Vantec GSW-6015 Heatsink Review

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There are not a lot of heatsinks that can be used on both Pentium 4 and socket 370 processors, but the Vantec GSW-6015 is one of them. With the standard clipping mechanism seen below it will fit on a socket 370 processor. By means of the edge tabs, this heatsink can also be used on socket 478 processors, assuming you have one of the wire-clip HSRMs on hand. This heatsink isn't compatible with the current socket 478 heatsink retention mechanism that all Pentium 4 motherboards now come equipped with.

The unit we received for review came with no such mechanism, but such a clip from another socket 478 heatsink we were able to mount it in a socket 478 type environment.

	Heatsink Specsheet: Model: GSW-6015 Fan: MotorOne, 4000PM, 12V, 0.22A Fan Dim: 15x60x60mm Heatsink Dim: 61x56x89mm HS Material: Extruded Aluminum Mfg by: Vantec Sold By: www.vantecusa.com

The GSW-6015 uses a very simple spring tensioned clip to lock into position on socket 370 processors. Note that we did not say Socket A processors. The reason for this is that the Vantec GSW-6016 has a clip which applies pressure at the center of the heatsink - not off center. Since the core of today's AthlonXP is not centered between clips in the socket, this clipping system could prevent the GSW-6015 from sitting correctly on the core.

Vantec GSW-6015 Heatsink From All Angles
	The Fan: The 60mm fan has 7 fan blades and draws 0.22A. The unit is not protected by a fan grill and the fan attaches to the heatsink directly with no separation. The fan connects via a 3-pin connector to the fan header on the motherboard and supports RPM monitoring.
	Heatsink Top: The clip is pretty simple, but the fulcrum is positioned at the center of the heatsink which is not good for Socket A processors like the AthlonXP. The heatsink is 89mm long, and uses a wire clip HSRM which is not standard for the socker 478 formfactor but rather a holdover from the days of socket 423.
	Side A: A side shot of the GSW-6015 shows the older design of this heatsink. The fins are 1mm thick, and spaced 2mm apart. The base is undercut for socket cam arm clearance, and at the edge you can see the grove used to hold the heatsink in place with the wire-clip HSRM.
	Side B: On the GSW-6015 there are just two 5mm cross cuts for the clip. The two groves on either edge of the heatsink are for the wire-clip HSRM. The base plate is 5mm thick which goes against the norm of 6mm we see on most heatsinks.
	Heatsink Base: The base on the GSW-6015 has been sanded smooth after extrusion. The surface is slightly domed in at the center, but relatively smooth. There are obviously marks from the sanding process so a good quality thermal compound is advisable.