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	Alpha	PAL8942	27.9	42.6		54.0	none	1	med	med
6	Zalman	CNPS6500-AlCu	23.1	40.3		57.4	none	1	low	easy
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	Taisol	CEP426151A	24.3	43.7		59.7	none	1	med	easy
10	Intel	Socket 478	22.4	41.8		59.8	carbon	1	low	med
11	Dynatron	DC1207BMW	23.2	42.7		61.1	none	1	med	easy
12	Titan	TTC-MT3AB	22.8	41.5		61.2	none	2	loud	stiff
13	Dynatron	DC1206BM-S	22.4	43.2		62.0	none	1	med	med
14	AVC	117160	22.4	42.7		62.2	white pad	1	med	med
15	Cho-Liang	CL-CB00881	23.6	41.2		65.0	none	1	med	easy
16	Cho-Liang	CL-CB0307Z17	24.2	45.6		65.7	none	1	med	easy
17	Cho-Liang	CL-CB0094-1A	23.2	39.5		67.9	none	1	med	easy
18	Globalwin	VA476	28.7	49.5		68.0	grey	1	med	easy
19	Dynatron	DC1206BMV	23.1	45.1		68.2	none	1	low	easy
20	ChoLiang	Cl-CB0309Z17	24.3	46.7		68.6	none	1	med	stiff
21	Vantec	GSN-7015	22.4	47.5		69.0	none	1	loud	stiff
				50W		100W

We just put this graph here to be suspensefulh, the Alpha heatsink really does kick ass, and you'll see that for yourself in a few moments.

Rise Above Ambient Temp. (c)
	Mfg.	Model	27mm large copper block		27mm large copper block
			50W		100W
1	Alpha	PAL8942	14.7		26.1
2	AVC	117140	15.2		27.8
3	Coolermaster	IHC-H71	14.0		28.1
4	Arkua	8568	15.4		29.3
5	NengTyi	XPC5000	14.6		30.1
6	Zalman	CNPS6500-AlCu	17.2		34.3
7	Taisol	CEP426151A	19.4		35.4
8	Vantec	GSN-7025	19.2		36.0
9	chauh Choung	DTA-478	19.7		36.6
10	Intel	Socket 478	19.4		37.4
11	Dynatron	DC1207BMW	19.5		37.9
12	Titan	TTC-MT3AB	18.7		38.4
13	Globalwin	VA476	20.8		39.3
14	Dynatron	DC1206BM-S	20.8		39.6
15	AVC	117160	20.3		39.8
16	Cho-Liang	CL-CB00881	18.2		41.4
17	Cho-Liang	Cl-CB0307Z17	21.4		41.5
18	Cho-Liang	CL-CB0309Z17	22.4		44.3
19	Cho-Liang	CL-CB0094-1A	16.3		44.7
20	Dynatron	DC1206BMV	22.0		45.1
21	Vantec	GSN-7105	25.1		46.6
			50W		100W

Currently, in this list of reference heatsinks the Alpha PAL8942 offers the best performance on the socket 478 platform. The AVC sunflower and the all copper twin heatpipe bearing Coolermaster IHC-H71 round out the top three positions. In general we have seen some really good things coming out of Alpha lately, and while there is always room for improvement, the PAL8942 offers a lot to the average user, or the performance user in terms of quality.

We also tested this heatsink with a 38mm Delta and the results were even better with the PAL8942 averaging a rise above ambient temperature under the 100W test load of just 22.8 degrees Celsius! Those results were with the jumbo 38mm thick Delta fan in the exhaust orientation, and for comparisons sake, with that same fan in an impingement orientation the heatsink performed to the tune of 24.5 degrees rise above ambient (not quite as efficient).

There isn't really much to say, the performance numbers for the Alpha PAL8942 are great with the standard 25mm thick stock fan, and even better with a high performance (and incredibly noisy) 38mm thick Delta.