Question for everyone. CPU Cooler Reviews

[Oneslowz28]

In our reviews we usually only cover the max temps a CPU cooler holds during a 100% loaded 30 minute benchmark. It was recently brought to our attention that we should also be including temps at idle also. Is idle temps really that big of a deal? Am I missing something by thinking that if a CPU cooler holds the temps under its recommended limits then the idle temps will also be well under the temp limits?

Would you like to see us include idle temps in future CPU cooler reviews?

[diluzio91]

And ambient temps too! its all relative... What i would like to see is temps in a cool room ~70, and temps in a warm room, Soo basement vs upstairs bedroom... It ives a better idea of the efficiency in my mind...

[Oneslowz28]

Including ambient temps, and Idle temps does sound like a good idea to me. But do you want both Ambient Room temps and the ambient temp inside the case also?

[SXRguyinMA]

that's not a bad idea. cpu coolers can work well in a case like the tempset that has 6 fans stock, but not so well in a case that has say 1 or 2 fans, so it's all relative IMHO

[artoodeeto]

mooooooore variables! woo hoo!
the other guys are right - there's so much that's relative, including idle and ambient temps is a good idea. Even if they're "well under" the threshold temps, it still gives us readers an idea of the testing environment so we can say ok, your ambient enviro is 70 degrees, mine is 75, so I should expect my idle temps to be a little higher than what you're reporting in your test. A better informed consumer is (usually) a happier one.

[x88x]

The big thing for me would be to see the difference between idle and load temps. Combined with ambient temps, that, imo, gives a much better idea of how well the cooler actually works.

[msmrx57]

More information is rarely a bad thing.

[mDust]

I voted yes. More data please!
Also, ambient temps would be a good idea to include as well.