Synthetic Temperature Test Results: *Ranked according to 100W interface die test results.

FrostyTech Synthetic Temperature Test Platform Results
	Mfg.	Model	Ambient Temp.	27mm large copper block		27mm large copper block	Thermal pad	No. Fans	Fan Noise	Clip force
				50W		100W
1	AVC	117140	22.6	37.8		50.4	none	1	med	med
2	Coolermaster	IHC-H71	23.0	37.0		51.1	none	1	loud	stiff
3	Arkua	8568	22.4	37.8		51.7	none	1	med	med
4	NengTyi	XPC5000	23.8	38.4		53.9	none	1	med	loud
5	Zalman	CNPS6500-AlCu	23.1	40.3		57.4	none	1	low	easy
6	Swiftech	MCX4000	28.5	43.2		57.8	none	1	med	complex
7	Vantec	GSN-7025	22.5	41.7		58.5	none	1	med	med
8	Chauh Choung	DTA-478	22.4	42.1		59.0	carbon	1	low	med
9	Intel	Socket 478	22.4	41.8		59.8	carbon	1	low	med
10	Dynatron	DC1207BMW	23.2	42.7		61.1	none	1	med	easy
11	Titan	TTC-MT3AB	22.8	41.5		61.2	none	2	loud	stiff
12	Dynatron	DC1206BM-S	22.4	43.2		62.0	none	1	med	med
13	AVC	117160	22.4	42.7		62.2	white pad	1	med	med
14	Cho-Liang	CL-CB00881	23.6	41.2		65.0	none	1	med	easy
15	Cho-Liang	CL-CB0094-1A	23.2	39.5		67.9	none	1	med	easy
16	Dynatron	DC1206BMV	23.1	45.1		68.2	none	1	low	easy
17	Vantec	GSN-7015	22.4	47.5		69.0	none	1	loud	stiff
				50W		100W

Initial performance results at first indicate that the Swiftech MCX4000 may not be following in the foot steps of other Swiftech heatsinks, but not to worry. Since we tested under real world conditions we were hit with higher than normal temperatures on this particular occasion and hence the ambient temperatures are larger than other heatsinks. As with all reviews, we look at the rise above ambient temperatures to get the best feel for how well a heatsink actually performs cooling itself and the synthetic temperature test platform.

Rise Above Ambient Temp. (c)
	Mfg.	Model	27mm large copper block		27mm large copper block
			50W		100W
1	AVC	117140	15.2		27.8
2	Coolermaster	IHC-H71	14.0		28.1
3	Swiftech	MCX4000	14.7		29.3
4	Arkua	8568	15.4		29.3
5	NengTyi	XPC5000	14.6		30.1
6	Zalman	CNPS6500-AlCu	17.2		34.3
7	Vantec	GSN-7025	19.2		36.0
8	chauh Choung	DTA-478	19.7		36.6
9	Intel	Socket 478	19.4		37.4
10	Dynatron	DC1207BMW	19.5		37.9
11	Titan	TTC-MT3AB	18.7		38.4
12	Dynatron	DC1206BM-S	20.8		39.6
13	AVC	117160	20.3		39.8
14	Cho-Liang	CL-CB00881	18.2		41.4
15	Cho-Liang	CL-CB0094-1A	16.3		44.7
16	Dynatron	DC1206BMV	22.0		45.1
17	Vantec	GSN-7105	25.1		46.6
			50W		100W

With what seems like a two degree lead by the AVC Sunflower the Swiftech MCX4000 sits in at 3rd place on the 100W test interface. Things are not as they may seem at first however. Since we are only testing the MCX4000 with the YS Tech TMD fan it is not receiving as much air as other top level socket 478 heatsinks are.

This means a few things can be said about the MCX4000 - first off the heatsink design, materials and fan all work very well together and very efficiently. The fan keeps the MCX4000 cool even though it may not have the highest RPM on the list. Secondly, a difference of 1.5C is within the level of error and therefore the performance could be called equal. Thirdly, if we were to strap on a higher RPM fan onto the MCX4000 - say a 38mm thick Delta - we would surely see some improved performance at a high cost in terms of noise.

Entering the marketplace at $57USD the Swiftech MCX4000 offers users an increase in performance over the standard Intel stock 478 heatsink and that means much more room for overclocking. While the clipping mechanism is a bit complex, it does work, and helps to keep the overall price of the MCX4000 at more reasonable levels. The noise generated by the TMD fan is of a lower pitch than standard brushless fans and coupled with the MCX4000 - offers up an excellent cooling combination.