Original Link: https://www.anandtech.com/show/825
Socket-A Cooler Roundup: September 2001
by Tillmann Steinbrecher on September 7, 2001 3:19 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Introduction
Almost six months have passed since our last cooler roundup - and in that time,
quite a bit has been happening on the cooler market. Today, we see more copper
coolers than ever before, and more models are using larger fans.
For this roundup, we used the same testing methodology as in the last roundup,
published in March. This means that the temperature data and noise measurements
from this roundup can be
directly compared to the the last roundup .
This time, we're reviewing a selection of 18 new heatsinks, many of them with
different fan/fan speed combinations. All in all, this resulted in 29 indivitual
tests. Each test takes an hour, and to make sure the values are correct, we
do each test three times. In other words, this roundup is the result of 87 hours
of heatsink testing.
Let's have a look at the cooling performance tests first.
The Test
The first test was done with a 43 watt heat load - this corresponds to the typical power usage of a 1 GHz Palomino CPU. The temperature readings given here is the temperature difference between core and ambient temperature. As usual, lower temperature readings are better.
(1) the Miprocool was tested with the temperature controlled fan at maximum
speed
Since in the 43W test, the top-performing coolers are very close to each other,
we also publish the results of a test with a higher heat load - here, performance
differences become more obvious. The second test (with the best-performing coolers
from the first test) was done with a 61W heat load. This corresponds to
the typical power usage of a 1.3GHz Thunderbird CPU.
Here are the results of the 61W test; remember, lower temperatures are better:
(2) from the March 01 cooler roundup
Our "simulator" would not allow testing of the less efficient coolers in this
roundup at 61W, since the foil heater used would overheat. We are already working
on a new simulator device that allows cooler testing with a heat load of 100-150W,
to represent the cooling requirements of future CPUs. Details about this will
be published before the next roundup, in a new "testing methodology" article.
By now, the AMD Athlon MP (Palomino) with its internal diode for temperature
measurements has become available. However, the temperature readings taken from
that diode aren't accurate enough for a meaningful performance test. If you
look at how small the performance differences between some cooler models in
this test are, it will become obvious that a temperature measurement with a
resolution of 1°C isn't accurate enough. However, the fact that now an AMD
CPU with on-die temperature measurement is available has given us the opportunity
to check whether our "simulator" represents the real-world situation accurately.
The difference between the C/W values calculated from our test data, and the
C/W values calculated from test data obtained with the Palomino's internal diode
is around 10% (based on the Silverado test data published in c't magazine, issue
17/01).
You may be wondering why our test results are in some cases (e.g. the Silverado)
so much different from the test results published on other websites. We are
aware of this, but there's nothing we can do about it. We've double and triple-checked
our results. The only advice we can give is: Check which testing methodology
is used for that particular test, and decide for yourself which review to believe.
Information about our current testing methodology
can be found here.
Noise measurements
While CPU coolers have become a lot more efficient over the past months, they have usually also become louder. Last year, the terribly annoying Delta 7000rpm fans came only optionally, with selected heatsink models targeted at hardcore overclockers. By now, they have become pretty mainstream, and are the default equipment of many coolers. We think that this is a bad development. The permissible noise exposure scale for employees is 90db(A) for 8 hours a day - none of the coolers tested here exceed this limit, but even below 90db(A) noise negatively affects your health. It can be a source of stress, high blood pressure, and it can lead to lack of concentration. Especially people who spend long hours on their PCs should carefully consider whether a few extra MHz of overclocking speed are worth the nuisance and the possible long-term health risks - we think that in most cases a quieter (though less efficient) cooler is the better choice.
The good news: Some of the coolers reviewed in this roundup are quieter than any coolers we've reviewed before. However, don't forget to consider cooling performance as well, especially if you have an AMD CPU with over 1GHz. Below are the results of the noise measurement - the coolers are still ordered by cooling performance, so that you can judge about performance and noise at one glance.
Alpha PAL8045
It seems that when designing the PAL8045, Alpha's engineers looked at the design of the older model PAL6035, and said to themselves: "We can't make it better, but we can make it bigger". Just like its little brother, the PAL8045 features an anodized, cold-forged heatsink with hexagonal fins, and a copper base plate. The heatsink, as the name suggests, is 80x80x45mm big, and is equiped with an 80mm fan.
Installation
The PAL8045 is fixed to the motherboard, using screws. This means that
you will have to uninstall the motherboard in order to install the cooler,
but it does hold the heatsink a lot more safely than the "clip" mounting.
The pressure to the CPU is provided by springs; in order to adjust the pressure
to the particular CPU (there are noticable tolerances in thickness!), several
nylon washers are included. Since the PAL8045 is quite large and heavy, Alpha
made the right choice when they decided to use the screw mounting. Swiftech
were the first to take advantage of this mounting method, it's good that others
follow. The disadvantage is that you won't be able to use the PAL8045 for
Intel CPUs, because of the lack of mounting holes on the motherboard.
Performance and noise, conclusion
The PAL8045 sample we received came with an Orix fan. But just like previous Alpha models, the PAL8045 will be available with a variety of fans, since Alpha commonly sells heatsinks alone and retailers bundle them with a choice of fans. This leaves customers the choice between a high performance and an ultra quiet solution.
We tested the PAL8045 with different three fans: With the 80x80x38mm 68 CFM Delta fan that is also shipped with the Swiftech MC462, with the Orix 80x80x25mm fan supplied by Alpha, and - as the "ultra quiet" solution - with a 80x80x25mm Papst fan, supplied by Frozen Silicon .
To make it short: The PAL8045 could convince in all setups.
With the high performance Delta fan, it provided the best cooling performance of all coolers we tested so far, even slightly outperforming the Swiftech MC462. This makes it the top choice for ambitious overclockers. The price for this, besides the high price tag, is excessive noise.
With the Orix fan, the PAL8045 still provides very good cooling performance, while being quieter than the competitors equiped with 60mm 7000rpm Delta fans. This configuration is still not super-quiet, but is definately a good choice for those who want a cooler for extreme overclocking that isn't excessively loud.
The Papst fan we received for testing was a 8412NGL unit, which is the quietest Papst 80mm fan.Thanks to its Sintec PTFE sleeve bearing, it is extremely quiet. Another "speciality" of Papst fans is that, in order to prevent vibrations, they are exactly balanced, thanks to tiny metal weights sticked into little slots around the fan motor - as you can see on the picture on the right, the weights are marked with red circles.
With this Papst fan, the PAL8045 a good choice for a super-quiet, high performance PC. It is even quieter than the Silverado in quietest mode, while providing better cooling performance. Still, we don't recommend the Alpha/Papst combination for overclocking, but it does provide enough cooling even for the most power-hungry non-overclocked Socket A CPU, the Athlon 1.4GHz.
Only the Zalman CNPS3100s in low RPM mode are quieter - but these don't cool as well as the Alpha with Papst fan.
The ideal setup for a super-quiet PC would be the Alpha heatsink with a temperature
controlled fan - preferably with an external temperature sensor. Such fans
are also available from Papst (e.g. model 8412NGMLV); however ideal placement
of the sensor would require modification of the heatsink (like drilling a
hole in the base to accomodate the sensor).
Alpha PAL8045 |
Fan: Available with various fans
Price: not yet know (high
price expected) |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Kanie "Wing"
The performance of Kanie's latest single fan Hedgehog coolers couldn't impress
us very much anymore; with their dual fan "Wing" type cooler they reach for
the top performance again. Thanks to one of Kanie's European distributors,
bacata.net , we got our hands on a sample
very early.
View from below - notice the perfect surface finish. Also note that the
base plate is only as large as on single-fan 60mm heatsinks. This improves
motherboard compability, and makes sure that air can circulate freely through
the fins (no high pressure builds up inside the cooler).
Installation and clip
The Kanie Wing can be installed as easily as a normal single-fan cooler. Its
clip is good, it uses all six cleats on the socket. Although the Socket clip
isn't as good for heavy heatsinks as the through-motherboard screw mounting,
the clip has the advantage that it is also compatible with motherboards for
Intel CPUs. Due to the strange form of the "Wing", we still recommend to carefully
check motherboard and case compability before buying one.
Performance and noise, conclusion
The "Wing" sample we received comes with two 7000rpm Delta fans. We consider
even one of these fans too loud, so two of them are almost unbearable. In this
configuration, the "Wing" set a sad new record: loudest cooler we ever reviewed.
However, the "Wing" performed well - with the two 7000rpm Delta fans, it was
outperformed only by one cooler: The Alpha PAL8045 with an (also noisy, but
a little more bearable) 68CFM Delta fan.
We recommend the Wing only for users who don't care about noise (everybody should,
though!), and want the best possible cooling performance, but can't use the
Alpha because of motherboard compability problems.
With slower-spinning fans, the "Wing" could also be used as a quiet cooler with
still good performance; however, for a low noise cooler one large 80mm fan is
usually better than two 60mm fans.
Kanie "Wing" |
Fan: Two Delta 7000rpm (also available with other fans)
Price: unknown (will
be expensive) |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Thermalright SK6
Shortly after we published our last roundup, the Thermalright SK6 appeared on the market. It is an all-copper cooler with fins that are soldered on a relatively thick base plate.
Installation and clip
The SK6 comes with a standard clip which uses two of the six cleats on the
CPU socket. This isn't great, but since the SK6 isn't very large or excessively
heavy, it doesn't cause problems when moving around the PC either. Installation
is easy; a screwdriver is required, though.
Performance and noise, conclusion
The SK6's performance is quite amazing - especially considering its small
size. Among the coolers equiped with one 60mm fan, the SK6 proved to be the
most efficient.
Thermalright sells the SK6s without fans, so they are available with different
fan combinations. Thanks to the good design of the heatsink, the SK6 is also
a good base for a "quiet" cooler, when used with a lower RPM fan.
Conclusion: We definately recommend the Thermalright SK6. Its performance
is good - it is outperformed only by the Alpha & Swiftech units with 80mm
fans, and the Kanie Wing with two 60mm fans. So, the SK6 is the top choice
when the Alpha/Swiftech coolers with through-motherboard mounting can't be
used, or in any case where small size is an advantage. This makes the SK6
the best choice for Intel Celeron/P3 CPUs. Also, at around $34, the SK6 is
a price/performance winner.
When buying the SK6, keep in mind that the Delta fan we used for testing is
loud, and consider getting it with a lower RPM fan.
Thermalright SK6 |
Fan: available with various fans, tested with Delta 7000rpm fan
Price: around $34 |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Cool Jag JAC-212C / DYNATRON DC1206BM-0
Cool Jag is a new cooler manufacturer from Taiwan. The samples we
received from them caught our eye even before we started testing: These heatsinks
have the finest fins we've ever seen, and they're even made of copper. Cool
Jag uses some proprietary production method in order to make these heatsinks;
we suppose that they're milled and sawed out of a copper block, apparently
with a super-fine saw blade or wire.
Recently, coolers that look identical to this unit have appeared on the market
under the name "DYNATRON DC1206BM-0". We do not have a confirmation yet whether
this cooler is actually identical to the "Cool Jag", but chances are it is..
"Cool Jag" / "Jagwire" belong to a company called the C.C.C Group.
Installation and clip
Installation of the JAC-212C's clip takes a screwdriver and is straightforward.
Unfortunately, the clip uses only two of the six cleats on the socket. This
isn't too good, but since the cooler is relatively compact, and the center
of gravity close to the CPU, this shouldn't cause problems unless you really
bang your PC around.
The JAC-212C ships with standard silicon-based thermal compound.
Performance and noise, conclusion
The performance of the JAC-212C is good - among the coolers with a single
60mm fan, it is the second best, being outperformed only by the Thermalright
SK6.
Just like all other coolers equiped with the Delta 7000rpm fan, the JAC-212C
is very loud. A version with a smaller, quieter Top Motor 60x10mm fan is also
available as model JAC-101C.
Conclusion: If you can get this cooler at a low price, go for it. Keep in
mind that this is one of the first products from a new manufacturer - and
their technology is interesting. We're sure that we'll hear more from Cool
Jag in the future.
Cool Jag JAC-212C |
Fan: Delta 7000rpm
Price: unknown |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Millenium "Glaciator"
The Millenium Glaciator is another all-copper heatsink, with the fan embedded
into the cooler. The lower part is cut out of a copper block, the upper part
(surrounding the fan) is soldered onto it.
You might wonder: Where do these little spots on the lower side come from? Well, the Glaciator ships with a protective foil on its lower side, which also prevents corrosion. The spots are there where little air bubbles in the foil allowed the copper to oxidize. The oxidation layer is so thin, though, that it does not negatively effect thermal transfer.
Installation and clip
The Glaciator is excessively heavy - it weights 710 grams, which make it the
heaviest heatsink in this roundup. Nevertheless, it comes with a clip that
uses only two of the six mounting cleats on the socket - so there is a high
risk of breaking off the heatsink when moving around the PC. And you can imagine
what kind of damage a 710g copper block will cause inside your PC case once
it's broken off during transport. The manufacturer is aware of this problem,
and therefore recommends to uninstall the heatsink before moving the PC. Definately
not practical. Fortunately the clip at least allows easy installation and
deinstallation. Millenium includes genuine ArcticSilver II thermal compound
with the Glaciator.
Performance and noise
The Glaciator is less noisy than the coolers equiped with 7000rpm Delta fan
- nevertheless, it outperformed most of these (except for the Thermalright
SK6 and the Jag Cooler JSC-212). We think that it was a wise choice of Millenium
Thermal to sacrifice a little cooling performance in order to achieve a slightly
more bearable noise level. The Glaciator still isn't a "quiet" heatsink, but
its performance/noise ratio is good. Only the Alpha PAL8045 with Orix fan
provided similar performance at an even lower noise level but the Alpha does
not fit motherboards for Intel CPUs, and ist more expensive. The Glaciator
costs only $34 (including Arctic Silver II - keep this in mind when
comparing prices), and also fits most motherboards for Intel CPUs. So, if
you can live with the limitation of not being able to move your PC around
without first uninstalling the heatsink, then the Glaciator is a good choice.
We'd be more enthusiastic about it if Millenium used a better clip which takes
advantage of all six pegs on the CPU socket.
AaMillenium "Glaciator" |
Fan: Proprietary (Mfr unknown)
Price: around $34 |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Zalman CNPS5000plus/CNPS5001
The CNPS5000+/CNPS5001 is Zalman's "performance" cooler for both AMD and
Intel P4 CPUs. We received one cooler from Zalman directly, and one from a
retailer (Frozen Silicon ). The
only difference between the two is the fan: One comes with a 3.2W Sunonwealth
fan, one with a 3.0W fan (manufacturer unknown). Also, both include two adapters
for reducing the voltage, so that the cooling performance can be adjusted
according to the needs of your CPU, to keep noise down.
We tested the cooler in four configurations: With the 3.0W fan, with the 3.2W
fan, the 3.2W fan with voltage reduced to 5V, and finally, with the Delta
7000rpm fan that comes with many other coolers.
Comparison between CNPS-5001 and CNPS-5000plus:
Installation and clip
Just like the Alpha PAL8035 and the Swiftech MC462, the CNPS5000 is mounted
using screws, which take advantage of the mounting holes in the motherboard.
This mounting method is superiour to clip mounting, but makes the cooler
incompatible with motherboards for Intel CPUs.
But, Zalman goes even one step further, by including the necessary mounting
material for installing the cooler on a P4. So, if you want a good cooler
for your Socket A CPU, but plan to switch to a P4 system, then this is the
cooler to get.
Also, there are lots of washers included for protecting the motherboard,
a small plastic bag with "spare parts" (we've never seen this before - even
a "spare hologram" is included). AOS thermal compound is also included (which
is not as good as ArcticSilver, but better than standard compound).
Performance and noise, conclusion
The performance of the CNPS5000 is good - especially with Delta 7000rpm fan.
However it didn't perform as well as the cheaper Thermalright SK6 or the Cool
Jag unit in this roundup, and it didn't come close to the 80x80mm monsters from
Alpha and Swiftech. Still, with the 3.0W fan, this cooler is worth recommending
for its good performance/noise ratio, its great mounting method, and the additional
P4 compability.
An astonishing detail: The version with 3.0W fan was both more efficient and
quieter than the 3.2W version. So try to get this version if you have the choice.
Zalman CNPS5000+ / 5001 |
Fan: 60x25mm 3.2W Sunonwealth or 60x25mm 3.0W unknown Mfr. Also tested
with Delta 7000rpm
Price: Around $50 |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Kanie Hedgehog 294M
Back in November '00, the Kanie Hedgehog provided the best performance in
our cooler roundup. By now, a new model is available - the 294M. The difference
is that it has more and finer fins than the old version.
The surface finish is good, however not as good as on the even newer Hybrid Hedgehog.
Installation and clip
The Hedgehog's clip was also improved. The new model comes with a great clip
that takes advantage of all six cleats on the socket. Installation is easy.
Performance and noise, conclusion
Our Hedgehog sample came with a Melco fan. With this fan, the Hedgehog provides a reasonable compromise between performance and noise (the performance/noise ration isn't as good as on the Alpha PAL8045, though). With the Delta fan, it performs better - as expected, a little better than the old model, but not to the point where we would be impressed in any way. More efficient coolers are available by now, e.g. the Thermalright SK6.
Kanie Hedgehog 294M |
Fan: available with a variety of fans. Tested with Melco 60x25mm, Delta
60x25 7000rpm
Price: unknown |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Kanie Hybrid Hedgehog
The Kanie "Hybrid Hedgehog" hasn't made it to the shelves of the retailers
yet, but thanks to bacata.net we got a
sample very early. The "Hybrid" is almost identical to the Hedgehog 294M,
with the exception of one interesting detail: Every second row of pins isn't
made of copper, but of aluminum. This makes the cooler lighter and possibly
also a little cheaper.
In the picture above, you can't see what the "Hybrid" is all about, so
here's a picture of the naked heatsink:
Kanie's previous models were sometimes criticized for their poor surface
finish.
With the Hybrid Hedgehog, those days are over: The surface finish is simply
perfect.
Installation and clip
Just like the Hedgehog 294M, the "Hybrid" comes with a great clip that takes
advantage of all six cleats on the socket. Installation is easy.
Performance and noise, conclusion
When tested with the same fan, the "Hybrid Hedgehog" performed almost identical
to the all-copper Hedgehog 294. We would have expected a little less cooling
performance (since aluminum is used instead of copper for half of the fins),
but apparently the better surface finish of the Hybrid Hedgehog makes up for
that.
Note that we received the Hybrid sample a few weeks later than the Hedgehog
294M sample, so the interesting question is: Do only the Hybrid and the Wing
feature the new & better surface finish, or has Kanie generally improved
their production process, which would mean that more recently produced Hedgehog
294M also have a smoother surface? We were unable to find out - but this is
a good question to ask your retailer before buying a Hedgehog. The difference
is so obvious (compare the reflection of the coin on the Hybrid/Hedgehog 294M
photos!) that it should be visible at first glance.
Anyways, just like the Hedgehog 294M, the Hybrid is just an average performer
- it cools well, but better heatsinks are available now.
Kanie Hybrid Hedgehog |
Fan: available with a variety of fans. Tested with Delta 60x25 7000rpm
Price: unknown |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Taisol CGK760xx2
The Taisol CGK760xx2 heatsink looks very similar to the CGK742092 we reviewed
before - the only difference is the copper inlay on the newer model. The "xx"
in the model number stands for either "09" (version with thermal pad) or "00"
(no interface material). We got the "09" version, but converted it to a "00"
version by removing the thermal pad (and using thermal compound instead).
Installation and clip
Just like previous models, this cooler uses Taisol's excellent clip, which takes
advantage of all six cleats on the CPU socket. Installation is straightforward;
a screwdriver is required, though. A thermal pad is preinstalled on the heatsink.
Performance and noise, conclusion
Taisol offers a choice of two fans: A 60x10mm Delta fan, or a high-rpm 60x25mm
Delta fan. The high-rpm fan looks like the 7000rpm Delta units that come with
many other heatsinks, but it is not identical: Taisol ships model AFB0612VH
(made in Thailand), the more common 7000rpm fans are model AFB0612EH (made in
China). The Taisol-supplied model is slightly less efficient, and also a little
less noisy.
We tested the cooler with three fans: The two fans supplied by Taisol, and the
common 7000rpm Delta fan.
With the 60x10mm fan, the Taisol cooler is a solid OEM product, combining bearable
noise level cooling performance that is for all of today's non-overclocked CPUs.
With the Taisol-supplied Delta fan, or the 7000 rpm Delta fan, this cooler
is also suitable for overclocking - although it's not the top choice for hardcore
overclockers.
Taisol CGK760xx2 |
Fan: Delta 60x10mm or Delta 60x25mm
Price: unknown |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Akasa "Silver Mountain"
The Akasa Silver Mountain is an all-copper heatsink, produced with a similar
method as the Kanie Hedgehog: Cut fins are inserted into a copper base. The
Silver Mountain (hence the name) additionally features a silver plating. The
purpose of this plating remains unknown to us; silver conducts heat only slightly
better than copper, the plating is too thin to affect cooling, and silver
will also oxidize over time, just like copper.
Now that's a perfect surface finish!
Installation and clip
The Silver Mountain's clip uses just two of the six cleats on the Socket. Installation requires a screwdriver, but is easy. Thermal compound is included.
Performance and noise, conclusion
The Silver Mountain performed ok, but couldn't particularly stand out from the crowd. As all coolers equiped with 7000rpm fans, it is very loud. At around $39, it isn't cheap either, so we'd rather recommend the cheaper and more efficient Thermalright SK6.
Akasa "Silver Mountain" |
Fan: Delta 7000rpm
Price: around $39 |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Vantec CCK-6035D
Vantec's CCK-6035D is a bonded fin copper cooler. The outer shell that holds
the heatsink is made of aluminum.
We received three packages with samples of this cooler from Vantec. The
first shipment contained a handmade prototype.
The second shipment contained the final production version. The third shipment
arrived without any comment.
What is the difference between the coolers found in the second and third shipment? Well, have a look at the surface finish:
On the left, the cooler from the second shipment, on the right from the
third shipment.
Obviously, Vantec has substantially improved surface finish. Note that both
coolers shown here are "production" units and not prototypes;
so if you plan to buy this cooler, make sure you get a recently produced
one with the good surface finish.
Installation and clip
Vantec's cooler comes with a clip that uses only two of the six pegs on the
socket. Since this cooler isn't very heavy for a copper cooler, this shouldn't
cause problems - although we still prefer six-cleat mounting clips. Thermal
compound is included.
Performance and noise, conclusion
The cooling performance of the Vantec CCK-6035 is good, but not particularly
impressive. In past roundups, Vantec coolers have never been the top performers,
but they could always convinve with a good price/performance ratio. So, if you
can get this cooler for around $25, go for it. At $30 or more it might be wiser
to chose the Thermalright SK6.
As with all coolers equiped with Delta 7000rpm fan, this cooler is very loud.
However, a lower noise version is also available by now - unfortunately it was
announced too late to be included in this roundup.
Vantec CCK-6035 |
Fan: Delta 60x25 7000rpm
Price: around $30 |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Thermosonic/Thermal Integration Thermoengine
We already reviewed the "Thermoengine" in our last roundup, where it showed
remarkable performance - in part due to the heat pipe inside the core. However,
a while after the roundup was published, we were informed that the final production
version would simply have a solid aluminum core, without the heat pipe. So
the version supplied to reviewers was different than the one that would actually
hit the shelves. This is a practice we don't like, and we procured ourselves
another "Thermoengine" - this time not from the manufacturer itself, but from
a normal retailer.
The photo showes the Thermoengine with a 60x10mm fan, for testing we used a Delta 7000rpm fan
This photo shows you how to distinguish the newer "solid core" Thermoengine
(left) from the older "heat pipe" version (right).
You will have to uninstall the fan in order to see the difference.
Installation and clip
The Thermoengine comes with a clip that uses just two of the six cleats on the
socket. However, since the cooler is rather light, this isn't a problem. A thermal
pad is preinstalled on the cooler, which we removed for testing.
Performance and noise, conclusion
In our particular test setup, the new Thermoengine without heat pipe proved
to be slightly less efficient than the preproduction version. We would
like to emphasize that this applies only to our particular test setup. The trouble
with "heat pipes" is that they can only transport a certain amount of heat,
and once the heat pipe is "maxed out", it will conduct heat only very poorly.
Also, the heat pipe's performance might depend on the mounting (horizontal or
vertical). So, under other circumstances (e.g. when using a high-powered CPU,
like an Athlon overclocked to 1.6GHz), the new Thermoengine might perform better
than the old version with heat pipe. So, all in all it seems like a good decision
to drop the "heat pipe" design.
The new Thermoengine's performance is still quite amazing for an all-aluminum
heatsink; however by now more efficient coolers are available.
Thermosonic Thermoengine (solid core) |
Fan: 60x10mm; tested with Delta 60x25 7000rpm
Price: around $33 |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Thermaltake Dragon Orb 3
Thermaltake's previous coolers often had an interesting outlook, and their
Dragon Orb follows this tradition:
Previous Thermaltake 'Orb' models had the fan integrated into the heatsink. This, however, limited fan size. With the Dragon Orb, Thermaltake solves this problem by mounting the fan on top of the cooler. The lower part of the cooler looks similar (but not identical) to older Orb models; the fan is mounted in an aluminum case with a copper-color andoization. The heatsink features a copper inlay, which makes it quite heavy.
The copper core features it's own little copper heatsink. However, it is
located directly below the fan motor, so it can't take advantage of much
air flow.
Installation and clip
The Dragon Orb is quite heavy, but thanks to its good clip, which uses all six
cleats on the socket, can be fixed safely.
Performance and noise, conclusion
We tested two version of the Dragon Orb: One with 3000rpm fan, and one with
7000rpm fan. Noise-wise, the 7000rpm version was even a little worse than the
Delta 7000rpm fan, but performance-wise, the Dragon Orb is quite a bit behind
other recent coolers equiped with that 7000rpm fan - so we can't recommend the
high RPM version for overclockers. We don't recommend the 3000rpm version for
a quiet PC either - it is too loud for the cooling performance it provides (even
though it is still efficient enough to cool all current non-overclocked Socket
A/370 CPUs).
Thermaltake Dragon Orb |
Fan: Evercool 60x25mm style without case (7000rpm or 3000rpm)
Price: Around $32 |
Advantages |
|
Disadvantages |
|
Swiftech MCX370
The Swiftech MCX370 is the successor of the MC370. The major difference
to the older model are the fins - they now look like screws (although they
don't have a real thread):
Installation and clip
The MCX370 uses Swiftech's proprietary clip concept; it requires a screwdriver
to install it. Installation is easy and well-documented. The clip uses just
two of the six cleats on the socket - but since the cooler isn't too heavy,
this doesn't cause problems.
Performance and noise, conclusion
The MCX370 uses a high quality Papst fan, which, despite moving a lot of air,
isn't excessively loud. That doesn't mean it is quiet, either - but it is a
lot more bearable than the Delta 7000rpm fans. Additionally, Swiftech mounts
the fan on rubber washers, to prevent vibrations. Performance-wise, the MCX370
is also a bit behind the coolers with 7000rpm fans - not only due to the slower-spinnging
fan, but also due to the fact that we're dealing with an all-aluminum design.
Conclusion: A reasonable balance between performance and noise, but at a very
high price. We like the fan, but we've seen better heatsinks.
Swiftech MCX370 |
Fan: Papst 60x25
Price: Around $50 |
Advantages |
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Disadvantages |
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A Conto Noisecontrol "Silverado"
With the Silverado, A Conto Noisecontrol shows that it is possible to make
one of the most highly regarded heatsinks from standardized parts: An extruded
aluminum heatsink (EKL), a round silver plate of the kind that is normally
used for embossing medals or memorial coins, and two Nidec "squirrel cage"
blowers.
The silver plate is screwed on the heatsink on the side that is in contact
with the CPU; the two blowers are fixed to the heatsink with metal bars and
glued to each other with hot glue.
The Silverado is rather hard to get, especially for those outside Europe.
Even our request for a sample was ignored, and emails to the manufacturer
remained unanswererd. But thanks to Chillblast
, we got our hands on a sample.
The Silverado - an interesting construction
View from below - thanks to the silver coin screwed onto the heatsink, the contact area to the CPU is very smooth.
A Conto uses two Nidec blowers - these have been popular among overclockers
for years.
Installation and clip
The weak point of the Silverado is the mounting. The Silverado's clip uses
only two of the six cleats on the socket. The cooler is rather high, and therefore
the center of gravity is far away from the socket. So, when moving the PC
around, the heatsink could break off and damage the CPU socket. The manufacturer
is apparently aware of this problem, and includes a note that the Silverado
should be uninstalled before moving the PC. Definately not practical, especially
for people who regularly visit LAN parties. Also, the Silverado is a little
tricky to install. On the good side, the Silverado ships with thermal compound
and material for preventing motherboard vibrations.
Performance and noise, conclusion
The Silverado ships with various adapters that provide different voltages for the fans (6V, 8V, 10V, or - without adapter - 12V), to minimize noise by allowing users to select the cooling performance that is just sufficient for their needs. Even with these adapters, rpm monitoring is possible. In 12V mode, the Silverado cools well enough to allow moderate overclocking, while being quieter than the coolers equiped with a Delta 7000rpm fan. In 6V mode (the quietest), it will provide enough cooling for AMD CPUs with up to 1.2GHz. Still, even in this mode, the Silverado is louder than the Alpha PAL8045 with Papst 8412NGL fan - even though the Alpha/Papst combination cools better.
Being able to adjust the fan RPM with various adapters is better than nothing, but from a company specialized in low-noise products, we would have expected an automatic, temperature-controlled fan speed adjustment. Especially considering the price of the Silverado.
Conclusion: The Silverado is a good cooler - but its performance doesn't
justify the high price. For the same price, you can also get the Alpha PAL8045
with a high-quality fan. And, with the right fan, the Alpha will always provide
a better noise/cooling performance ratio than the Silverado. Users who want
a lower noise cooler, but can't use the Alpha because of the lack of mounting
holes in the motherboard, should consider the Silverado - but only if they
don't move their PC around.
A Conto "Silvearado" |
Fan: Two Nidec Gamma28 blowers
Price: around $70 |
Advantages |
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Disadvantages |
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Glacial Tech Igloo 2300
The Glacial Tech Igloo 2300 uses a "plain vanilla" extruded heatsink, and
comes with a T&T 60x15mm fan.
Additionally, we also tested the cooler with a 7000rpm Delta fan.
Interesting detail: At first glance, it looks like the Igloo 2300 has a
thermal pad, but as soon as you touch it, you'll notice that it's preapplied
silver-based thermal compound. This combines the advantages of a thermal
pad (easy installation) with the better thermal transfer characteristics
of thermal compound. Also, it makes sure that the layer of thermal compound
is always thin - too much compound doesn't do good. In order to avoid smearing
the compound during transport, the Igloo 2300's backside is covered by a
plastic hood.
Installation and clip
The Igloo 2300 comes with a very convenient clip with a large handle, which
allows very easy installation without any tools. The clip uses only two of the
six cleats on the socket, but that shouldn't cause problems, since the cooler
is very light.
Performance and noise, conclusion
According to the manufacturer, the Igloo 2300 is suitable for Athlon CPUs with
up to 1.5GHz - we consider this a bit too optimistic. The cooler could neither
score with high cooling performance nor with particularly low noise. With the
Delta 7000rpm fan, it cools better, but not to the point where we'd recommend
it.
Glacialtech Igloo 2300 |
Fan: 60x15mm T&T, also tested w/ Delta 7000rpm
Price: unknown |
Advantages |
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Disadvantage |
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Fanner/Spire 5T061B1H3R
5T061B1H3R - that looks like a really hard to crack password for some high-security
system, but it's actually the model name of one of Spire's Socket A coolers.
What is the purpose of these air channels in the base? We don't know.
There's also a little hole which could be used for placing a thermal sensor
for the fan - however the fan is not temperature controlled.
Installation and clip
The Spire cooler comes with a standard clip, which uses only two of the Socket's
pegs. Installation is easy; a screwdriver is required.
This is the first cooler with a 70mm fan we've ever seen. Most fan manufacturers
don't even make 70mm fans. However, we believe that this size is very suitable
for CPU coolers; larger fans are always better, but 80mm fans on CPU coolers
might cause problems with motherboard/case compability. So, a 70mm fan makes
sense - we'd like to see more cooler manufacturers switch from 60 to 70mm.
Performance and noise, conclusion
The Spire cooler isn't the most efficient or the quietest cooler, but thanks
to its pretty standard design - no copper involved, extruded heatsink - it will
not be expensive. Although we don't know the exact retail price yet, we can
say that this cooler will provide a reasonable compromise between cooling performance,
noise and price. It is suitable for all current Athlon CPUs; we don't recommend
it for overclocking, though.
Fanner/Spire 5T061B1H3R |
Fan: 70x15mm proprietary (Fanner)
Price: unknown (inexpensive) |
Advantages |
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Disadvantage |
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Tiger Electronics "Miprocool"
The Miprocool consists of a pretty standard extruded all-aluminum heatsink,
who's outer fins are bent in order to accomodate an 80mm fan.
The most interesting detail about the Miprocool is the temperature-controlled
fan. Its sensor can be placed inside the base plate of the heatsink; a hole
for this purpose is present, and thermal compound for mounting it is also
included.
Installation and clip
The Miprocool comes with a good clip that uses all six cleats on the socket.
Although the cooler is pretty large, it is unlikely that it will interfere with
components close to CPU socket, thanks to its narrow base. A thermal pad is
preinstalled, which we removed for the test. We recommend to do the same - especially
considering that thermal compound is included anyways.
Performance and noise, conclusion
The Miprocool definately isn't a good choice for overclockers - since the
fan spins at max speed only when a relatively high temperature has already been
reached. But for non-overclocked CPUs, the temperature control makes sense,
and the way Tiger Electronics have implemented it is good. On the temperature-controlled
coolers we previously tested, the thermal sensor measured only ambient air temperature,
the Miprocool measures the temperature there where it counts - on the base plate.
Thanks to the temperature control, the Miprocool will be rather quiet in normal
operation, especially when a CPU with low power consumption is being used. Not
as quiet as the Alpha PAL8045 with Papst NGL fan, or the Silverado - but these
units are much more expensive.
Performance-wise, the Miprocool wasn't too good - a pretty standard Aluminum
heatsink, without any copper inlay, and a fan optimized for lower noise don't
make a high performance cooler. Nevertheless, the Miprocool provides enough
cooling Athlon CPUs up to about 1.2GHz (we wouldn't recommend it for higher
clock speeds, though if you're lucky it might work). The simple design helps
to keep costs down.
If you have no overclocking plans, a CPU with just 1.2GHz or less, and want
an inexpensive, reasonably quiet cooler, then the Miprocool is a good choice.
Tiger Electronics is a German company, though - so it remains to be seen whether
this unit makes it to the US market.
Tiger Electronics "Miprocool" |
Fan: Adda 80x25mm, temperature controlled
Price: unknown (DM 49.-
in Germany, which is very inexpensive) |
Advantages |
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Disadvantages |
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Zalman CNPS3100 and CNPS3100 Gold
Do all CPU coolers look alike? No - Zalman proves this, with their "flower"
coolers: the CNPS3001 and CNPS3001Gold. They are made of copper plates, that
are tightly screwed together and then spread out. Only the heatsink itself
is fixed to the CPU, the fan is mounted to the case, using the same screws
that hold the first AGP/PCI cards.
The difference between the CNPS3001 and the CNPS3001 Gold is that the "Gold"
version features a gold (yes, real gold) plating. Why gold? Gold doesn't
conduct heat particularly well, and the plating is way too thin to affect
performance. But unlike copper or silver, it doesn't oxidize over time - so
the "Gold" version will keep its cooling performance over many years.
Here's the CNPS3100:
And here's the CNPS3100 Gold:
Zalman CNPS3100 and CNPS3100 Gold (continued)
When looking at the pictures on the last page, you might be wondering: Where
is the fan? The fan is a separate part. Let's have a look at how the cooler
looks when it is installed:
One of the problems related to this design is that depending
on where on the motherboard the CPU is located, the fan might or might not
blow directly on the cooler. On the other hand, it some cases the fan also
provides some airflow to the chipset's north bridge.
Installation
The CNPS3100 cooler come with a standard clip which uses just
two of the six cleat s on the socket. Since the heavy fan assembly isn't fixed
to the CPU socket, but directly to the case, the risk of breaking off the
heatsink when moving around the PC is small.
Performance and noise, conclusion
Both the CNPS3100 and the CNPS3100 Gold performed exactly on par with one
another, as expected. The cooling performance is disappointing - but CNPS (which
stands for Computer Noise Prevention System) is about low noise and not about
high cooling performance.
With the included adapter - which simply consists of two plugs, three wires
and a resistor - the fan voltage can be lowered; the CNPS will then run in "noiseless
mode". The expression "noiseless" isn't a marketing hype - it is simply true.
In noiseless mode, the CNPS3001 is the quietest cooler we've ever tested (interesting
detail: when the fan is mounted vertically, it is even a little quieter than
when it's mounted horizontally). When the fan alone runs in an otherwise silent
room, you really have to listen carefully to hear it, and when the cooler is
installed in the case, it is absolutely unhearable.
The cooling performance in "noiseless mode", however, is even more disappointing.
If you plan to buy the fastest AMD CPU on the market, or if you even have overclocking
plans, then the CNPS3001 isn't for you. However, even in noiseless mode,
the CNPS3001 will provide just enough cooling to keep a 1GHz Athlon (Thunderbird),
or a 1.2GHz Athlon MP (Palomino). So if you have such a CPU - or a a slower
one - then the CNPS3001 can be a good choice. Again, this cooler isn't
just quiet, it's silent. It is also a good choice for noise-conscious users
of non-overclocked Celeron and P3 CPUs - the cooling requirements of current
Intel CPUs are not as high as of their AMD counterparts. In any case, check
case and motherboard compability before buying this cooler. If it doesn't fit
your motherboard, it will perform even worse than it already does.
Zalman CNPS3100 (Gold) |
Fan: Zalman 80mm
Price: Gold version:
a little over $42, copper version cheaper |
Advantages |
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Disadvantages |
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Fanner/Spire 5E34B3-H
The 5E34B3-H follows Spire's tradition of model names that are impossible
to remember. It is smaller the Spire 5T061B1H3R, but features a copper inlay.
Installation and clip
The Spire cooler comes with a standard clip, which uses only two of the
Socket's pegs. Installation is easy; a screwdriver is required.
Performance and noise, conclusion
A small heatsink, a copper inlay that has a very poor finish and isn't well embedded into the heatsink, plus a fan that's small and rather noisy - this is not the receipe for making a good heatsink. We recommend to stay away from this model - especially considering that the same manufacturer makes a cooler that is both quieter and more efficient.
Fanner/Spire 5E34B3-H |
Fan: 60x15mm proprietary (Fanner)
Price: unknown (inexpensive) |
Advantages |
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Disadvantage |
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Conclusion
The winner of this roundup is the Alpha PAL8045. Depending on which fan you use with it, it provides either the best performance (with the Delta 68CFM fan), the best performance/noise ratio (with the Orix fan supplied by Alpha), or the lowest noise with still sufficient cooling performance for all current non-overclocked Socket A CPUs (with Papst 8412NGL fan). Also the mounting method is convincing. However, the PAL8045 does not fit most motherboards for Intel CPUs: They do not have the necessary mounting holes.
Kanie's new "Wing type" cooler could also convince performance-wise (and is compatible with motherboards for Intel CPUs); however it is excessively loud when equiped with the Delta fans, and therefore we don't recommend this combination.
Quite impressive was the cooling performance of the Thermalright SK6 - the best of all coolers with one 60mm fan - especially considering the relatively small size of the unit. This cooler is our recommendation for overclocking Intel CPUs. This cooler is also available with a variety of fans, so you might chose a quieter one if you don't need cutting-edge performance. At around $34, this is also a good choice for those who want good cooling performance, but find the Alpha PAL8045, Kanie Wing, or Swiftech MC462 too expensive.
Cool Jag, a new cooler manufacturer that offers heatsink with amazingly fine copper fins, could also convince with their JAC-212C; it performed quite close to the Thermalright SK6. Since the cooler has not appeared on the market yet (at least not under this name), we do not know the retail price yet - but if it is attractive, then this cooler is definately a good alternative. Right now these coolers are sold under the name "DYNATRON DC1206BM-0" for about $40, which we consider a little too expensive, compared to the Thermalright SK6.
Those who are not overclocking and want just sufficient cooling performance
at the lowest possible noise level, should consider the
Alpha PAL8045 with Papst 8412NGL fan - where available. When even less cooling
performance is required (for lower MHz CPUs or most Intel CPUs), but even lower
noise is desired, the Zalman CNPS 3001 with their "noiseless" 5V adapter are
an option to be considered, if they are compatible with your motherboard/case
combination. They don't cool too well, but they are as quiet as it gets.
A look to the future
Following this roundup, here are a few thoughts about where the heatsink market is moving, and where it should move in our opinion:
- "Through motherboard" mounting is the way to go. Heatsinks get heavier, CPUs are fragile, and reports of heatsink mounting pegs that broke off the socket are quite frequent. All Socket A motherboards have four little holes around the socket, which allow large heatsinks to be fixed the motherboard itself instead of just the socket. This way of mounting is definately more stable and safer, especially for heavy heatsinks. Swiftech were the first to recognize this, by now Zalman and Alpha have followed - let's hope other manufacturers will do the same. If a classic "socket" clip is still being used, it should at least be designed in a way that it uses all six pegs on the socket - and not just two, especially when the heatsink is heavy. The worst-case examples are the Millenium Glaciator and the Silverado: Despite being heavy, they use just two pegs - and therefore their manufacturers recommend to uninstall the heatsink whenever the PC is moved. Definately not practical.
- Larger fans are the way to go. In our "cooling technology overview", we pointed out that larger, slower-spinning fans provide a better ratio between airflow and performance than fast-spinning, smaller fans. In '97, the transition from 50mm fans to 60mm fans for CPU cooler started. Right now, the transition from 60mm to 80mm starts - and this is good. We'd like to see more coolers using larger fans, instead of using even faster-spinning 60mm fans (like the new Delta 8000rpm fans, which we intentionally didn't use for our test - we don't recommend these even for hardcore overclockers, because the noise level is simply unbearable).
- Temperature controlled fans are the way to go. We've seen temperature controlled fans in AnandTech cooler roundups before. But these had a built-in sensor that just measures ambient temperature. For best results, the fan speed should depend on the actual heatsink temperature. This time, somebody finally does it right: Tiger Electronics. On their cooler, the sensor is embedded into the base plate, and measures the temperature there were it counts. The ideal solution would be a temperature control where the temperature at which the CPU should be kept can be adjusted by the user - this would make temperature controlled fans even suitable for overclocking. A fan temperature control with user-adjustable temperature range (as it is sold by Thetatech) can be made from just three parts (for those interested: a MOSFET transistor, an NTC, and a potentiometer), and could be mass-produced for about $2. We will publish the simple plan for this circuit, as well as recommendations for suitable transistors, on heatsink-guide.com in fall.
- Copper is the way to go. In this roundup, most coolers were made of copper or at least contained a copper inlay. Especially the outstanding performance of the Thermalright SK6 proves that this makes sense - copper coolers can be both compact and efficient.
Manufacturer links
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A Conto Noise Control - www.noisecontrol.de
Silverado sample supplied by Chillblast
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Alpha: www.micforg.co.jp
PAL8045 sample supplied by manufacturer
Papst fan supplied by Frozen Silicon
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Glacial Tech: www.glacialtech.co.tw
Igloo 2300 sample supplied by manufacturer
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Thermaltake: www.thermaltake.com
Dragon Orb sample supplied by Frozen Silicon
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Millenium Thermal: millennium-thermal.com
Sample supplied by manufacturer
Hedgehog-294M, Wing and Hybrid samples supplied by Bacata
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Cool Jag - no website
Sample supplied by manufacturer
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Swiftech - www.swiftnets.com
MCX370 Sample supplied by manufacturer
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Tiger Electronics - www.tiger-electronics.de
Miprocool sample supplied by manufacturer
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Thermalright - www.thermalright.com
SK6 sample supplied by manufacturer
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Zalman - www.zalman.co.kr
CNPS5001 sample supplied by Frozen Silicon
CNPS5000+, CNPS3100 and CNPS3100 Gold samples supplied by manufacturer
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Akasa
Silver Mountain sample supplied by Bacata .
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Taisol - www.taisol.com
Sample supplied by manufacturer
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Thermal Integration - www.thermal-integration.com
Thermoengine (solid core) supplied by Frozen Silicon
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Spire - www.fanner.com
Samples supplied by manufacturer