Benchmarks: Temperature
Quiet computing and low temperatures don't always go hand in hand, but technologies such as Intel SpeedStep help overcome certain obstacles. The Core i5 processor's ability to slow to 1.6GHz when inactive ensures a low idle temperature.
Intel's Ivy Bridge processors are known to get warm with activity, so we had our doubts when Scan sent us an overclocked and quiet Core i5-3570K machine. There's absolutely no problem with heat, though, and the Thermalright cooler is doing a great job of keeping the 4.4GHz chip running at under 70ºC under extreme load.
GPU temperatures are well within comfortable levels, too. These advancements in efficiency play a hand in increasing the popularity of quiet PCs. It was difficult to cool a Core i7-980X and a hot-running GeForce GTX 480 a few years back, but today, an Ivy Bridge processor coupled with a modern-day GPU delivers more performance while consuming less power and consequently producing less heat.
