Phanteks are following Noctua’s footsteps and looking to dethrone the almighty top down NH-C14 CPU Cooler. Does their new PH-TC14CS have what it takes?
Product on Review: Phanteks PH-TC14CS
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Phanteks
MSRP: 69.90€/74.90€ for coloured edition
Street Price: £61.99/£65.99 for coloured edition
It’s not often that we see new start-up companies become immediately successful at what they do and even more unusual is for them to become market leaders in their domain. Phanteks can be considered one such company and ever since the debut of the almighty PH-TC14PE, the brand has become a household name amongst cooling enthusiasts. Not only did it top our charts, but it proved resoundingly superior to our ageing favourites, the Noctua NH-D14 and the Thermalright Silver Arrow. Fast forward to this month and Phanteks are back with a brand new cooler or 5 as the range of colours suggests. In a move resembling Noctua’s release of their NH-C14 following that of their NH-D14 , Phanteks are releasing the PH-TC14CS after having successfully establishing themselves in the cooling market with their flagship dual tower PH-TC14PE. As such, it comes as no surprise that the new PH-TC14CS follows a similar design scheme to the NH-C14 as a C-type single tower top-down cooler. Without delving too much into the politics of design copies (and we would hate to imply such a thing with the number of patented features Phanteks hold), this new top down cooler represents a great addition to the cooling market, especially to those seeking small, compact coolers for their HTPCs or LAN rigs. Competition can only be a good thing for the consumers anyway.
Before going into the main review, let us start by giving the Phanteks PH-TC14CS a proper introduction. The PH-TC14CS is being marketed as a C-type single tower cooler using the latest aerospace technology. Whilst the latter statement seems of little relevance to consumers, the design of the cooler strongly resembles its bigger dual tower sibling. It makes use of the same radiator as the PH-TC14PE, albeit a single one this time orientated horizontally, acting as a top down cooler with the help of two 140mm fans, the PH-F14TS. The cooler also employs patented technologies to boost thermal conductivity and increase cooling performance in form of C.P.S.C and P.A.T.S respectively. If that wasn’t enough, the same five 8mm heat pipes are used to ensure optimum thermal transfer, those being 2mm more in diameter than the ones on the NH-C14 despite the heat pipe count being one less. And finally, customary to Phanteks design language, their new cooler is available in 5 different colours! Black has now been added to their previous selection of red, orange, white and blue so consumers can rejoice in the fact that they aren’t restricted to Noctua’s marmite brown colour scheme.
On the face of it, the PH-TC14CS looks very promising. We noted in our previous review of the dual tower variant just how efficient the heatsink was and to have half of that surface area available is already a good start for such a compact cooler. Coupled with two 140mm fans, it is inevitable that strong similarities can be drawn to the Noctua NH-C14, a fact we will touch on throughout the review.
A bit about Phanteks:
Phanteks, is a company with more than 20 years international experience in providing thermal solutions. From specialists in providing thermal solutions we have now expanded to a company offering multiple product solutions.
With our thorough technical skills and marketing expertise, we fully optimize the products with thermal possibilities and capabilities. We have always been able to achieve the maximum due to our passion in finding and discovering new technical developments. Phanteks design team which has a base in Europe situated in Holland, consists of creative researchers, designers and developers have always been successful in spotting the exact needs of gamers. This results in our quality products.
Our expertise means no job is impossible, and that every customer is given a professional and personal service that is rare in today’s marketplace. We meet our customers’ expectations with superior products, customer service and industry knowledge.
Phanteks, is a company with more than 20 years international experience in providing thermal solutions. From specialists in providing thermal solutions we have now expanded to a company offering multiple product solutions.
With our thorough technical skills and marketing expertise, we fully optimize the products with thermal possibilities and capabilities. We have always been able to achieve the maximum due to our passion in finding and discovering new technical developments. Phanteks design team which has a base in Europe situated in Holland, consists of creative researchers, designers and developers have always been successful in spotting the exact needs of gamers. This results in our quality products.
Our expertise means no job is impossible, and that every customer is given a professional and personal service that is rare in today’s marketplace. We meet our customers’ expectations with superior products, customer service and industry knowledge.
With years of experience behind them and a firm grasp of the enthusiast market, let’s see if the new Phanteks PH-TC14CS has what it takes to once again take down Noctua and earn its crown.
Features and Specifications
What Phanteks have to say about the PH-TC14CS:
Phanteks PH-TC14CS, the C type single tower thermal radiator design uses the latest aerospace technology. By using P.A.T.S to increase cooling performance and C.P.S.C Technology to enhance thermal conductivity, heat will easily dissipate, creating an opportunity for greater overclocking. Combined with Dual Phanteks PH-F140 Premium 140mm Fans with PWM adapter, easy-to-install SoliSku mounting kit and PH-NDC thermal compound, Phanteks PH-TC14CS is setting the new standard of today’s CPU cooling.
Phanteks PH-TC14CS, the C type single tower thermal radiator design uses the latest aerospace technology. By using P.A.T.S to increase cooling performance and C.P.S.C Technology to enhance thermal conductivity, heat will easily dissipate, creating an opportunity for greater overclocking. Combined with Dual Phanteks PH-F140 Premium 140mm Fans with PWM adapter, easy-to-install SoliSku mounting kit and PH-NDC thermal compound, Phanteks PH-TC14CS is setting the new standard of today’s CPU cooling.
Features:
•Patented P.A.T.S *(Physical Antioxidant Thermal Shield) will greatly increase the cooling performance and reliability while deflecting other thermal radiation from other heat sources, such as the GPU, South Bridge, North Bridge, etc. P.A.T.S ran at a long period, will display significantly better results in an enclosure, closed environment, than a tech station, open environment. In extreme conditions, P.A.T.S is able to withstand temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius. P.A.T.S is environmentally friendly and non-toxic.
•Patented C.P.S.C *(Cold Plasma Spraying Coating Technology) is a brand new technologic forming deposit that displaces heat onto corresponding metals at a quicker rate. With this technology, the Phanteks PH-TC14CS enhances thermal conductivity on the soldered surfaces of the heat-pipes through the copper deposits.
•Designed with C type Single tower radiator; the PH-TC14CS has five 8mm heat-pipes linearly aligned to ensure optimal cooling. This cooler is made to have the least amount of air and thermal resistance.
•Phanteks PH-F140PE premium 140 mm fans use Updraft Floating Balance (U.F.B) bearing, nine Maelstrom Vortex Booster (M.V.B) blades, to achieve massive airflow and perfect dynamic balance to reduce noise level, the fan emits a low dBA with the support of the acoustic rubber damper and rubber-bar to help eliminate vibration.
•The SoliSku universal mounting kit provides an easy-to-install rotational backplate for Intel LGA 2011/1155/1156/1366/775, AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3 (stock backplate required).
•The PH-NDC is a superb quality thermal compound for heatsinks. It is made of high-purity nano diamond-like particles to improve the thermal conductance between components. The generated heat caused by the CPU will transfer to the heatsink, without reduction in efficiency and resistance.
•Patented P.A.T.S *(Physical Antioxidant Thermal Shield) will greatly increase the cooling performance and reliability while deflecting other thermal radiation from other heat sources, such as the GPU, South Bridge, North Bridge, etc. P.A.T.S ran at a long period, will display significantly better results in an enclosure, closed environment, than a tech station, open environment. In extreme conditions, P.A.T.S is able to withstand temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius. P.A.T.S is environmentally friendly and non-toxic.
•Patented C.P.S.C *(Cold Plasma Spraying Coating Technology) is a brand new technologic forming deposit that displaces heat onto corresponding metals at a quicker rate. With this technology, the Phanteks PH-TC14CS enhances thermal conductivity on the soldered surfaces of the heat-pipes through the copper deposits.
•Designed with C type Single tower radiator; the PH-TC14CS has five 8mm heat-pipes linearly aligned to ensure optimal cooling. This cooler is made to have the least amount of air and thermal resistance.
•Phanteks PH-F140PE premium 140 mm fans use Updraft Floating Balance (U.F.B) bearing, nine Maelstrom Vortex Booster (M.V.B) blades, to achieve massive airflow and perfect dynamic balance to reduce noise level, the fan emits a low dBA with the support of the acoustic rubber damper and rubber-bar to help eliminate vibration.
•The SoliSku universal mounting kit provides an easy-to-install rotational backplate for Intel LGA 2011/1155/1156/1366/775, AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3 (stock backplate required).
•The PH-NDC is a superb quality thermal compound for heatsinks. It is made of high-purity nano diamond-like particles to improve the thermal conductance between components. The generated heat caused by the CPU will transfer to the heatsink, without reduction in efficiency and resistance.
Specifications
Model: PH-TC14PE
Type: Heatsinks & Fans
Compatibility: Intel Socket LGA 2011, 1155, 1156, LGA1366, LGA775, and AMD AM2/2+/AM3/FM1 (stock backplate required)
Material: Copper (Base and 8mm diameter x5 heat pipes), Nickel plated.
Aluminium (Cooling fins / top cover) with Patented P.A.T.S (Physical Antioxidant Thermal Shield) to increase cooling performance.
Patented C.P.S.C Technology (Cold Plasma Spraying Coating Technology) to enhance thermal conductivity.
Heatsink Dimension without fans: 143.8x140x112mm (LxWxH)
Heatsink Dimension with single fan: 160x151x112mm (LxWxH)
Heatsink Dimension with dual fans: 160x151x140.5mm (LxWxH)
Heatsink Weight without fan: 600g
Heatsink Weight with fan: 750/900g (Single/Dual fan)
Package Dimension: 220x175x200 (LxWxH)
Warranty: 5 years
Scope of Delivery:
-1x PH-TC140CS
-2x PH-F140 Premium fans
-4x Rubber bars
-8x Fan clip adaptors
-4x Fan wire clips
-1x External PWM Adaptor
-SoliSku mounting kits for Intel Socket LGA 2011, 1155, 1156, LGA1366, LGA775, and AMD AM2/2+/AM3/FM1 (stock backplate required)
-1x Y fan splitter
-1x PH-NDC thermal compound
-1x PH-TC14 User’s manual
As we saw with the Phanteks PH-TC14PE, the features and specifications list is substantial, carrying over all the various technologies Phanteks incorporated into their original flagship cooler. Consequently, the top down PH-TC14CS makes use of the P.A.T.S and C.P.S.C patented technologies to ensure efficiency in such a small package. Phanteks are using the same recipe as before to brew up a solid performer, employing a dense fin array and five 8mm heat pipes.
Apart from the application of unique technologies, the PH-TC14CS heatsink conforms to a regular copper and aluminium construction; copper for the base and heat pipes and aluminium for the fins. Like all other high end coolers, the copper is nickel plated for a more attractive and durable design. Like the Thermalright Silver Arrow and its bigger brother, the PH-TC14CS bundles two 140mm fans with 120mm fittings thanks to their octagonal shapes.
The Phanteks PH-TC14CS is also substantially more lightweight thanks to its single radiator design. The heatsink itself is a mere 600g compared to the 970g of the dual tower variant. Comparatively, the Noctua NH-C14 is 100g heavier. The same is true with the fans installed.
Size wise, the top down cooler has compatibility in mind. With two fans, it stands 140.5mm tall, 10.5mm taller than the Noctua NH-C14, and with a single fan in low profile mode, it stands at only 112mm high. This is 7mm taller than the Noctua NH-C14 in the same mode. Speaking of various configurations, the single radiator dual fan combination means that the Phanteks PH-TC14CS can be set up in three ways. By default, two fans are installed but if users don’t have enough height clearance in their cases, they can remove the top fan. Conversely, if more clearance is needed for the memory modules and case clearance is not an issue; users can choose to only have the top fan installed. We will investigate later on how that impacts performance.
Fan Features and Specifications
Phanteks PH-F140TS 140mm premium fans are designed using the unique Maelstrom concept technology. With its nine blades and MVB feature, it’ll produce powerful yet silent downdraft airflow. Long lifespan and rotation stability is made possible with the UFB bearing, composed by MOSS and SSC systems. Speed adjustments can be done using the QSA adapters. The stylish octagon frame allows for 120mm fittings. PH-F140TS is setting a new standard of performance and compatibility.
Features:
MVB (Maelstrom Vortex Booster)
The nine blades are positioned in a way that it provides powerfully controlled airflow. The MVB produces a downdraft vortex allowing air passage through the surface to produce a significantly better performance while keeping the noise level down.
UFB Bearing (Updraft Floating Balance Bearing)
Phanteks’ UFB bearings are composed by MOSS and SSC system. MOSS has an effective fan hub-blade ratio to achieve a dynamic balance, thus floating the axis for minimal air noise. SSC increases the bearing life span to ensure that the fan axis is consistently operating without mechanical noise.
Polarity Auto-Restart Protection
Phanteks’ unique fan circuit design provides a Fan Polarity Auto-Restart feature. The sensor inside of the fan will constantly send a series of rectangular signals to your PC motherboard indicating that the fan is working correctly. The unique restart feature provides optimal support and protection.
Speeds settings by unique Q.S.A adapters and Anti-acoustic kits
Phanteks PH-F140TS comes with unique Q.S.A adapters for 1200, 900, 750RPM speed setting flexibility. Anti-Vibration compensators and rubber pads eliminate the buzzing sound and absorb the vibration noise.
Patented Thermal Bracket
The Thermal Bracket enhances the thermal convection inside of the PC case and helps reduce the dust gathering on the GPU, motherboard and other components. Phanteks Thermal Bracket with the PH-F140TS fans is the only solution for the GPU thermal convection issue. The Thermal Bracket is designed to fit any expansion slots with washers for silent and solid uses.
MVB (Maelstrom Vortex Booster)
The nine blades are positioned in a way that it provides powerfully controlled airflow. The MVB produces a downdraft vortex allowing air passage through the surface to produce a significantly better performance while keeping the noise level down.
UFB Bearing (Updraft Floating Balance Bearing)
Phanteks’ UFB bearings are composed by MOSS and SSC system. MOSS has an effective fan hub-blade ratio to achieve a dynamic balance, thus floating the axis for minimal air noise. SSC increases the bearing life span to ensure that the fan axis is consistently operating without mechanical noise.
Polarity Auto-Restart Protection
Phanteks’ unique fan circuit design provides a Fan Polarity Auto-Restart feature. The sensor inside of the fan will constantly send a series of rectangular signals to your PC motherboard indicating that the fan is working correctly. The unique restart feature provides optimal support and protection.
Speeds settings by unique Q.S.A adapters and Anti-acoustic kits
Phanteks PH-F140TS comes with unique Q.S.A adapters for 1200, 900, 750RPM speed setting flexibility. Anti-Vibration compensators and rubber pads eliminate the buzzing sound and absorb the vibration noise.
Patented Thermal Bracket
The Thermal Bracket enhances the thermal convection inside of the PC case and helps reduce the dust gathering on the GPU, motherboard and other components. Phanteks Thermal Bracket with the PH-F140TS fans is the only solution for the GPU thermal convection issue. The Thermal Bracket is designed to fit any expansion slots with washers for silent and solid uses.
Specifications
Model: PH-F140TS
Type: CPU Cooler and Case Fan
Fan Dimension: 140x140x25mm
Bearing Type: UFB bearing (Updraft Floating Balance Bearing)
Blade Geometry: 9 blades design with M.V.B (Updraft Floating Balance Bearing) design
Input Current: 0.15A
Rate Voltage: DC 12V
Input Power: 1.8W
MTBF: > 150,000 hours
Speed Sensor: 3 pins
Cable length: 400mm
Fan Speed: 1300+/- 10% RPM, 700-1200+/-10% RPM with PWM adapters
Max Airflow: 88.6 CFM, 45.1-78.1 CFM with PWM adapters
Acoustical Noise: 19.6 dBA, 13.4-19 dBA with PWM adapters
Static Pressure: 1.37mm H2O, 0.45mm-1.21mm with PWM adapters
Once again, we have a very comprehensive break down of the Phanteks fan’s features. The PH-F140TS features some very unique technologies to increase airflow. One of its major advantages is its octagonal shape which creates a 140mm fan that is compatible with 120mm mounting, not dissimilar to Noctua NF-P14 and Thermalright’s TR TY-140s. Unlike the TY-140, the Phanteks fan is more regular in shape. The fan uses a unique UFB bearing that aims to increase lifespan, reduce mechanical noise and maintain performance. MVB is there to create more direct airflow. In some ways, it is akin to Silverstone’s Penetrator fans and thus creates a better wind tunnel effect. This is advantageous when directing air through the heatsink without “leakages” to the side. A major change by Phanteks is bundling PWM adapters in place of their Q.S.A voltage adapters. This gives users far better control of the fan speed via BIOS or compatible software.
One thing to note is that the fan is rated at slightly higher speeds than previously. In our original overview of the PH-F140TS fans, the specifications rated them at 1200RPM whereas Phanteks now rate them at 1300RPM, thus boosting performance and static pressure at the expense of more noise. However, when using the PWM adapters, the fans operate at their previous “normal” speed. In our review, we had the adapters installed at all times and simply controlled fan speed via PWM control in the tests.
Packaging and Content
The front of the box
Phanteks have largely retained the same packaging as before, so much so that the dimensions are identical at 220x175x200mm. It is a bog standard cardboard box spruced up with a simplistic black and white finish that certainly brings appeal. The box is littered with a wealth of information regarding the features and specifications. On the front, a teaser of the cooler in white is illustrated as well as the different coloured alternatives. In the top right corner is the Phanteks logo and model name. Phanteks also highlight added support for LGA 2011.
The back of the box
At the back is a short summary of the PH-TC14CS repeated in 9 other languages suggestive of the brand’s global outreach. As mentioned Phanteks are European based like a lot of other successful brands including Noctua. We see a continuation of the black and white colour theme at the back.
The features
On one side of the box, all the features are listed with a description on how they help improve performance. The key features are the C type single radiator design and inclusion of two 140mm fans. Phanteks’ unique technologies, P.A.T.S and C.P.S.C are also described. More information is available on our features and specifications page.
The specifications
Phanteks have also provided a very in-depth break down of the cooler and fan specifications with information about the design/construction of the heatsink, its weight, and dimensions. The fan speeds are also listed so users have a better idea of performance. For buyers looking to buy this in retail stores, the content is also listed for convenience.
Inside the box
Inside, the heatsink sits comfortably in the middle sided by both fans and the accessories kit below. Unfortunately, there is very little holding the weight of the heatsink itself from below which is something I’d like to see Phanteks address with their packaging. The result of this lack of support is the possibility of the heatsink sagging as we witnessed with one of our samples. We will be taking a closer look at the black variant of the PH-TC14CS throughout the review.
The bundle
The bundle and accessories is fairly extensive. Included are:
-1x PH-TC140CS
-2x PH-F140 Premium fans
-4x Acoustic Rubber bars
-8x Fan clip adaptors
-4x Fan wire clips
-1x PWM adaptor
-SoliSku mounting kits for Intel Socket LGA 1155, 1156, LGA1366, LGA775, and AMD AM2/2+/AM3 (stock backplate required)
-4x LGA 2011 mounting screws
-1x Hex wrench
-1x Y fan splitter
-1x PH-NDC thermal compound
-2x PH-TC14CS User’s manuals
Phanteks have nicely packaged their mounting kit into separate bag for Intel and AMD systems respectively. What is interesting to note is that their packaging is strongly reminiscent of Noctua’s packaging as are the components for the SoliSku mounting kits. The provided socket screws, studs, black fan clip adapters, case fan screws are exactly the same as what Noctua bundles. The rest of the SoliSku components share similar traits to Noctua’s SecuFirm mounting kit. Also included is the hex wrench to help install the cooler, not dissimilar to Noctua’s screwdriver we have accustomed to seeing with all their coolers.
The heatsink
The PH-TC14CS is a stunning heatsink to behold. Using the same radiator as found on its dual tower brother, it boasts a quality finish and more importantly, a solid feel. Admittedly this particular sample had its heatsink slanted downwards from its natural horizontal orientation, and that immediately raised concerns on the quality of the packaging as we highlighted above (we used a different sample for the actual tests). It wasn’t anything a bit of force couldn’t fix but these things shouldn’t be expected from such a premium cooler. My advice to Phanteks would be to either use more secure packaging or to employ a support bar as Noctua have done with their NH-C14. Going back to the impression of the cooler, we immediately see it is a C type top down cooler. The ‘C’ design that Phanteks are employing is to help improve compatibility and to also improve airflow towards the motherboard components. The down facing PH-F140TS fans push air through the fin stack onto the base and adjacent area. It seems counter intuitive to push the hot air from the heatsink down but it does add to convective heat dissipation compared to modern tower heatsinks. A good airflow is strongly advised to extract the air.
The cooler with a single fan
In low profile mode, a single fan can be installed at the bottom of the heatsink making the total height of the unit a mere 112mm. It makes it perfect for smaller flat-lying cases where height is a major concern for cooler compatibility.
The cooler with both fans
In its intended configuration, both bundled fans are installed. The end result is a 140.5mm tall unit, still significantly smaller than tower heatsinks but 10.5mm higher than the Noctua NH-C14.
Closer Look
The front of the heatsink
From the front, we see the clinical finish of the Phanteks PH-TC14CS. The Phanteks logo has been clearly imprinted on the top cover which serves to dually improve aesthetics and to hide the end of the heat pipes. The heatsink sits approximately 62mm high from the ground. The black finish on the top cover is slightly glossy, in contrast to the rest of the fins which are matte in comparison.
The side profile
From the side, we can see more clearly that each fin is laminar and perfectly flat. The heatsink is 49mm in thickness, no different to the PH-TC14PE’s from which it is sourced.
The side profile with 1 fan
With the fan attached in low profile mode, the ground clearance is 37mm. From this angle, we can see that the heat pipes bend straight towards the base with little afterthought given to how the fans can be accommodated. As such, the fan can’t be positioned to cover the surface area of the heatsink evenly and ends up protruding forward slightly. Although the 140mm is still enough to fully cover the heatsink, the protruding front means that some of the airflow is wasted. The Noctua NH-C14 on the other hand overcomes this problem by having a longer heatsink.
The side profile with 2 fans
And with both fans attached, the cooler still remains fairly compact.
The fin array
The single radiator on the PH-TC14CS is built up of 44 stacked laminar fins perfectly parallel to each other. This is akin to Noctua’s design as opposed to Thermalright’s, who design theirs with bent winglets to generate more turbulence. In total, the heatsink is made of 44 fins 49x140mm in size with each separated by 2.5mm. This makes the total surface area of each fin 6890mm squared. The fin array has bent clips interlocking running along the edges and the centre.
The fins
Let’s take a closer look at the fin. Again we see very strong resemblances to the Noctua NH-D14 fins. The edges are serrated to generate more turbulence which when coupled with the focussed airflow of the PH-F140TS fans improve heat transfer. Those serrations are more rounded on the Phanteks than they are on the Noctua which may increase the desired effect of turbulence. Another observation when we look at the base of the fins is that they are made of two halves soldered/connected along the centre seam. The Phanteks PH-TC14PE features Physical Antioxidant Thermal Shield patented technology which aims to increase the cooling performance while deflecting thermal radiation for other nearby sources. Regardless of how accurate this is, the PH-TC14PE proved to be very efficient with this feature so we expect the same to be true of the PH-TC14CS.
The heat pipes
The PH-TC14CS makes use of five substantial heat pipes, each 8mm in diameter. Not only are these helpful in giving more efficient thermal transfer, but they also hold the weight of the heatsink.
The end of the heat pipes
These copper heat pipes are soldered to the nickel plated copper base plate so that heat can spread more efficiently from the CPU. The ends of the heat pipes are grooved rather than rounded.
The heat pipes at the base
Cold Plasma Spraying Coating Technology (C.P.C.S) enhances thermal conductivity on the soldered surface between the heat pipes and the base plate.
Closer Look (Continued)
The integrated mounting bracket
At the base, we see that Phanteks have pre-installed the mounting bracket to save time during installation. It certainly makes the process easier but as we will see later on, it has it flaws.
The base of the heatsink
The base is made of solid copper that has been nickel plated and houses the five copper heat pipes. We observe how the finish is very clean unlike some coolers where the contact between heat pipes and base isn’t perfect.
The flatness of the base
The base of the cooler is ever so slightly convex. When installing the cooler however, it did an excellent job spreading out the thermal paste after applying a tiny blob. This tells us that the heatsink makes excellent contact with the CPU to maximise heat transfer. As before, it’s worth noting that the soldering techniques used by Phanteks ensure the best contact between heat pipes and base plate to minimise heat transmission loss.
The smoothness of the base
The smoothness of the base is much improved from the dual tower PH-TC14PE. Its finish is more mirror-like albeit not perfect.
The base plate and CPU
One worry with numerous thick heat pipes is that they may not overlie the actual CPU and thus be wasted. To alleviate the problem, a copper block housing the heat pipes becomes more efficient as heat from the CPU can spread out regardless of its size. This is a far more efficient and flexible design than direct heat touch technology in such situations. Some may argue that the contact between the heat pipes and the base won’t be perfect and may create gaps but this is why Phanteks employ C.P.C.S technology. Nonetheless, let’s take a look at the size of the PH-TC14PE’s base and the largest CPU on the market currently; the Sandy Bridge-E i7 3930K. The base of the heatsink is 44.5x42mm and the corresponding dimension of the CPU IHS is 37x38mm. Westmere based i7 Processors have an IHS 32x34mm is size for comparison. Despite the large size of the base, we see that all five heat pipes overly the CPU perfectly. Mainstream CPUs tend to be much smaller in size but we want to demonstrate that the PH-TC14CS is perfectly suited to even the largest processors.
The fans
The bundled Phanteks PH-F140TS fans are octagonal in shape, the corner edges being more rounded. The nine bladed fans are 140mm in diameter and similarly to Thermalright’s TR TY-140 and Noctua NF-P14s, the fans use 120mm mounting holes. Unfortunately, no 140mm mounting adapters are provided even when bought separately. The fans feature a number of new technologies such as UFB bearings and MVB. The Maelstrom Vortex Booster refers to the notches on each blade that help generate a powerful focussed airflow. This is attained by producing high pressure vortices which then cause a downdraft as surrounding air is encouraged to flow through the heatsink. At the back of the fan, we see the 3 triangular strands supporting the rotor and fan to the frame.
The fan features a 3 pin fan connector but speed control can be achieved using the newly bundled PWM adapters. Although they reduce the maximum RPM of the fans slightly, the ability to control the speed is far more advantageous. The cable is very nicely braided boasting a dense weave that perfectly hides the three cables inside. The cable has a rubberised texture for durability. At each end, the braiding is tied using heat shrink and one end is clamped at the edge of the fan to make sure the braiding cannot be pulled off. Furthermore, the cables themselves are white for a perfectly neat finish.
The fan adapters
When installing the fan, a black rubber fan adapter has to be inserted in each corner. This is akin to Noctua’s implementation and work very well as it secures the metal wire clip to the fan prior to installing it onto the heatsink. This is superior to other methods where users end up fiddling with wire clips that fail to stay in place when installing the fans.
Mounting the fans
To mount the fan, simply insert the ends of the wire clips into the rubber fan adaptors and clip the centre handles onto the side heatsink grooves. The best way I found to insert the wire clips into the rubber adaptors was to have the ends facing inwards and sliding them into the holes, followed by 180 degrees rotation into place. The process was very simple and worked slightly better than Noctua’s method despite the two being similar. One complaint is that the rubber adaptors were too small for some fans so the mechanism is limited to fans with open end and with thin outer casing. As such during testing, elastic bands had to be used to secure Noctua 120mm NF-P12s and Coolink’s SWiF-120P.
Closer Look (Continued)
The heatsink after installation
And finally we have the cooler installed. It looks fairly sizeable due to it spanning a substantial width of the motherboard but we have to remember that it compensates with its height. When installing, there are four directions in which the heatsink can be orientated. The best result can be expected from orientating it such that the C bends of the heat pipes face downwards and the end of the heat pipes to face upwards inside the case. Unfortunately, the high placement of the CPU socket on the test motherboard meant that this could not be achieved so the cooler was orientated to face the side. It is advised to not have the cooler facing downwards whereby the C bend would point upwards.
The cooler after installation with fans
With both fans installed, the PH-TC14CS isn’t the most compact of coolers but again, it can be configured in various ways to best suit your case.
Memory compatibility
In terms of memory clearance, the heatsink overhangs three slots.
Memory compatibility with fans attached
And once the fans are attached, 5 of the memory slots are covered.
Memory compatibility from the front
From the front, we see that there is 35mm of clearance between the top of the low profile memory modules and the heatsink meaning modules with tall heatsinks will be compatible.
Memory compatibility from the front with fans attached
If you plan to use the cooler with both fans or with a single fan in low profile mode, there is only 7mm of clearance between the memory modules and the cooler so low profile memory is advised.
Closer Look (Size Comparison)
The Phanteks PH-TC14CS (left) VS PH-TC14PE (right)
Side by side, similarities can easily be drawn between the two Phanteks cooler. The obvious difference is the style of the cooler, the PH-TC14PE being the dual radiator one and the new PH-TC14CS being the top down C type cooler.
The Phanteks PH-TC14CS (left) VS PH-TC14PE (right)
Here we have both with their fans attached.
The radiators
Both coolers use the exact same radiators. For Phanteks, it’s a great way to cut costs but since we already know how efficient the heatsinks are, Phanteks saw little point in redesigning another.
In three colours
Phanteks are the only company to deliver coolers in a plethora of colours. In total there are 5 variants, namely black, red, blue, silver and orange. The former three were sent to us to demonstrate how great they all look and how Phanteks aim to cater to people’s need.
The coolers with fans
For some strange reason, Phanteks bundled all white fans with the red variant of the cooler, and the black fans with the blue variant rather than the appropriate matching fans. Regardless, they are all winners in the aesthetic departments. I just hope Phanteks don’t have the same issues with their retail samples.
Test Setup
CPU – Intel Core i7 920 – 2.66/4.0GHz
RAM – 6GB (3x2GB) OCZ Platinum DDR3 1333MHz
Motherboard – ASUS Rampage III Extreme
Graphics card – Inno3D GTX570 1.25GB
Power Supply – Enermax Revolution 85+ 850W
Hard Drive – OCZ Vertex 2E 120GB
Samsung F1 320GB
Samsung F3 1TB
Case – Lian Li B25B
Drivers – Nvidia ForceWare 285.38
CPU Coolers:
Phanteks PH-TC14CS (Red) including tests using 2 Phanteks PH-F140TS, 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer Extreme Rev.2 including test using 1 stock fan
Cooler Master Hyper TX3 EVO including test using 1 stock fan
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO including tests using 1 stock fan, 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Retail Alpenföhn K2 including tests using 2 stock fans, 2 Föhn 120, 2/3 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Zero Infinity Free Flow+ including passive and tests using 1/2/3 stock fans, 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Enermax ETS-T40-TA including tests using 1 stock fan, 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Alpenföhn Himalaya including tests using 1/ 2 Föhn 140, 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Cooler Master Hyper 612S including tests using 1 stock fan, 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Corsair H100 including tests using 2/4 stock fans, 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Phanteks PH-TC14PE including tests using 3 Phanteks PH-F140TS, 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Alpenföhn Triglav including tests using 1 stock fan, 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Antec KÜHLER H2O 620 including tests using 1 stock fan, 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Antec KÜHLER H2O 920 including tests using 2 stock fans, 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Prolimatech Genesis including tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s, 2 SWiF2-120Ps and 2 Prolimatech Blue Vortex 14s
NZXT Havik 140 including tests using 2 NZXT fans, 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Alpenföhn Matterhorn including tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s, 2 SWiF2-120Ps and 2 Föhn 120 Wing Boost fans
Prolimatech Super Mega including tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s/NF-P14s, 2 SWiF2-120Ps and 2 Prolimatech Blue Vortex 14s
Noctua NH-C14 (U.L.N.A and default speed) including tests using 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Thermalright Silver Arrow including passive and tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Thermalright HR-02 including passive and tests using Noctua NF-12/NF-P14s and Thermalright TR TY-140
Thermaltake Frio (Low/med/high speed) including tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s
Corsair H50 including tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
CoolIT ECO A.L.C including tests using 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Thermalright Venomous X using 2 Noctua NF-P12s and 2 SWiF2-120Ps
Coolink Corator DS including tests with dual fan setups
Tuniq Propeller 120(High speed fan)
Noctua NH-C12P SE14
Prolimatech Megahalem
Noctua NH-D14 (U.L.N.A and default speed)
Noctua NH-U12P SE1366
Thermolab Baram (with 2 Noctua NF-P12 fans)
CoolIT Domino A.L.C
Sunbeam Core Contact Freezer
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus including test with 2 Noctua NF-P12 fans
Alpenföhn Nordwand including test with 2 Noctua NF-P12 fans
Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme (Low/med/high speed)
Program Suite:
Core Temp 0.99.5
LinX stress Test
CPUID HWMonitor
How I tested:
Testing will be based on temperatures recorded by Core Temp and HWMonitor after 20 passes of LinX stress test. The maximum absolute temperatures will be recorded after the test and averaged over the 4 cores. The delta is then calculated by substituting the ambient temperature recorded near the intake fans. All tests are conducted with the i7 920 at its default 2.66GHz stock speed and overclocked to 4GHz. As always, the tests are done inside my own Lian Li B25B case to simulate real world conditions. To keep the tests standardised and based on people’s tendency to use their own thermal paste, we apply Thermalright’s ChillFactor II thermal paste to all coolers unless specified in the result entries (where the bundled thermal paste performs better).
Installation
Installing the Phanteks PH-TC14CS is very easy to start with thanks to the intuitive SoliSku mounting kit. However, the shape of the cooler and the need to access the integrated mounting bracket below the heatsink makes the rest of the procedure much harder. In the next few steps, we will detail installation on an LGA1366 motherboard.
1. Identify the back plate and the appropriate mounting holes which are labelled at the back for LGA1366, LGA1155/1156, and LGA1366.
2. Insert the 4 socket screws in each corner ensuring they are flush with the sides.
3. Install the back plate onto the back of the motherboard.
4. Place a black stud on each socket screw.
5. Secure the back plate using the two strip adapters and the nuts. Make sure the socket holes on the strip adapters line up inwards towards the centre i.e. the LGA1366 holes are on the outside.
6. Use the hex wrench to tighten the cooler mounting bracket to the SoliSku kit.
The hardest part of the installation is the last step. The need to use the hex wrench makes it almost impossible to secure the cooler to the motherboard inside the chassis so remounting the cooler is not an option you want to come across. Even when installing outside of the case, using a hex wrench is far more time consuming than a standard screw driver. This is where not using a custom made heatsink suited to this type of cooler becomes a pain to users. Had Phanteks wanted to compete with Noctua on the installation front, they would have cut two holes in the heatsink to allow screwdriver access to the mounting bracket.
Results (Grouped)
The results have been arranged in terms of the fan configuration that yields the best results for each cooler. However, it is important to take into account that many coolers come with their own fans and changing those increases the costs significantly, so the “out of the box” cooler configurations have been highlighted in red each group.
Stock
We start off by looking at how each configuration of the PH-TC14CS fares. In its default two fan configuration, the cooler yields a delta of 34.5C and reducing the fan speed to 860RPM increases the delta by a mere 1C. By switching the fans so that air is pushed upwards rather than downwards, much poorer results are achieved. In low profile mode whereby a single fan in installed below the heatsink, the delta is 36.25C whereas in high profile mode, the result is more favourable. This demonstrates than fan orientated to push air is more effective than pulling. With two Noctua NF-P12s, the result matches that of the two 140mm stock fans at 860RPM. Two NF-P14s on the other hand match the results of the two PH-F140TS fans. The best performance is achieved using the high RPM Coolink fans.
Results (Ascending order)
Stock
In its default configuration or couple with two Noctua NF-P14s, the Phanteks cooler is on par with its bigger brother running passively. It also matches up to the Thermalright Archon running a single fan. This is a fairly impressive fit given how much taller the Archon is. The NH-C14 in its default configuration also delivers the same performance. Reducing the fan speed puts the PH-TC14CS on par with the Antec KUHLER 620 running two 120mm Noctua fans, and the Phanteks coupled with the same two fans is no different. In reverse mode, performance is comparable to a Noctua NH-U12P. In low profile mode, performance is slightly ahead of the Noctua NH-C14 in the same mode whereas in high clearance mode, both top down coolers deliver the same performance. The best performance is achieved using two Coolink fans, allowing it to edge ahead of its Noctua rival using the same configuration. However, we see that the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO can achieve the same result using much lower fan speeds. On the other hand, the Antec KUHLER 920 is a more expensive cooler that shares the same result when using the Coolink fans as well.
Results (In-depth analysis)
In the next comparison, we look at the default cooler performance as they come out of the box with their bundled fans. Coolers that come with no fans have been coupled with Noctua’s NF-P12 or fans that the manufacturers intended their coolers to be used with.
By default, the Phanteks PH-TC14CS finds itself in the middle of our table, competing with the likes of the Noctua NH-C14, and tower coolers such as the Cooler Master Hyper 612S and the Thermalright Archon. Granted the latter two only require a single fan to achieve the same result but impressive for a top down cooler nonetheless. At the reduced fan speed, performance is ahead of quite a few ALC units without the disadvantage of noise.
Efficiency with the 120mm Noctua fan doesn’t seem to be the Phanteks forte, being comparable to the Antec KUHLER but unable to compete with higher end tower coolers.
The higher RPM SWiF2-120P fans appears to be much more effective on the Phanteks cooler, allowing it to edge slightly ahead of the Noctua NH-C14 and matching the Antec coolers.
With the 140mm Noctua fans, the Phanteks top down cooler is on par with the Noctua NH-C14 once again.
Results Overclocked (Grouped)
The results have been arranged in terms of the fan configuration that yields the best results for each cooler. However, it is important to take into account that many coolers come with their own fans and changing those increases the costs significantly, so the “out of the box” cooler configurations have been highlighted in red each group.
4GHz
The overclocked results paint a slightly different picture to before. In its stock configuration, the PH-TC14CS is at its best with a delta temperature of 60.5C and reducing the fan speed increases the delta by 3C. The latter result also matches the cooler in high clearance mode. Low profile mode on the other hand, is slightly worse by 0.5C. Reverse mode performs relatively better here yielding a delta of 62.5C matching the performance of the cooler with two Noctua NF-P14 orientated correctly and falling short of the two Coolink fans by a mere 0.5C. What is interesting to note is that the Phanteks fans perform better than the Noctua fans on the PH-TC14CS whereas on the dual radiator PH-TC14PE, the opposite was true.
Results Overclocked (Ascending order)
4GHz
The Phanteks PH-TC14PE falls slightly short of the 60C delta barrier but it still remains in a position to compete with the Prolimatech Megahalem, Noctua NH-C14 and more budget oriented tower heatsinks. The delta of 60.5C is comparable to the PH-TC14PE working passively, an approving nod to the sheer efficiency of the latter. Having the fans on the PH-TC14CS reversed puts the Phanteks on par with the Thermalright Silver Arrow running passively. The same is true when two Noctua NF-P14s are used. With a single fan either in low profile or high clearance mode, or two fans at lower RPM, the Phanteks cooler is more competitive with smaller tower heatsinks rather than high end ones. Reverse mode on the PH-TC14CS produce 1.75C lower temperatures than the Noctua NH-C14 in the same configuration, albeit with different fans. Similarly, reduced fan speeds on the Phanteks also prove to be a slightly better solution to the Noctua also running its fans at lower RPM. Although high clearance mode is more effective on the Noctua, low profile mode demonstrates the opposite with a similar margin between the two coolers.
Results Overclocked (In-depth analysis)
In the next comparison, we look at the default cooler performance as they come out of the box with their bundled fans. Coolers that come with no fans have been coupled with Noctua’s NF-P12 or fans that the manufacturers intended their coolers to be used with.
The default two fan configuration puts the PH-TC14CS on par with the Prolimatech Megahalem and the Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme. It manages to edge ahead of the Noctua NH-C14 by a mere 0.25C. At the reduced fan speed, it matches the Triglav and the much louder CoolIT ECO ALC.
As before, the NF-P12s don’t prove very effective on the Phanteks cooler, yielding poorer results than on the Triglav or the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO.
Once again, the Triglav and Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO make better use of the Coolink fans. More importantly, the Noctua NH-C14 yields a delta that is 2.5C lower than the Phanteks.
And finally with the Noctua NF-P14s, we see that the Noctua still leads the PH-TC14CS.
Other Observations
Chipset Temperatures
One of the advantages of using top down coolers is their ability to cool surrounding components on the motherboard. The Phanteks proves to be more effective than the NH-D14 at that as expected. Compared to the NH-C14, both are on par. Reverse mode is more effective as hot air is not being pushed down onto the motherboard but instead, it is being exhausted out.
Unfortunately, we don’t have the results of the NH-C14 in this situation but the remaining results still highlight the effective of the PH-TC14CS at cooling the Northbridge and motherboard. Again, reverse mode proves to be more effective.
Noise
Compared to the samples we first received from Phanteks, the fans bundled with the PH-TC14CS were acoustically inferior to our previous experience despite the fan speeds not changing. At full speed (1200RPM with PWM adapter), the fans were slightly audible even from inside the case. Compared to the NF-P14s, there was a noticeable difference in noise level favouring the Noctua. Thankfully, no mechanical noise was detected and as such they remain very good units providing excellent airflow. Naturally, the fans were inaudible at lower RPM.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that when I first received the dual tower PH-TC14PE from Phanteks, it was a cooler to marvel at and the performance was thankfully reflective of my initial impressions. So when I first came across the top down PH-TC14CS, there was very little that I could fault in terms of design language. After all, the cooler is effectively half of a PH-TC14PE, using the same patented technologies, the same five 8mm heat pipes and most importantly, the same radiator. The end result however, is not as good as I’d hope. Let’s start with the positives; aesthetics.
The PH-TC14CS is a great looking cooler, combining a nickel plated finish with a selection of 5 popular colours to choose from. The black variant we looked at today looks menacing and will suit any rigs following such a theme. The red and blue variants we also received were also appealing in their own rights thanks to a partially glossy finish on the top cover and a matt finish throughout the rest of the heatsink. Top down coolers also tend to be more aesthetically pleasing as a result of their compact size, which the Phanteks didn’t fail at. My only complaint is that the fans ended up protruding further than the heatsink which to me highlighted the lack of afterthought given by Phanteks to create a cleaner looking product. This is of course partially down to the cooler using the same radiator found on the dual tower variant. Electing to do so on first impression makes sense. It is a great way to save manufacturing costs and the heatsink has already proven to be very effective but on the downside, the cost savings don’t appear to be passed down to consumers and as we saw earlier, it creates problems during installation. In that regard, credit has to be given to Noctua who designed a heatsink to suit its purpose.
Performance wise, the Phanteks PH-TC14CS delivered similar performance to the Noctua NH-C14 at stock speed. The margin between the two regardless of fan configuration was very small. The Phanteks proved marginally ahead by 0.25C using the Coolink fans or in low profile mode. In reverse mode, the Noctua pulled ahead by 1C but in their default configurations, there was nothing differentiating the two. On the overclocked CPU, the Noctua NH-C14 proved the more efficient of the two cooler for a given fan configuration, but straight out of the box, the Phanteks is the winner by a minute 0.25C difference. Compared to other coolers, the Phanteks is no match to high end tower heatsinks, instead competing more with ALC units and smaller tower heatsinks.
With so little differentiating the two top coolers, we have to pick a winner based on their other attributes. The Phanteks will appeal to a wider audience thanks to its range of colours and more pleasing aesthetics but it loses to the Noctua in all other regards. Installation was more troublesome than expected due to having to rely on the hex wrench and the two bundled fans are not as quiet as the NF-P14s. The Phanteks also loses on price based on the cheapest I can find them after a quick search. And finally, the NH-C14 is also slightly more compact making it a better prospect in smaller cases.
Overall, the Phanteks PH-TC14CS isn’t a bad unit at all. It’s a great addition to Phanteks’ line up and for anyone requiring a cooler to fit inside HTPCs or M-ATX cases, they are perfectly viable. Unfortunately, they face very stiff competition from their rival Noctua which would be my personal preference based on noise, cooling efficiency and ease of use but ultimately, you can’t go wrong with either.
Pros
+Good performance
+Size
+Lightweight
+Support for Intel and AMD sockets (including LGA 2011 and AMD FM1)
+Relatively quiet
+Excellent bundle including two premium 140mm fans
+High quality finish and aesthetics
+Choice of colours
+Innovative features
+Memory clearance in high clearance mode
+Good after sales support + 5-year limited warranty
Cons
-Cost
-Taller than the NH-C14
-Fiddly installation
-Fans louder than competing alternatives
-Memory clearance in low profile mode
-Possible packaging issues
-Has to be orientated a certain way for optimal performance.
+Good performance
+Size
+Lightweight
+Support for Intel and AMD sockets (including LGA 2011 and AMD FM1)
+Relatively quiet
+Excellent bundle including two premium 140mm fans
+High quality finish and aesthetics
+Choice of colours
+Innovative features
+Memory clearance in high clearance mode
+Good after sales support + 5-year limited warranty
Cons
-Cost
-Taller than the NH-C14
-Fiddly installation
-Fans louder than competing alternatives
-Memory clearance in low profile mode
-Possible packaging issues
-Has to be orientated a certain way for optimal performance.
The Phanteks PH-TC14CS deserves our Vortez Bronze award.
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
