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
Thermalright	AX-478	22.3	34.1		44.5	none	1	very loud	med
Vantec	VP4C7040	21.4	36.0		50.4	none	1	med	med
AVC	117140	22.6	37.8		50.4	none	1	med	med
Coolermaster	IHC-H71	23.0	37.0		51.1	none	1	loud	stiff
Arkua	8568	22.4	37.8		51.7	none	1	med	med
NengTyi	XPC5000	23.8	38.4		53.9	none	1	med	loud
Alpha	PAL8942	27.9	42.6		54.0	none	1	med	med
Zalman	CNPS6500-Cu	23.4	41.1		57.9	none	1	low	easy
Kuthtec	KTI-2000	21.4	40.3		58.4	none	1	low	med
Vantec	GSN-7025	22.5	41.7		58.5	none	1	med	med
Glacialtech	Igloo 3300	22.4	40.5		58.8	silver	1	low	easy
Chauh Choung	DTA-478	22.4	42.1		59.0	carbon	1	low	med
Taisol	CEP426151A	24.3	43.7		59.7	none	1	med	easy
Intel	Socket 478	22.4	41.8		59.8	carbon	1	low	med
Dynatron	DC1207BMW	23.2	42.7		61.1	none	1	med	easy
Titan	TTC-MT3AB	22.8	41.5		61.2	none	2	loud	stiff
Dynatron	DC1206BM-S	22.4	43.2		62.0	none	1	med	med
AVC	117160	22.4	42.7		61.1	white pad	1	med	med
Zalman	CNPS6500B-AlCu	26.3	42.9		61.3	none	1	low	easy
Cho-Liang	CL-CB00881	23.6	41.2		65.0	none	1	med	easy
Cho-Liang	CL-CB0307Z17	24.2	45.6		65.7	none	1	med	easy
Cho-Liang	CL-CB0094-1A	23.2	39.5		67.9	none	1	med	easy
Globalwin	VA476	28.7	49.5		68.0	grey	1	med	easy
Dynatron	DC1206BMV	23.1	45.1		68.2	none	1	low	easy
ChoLiang	Cl-CB0309Z17	24.3	46.7		68.6	none	1	med	stiff
Vantec	GSN-7015	22.4	47.5		69.0	none	1	loud	stiff
Verax	P16	21.4	53.3		77.8	lead	1	none	med
			50W		100W

Rise Above Ambient Temp. (c)
Mfg.	Model	27mm large copper block		27mm large copper block
		50W		100W
Thermalright	AX-478	11.8		22.2
Alpha	PAL8942	14.7		26.1
AVC	117140	15.2		27.8
Coolermaster	IHC-H71	14.0		28.1
Vantec	VP4C7040	14.6		29.0
Arkua	8568	15.4		29.3
NengTyi	XPC5000	14.6		30.1
Zalman	CNPS6500B-Cu	17.7		34.5
Zalman	CNPS6500B-AlCu	19.5		34.8
Taisol	CEP426151A	19.4		35.4
Vantec	GSN-7025	19.2		36.0
Glacialtech	Igloo 3300	18.1		36.4
chauh Choung	DTA-478	19.7		36.6
Kuthtec	KTI-2000	18.9		37.0
Intel	Socket 478	19.4		37.4
Dynatron	DC1207BMW	19.5		37.9
Titan	TTC-MT3AB	18.7		38.4
Globalwin	VA476	20.8		39.3
Dynatron	DC1206BM-S	20.8		39.6
AVC	117160	20.3		39.8
Cho-Liang	CL-CB00881	18.2		41.4
Cho-Liang	Cl-CB0307Z17	21.4		41.5
Cho-Liang	CL-CB0309Z17	22.4		44.3
Cho-Liang	CL-CB0094-1A	16.3		44.7
Dynatron	DC1206BMV	22.0		45.1
Vantec	GSN-7105	25.1		46.6
Verax	P16	31.9		56.4
		50W		100W

In this configuration, the heatsink is damn loud, and that may be too much to bear for most people. Hard core overclockers with good soundproofing (this or this) in their cases may be able to get by.

Thermal performance is really important, but sometimes even we have to temper that with noise considerations. The heatsink does come in configurations without a fan (for example $35USD here), so it is relatively simple to drop in a less noisy fan.

Putting sound aside, or perhaps equipping the heatsink with a more moderate fan, the Thermalright AX-478 will make an excellent option for the performance Pentium 4 user. The numbers state that better then any words I can type. ;)

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