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
JMC	401100	19.5	35.1		47.4	grey	1	med	easy
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	21.0	35.1		48.7	none	1	low	easy
Taisol	CCP445172	20.2	37.7		50.9	none	1	med	easy
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
JMC	400124	19.5	36.6		52.1	none	1	med-low	easy
Thermal Integration (high)	TI-V7035TN	20.2	38.3		52.9	none	1	very loud	easy
NengTyi	XPC5000	23.8	38.4		53.9	none	1	med	loud
Alpha	PAL8942	27.9	42.6		54.0	none	1	med	med
CPUMate	DIA-10500	22.8	39.3		55.5	none	1	med	easy
Zalman	CNPS6500-AlCu	23.1	40.3		57.4	none	1	low	easy
Glacialtech	Igloo 3300	22.4	40.5		58.8	silver	1	low	easy
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
Arkua	838T-7G	23.3	42.0		60.0	none	1	med	easy
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		62.2	white pad	1	med	med
Eumax	DW-45	22.6	44.0		62.7	none	1	med	easy
Spire	9T236B1M3G	21.5	43.6		63.2	pink	1	low	easy
Zalman	CNPS5700D-Cu	25.7	44.6		64.0	none	1	med	easy
Vantec	CCK-7025	27.0	45.4		64.1	none	1	med	med
JMC	400094	26.1	46.6		65.0	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
Vantec	GSN-7015	22.4	47.5		69.0	none	1	loud	stiff
Arkua	848X-6B	27.2	54.5		80.4	none	1	low	med
			50W		100W

Equipped with a 3700RPM 70mm fan the all aluminum extruded heatsink falls under the lower noise category, and the initial results seem to back that up. The results are average, but place the Spire 9T236B1M3G towards the lower third of the reference list. Before we draw any final conclusions lets move directly to the final rise above ambient temperatures.

Rise Above Ambient Temp. (c)
Mfg.	Model	27mm large copper block		27mm large copper block
		50W		100W
Alpha	PAL8942	14.7		26.1
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	14.1		27.7
AVC	117140	15.2		27.8
JMC	401100	15.6		27.9
Coolermaster	IHC-H71	14.0		28.1
Arkua	8568	15.4		29.3
NengTyi	XPC5000	14.6		30.1
Taisol	CCP445172	17.5		30.7
JMC	400124	17.1		32.6
CPUMate	DIA-10500	16.5		32.7
Thermal Integration (high)	TI-V7035TN	18.1		32.7
Zalman	CNPS6500-AlCu	17.2		34.3
Taisol	CEP426151A	19.4		35.4
Arkua	838T-7G	18.7		36.7
Glacialtech	Igloo 3300	18.1		37.1
Intel	Socket 478	19.4		37.4
Dynatron	DC1207BMW	19.5		37.9
Zalman	CNPS5700D-Cu	18.9		38.3
Vantec	CCK-7025	18.4		38.4
Titan	TTC-MT3AB	18.7		38.4
JMC	400094	20.5		38.9
Globalwin	VA476	20.8		39.3
Dynatron	DC1206BM-S	20.8		39.6
AVC	117160	20.3		39.8
Eumax	DW-45	21.4		40.1
Spire	9T236B1M3G	22.1		41.7
Dynatron	DC1206BMV	22.0		45.1
Vantec	GSN-7105	25.1		46.6
Arkua	848X-6B	27.3		53.2
		50W		100W

Given the overall dimensions of the Spire 9T236B1M3G Easy Stream and 70mm fan we had expected thermal results to be a little higher on the 100W test. Coming in over the 40 degree mark would not be the best position for a standard Pentium4 heatsink with a 5400RPM fan, but then again this is a lower noise cooler.

For the noise that this heatsink generates, the thermal results do seem to fit, but considering the Stock Intel heatsink is more effective there isn't much reason to upgrade in this direction. Stock Intel heatsinks have always been some of the quietest on the market for sub-3.06GHz P4's.

Acoustically the Spire EasyStream clocks in with an impressive 46.7 dB noise measurement, but I get the feeling that this particular extrusion heatsink was designed to fulfill multiple roles instead of just one low noise application. That very duality may be the reason why the Easy Stream places towards the lower end of the reference list.

With a molded plastic frame for both the clipping mechanism and fan shroud it would be difficult to add a larger 80mm fan to this heatsink without the use of a 80mm-70mm fan adapter. The clipping system itself is very easy to use, so at the very least installation of the Spire 9T236B1M3G is straight forward. Cooling performance is atypical of a low noise cooler, but not indicative of the best thermal results in that quiet class.

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