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Silverstone Argon AR01 Heatsink Review
Silverstone Argon AR01 Heatsink Review
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Abstract: Silverstone's Argon AR08 is constructed around three beefy 8mm diameter copper heatpipes which are exposed at the base of the cooler. Putting the heatpipes in direct contact with the top of the processor makes for a very thermally efficient path with a minimum of thermal joint resistance.

 Manufacturer  Category  Published  Author 
Silverstone   Cooling / Heatsinks   Sep 26, 2013   Max Page  

Home > Reviews > Page: 360° View - Silverstone Argon AR01

360° View - Silverstone Argon AR01 Heatsink


Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available here.

The 120mm PWM fan spins at 2200-1000RPM and draws power from a standard 4-pin PWM motherboard fan header. It is backwards compatible with 3-pin connectors. Each of the three copper heatpipes are 8mm in diameter and extend from the base up to the top of the 112mm tall fin stack. The aluminum fins measure 0.3mm thick and are spaced 2.0mm apart.

The Silverstone Argon AR01 heatsink stands 159mm tall, with the bottom fin elevated 37mm above the CPU socket for clearance. Heat pipes are spaced 3mm apart at the base plate and where they intersect the aluminum cooling fins. The base incorporates an 11mm thick aluminum section to provide support for clamping. Notice how the white rubber fan mounts attach to the sides of the aluminum fin stack.

The functional size of the exposed heatpipe base on the Argon AR01 heatsink is 35x40mm. Looking from the top down we can see a bit of edge treatment going on and some 'tire tracks' stamped lightly into the surface of the 120x40mm plain aluminum fins. The plenum behind the fan is 5mm. Heatpipes are positioned in the path of highest airflow.

Base Finish and Flatness

Flipping a heatsink over to inspect the business end is often a simple indicator of overall cooler quality. More practically speaking, a heatsink is in many ways only as effective as the contact it makes with the processor - the flatter and smoother the better. Base finish is one of the criteria that Frostytech measure in the course of evaluating heatsinks, and it involves two distinct aspects. Surface Finish is the first; this is calculated with the aid of Surface Roughness Comparator that has a cross section of common machine surface finishes and their numerical surface roughness equivalents in microinches. The second is Surface Flatness. This is tested with an engineers straight edge or proven flat surface, in two axes.

Most exposed heatpipe base heatsinks are machined flat; what you need to carefully look for are uneven aluminum-copper-aluminum joints. In this case the base of the Silverstone Argon AR01 is machined perfectly flat in both the X and Y axis. Surface roughness is at or better than approx. 16 microinches, which is considered excellent.

Next up, Frostytech heatsink sound level measurements...

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Table of Contents:

 1:  Silverstone Argon AR01 Heatsink Review
 2: — 360° View - Silverstone Argon AR01
 3:  Heatsink Sound Level Comparison
 4:  AMD Heatsink Temperature Comparisons
 5:  Intel LGA115x Heatsink Temperature Comparisons
 6:  Intel LGA2011 Heatsink Temperature Comparisons

List all Silverstone heat sinks that Frostytech tested?

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