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Akasa AK-965 Intel Core 2 Duo Heatsink Review
Akasa AK-965 Intel Core 2 Duo Heatsink Review
  84%   
Abstract: Akasa's AK-965 heatsink utilizes a 95mm PWM fan spins only as fast as needed to achieve good temperature control, and works well at moving air relatively quietly through the aluminum fins.

 Manufacturer  Category  Published  Author 
Akasa   Cooling / Heatsinks   Jul 01, 2007   Max Page  

Home > Reviews > Page: Acoustic Comparisons and Base Surface Quality

Acoustic Samples: Listen to this Heatsink!

The AK-965 heatsink creates under 50 dBA with its fan running at full speed, when connected by a 3-pin power connector. By and large this heatsink pretty easy to live with. To listen to this heatsink in operation click on the little headphones icon below and play the sample MP3 files.

frostytech acoustic sampling chamber - full speed
standard waveform view of a 10 second recording. click on the headphones icon to listen to an mp3 recording of this heatsink in operation. the fan is rotating at an estimated 2500 rpm

frostytech acoustic sampling chamber - full speed
standard waveform view of a 10 second recording. click on the headphones icon to listen to an mp3 recording of this heatsink in operation. the fan is rotating at an estimated 600 rpm

Sound Level Measurements: Which Heatsink is Quietest?

Listening to the actual noise a heatsink makes allows you to hear what pure numbers alone cannot get across. To further emphasize FrostyTech's reliance on cold hard facts when evaluating a heatsink, we also take noise level measurements with a sound level meter.

FrostyTech Heatsink Noise Level Measurements
Noise level Decibel measurements of each heatsinks' fan in operation are taken with the aid of a sound level meter and sound isolating enclosure. The values may be higher than the mfgr's listed specs, but are directly comparable to one another. Measurements are made on the dB (A) scale, lower values are best. Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available here.
manufacturer: model no.: fan* speed: noise level (dba): cpu** platform

Akasa AK-965 low 34.0 dB Intel
Verax Helado 36.3 dB Intel/AMD
Intel Stock Core 2 Duo 36.7 dB Intel
Scythe Mine Rev.B 36.8 dB Intel/AMD
Scythe Katana II 37.9 dB Intel/AMD
Scythe Kama Cross 40.0 dB Intel/AMD
Coolermaster Hyper48 43.6 dB Intel/AMD
Asus Arctic Square high 44.9 dB Intel/AMD
Zalman CNPS7000B-CU high 44.9 dB Intel/AMD
Noctua NH-U12 45.4 dB Intel/AMD
Scythe Shogun high 45.9 dB Intel/AMD
Rosewill RCX-Z2-EX high 45.9 dB Intel/AMD
Intel Stock Pentium D high 47.5 dB Intel
Akasa AK-965 high 48.1 dB Intel
Apack CF900 high 48.3 dB Intel
Apack CF800 high 48.4 dB Intel
LS Cable SHS-T700 48.5 dB Intel
Thermalfly I75DUH 48.7 dB Intel
Coolage Frozen Orb F0-Z924AL high 48.9 dB Intel
Spire SP601B3 48.9 dB Intel/AMD
Zalman CNPS7700-Cu LED high 49.8 dB Intel/AMD
nPowertek NPH-775-1 50.1 dB Intel
Xigmatek HDT-S963 high 50.2 dB Intel/AMD
Zalman CNPS9500 LED high 50.3 dB Intel/AMD
Gigabyte 3D-Rocket 50.7 dB Intel/AMD
Zalman CNPS7700-Cu high 50.7 dB Intel/AMD
Alpha Novatech PRE9060M92P high 51.5 db Intel
OCZ Tempest 51.6 dB Intel/AMD
Apack Zerotherm BTF80 51.9 dB Intel/AMD
Apack Zerotherm BTF90 52.1 dB Intel/AMD
Cooljag Falcon 92-AL high 52.1 dB Intel/AMD
Cooljag Falcon 92-Cu high 52.8 dB Intel/AMD
Zalman CNPS9500 AT 53.3 dB Intel
Thermalright Ultra 120 53.7 dB Intel/AMD
Xigmatek AIO-S80DP high 55.0 dB Intel/AMD
Verax Quattro 1 high 55.4 dB Intel/AMD
Cooljag OAK-H2 high 55.6 dB Intel
Cooljag OAK-H high 55.7 dB Intel
Thermalright Ultra-90 high 56.2 dB Intel/AMD
Akasa AK-960E 56.3 dB Intel
Zalman CNPS9700 LED high 56.5 dB Intel/AMD
Zalman FS-C77 56.5 dB Intel/AMD
Gigabyte 3D Rocket-Pro high 56.7 dB Intel/AMD
Zalman CNPS8000 high 57.4 dB Intel/AMD
EKL V8 high 57.5 dB Intel/AMD
Sunon Watrubo 57.5 dB Intel
Antazone AS-C1000 57.6 dB Intel/AMD
Noctua NH-U9 58.4 dB Intel/AMD
Rosewill RCX-Z3 high 58.6 dB Intel/AMD
Enzotech Ultra-X high 59.2 dB Intel/AMD
Akasa AK-920 high 59.2 dB Intel/AMD
Coolermaster Aquagate Mini high 59.2 dB Intel/AMD
Rosewill RCX-Z2 59.9 dB Intel
Spire Fourier IV SP607B3-C 60.2 dB Intel/AMD
Akasa AK-922 (EVObue) high 60.3 dB Intel/AMD
Thermalfly F1-IACSHA high 60.4 dB Intel/AMD
Akasa AK-961 60.7 dB Intel
Thermaltake Jungle512 high 60.8 dB Intel
Gigabyte 3D Cooler-Pro high 62.5 dB Intel/AMD
Gigabyte 3D Cooler-Ultra high 63.0 dB Intel/AMD
Evercool PT02-9232CP 63.3 dB Intel
nPowertek SF 775-2 high 64.6 dB Intel
Gigabyte GH-PCU23-VE high 65.6 dB Intel/AMD
ASUS Starice high 67.4 dB Intel/AMD
Thermalfly I75DUB high 68.5 db Intel
Gigabyte G-Power Pro high 71.9 dB Intel/AMD
noise level (dba)

*unless noted, for reference heatsinks with variable-speed fans only the 'high speed' (12V) fan noise measurement is included in the comparison sheet; more detailed results for the low fan speed (~5V) tests reside in each specific heatsink review. ** 'AMD' denotes compatibility with socket 754/939/940 & AM2 processors where applicable. 'Intel' denotes compatibility with socket 775 platform.

The Akasa AK-965 heatsink produces 48.1 dBA noise with its 95mm fan spinning at the full 2500RPM. That's a little bit over the 40-44dBA range lower noise heatsinks fall in, but not overly loud either. In comparison, the stock Intel Pentium D heatsink produces about 47.5 dB at its fastest speed, the stock Core 2 Duo heatsink 36.7 dBA. When fan speed is dialed down the AK-965 becomes a quiet little unit, pushing out 600RPM at just 34.0 dBA which is near whisper quiet.

Surface Finish and Flatness

Surface finish is an important factor that we all look for when holding a new heatsink. Flipping a cooler over to see how well the base has been machined is a quick way to judge the attention to detail that was put into making it. The following test involves the use of a Surface Roughness Comparator, which offers a concise cross section common machine surface finishes.

The Akasa AK-965 heatsink has a surface roughness of approximately 63 microinches, which is considered satisfactory. The base is pretty flat in both axis, and comes with a pre-applied patch of grey thermal compound. Next, let's see how this heatsink handles the heat compared to a selection of other Intel CPU heatsinks!

 Previous Page ° ° Next Page 

Table of Contents:

 1:  Akasa AK-965 Intel Core 2 Duo Heatsink Review
 2:  360° View - Akasa AK-965 heatsink
 3: — Acoustic Comparisons and Base Surface Quality
 4:  Intel Heatsink Temperature Comparisons

List all Akasa heat sinks that Frostytech tested?

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