Testing
The following system was used to test the cooler:
– Processor: Intel i9 9900K @ 5GHz
– Motherboard: ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X
– RAM: GOODRAM IRDM PRO 16GB DDR4-3600MHz
– GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio
– SSD: Crucial p5 500GB
– HDD: GOODRAM IRDM 1TB SSD
– PSU: Seasonic Snow Silent 750W Platinum
– Case: be quiet! Silent Base 802 White
– Thermal compound: Noctua NT-H2
Software used for testing the cooler:
– AIDA64 Extreme Version: 6.32.5600
– Intel Burn Test v2.54
– Prime95 29.1
The cooler was tested with the CPU at the default turbo frequency of 4.9 GHz and overclocked to 5 GHz with a core voltage of 1.261 V.
Also, the included fans have been used at their maximum speed.
The room temperature was approximately 26°C (78°F), with 2°C margin of error.
The idle test consists of the CPU sitting idle at the desktop for 30 minutes, the temperature was measured at the end of the test.
The settings of the software used are the following:
Intel Burn Test v2.54 – Stress level: Maximum
Prime95 29.1- small FFT
AIDA64 Extreme Version – FPU Benchmark & Temperature monitoring.
Each test was conducted for 40 minutes.
Idle
Full Load – IntelBurnTestV2
Full Load – AIDA64 CPU, FPU & Cache
The noise level was measured at three different distances from the fans (10cm, 20cm, 30cm.) the noise was measured with a margin of error of ± 2 db.
Final thoughts
The Fractal Design Celsius+ S24 Dynamic is a great CPU cooler, it looks good, it is very easy to install and it delivers a great cooling performance. This CPU cooler has a few unique features that are not only useful but work and improve the overall usage experience.
First, the pump can operate under two modes, PWM or Auto. The CPU temperature difference between the two modes is around 6°C. However, the biggest difference between these operating modes is the pump noise difference. With the Auto mode selected, the pump makes no noise at all, while with PWM, the pump noise is noticeable even with the side panel of the case closed.
Secondly, this CPU cooler has its own fan hub installed on the side of the radiator. This fan hub can power both the pump and the two included fans. Not only that, but this hub also has two 3-Pin addressable RGB headers.
This fan hub while it might not look like much, it will greatly reduce the cable clutter inside the system, especially around the CPU socket area of the motherboard.
The two 120mm fans are not silent, they can’t be, as they will spin at a maximum speed of 2000RPM. However, while the noise output of the fans is high, the sound generated is not that bad, as it’s mostly the sound of the air being pushed into the radiator. The fans have no bearing noises and they do not vibrate.
The build quality is very good, the radiator is well made and the same can be said for the CPU block. The tubes are long and flexible enough to not create issues inside your system.
The installation process is very easy, this is due to a mounting system that uses few parts and has been refined with time. This mounting system is used on most if not all Asetek based CPU coolers on the market.
The Celsius+ S24 Dynamic performs almost the same as the Celsius+ S24 Prisma, give or take 1°C in certain scenarios. The price difference between the Prisma and the Dynamic is approximately 30USD, and that is a lot, because the difference between the two coolers is down to the used fans.
In conclusion, the Fractal Design Celsius+ S24 Dynamic is a great AIO CPU cooler that will not only look great but has a good performance and build quality. The fans are not quiet, but the sound they generate is not unpleasant. The dual mode for the pump speed is useful, although the best results in terms of cooling are achieved with the pump running at its maximum.
