A Round-up of 55 Coolers for AMD Processors
The gigahertz battles waged by the two processor makers AMD and Intel are glad tidings for users: they have never had access to so much (excess) power for such relatively low prices.
Of course there’s a hitch to it all – riding in the wake of clock speed increase is a jump in electrical power consumption, or rather, the power loss of the gigahertz bolides. And, while manufacturers try to keep down power loss by constantly miniaturizing the processor structures (smaller transistors switch at lower voltages, which means they dissipate less power), they continue to cram ever more transistors onto rapidly shrinking surfaces. As a result, the specific power dissipation of today’s processors has mushroomed. And that has raised the bar for CPU coolers, too.
Specific power dissipation of different AMD cores.
AMD has ventured down the correct path with its latest progeny, the Athlon XP with a Thoroughbred “B” core. The surface area of the die was expanded 5% to 84 mm2, which put its power loss several steps below that of its predecessor (as measured by clock increase). But if you compare the CPU die to a 100 watt light bulb, its specific thermal power is still fiery: while a heat lamp generates a wimpy 0.95 watts/mІ (5% efficiency, surface area around 100 cmІ), the latest Athlon XP2600+ churns out some 81 watts/cmІ. So the moral of the story is that many a little makes a lot – in this case, a lot of heat that desperately needs to be dissipated. Unless, of course, you enjoy seeing your processor disintegrate in a flash of smoke.
The Theory Behind the Dream Cooler
It’s not hard to sum up what users expect of their dream cooler: it should be easy to mount and should run quietly. And it should offer enough extra cooling capacity so that you can upgrade your processor once or twice.
Specifications of the Processor Maker
The most important design specifications given by AMD for an Athlon cooler and for the computer case are as follows:
- Maximum total weight: 300 grams (for coolers that are affixed to the socket with a clip);
- Maximum external dimensions: 60 x 80 x 60 millimeters;
- The internal temperature, TA, immediately surrounding the cooler must not exceed 40° Celsius, no matter what the operating state of the CPU is.
General Physical Requirements
The cooling capacity/heat conduction provided by a cooler can be described by the following (extremely simplified) equation:
Iw= G*TD-TA with G=κ (A/l)
whereas
Iw: Heat flux
G: Heat conductivity coefficient
κ: Thermal conductivity of the cooler material
A: Surface through which heat flows (contact surface between die and cooler)
l: Path taken by heat flux
TD: Maximum acceptable die temperature according to specifications
TA: Temperature of the air surrounding the fan
According to this equation, the driving force for the heat flux Iw (Iw stands for the heat dissipated by the processor) is the difference in temperature between the die and the internal case temperature. For a given difference in temperature, the heat flux will be greater (in other words, more heat will be dissipated) the higher the thermal conductivity coefficient (or rather, the lower the thermal resistance) of the cooler is. And for the thermal conductivity coefficient to be high, the thermal conductivity of the cooler material needs to be as high, the contact surface as large and the path taken by the heat as short as possible.
Heat conductivity coefficients for different materials.
Don’t Lay It On Too Thick: The Tight Grease
The whole point of using thermal grease is to reduce the thermal resistance in the area between the CPU die and the cooler underplate. It shouldn’t be applied too thickly; a chunky layer of grease will be counterproductive. It is only intended to eliminate the air (k = 0.035W/mK) from the gap between the cooler and the die. The following chart shows that thermal conductivity differs greatly depending on which grease is used.
Field-testing different brands has shown that high-quality thermal grease will keep the die up to three or four degrees Celsius lower than average grease.
Innovation – Testing with the CPU Simulator KT-2
In our last test of 46 coolers, we based our results on the raw data provided by the temperature sensor on an AMD reference motherboard (EVT5-BX-004). The disadvantages of this method of measurement are as plain as day: instead of measuring the temperature directly on the die, you are measuring it on the ceramic package. As a result, you generally obtain a value at least 15 degrees below the actual processor temperature.
That’s why THG decided to use a computer-controlled CPU simulator for this cooler test. The “radiator,” which was developed by Innovatek, the German cooler manufacturer, goes by the moniker KT-2 and communicates with the controlling PC via a serial port. The KT-2 contains an aluminum block shaped like a die that offers enough electrical resistance to generate a slow burn. The temperature sensor in the KT-2 is situated right under the upper face of the block.
Stressing out the cooler: the KT-2 in action.
This is a very exact means of measuring temperatures. THG uses Arctic Silver III thermal grease for all its measurements to ensure the very best in heat conduction between the cooler and the simulator. All measurements are performed at a constant ambient temperature of 30 degrees.
The results are stored in a temperature/ performance diagram on the controlling PC.
Typical measurement curve: the temperature under the cooler climbs as heat dissipation increases.
Here’s how to interpret the diagrams – the more horizontal the curve, the better the cooler is able to cope with high-clock CPUs and their higher heat loss. The gradual increase in the curve is cause by the inertia of the apparatus – after all, the aluminum block has to be heated up first.
The lower the temperature at the end of the curve (far right in the chart), the better. Top-notch coolers make it below 60 degrees Celsius. This means that they still have enough cooling power in reserve to keep the die temperature out of the danger zone, even in a closed PC case.
It wouldn’t make much sense to list the heat dissipation in watts on the x-axis, since it refers to the heat dissipated by the ohmic resistance of the heating element and therefore is not directly correlated to the heat dissipated by the CPU. Instead, THG related the x-axis to the heat dissipated by four CPUs (Durons with Spitfire and Morgan cores, and Athlons with Thunderbird and Palomino cores) from the AMD camp.
One By One – 55 Coolers On The Blocks
Tame Monster For Overclockers: ALPHA PAL8045
With a form factor of 80 x 80 millimeters, one thing is clear: this cooler won’t fit on every board. If your socket is surrounded by lots of capacitors, you should steer clear of this cooler. Also, assembly is somewhat more complicated. You have to unscrew the motherboard and affix the cooler to the board while it is outside the case — not a huge problem for a knowledgeable PC owner. The assembly instructions that come with the cooler explain everything to a T.
Our PAL8045 came with an ORIX fan rotating at an extremely mellow 2500 rpm. That keeps the noise level rather moderate (50 dB(A)).
The heat sink consists of a solid aluminum plate with a copper inlay.
The underside of the PAL8045 is smooth as a baby’s heinie and polished, showing how high the manufacturing standards are for this product. Hexagonal aluminum pins are pressed into the base plate, which increases the active cooling surface.
The cooling capacity of the PAL8045 is very good. The workmanship and low noise level are additional selling points for the cooler.
Not Much Room Around The CPU: ALPHA FC-PAL15
First of all, the FC-Pal15 has been designed especially for PCs that don’t leave much extra room for a CPU cooler.
Considering its low profile of a mere 25 millimeters, its cooling capabilities are nothing to sneeze at. But it would be rather overwhelmed trying to cool an overclocked processor. We would prefer not to plonk it onto a gigahertz Athlon.
The base plate of the FC-PAL15 consists of aluminum and contains the copper inlay that comes standard on Alpha coolers to improve heat distribution and dissipation. Like the large Alphas, this cooler has hexagonal pins made from aluminum pressed into the plate to increase the cooling surface.
Plagiarism? ARKUA 6228 and 7528
If you didn’t know better, you wouldn’t be able to tell the aluminum profiles of the two Arkuas from Thermosonic’s V60-4210. But that’s no surprise, because Arkua has become the exclusive distributor for Thermosonic’s cooler.
ARKUA 6228
If you think the Arkua 6228 is just a rewired Thermosonic V60-4210, you’ve got another think coming. The aluminum profile may be identical, but the 6628 has a copper core and a much more powerful (and louder) fan. Both of these differences help jack up its cooling capacity enormously.
Its cooling capabilities would certainly be better if the copper core weren’t smack dab in the middle: it only covers part of the die.
The Arcura 6228 is an ideal overclocking machine, unlike its blood relative. Even an Athlon XP 2200+ feels nice and breezy under this cooler.
ARKUA 7528
While the heat sink and fan of the 7528 are considerably larger than those of the 6228, you’d be sorely mistaken to believe that more is better in this instance.
The 7528 is somewhat more silent due to its 70 fan, which spins more slowly.
But the fan is too weak to blow the heat out of the heat sink. The difference isn’t dramatic, but it is measurable. In light of this, we don’t recommend the 7528 for overclocking.
Evolution Of The Coolers: 112BN0, 112BJ0, 112BJ0-1 and 112C80
The four Asian Vital Components (AVC) coolers we tested follow a simple design principle. Just take a simple, structured aluminum profile, plop on a powerful fan with a flow channel and voilа! You’ve got your cooler. Our measurements show that this simple construction isn’t necessarily the worst of the batch. AMD also graced all four models with a recommendation.
The Little Tyke: AVC 112BN0
Unlike its big brothers, the 112BN0 doesn’t have a flow channel to make its fan more effective.
The heat sink consists of a base plate that has almost six millimeters of material over its entire surface. The cooler fins are some 26 mm high and a mere 0.8 mm thick.
The cooler underside is very smooth without being lapped or even polished.
Its cooling capacity is surprisingly good; it can cope hands-down with an Athlon 1.4 GHz in normal operation.
Larger And Under A Hood: AVC 112BJ0
In keeping with the old adage that bigger is (usually) better, the AVC 112BJ0 has a larger surface area. It measures 77 mm x 63 mm – some 15% larger than the 112BN0. A flow channel under the fan has been included to make it more effective.
These tweaks also ramp up the cooling capacity.
The temperature level maintained by the 112BJ0 is some two degrees Celsius lower than that of its little brother.
More Powerful Fan: AVC 112BJ0-1
The 112BJ0-1 is more or less a tuned version of the 112BJ0. The material and dimensions of the cooler are exactly the same.
The only difference is to be found in its underside, which is considerably smoother, giving it much lower heat transmission resistance.
A much faster fan has been added to ratchet up cooling capacity even more.
A 112BJ0 that has been this well-optimized certainly leaves more than a little latitude for some overclocking experiments.
Quieter But Heavier: AVC 112C80
AVC appears to have developed the 112C80 to prove that cooling is the sum of not only the total air flow, the size and shape of the underside, but is also affected by the thickness of the cooler walls. The surface area of the 112C80 is five percent smaller than that of the 112BJ0-1.
The underplate is 8 mm thick, while the cooling ribs have been thickened accordingly, to 1.1 mm. They have also been extended by another centimeter.
The end product is a relatively quiet aluminum cooler that offers outstanding cooling capabilities.
Nomen est Omen: Brown International V8 Heatsink
The V8 heatsink is reminiscent of the famed “big block” that gives a Chevy its own inimitable character. Like a big block, the V8 heatsink generates a uniquely sonorous, yet not piercing, wall of sound. Thanks to the clip, installation is a snap even if you don’t have a screwdriver.
The V8 block is made entirely of aluminum. The heat is directed from the three-millimeter thick base plate through the eleven cooling ribs toward the two fans.
Unlike the power of a V8 in a Chevy, the cooling capabilities of the V8 heatsink are somewhat limited. It’s powerful enough for a 1400 Athlon, but is out-classed by modern high-speed chips whose megahertz ratings are sky-high.
Sweeping, Light and Loud: CoolerMaster HSC-001
Despite its impressive outside dimensions of 80 x 78 x 70 millimeters, the HSC-001 is still a featherweight at only 320 grams. That makes it 20 grams heavier than the maximum weight recommended by AMD for a cooling solution on an Athlon or Duron. Assembling the HSC-001 is child’s play, thanks to its clip. It could get a little tight on some motherboards, though.
The base plate and cooling ribs are made of aluminum. The HSC-001’s ribs are much thinner than on a standard aluminum cooler (around 0.7 mm), and slightly curved. This design multiplies the effective cooling surface and carries away heat much more quickly.
As the measurement curve for the HSC-001 shows, it is a good standard cooler. It performs extremely well for a pure aluminum cooler, even though the noise level generated by the cooler is a bothersome 64 dB(A). It doesn’t offer as generous thermal reserves for overclockers as a well-designed copper cooler does.
Big, Heavy and High-quality: CoolerMaster HCC-003
The HCC-003 is based on a plate made of solid copper. The fins (aluminum) are somewhat thicker than on the HSC-001.
To optimize the thermal transition between the ribs and the base plate, the fins are attached to the base plate via pipes, as well. With a girth of 80 x 76 x 62, it’s almost as robust as the HSC-001. It’s definitely a heavyweight – 446 grams.
The measurement curve reveals the advantage of having a cooler with the excellent thermal properties of copper. It can keep the CPU three to four degrees Celsius icier than aluminum.
The HCC-003 is a very good all-around cooler. Its fan spins at 7,400 revolutions per minute, generating a noise level of 66 dB (A). This fan has no business being in an office PC.
The Mighty Roaring Cube: CoolerMaster HCC-002
The cube-shaped HCC-002 is made entirely out of copper. And that has an effect on its weight, too. The HCC-002 weighs in at 506 grams. That’s quite a bit heavier than the maximum weight recommended by AMD (300 grams). The operating noise level of the HCC-002 is everything but prissy. 67 dB (A) pound against your eardrums.
In terms of cooling capabilities, the HCC-002 outstrips its weaker relatives made of aluminum or a combination of aluminum and copper.
The advantage of using this particular material is made especially clear on extremely powerful CPUs. Whether it’s an Athlon XP 2000+ or a 1400 Athlon, the temperature won’t rise above 60° Celsius.
Hot Pipes For High Speeds: CoolerMaster HHC-001
The HHC-001 looks pretty weird – two crooked pipes jut out of the cooler’s solid-copper plate, like the y-joint on an engine. Then they disappear into the cooler, four centimeters above the copper plate. Once inside, they pierce the thin copper ribs before reappearing on the other side of the housing.
Why does the design have to be so bizarre? Well, the cooling fins are much smaller and a third longer than those on the HCC-002. But there aren’t more of them. In thermal terms, thinner and longer ribs alone don’t offer any advantages.
Indeed, the law of thermal conduction states:
Q/t = A/l.*λ*(T2-T1)
According to this equation, merely lengthening the ribs (l) will worsen the thermal conduction within the cooler, since the heat will have to take a longer route.
And this is where the heatpipes come in. They shorten the path the heat takes. True to their name, the thermal superconductors transport the heat at almost the speed of sound from the hot seat of the cooler to the cool area at the tips of the fins. This complex design reveals its strengths when combined with processors that dissipate an exceptionally large amount of heat. The measurement curve demonstrates that it is superior to a conventional copper cooler with shorter, but thicker cooling, ribs.
Like its little brother, the HHC-001 has the right stuff to become an overclocking cooler, albeit a loud one.
A Cooler, Too: ElanVital FSCUG9C-6
The base plate of the FSCUG9C-6 consists of three millimeters of pure copper. The plate’s underside has been raised about a millimeter around the area where the die usually fits. After all, that’s where the most heat is generated, and it needs to be dissipated quickly.
The cooling ribs are made of aluminum and are soldered to the base plate. The surfaces of the FSCUG9C-6 look neither elegant nor high-quality.
The cooling capacity is rather mediocre for a copper-aluminum cooler. But it’s enough for a 1400 Thunderbird. We wouldn’t recommend this cooler to hardcore overclockers.
Compact And Nice: Evercool CUC-610
The CUC-610 from Evercool is a relatively compact aluminum cooler.
Its underside contains an inlaid copper plate to better distribute the heat. A screwdriver is needed to install this cooler. It’s a difficult and even painful process to get the clip to engage with just your bare hands.
Its cooling capacity is at the same level as that of a pure aluminum cooler. The noise level it generates is still bearable at 54 dB(A). The CUC-610 has not been designed for overclocking; in everyday use, though, it works admirably.
Looking Sharp: Evercool ND15-715
Sharp edges, clunky and boring – that pretty much sums up the ND15-715. Anything special? Not really. Although, the contact surface with the die could stand to be a touch smoother. I also cut myself on its sharp edges during the installation…
This cooler does what it’s supposed to do in normal operation: standard CPU cooling.
It hasn’t been designed to push the cooling envelope, even if its outside dimensions of 80 x 57 x 73 millimeters might suggest otherwise.
A Dazzler: Evercool CUD-725
Everything is shiny on the CUD-725. Its fins, base plate, heck, even the clip was dabbed with a copper finish and polished until it shone.
It doesn’t matter how much the underside may shine – it’s still not perfectly smooth. A final finishing touch would definitely reduce the thermal resistance of the surface a little more. The individual ribs appears to be connected to the inside of the cooler via a pipe; a close look reveals, however, that this isn’t the case.
The cooling capacity isn’t exactly thrilling for a solid-copper cooler. We measured 65° Celsius with a 1400 Athlon. Other manufacturers make it down to 60° Celsius and lower. Weighing in at 430 grams and generating 61 dB(A) of racket, the CUD-725 isn’t exactly racking up top scores in other areas, either.
The CUD-725 is a cooler for users who are looking to add some shine to their systems.
Cooling For Next To Nothing: Foxconn
The Foxconn is being offered by some online retailers in the U.S. for less than two dollars. But you’d be sorely mistaken to believe that this cooler is only good for swirling the air in the case around a little.
Admittedly, the edges of the aluminum profile are pretty sharp and you have to be extremely careful not to cut yourself. But once it’s been installed, it cools like a dream. Okay, maybe it doesn’t set any new world records. But you can’t expect that from such an inexpensive model. Some high-end, brand name coolers cost ten times what this one does, and don’t cool any better.
You can rest easy putting your Duron CPU under this cooler. Heck, you could even cool a Thunderbird with it. Its relatively low operating noise level, a mere 48 dB(A), will certainly conjure up a smile on many a user’s face.
Slow And Stealthy: GlacialTech Igloo2310
The slowly spinning fan on the Igloo 2310 keeps it soothingly quiet (41dB(A)). The workmanship that went into the aluminum heatsink is also beyond reproach.
The installation would be less of a hassle if the clip were more tractable.
This cooler is powerful enough to chill a 1400 Athlon or an XP 2000+. It is neither suitable for nor designed to be used on an overclocked CPU.
Too Pretty To Hide: GlacialTech Igloo2400
The looks of the Igloo2400 are more than enough to set it apart from the rest of the aluminum pack.
The 70 fan is seated on a red anodized cover that contrasts well with the matte aluminum finish on the heat sink.
Its cooling capacity is more than a match for an Athlon XP 2000+, and a 1400 Thunderbird will also feel fresh and breezy underneath it. This cooler has got enough grit to tough out overclocking experiments without batting an eye.
Ultra-silent: Global Win CAK – II 58
If you’re looking for an ultra-silent copper CPU cooler, then look no further than the CAK-II 58. Its five-millimeter thick base plate and almost forty 0.5-millimeter thick ribs are quick to absorb heat from the processor. The slowly turning fan prevents the warmth from building up in the cooler. Its noise level of 40dB(A) is hardly perceptible.
The surfaces of the cooler are impeccable. The only clouds to this silver lining are the somewhat wobbly rivets that hold the housing and the base plate together. Other manufacturers connect the two with small screws. The cooling capacity is more than enough for an Athlon XP 2000+ or an Athlon 1400 Thunderbird.
The CAK-II58 is an excellent compromise between acceptable cooling and a low noise level.
Much Ado About Nothing: Global Win CAK – II 38
With a measured noise level of more than 60 dB(A), the CAK-II 38 is easily four times as loud as the previous cooler. No wonder – its fan races through the air at more than 7,000 revolutions per minute. The ribs on the heat sink machined out of solid copper are a touch more filigreed, too.
If you think that four times the noise will translate into considerably better cooling, you’re in for a serious disappointment. Granted, the temperature level of the CPU is five degrees lower than that of the CAK-II 58.
However, there are also compact aluminum coolers that are capable of reaching the same values.
Fan Tower: Global Win TAK68
The TAK68 is a double-fan model.
Sandwiched between these dueling dervishes is a solid aluminum core that tapers down toward the clip. Cooling ribs fan out on both sides from the fan core. Both fans blow air toward the core.
This arrangement creates a certain chimney effect; you can feel the powerful airflow above the cooler.
Assembly is as easy as it gets and requires little or no extra effort. Slip the clip over the sockets on the right and left sides and turn the screw on top until it engages – that’s it!
As far as cooling goes, the TAK68 doesn’t take the gold in this contest, but it will keep your CPU temperature at a modest level. Our test CPUs didn’t get any hotter than 70° Celsius (Athlon XP2000+ and Thunderbird 1400). Its noise level of 52 dB(A) is moderate.
Italian Moments: Neolec Venezia TB
Aluminum coolers usually consist of a solid aluminum base plate with cooling fins protruding from it.
Not so with the Venezia. One look at its profile and you’ll see an area with symmetrically aligned cavities above the base plate. This is followed by a three-millimeter-thick layer of solid aluminum. It ends in a curve above which the cooling ribs start. This profile, quite similar to that of a Venetian bridge, is designed to rapidly dissipate heat pent up in the area of the cavities.
Neolec has come up with the meaningful name ‘heat transmission channel’ (HTC) for this profile.
Practical experience reveals, however, that the HTC’s impact on the cooling capacity is everything but dramatic. How could it? Air is simply no better or faster at dissipating heat than aluminum. And it would be foolhardy, considering the laws of physics, to hope for convection currents in the channels. But this cooler is still a good, and, at 54 dB(A), a relatively quiet, candidate.
The Thrill Is Gone: Neolec Vento
The color scheme of the Neolec Vento leads the buyer to believe that the cooling material is copper. The scratch test leaves no doubt that it is made out of aluminum that has been anodized to look like copper. The three-point clip easily keeps the 237-gram lightweight Vento in place.
Be careful when mounting the cooler – the edges of the heat sink are pretty sharp.
Its cooling performance marginally beats that of the Venezia, while its operating noise (50 dB(A)) is slightly softer. All told, a good all-around cooler.
A Dime A Dozen: Pent Alpha APSK0155
According to the manufacturer, the APSK0155 will work for Athlon CPUs up to 1.3 GHz and for Athlon XP 1600+. Our tests confirmed this claim.
The installation of the cooler on the CPU takes quite a bit of elbow grease. The relatively sharp edges of the aluminum cooling ribs can be quite dangerous during installation.
On the positive side, the clip attaches to all three notches on the socket.
<img=67_pent_alpha_apsk0155_a_b.jpg
The surface on the underside of the cooler is quite smooth but not lapped.
Just Your Ordinary Cooler: Pent Alpha APSK0156
At least on paper, the APSK0156 does just as much as the APSK0155. In reality, though, the temperatures are a few degrees higher.
This is primarily caused by the extremely small contact surface between the chip and the cooler, or rather, the cooling elements.
The workmanship leaves a lot to be desired, too – there are sharp edges everywhere. If you jam the cooler when you close the retaining spring, you run the risk of perforating the board or damaging the CPU. The market has no need for products like that.
Quiet and Flat: Spire 5P53B3
The 5P53B3 turned out relatively flat for a copper cooler. This wee one barely measures 46 millimeters from the plate of solid copper up to the upper edge of the fan. The cooling elements are made from folded sheet copper that has been soldered up to the base plate quite neatly. As a result, you have seven copper fins on either side of the clip.
The underside of the base plate is very even, albeit not perfect.
Though the cooling performance of this little one will do for an Athlon 1400, the true calling of the 5P53B3 is to cool a Duron with a clock speed of around 1 gigahertz. We would not recommend using this cooler for overclocking. One striking feature of the fan is its lower operating noise level.
Fraternal Triplets: Spire 5E34B3-H, Spire 5E34B3 and Spire 5E32B3
You’ll see right away that the three Spire offspring are related; all three of them use the exact same aluminum cooler profile that juts out slightly. The base surface, measuring 40 by 55 millimeters, is exactly the same for all three of them, too. As far as noise is concerned, an untrained ear will hardly notice a difference. All three of them are relatively quiet.
The CPU under the 5E34B3 and 5E34B3-H has copper resting on it, while the 5E32B3 must be content with aluminum.
Looking at the profile of the coolers, you’ll notice that the 5E32B3 is slightly taller. It’s not that it has a more powerful fan, the outer copper fin is merely a few millimeters longer. Be careful when installing them – they all have relatively sharp edges.
I: Spire 5E32B3
As was to be expected, the 5E32B3, a pure aluminum cooler, delivered the weakest cooling performance.
However, it still comes recommended by AMD and will still work for the Athlon XP 1800+ (Palomino).
II: Spire 5E34B3
At first glance, you won’t be able to tell the 5E34B3 apart from the 5E32B3.
However, the 5E34B3 is armed with a copper base plate.
This will keep the die about two degrees cooler. This may not seem like much, but it may be crucial to overclockers, and to the survival of the CPU.
III: Spire 5E34B3-H
The fan of the 5E34B3-H, which is made from the same material as the 5E34B3, rotates at 5,200 rpm, beating the 5E34B3 by 500 rpm.
5E34B3-H: the only difference from the 5E34B3 is the more powerful fan.
That’s enough to move the heat even more efficiently from the heat sink. Whether for a standard user or overclocker – this cooler is the best choice.
AMD Under the Rocks: Spire 5T060B1H3R, Spire 5T061B1H3T and Spire 5T208B1H3T
All of the aluminum coolers that we tested from the Rock series by Spire are recommended by AMD. Their common denominator is a 70-millimeter fan rotating at 4,500 rpm. Spire achieves the models’ different cooling capacities through relatively small variations in size or make-up of the base surface or the cooler profile.
BigRock II: Spire 5T061B1H3T
The BigRock II is the smallest cooler in the Rock series. Its base surface measures 60 by 70 millimeters. It is entirely identical to Neolec’s Venzia TB – an area with symmetrically aligned cavities is placed above the base plate. This is followed by a three-millimeter-thick layer of solid aluminum. It ends in a curve above which the cooling ribs start.
Entirely identical to Neolec’s Venzia TB – the 5T061B1H3T.
This profile is designed to rapidly dissipate heat pent up in the cavities. The cooling capacity of the BigRock is good.
Spire promises that the cooling capacity will suffice, even for an Athlon 1400. We can only concur.
BigRock: Spire 5T060B1H3R
The larger Rock has a base surface of 64 by 74 millimeters. The base plate is nine millimeters thick in the center and tapers off towards the edges, to increase to an impressive fifteen millimeters at the edges (in the shape of waves).
The surface of the BigRock’s base plate seems smoother than that of the BigRockII.
The profile of the fins varies in relation to the thickness of the base plate – the fins are thickest in the middle of the cooler (above the die) and on the edges.
Cooler: the temperature level below the 5T060B1H3R is significantly lower than that below the 5T061B1H3T.
The cooling capacity reflects that fact and is enough to keep at least an Athlon XP1800+ cool.
SuperRock: Spire 5T208B1H3T
Of all the Rocks, the SuperRock has the smoothest underside. This takes another big chunk out of the heat transmission resistance. Its base surface measures an impressive 70 by 74 millimeters. If that’s the cooler you’d like to get, you should first measure your board to make sure that no capacitor palisades get in the way.
The profile of this base plate varies in the shape of waves, too – the plate is thicker in the center, then the material gets thinner before thickening again towards the edges. The thickness of the fins varies similarly.
As as result, it cools almost as well as a copper cooler.
It almost goes without saying that the cooling capacity of this mega cooler is extremely good. An Athlon XP 2000+ has no problems keeping its cool underneath it. There’s plenty of thermal leeway for overclocking or for a faster CPU.
Roaring Cooler Monsters for Overclockers: Swiftech MC462 and MCX462
A mighty cooling tower: MC462
In our last test, we were sold on the MC462 because of its great cooling performance.
Cooling performance to the max: the MC 462.
Its weight of 789 grams puts it head and shoulders above the rest, too. The same goes for its operating noise level (63 dB(A)). The MC462 is based on a plate of solid copper.
Superb surface quality – the underside of the MC462.
Round aluminum pins that have been pressed into the base plate are the actual cooling elements of the cooling tower. Towering above is a mighty, high-speed, 80 mm fan. The connecting cable does not provide any speed detecting signals. This will cause the following problem on some boards: mobos that read the speed signal of the CPU connector (fan connection) won’t boot up, as no fan is attached.
Evolution vs. Revolution: Swiftech MCX462
Big boy with finger shield: the MCX462.
The MCX462 is an enhanced version of the MC462. The round aluminum-steel pins had to make room for pins with a corrugated surface. According to the manufacturer, this gives the MCX462 twice as much cooling surface, and consequently, it should deliver a somewhat better cooling performance. It weighs about one hundred grams less. The fan produces the same deafening roar as its predecessor, but your fingers are now safe as a fan guard is installed at the top. The MXC462 even provides a speed signal with an additional cable.
When it comes to measurement accuracy, the cooling capacity of the MCX462 is very similar to that of the MC462.
Both models feature excellent workmanship and should not be missing from any overclocker’s abode.
Little Bro I: Swiftech MCX370-0A
The MXC370-0A looks like an MCX462 that’s spent too much time in the hot shower. However, its base plate is made from aluminum instead of copper.
The lapped underside of the plate ensures minimal heat transmission resistance.
Corrugated, pressed-in aluminum pins make up the cooling surface. The MCAX370 is not connected to the motherboard, but to the power supply unit. The fan does not offer a speed signal, which is why motherboards that read the speed signal of the CPU connector (fan connection) won’t boot up in the first place.
When it comes to cooling capacity, the 370 has no reason to hide behind its brother.
The fastening mechanism of the MCX370-0A is not standard cooler fare. It’s not a spring that keeps the fan in place, but a safety clip on either side. The cooler’s pressure on the die is regulated with a screw on the clip. The installation instructions that come with the cooler will take you through the installation step by step if you’re not sure.
“Little” Twin Bro II: Swiftech MCX C370
The MCX C370 could easily pass for the miniature twin brother of the MCX462. The workmanship is simply excellent – a plate of solid copper, lapped on the underside, is the basis of this high-end cooler. This type of surface treatment ensures low heat transmission resistance and, consequently, the quick dissipation of heat from the processor die. Corrugated, pressed-in aluminum pins make up the cooling surface, similar to the MCX370-0A. The screw-on clip also underwent some improvements. Unlike the original MCX370-0A, the clip now attaches to all three notches on the socket.
MCXC C370: its cooling performance matches that of its predecessor, the MCX370-0A.
Compact And Quiet Standard Cooler: Taisol CEK747092
Taisol’s CEK747092 impresses not only with its low height of 37 millimeters, but also with its relatively quiet operating noise level of 50 dB(A).
The aluminum heat sink sports a run-of-the-mill standard profile: the cooling ribs are roughly 0.8 mm thick and 19 mm tall.
The underside of the CEK747092: a screwed-on copper plate.
A 3-mm thick copper plate is located on the underside to better distribute and dissipate heat. It is held in place with four screws. Thermal paste is applied between the plate and the heat sink in order to minimize the heat transmission resistance between the two different materials. The fan is affixed with two spring clips.
Though the CEK 747090’s cooling capacity may be sufficient for the everyday operation of an Athlon 1.4 GHz, it doesn’t seem to be the right one for overclocking experiments. AMD’s recommendation for this cooler goes all the way up to the Athlon XP1800+.
Easy Upgrading : Taisol CGK760092 and CGK760092B
If you want to turn a good standard fan into an “overclocker-compatible” product, you may simply need a stronger fan.
Take Taisol’s CGK760092, for example. The standard version CGK760092 (with a low-profile Delta fan on the aluminum heat sink), which comes recommended by AMD, provides good services.
Good cooling performance: Taisol CGK760092.
Our tests showed that an Athlon XP 2000+ feels right at home under this cooler; AMD would even put the 2100+ beneath it.
The 80 x 60 x 7 millimeter base plate features a copper inlay in order to faster dissipate the heat.
Though its underside is smooth, it’s far from perfect. Six rows of twenty cooling ribs each are strung together on the top. Each rib measures forty by one millimeters.
In the “B version,” the low-profile fan is replaced by a high-performance fan revolving at 6,500 rpm. That raises the cooling capacity to the level of a Dragon Orb3, easily providing the user with quite a powerful CPU cooling system. An unpleasant side effect is that the operating noise of the cooler nearly doubles (59 dB(A)) with this upgrade.
The power option: the CGK760092B with a stronger fan.
Noise pays off – the cooling performance of the B version is higher.
What’s special about the CGK760092 is that its heat sink was not extruded as it is with other manufacturers – it was forged. The advantages of forging: higher density of the material and, consequently, better heat conductivity.
Weighty Double Decker: Thermaltake Dragon Orb 3
The Dragon Orb3 is appealing in more ways than just visually. It is based on a six-millimeter thick aluminum base plate. It has a core of solid copper, with a diameter of 42 millimeters and a height of 40 mm. Flanged to that is, first, a blue-anodized aluminum cooler ring, followed by the upper aluminum ring that holds the fan. The fins of the upper ring are a bit “wobbly” and are easily deformed.
The Dragon Orb3 with the copper core.
The installation of the Orb3 is a cinch, though the spring pressure seems a bit high to us. The same goes for its weight – 664 grams pressing down on the die. To be on the safe side, you should disassemble the cooler before transporting your computer.
No gripes about the cooling performance.
This cooler even leaves ample leeway for overclocking. However, its operating noise level of 59 dB(A) is borderline excessive.
Quiet Standard Fan: ThermoSonic V60-4210/Thermoengine
The neat workmanship and extremely low operating noise level of 47 dB(A) of the Thermosonics V60-4210 are impressive. One look at the fins and you’ll see that they taper off from the center on out. Their surfaces are grooved, which increases the active cooling surface. On the top, below the fan, a kind of plastic hood covers the aluminum heat sink. Its job is to direct the air flow downward. Mounting it is no problem at all.
The underside: not an aluminum plate, but an aluminum core.
The result: mediocre cooling performance
The cooling performance is average, but it will still do for an Athlon 1400 Thunderbird. Don’t use this cooler for overclocking, though.
The Eye-Catcher: Titan TTC-MT1AB
This corrugated aluminum cooler looks quite unconventional, albeit appealing. Despite its two fans, its operating noise level is fairly low.
Its cooling capacity will definitely be enough for an AMD Duron. We don’t believe, though, that the TTC-MT1AB has enough safety reserves to operate Thunderbirds or Palominos at high clock speeds.
The underside: small contact area and unusual spring clip.
The installation can be a problem on certain boards. If capacitors are stacked high next to the socket, as is the case on our candidate, the EP-8KHA, angling the cooler is rather difficult, and the installation requires steady hands. The spring clip requires a lot of elbow grease.
Failure Sets Off Alarm: Titan TTC-D5TB
The TTC-D5TB is a relatively quiet cooler offered by Titan.
The fan speed of the 80 millimeter fan stays below 3,000 rpm, limiting the soundscape to a fairly pleasant 49 dB(A).
The cooling capacity is more than enough for an Athlon XP 2000+ or an Athlon 1400 Thunderbird. We wouldn’t put the cooler or the CPU through extreme overclocking adventures, though.
TTC-D5TB: polished to a shine, with a buzzer in the cord.
A buzzer is integrated in the cord, which will sound an alarm if the fan breaks down. This feature won’t do you much good if you’re using an AMD CPU, because nobody in the world can shut down a computer before the CPU burns up.
Standard Fare: TITAN TTC-D4TB
When it comes to cooling capacity, the TTC-D4TB is hard to tell apart from the bulkier TTC-D5TB.
In order to achieve almost the same cooling capacity, the 60mm fan rotates at 6,400 rpm. The result: it’s twice as loud.
For this reason, our choice is undoubtedly the TTC-D5TB – it is only half as loud and even cools marginally better.
Valuable? Not really: Tornado WIN-7528
At first glance, the WIN-7528 looks like your standard, plain-Jane aluminum cooler with an 80 fan. The fan is kept in place by means of a simple clip, making it a snap to upgrade fans. Standard fans with the proper dimensions are a perfect fit. The surfaces of the cooler have been cleanly processed – only the edges are a little sharp.
When you turn the cooler upside down, you’ll be able to see your reflection in the golden, reflective contact surface.
And, as it turns out, the contact surface really is gold. Underneath this paper-thin layer of gold is a plate of copper that measures 38 x 58 x 2 millimeters, which is (probably) soldered to the aluminum heatsink. The sandwich is six millimeters thick. While the gold layer may make the cooler more expensive, it doesn’t give much of a boost to its cooling capabilities.
A Morgan CPU will certainly feel much cozier under this golden boy than a Thunderbird or a Palomino.
Loud But Powerful, Part I: TRIG T40-1-62538 and TRIG T40-3-62538
The T40-1 and the T40-3 are based on a standard aluminum heat sink that has been put together with a high-speed, loud fan from Delta.
TRIG T40-1-62538
The underside: only aluminum, albeit smoothly polished.
The underside of the T40-1 is smooth and polished, reducing the heat transmission resistance between the paste and the cooler.
The cooling capacity is quite good for a pure aluminum cooler of this size. However, its operating noise level of 67 dB(A) is borderline.
TRIG T40-3-62538
Where the user’s face is reflected in the polished aluminum on the T40-1, a highly polished copper core is located on the T40-3.
The underside: copper core instead of bare aluminum.
This improves heat dissipation even more, reducing the temperature on the die by an additional one to two degrees.
The copper core reduces the temperature on the die.
Loud But Powerful, Part II: TRIG T40-6-62538 and TRIG T40-7-62538
Measuring 79 by 63 millimeters, the base areas of the T40-6 and the T40-7 are bigger than those of the T40-1 and -3, which measure 64 by 63 millimeters. There is no difference in the diameter or the speed of the fans.
TRIG T40-6-62538
This is the big brother of the TRIG T40-1-62538.
Because of its larger cooling area, it has a higher cooling capacity than the T40-1 or T40-3.
Though it may be on the loud side, it is one of the most effective aluminum coolers on the market.
TRIG T40-7-62538
The underside is dominated by a round inlay made from copper.
The underside is dominated by a round inlay made from copper.
When it comes to cooling capacity, the T40-7-62538 is the “internal champ of all classes.”
This cooler is the product of choice when it comes to overclocking, too. If it has to be a loud TRIG fan, then it ought to be this one.
Plain But Effective: VANTEC FCE-6030D
Three rows of 32 aluminum fins each, some of which are only 0.4 millimeters thick, are closely squeezed onto the FCE-6030D.
The underside of the FCE-6030D is extremely smooth.
The workmanship leaves nothing to be desired, and installation is as easy as it gets. Its weight is almost 80 grams below the AMD specification of 300 grams.
FCE-6030D: Pretty good cooling performance for a pure aluminum cooler.
Unfortunately, this performance comes with quite a bit of noise.
Bigger And Heavier: VANTEC FCE-62540D
The FCE-62540D is the bigger and somewhat heavier brother of the FCE-6030D. While the number of fins is about one-third less, their profile is about twice the size.
The cooling performance and noise level are only marginally different from those of the FCE-6030D. With higher power loss ratings, however, the FCE-62540D is able to keep the temperature on the CPU several degrees lower. This is a good all-around cooler, with overclocking potential.
Copper Isn’t Always Good: VANTEC CCK-6035D
The CCK-6035D is based on a relatively thin plate of solid copper to which some 30 copper fins have been soldered. The fins themselves are only a few tenths of a millimeter thick. This results in a large heat sink surface, compared to a cooler with only a few wide cooling fins. This is to significantly increase heat dissipation. The case of the fan is made from corrugated aluminum.
Smooth but not perfect: the underside of the CCK-6035D
As you can see from the diagram, the cooling performance is rather inadequate compared to copper coolers by other manufacturers.
The CCK-6035D even had to abandon the field to the two tested aluminum models, the FCE-6030D and the FCE-62540D. This doesn’t change the fact that the CCK-6035D is a good all-around cooler that will even handle the dissipated heat of today’s CPUs.
Quiet But Uncool: Verax P14
The P14 is one of the quietest cooling solutions that Verax sent into battle. What sets this system apart is its fan. Though it looks like an axial fan, it really works like a radial fan. Compared to an axial fan, longer flow paths inside the fan, aerodynamically-shaped fan blades, and a larger air inlet profile make this fan extremely quiet.
Quantity doesn’t necessarily imply quality: the heatsink of the P14.
The heat sink is made from aluminum. The fan is attached on the heat sink with rubber nipples. Looking at the massive and voluminous heat sink, you’d think that this solution will also work for processors running at higher speeds. As the result shows, however, at best, a Duron will do fine under this cooler. It will get more than a bit toasty for a Thunderbird.
Noisy Or Quiet: From 38 To 67 dB(A)
The noise level of the tested fans varies with the model, from an extremely quiet, barely audible 38 dB(A) (which can be compared to a loud whisper) up to an annoying 67 dB(A) (loud talking).
So that you can compare the noise of the fans , you should go by the following rules of thumb:
- twice the volume is equivalent to an increase in the noise level by 10 dB(A);
- four times the volume is therefore equivalent to an increase in the noise level by 20 dB(A);
- differences of 1 dB are virtually inaudible, while differences of 3 dB(A) are clearly noticeable.
Please note that the measurements were taken with the side panels removed, at a distance of approximately 40 centimeters from the fan wheel. Consequently, the levels will be considerably lower than our results when the side panels are in place.
Hot Or Cold: The Die Temperatures
As in the volume readings, there is also quite a wide range in the measured die temperatures.
55 Coolers At A Glance
| Fan/Heat Sink | CPU Plat -form | Heat Sink Material | Heat Sink Profile | CPU Contact Surface | Wgt in Grams | rpm | Noise Level | Athlon 1400 Die Temp |
| ALPHA FC-PAL15 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Copper | 137 | 4150 | 47 dB | 92.6 |
| ALPHA PAL8045 | Socket 462 | Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 544 | 2500 | 50 dB | 65.7 |
| ARKUA 6228 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Copper | 307 | 6900 | 59 dB | 64.8 |
| ARKUA 7528 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Copper | 335 | 5850 | 64 dB | 65.9 |
| AVC 112BJ0 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 201 | 5200 | 59 dB | 70.9 |
| AVC 112BJ0-1 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 221 | 6250 | 66 dB | 68.2 |
| AVC 112BN0 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 179 | 5450 | 56 dB | 72.3 |
| AVC 112C80 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 266 | 4400 | 52 dB | 66.5 |
| Brown International V8 Heatsink | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 171 | 5000 | 56 dB | 79.9 |
| CoolerMaster HCC-002 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Copper | Ribbed structure | Copper | 506 | 7500 | 67 dB | 60.4 |
| CoolerMaster HCC-003 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure | Copper | 446 | 7400 | 66 dB | 69.7 |
| CoolerMaster HHC-001 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Copper | Ribbed structure (heat pipe) | Copper | 529 | 6900 | 62 dB | 57.7 |
| CoolerMaster HSC-001 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure | Aluminum | 320 | 6950 | 64 dB | 72.3 |
| Dragon ORB 3 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Copper Aluminum |
Ribbed structure (Kern,Radial) | Copper | 664 | 6800 | 59 dB | 64.9 |
| ElanVital FSCUG9C-6 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure | ??? | 265 | 4900 | 55 dB | 70.3 |
| Evercool CUC-610 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Copper | 194 | 5300 | 54 dB | 70.7 |
| Evercool CUD-725 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Copper | Ribbed structure | Copper | 433 | 4900 | 61 dB | 65 |
| Evercool ND15-715 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 297 | 4400 | 53 dB | 68.9 |
| Foxconn | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | – | 229 | 4650 | 48 dB | 69.7 |
| Glacial Tech lgloo 2310 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 235 | 3300 | 41 dB | 77.7 |
| Glacial Tech lgloo 2400 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 255 | 4750 | 59 dB | 70 |
| Global Win CAK – II 58 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Copper | Ribbed structure | Copper | 421 | 3200 | 40 dB | 75.3 |
| Global Win CAK-II 38 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Copper | Ribbed structure | Copper | 452 | 7200 | 62 dB | 70.6 |
| Global Win TAK68 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 417 | 4400 | 52 dB | 70 |
| NEOLEC VENEZIA TB | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 271 | 4550 | 54 dB | 72.6 |
| NEOLEC VENTO | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Copper | Ribbed structure (cast) | Copper | 237 | 3050 | 50 dB | 72.4 |
| Pent Alpha APSK0155-A | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 227 | 5150 | 57 dB | 75.2 |
| Pent Alpha APSK0156-B | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 179 | 5150 | 53 dB | 77.7 |
| Spire 5E32B3 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 209 | 4500 | 50 dB | 77.3 |
| Spire 5E34B3 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Copper | 276 | 4600 | 51 dB | 75.4 |
| Spire 5E34B3-H | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Copper | 276 | 5150 | 52 dB | 71.6 |
| Spire 5P53B3 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Copper | Ribbed structure (???) | Copper | 299 | 4900 | 52 dB | 76.2 |
| Spire 5T060B1H3R | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 287 | 4500 | 53 dB | 69.7 |
| Spire 5T061B1H3T | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 280 | 4600 | 54 dB | 73.5 |
| Spire 5T208B1H3T | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 320 | 4500 | 56 dB | 67.8 |
| Swiftech MC462 | Socket 462 | Aluminum Copper |
Grid structure | Copper | 789 | 4900 | 63 dB | 63.8 |
| Swiftech MCX370-0A | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Grid structure (Bolzen) | Aluminum | 331 | 6800 | 58 dB | 65.9 |
| Swiftech MCX462 | Socket 462 | Aluminum Copper |
Grid structure | Copper | 598 | 5100 | 64 dB | 64.8 |
| Swiftech MCXC370 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Grid structure (Bolzen) | Copper | 590 | 6700 | 56 dB | 68.6 |
| TaiSol CEK747092 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Copper | 183 | 4850 | 50 dB | 69.8 |
| TaiSol CGK760092 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Copper | 307 | 4850 | 50 dB | 68.4 |
| TaiSol CGK760092B | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Copper | 368 | 5600 | 59 dB | 64.4 |
| ThermoSonic V60-4210/Thermoengine | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 246 | 4450 | 47 dB | 76.3 |
| TITAN TTC-D4TB | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 211 | 6400 | 59 dB | 74.2 |
| TITAN TTC-D5TB | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 279 | 2850 | 49 dB | 72.6 |
| TITAN TTC-MT1AB-2 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 247 | 5500 | 51 dB | 78.1 |
| Tornado WIN-7528 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | ???? | 273 | 2680 | 49 dB | 72.9 |
| TRIG T40-1-62538 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 251 | 7250 | 67 dB | 69.3 |
| TRIG T40-3-62538 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Copper | 274 | 7250 | 66 dB | 72 |
| TRIG T40-6-62538 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 305 | 7250 | 67 dB | 68.6 |
| TRIG T40-7-62538 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Copper | 328 | 7250 | 67 dB | 67.6 |
| VANTEC CCK-6035D | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Copper | Ribbed structure (???) | Copper | 387 | 7050 | 64 dB | 68.7 |
| VANTEC FCE-6030D | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 223 | 6850 | 62 dB | 68.2 |
| VANTEC FCE-62540D | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 264 | 6950 | 63 dB | 67.7 |
| Verax P14 | Socket 370 Socket 462 Socket 7 |
Aluminum | Ribbed structure (cast) | Aluminum | 299 | 3800 | 38 dB | 85.9 |
Conclusion
THG has pulled all the stops to give you the latest in-depth look at the market for air coolers. No fewer than 55 products were subjected to the rigors of a comprehensive testing procedure with our CPU simulator.
There was a visible trend away from cheap, run-of-the-mill, aluminum coolers. Practically every manufacturer has at least one copper cooler or one composite cooler (copper in combination with aluminum) in its product range. Unfortunately, one principle still holds true for air coolers: in order to cool well at extreme clock speeds, they have to make a real racket and be on the heavy side.
We have to give it to the head of the class, the HHC-001 from CoolerMaster – its innovative heat pipe system gives it an unmistakable edge. Unfortunately, its noise level is extremely high compared to your standard, run-of-the-mill cooler. Even cooling behemoths like the nearly 800-gram Swiftech MC462 are no exception to the noise principle.
The PAL 8045 from Alpha is, however, a bright spot that is extremely silent, yet still powerful. The Foxconn is a real insider’s tip for a quiet and very inexpensive everyday cooler. It is being marketed by American online retailers for less than two dollars. The P14 with the Verax fan offers disappointingly poor cooling capabilities. While the cooler rightfully claims to be one of the quietest products in the market, its cooling capacity is one of the lowest we tested.
All in all, the market is dominated by products that meet the demands of your average user.
AMD should answer the question of why its products don’t come equipped with IHS right from the fab. A larger contact surface between the cooler and the CPU would make it significantly easier to design powerful coolers – Intel has already proven that it can be done.
For now, THG recommends ambitious users plagued by noise to use the admittedly pricey, but unbeatably quiet and powerful, water-cooling systems.
