Introduction
Scythe Co., Ltd, began its operation and business in November 2002 as a distributor and a manufacturer of passive and low-noise PC components. Since then, Scythe is recognized for their excellent & affordable products.
Official product link:
http://www.scythe-eu.com/en/products/cpu-cooler/mugen-max.html
Packaging and accessories
The Mugen Max model comes packaged in a white cardboard box with orange accents.
The front side of the box presents the product using a general image of it. In the middle we find printed the name of the product while in the left corner we find the name & logo of the manufacturer.
The sides of the box present the features & specifications of the product.
The back side of the packaging presents the warranty policy in 3 different languages.
Accessories
The product comes with the following accessories:
– 1x Manual
– 1x Mounting bar
– 1x Thermal Compound
– 2x Screws Large
– 4x Screws Small
– 4x Stud Nuts A
– 4x Stud Nuts B
– 1x Wrench
– 1x Mounting plate AMD
– 1x Mounting plate Intel
– 4x Fan clips
– 1x Back plate
– 1x Rubber spacer for LGA 775
– 4x Plastic Spacers
Specifications
Model Name: Mugen MAX
Model Number: SCMGD-1000
Socket Compatibility:
Intel: LGA775, LGA1150, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1366, LGA2011 / 2011-v3
AMD: AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+
Overall Dimensions: 145 x 86 x 161 mm
Baseplate Material: Nickel-plated copper
Weight (heatsink only): 720g
Fan-Specifications:
Model Name: GlideStream 140 PWM
Modell-No.: SY1425HB12M-P
Fan Size: 140 x 140 x 25 mm / 5.51 x 5.51 x 0.98 in
Noise Level: 13 ~ 30.7 dBA
Air Flow: 63,5 ~ 165m³/h / 37.37 ~ 97.18 CFM
Fan Speed: 500 rpm (± 300) ~ 1.300 rpm (±10%) (PWM-regulated)
Static Pressure: 0.15 ～ 1.02 mmH2O / 1,47 ～ 10,0 Pa
Bearing Type: Sleeve Bearing
Features:
– T-M.A.P.S. (Three-dimensional Multiple Airflow Pass- through Structure): The huge appearing heatsink with increased heatfin spacing to 2.6 mm of the Mugen MAX offers reduced windage and optimized performance in the lower speedrange of the supplied 140mm PWM fan.
– User-friendly Installation: The mounting system already seen in the Mugen 4 can be found again here – the proven H.P.M.S (Hyper Precision Mounting System) makes easy mounting possible.
– Maximum Compatibility: The asymmetrical assembly of the base plate results in a comfortable clearance to the memory banks* of the mainboard after mounting the heatsink.
– Multi Fan Mount Structure: Inheriting the concept of the Mugen 4, the design of the MAX also allows variable fan placement to optimize a targeted airflow.To furthermore enhance cooling performance, a second fan can be mounted with the supplied pair of fan clips.
– Included 140 mm GildeStream Fan: Accompanying the Mugen MAX is a fan from the popular GlideStream family, known for impressive results from other Scythe products.
Visual inspection
The Mugen Max model comes accompanied by a 140mm fans from the GlideStream line. The cooler utilizes 6 heatpipes each having a 6mm diameter. The Scythe logo is embossed on the top of the cooler, also the heatsink has a reflective mirror-like texture.
The 6 heatpipes are made out of nickel-plated copper, the base of the cooler is also made out of nickel-plated copper. The build quality and materials used are exceptional.
At the back of the cooler we find two dedicated grooves to allow a screwdriver to reach the base of the cooler.
In the middle of the cooler we find three channels that cut the fin stack to improve airflow.
This model offers ample space for the RAM due to the curvature of the heatpipes, thus the heatsink is moved to the back.
The included fan has the same build quality as the cooler, the wire is covered entirely by a black high-quality sleeve, the fan using a 4 Pin PWM Molex connector. Also, to generate enough airflow to cool the CPU, the fan uses 11 blades.
Testing
The following system was used to test the cooler:
– Processor: Intel i5 4690K @ 3.9 GHz and overclocked to 4.5 GHz
– Motherboard: MSI Z97 Gaming 9 ACK
– RAM: 8GB Crucial Ballistix Tactical @ 2133MHz
– GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 660 OC Gaming
– SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB
– HDD: Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB
– PSU: Seasonic M12II-520 EVO Edition Bronze 520W
– Display: AOC i2769VM
– Case: Phanteks Enthoo Luxe White
– Thermal compound: Arctic Cooling MX-4
Software used for testing the cooler:
– AIDA64 Extreme Version: 5.00.3300 (12/8/2014)
– Intel Burn Test v2.54
– Prime95 28.5
The cooler was tested with the CPU at the default turbo frequency of 3.9 GHz and overclocked to 4.5 GHz with a core voltage of 1.187 V.
Also the included fan have been used at its maximum speed.
The room temperature was approximately 28°C (82°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 28.5 – small FFT
AIDA64 Extreme Version – Temperature monitoring.
Each test was conducted for 40 minutes.
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 ± 5 db.
The space between the DIMM slots and the front fan is approximately 38 mm.
Final thoughts
The Scythe Mugen Max cooler maintains the quality of Scythe using high quality materials. The accessory bundle is rich, including an extra set of clips for a second fan, also Scythe included one 140mm fan from the GlideStream line for a better cooling performance.
In conclusion, the Mugen Max model is a good choice offering enough room for any tipe of RAM heatsink and an excellent performance with a low noise.
