw: Apr 18 2008, 01:30 PM

the height = side-side, not the bottom-top ....... tall = depth..... so its slightly more GEMUK... not TINGGI... LOL u can know by its measurement also....50/60mm so short only? if its for depth

This post has been edited by vincentlaw: Apr 18 2008, 05:12 PM

haha icic.. nice work there, but i think i wont take the hassle to do it anymore.. LOL... Lazy la.. and start from next week is my important week... so cant do it... perhaps tkh can do it...

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Added on April 19, 2008, 12:55 amhmm ambient shud be around the same as testing done around 9-10pm without rain for both cooler.... same room, same computer, same spec, same fan arrangement, ~same time.

This post has been edited by vincentlaw: Apr 19 2008, 12:57 AM

it is an easy mod... i dont think u can void any warranty if u do it.. unless u go break it.. and i dont see the possibility to break a steel

according to ckhoong.. u need to do a minor expansion on the PushPin hole on steel... bcoz it has a smaller hole were it wont let the spring screw to go thru... so a minor moding to expand the hole is needed.... there is still some new thgs that ckhoong haven't inform all yet... he will do it when the time comes.. .... Using SSKit is very recommended as the PPKit a.k.a PushPin Kit will seriously bend ur mobo this time..... i've got a shock from the bending during the installation process.... its very bad for longterm or frequent use of pushpin and might end up killing ur mobo if u are unlucky..

This post has been edited by vincentlaw: Apr 19 2008, 05:31 PM

the achilles isnt in retail yet... only have a few review sample... if the feedback to ckhoong is good then he will start selling it...

updated the vcore used graph in the "6. performance" section.. made the graph but 4got to put up.. thx for reminder....

i've some question, hope u dont mind.
1. did u wipe ur redscorpion b4 test is carried out for both heatsink? alot of dust i can see from the picture...
2. why on idle, archilles temp at 4ghz is 40'c vs 4.1ghz is 38'c only? same goes on LOAD for 3.2ghz vs 3.4ghz.
3. from the screw mounting kid comparison picture... do u think that RS will have more pressure on processor compared to achilles? due to the difference in mounting from above and below.

and lastly no related question
4. ur processor bracket on mobo seems to be kemek already at the top part.. izzit?

easier to say, left pic is frontside, right is backside... the air is flowing from front to back....

This post has been edited by vincentlaw: Apr 28 2008, 07:18 PM

haha yo wats up, im back, lol too bz with my exams and finally its over...
yea that was very expected since AMD IHS is bigger.... hmm win Tuniq tower huh.... we still need an AMD user to test between RS vs Achilles....

now Prodigius are selling the product cheap.. whoever interested can find him... his link is at http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/720585