Asetek 510LC, 550LC, 570LX & 591LX Liquid CPU Coolers Review

Testing
The test rig consists of the following parts:

Processor: Intel Core i7 3770K
Motherboard: Gigabyte G1.Sniper3
Video Card: EVGA GTX 690
Memory: Samsung Green MV-3V4G3D/US – 16GB
Power Supply: Enermax Maxrevo 1350W
Storage: OCZ Vertex 3 240 GB raid 0 Running Windows 7 64bit
Cooling: Asetek units: 510LC/550LC/570LX/591LX
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Luxe

As always testing was done using Intel Burn Test (IBT) with the AVX instruction set. The reason to use this instead of Prime95 with this setup is that it pushes our i7 3770K a whole lot harder. This gives us a better sense of extreme load temps. Most of the testing was done at the max memory setting for a single pass. While admittedly this in no way would qualify the chip as stable while overclocked, it gives us a realistic idea of what temperatures the CPU will be hitting. Additionally we are going to run 3DMARK Fire Strike to give you a realistic idea of performance while gaming.

Our baseline was established using a bequiet! Dark Rock Pro 2 with the 3770K on stock settings:

Ambient temps: 22.22C/72F
Idle temps: 38.75C/101.75F core average
IBT temps one pass max memory: 63.5C/146.3F core average

And onto our round-up of Asetek coolers. The first to go through the ringer was the 510LC. Remember this is a barebones entry level unit that is typically a free selection (iBuyPower/CyberPower).

Asetek Coolers Asetek Coolers

Here are the stock CPU results:

Ambient temps: 17.78°C/64°F
Idle temps: 32.25°C/90.05°F core average
IBT temps one pass max memory: 57.25°C/135.05°F core average

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Here are our results for our i7 3770K @ 4.5ghz with 1.248V vCore:

Ambient temps: 17.78°C/64°F
IBT temps: 78.5°C/173.3°F with one core hitting 82°C

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Passing results for IBT so we move on to 3DMARK Firestrike:

Ambient temps: 17.78°C/64°F
3DMARK: 60.5°C/140.9°F with two cores hitting 62°C

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Our next subject is the 550LC which is still an entry level AIO, but with a stronger pump design and copper cold plate. It’s also worth noting that this unit is a free upgrade if you are having your rig built by Cyberpower. Let’s get into it:

Asetek Coolers Asetek Coolers

Here are the stock CPU results:

Ambient temps: 17.78°C/64°F
Idle temps: 30°C/86°F core average
IBT temps one pass max memory: 54.75°C/130.55°F core average

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Here are our results for our i7 3770K @ 4.5ghz with 1.248V vCore:

Ambient temps: 17.78°C/64°F
IBT temps: 74.75°C/166.55°F with one core hitting 79°C

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Passing results for IBT so we move on to 3DMARK Firestrike:

Ambient temps: 17.78°C/64°F
3DMARK: 57.5°C/135.5°F with two cores hitting 59°C

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So at the hottest it looks like the 550LC is 3.75°C cooler than the entry level 510LC model.

From the two smaller 120mm units, it’s time to jump up to the bigger 240mm 570LX. This unit features the same pump and radiator design as the 550LC but has a radiator that is twice the size.

Asetek Coolers Asetek Coolers

Here are the stock CPU results:

Ambient temps: 17.78°C/64°F
Idle temps: 28.5°C/83.3°F core average
IBT temps one pass max memory: 50.75°C/123.35°F core average

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Here are our results for our i7 3770K @ 4.5ghz with 1.248V vCore:

Ambient temps: 17.78°C/64°F
IBT temps: 69.5°C/157.1°F with one core hitting 73°C

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Passing results for IBT so we move on to 3DMARK Firestrike:

Ambient temps: 17.78°C/64°F
3DMARK: 53°C/127.4°F with one cores hitting 54°C

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Just as before when we step up to this next level of cooler we see a pretty decent jump in performance and likewise, a drop in temperature of 5.25°C.

And now ladies and gentleman what you have all been waiting for, the main event, the 360mm rad equipped 591LX. The bar has been set high by our 2014 champion AIO cooler the Thermaltake Water 3.0 Ultimate. Lets see if the standard Asetek unit can reach that far:

Asetek Coolers

Here are the stock CPU results:

Ambient temps: 24.44°C/76°F (blame it on the spring temperature swing)
Idle temps: 32.75°C/90.95°F core average
IBT temps one pass max memory: 56.75°C/134.15°F core average

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Here are our results for our i7 3770K @ 4.5ghz with 1.248V vCore:

Ambient temps: 24.44°C/76°F
IBT temps: 75°C/167°F with one core hitting 78°C

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Passing results for IBT so we move on to 3DMARK Firestrike:

Ambient temps: 24.44°C/76°F
3DMARK: 59°C/138.2°F with one cores hitting 60°C

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First thing, there is +6.66°C of ambient temperature variation between the last cooler and the first three.

510LC – 78.5 + 6.66 = 85.16
550LC – 74.75 + 6.66 = 81.41
570LX – 69.5 + 6.66 = 76.16
591LX – 75

Oddly what we find is that while they are both excellent coolers, the 591LX just beats out it’s shorter brother the 570LX by 1.16°C!

And what about the Thermaltake Water 3.0 Ultimate comparison?

Tt Water 3.0 Ultimate:
Ambient temps: 20°C/68°F
IBT temps: 71.75°C/161.15°F with one core hitting 76°C

After adjusting for an ambient difference of +4.44°C we find that the Tt unit is hotter by 1.19°C. This is actually right along the lines of what I had expected since we are running the 591LX with twice as many fans.

What’s most interesting in the whole group of test results is that all four coolers were able to run our 3770K at 4.5ghz which is a great OC for that CPU. The smaller units were just about at their limits, but the larger two could have probably handled a larger overclock.