How is this possible? (Ambient and lowest temp)

[lafrente]

I always saw in Gamers Nexus videos idle temps of 10c, in 21c ambient. How is that possible? Isn't the lowest possible temp 21c in this situation? Did I miss a physics class?

 

[Kilrah]

You missed the bit that's partly hidden under the bar that says the reported values are "difference over ambient"

 

[RONOTHAN##]

The graphs are for the temperature over ambient. The 13.5/62.3 numbers of the Freezer 50, for instance, translate to 24.5C and 83.3C respectively. 

[BobVonBob]

 

10c above the ambient temperature (21c), so 31c.

[lafrente]

Just now, RONOTHAN## said:

The graphs are for the temperature over ambient. The 13.5/62.3 numbers of the Freezer 50, for instance, translate to 24.5C and 83.3C respectively. 

So they are basically 0C ambient results? Well that is stupid.

[RONOTHAN##]

Just now, lafrente said:

So they are basically 0C ambient results? Well that is stupid.

It's designed to take into account that everyone lives in different areas with different ambient temperatures, so giving a hard number of "this cooler has this chip run at 70C" is pointless if they're testing at 21C ambient while someone else is at say 30C ambient. There's pros and cons to both measurements, the actual chip temperature is usually a bit more readable while the delta T over ambient number that GN gives is more applicable to any situation. 

 

I wouldn't necessarily say I'd pick the same choice myself when setting up the graphs, but there's enough valid reason to go for this method that I don't mind it either. Realistically all that matters is the relationship between each of the coolers under the same testing conditions, and in that regard both demonstrate the same data, the zero point is just put at a different mark. 

[Kilrah]

I also prefer "absolute temp, condition: ambient 21°C" than "temp: X° above ambient" but I guess the latter might make people more likely to see they forgot to consider ambient, when there's a big 20+° difference you might want to try and understand why...