Arkua 728M-7N01 Copper Core Heatsink Review

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Even though the AMD market is on the cusp of a complete and total shift to the Athlon64 processor, there are still millions and millions of overheating AthlonXP processors out there that need better cooling. Arkua heatsinks are long familiar with FrostyTech, and through the many different models we have reviewed, performance has been pretty reliable.

Arkua has tried different sized fans, and added copper slugs to the center of their heatsinks, but the coolers have never really made the leap to the performance section - which is fine. There are a great many PCs out there that simply need a good heatsink, and the Arkua 728M-7N01 is one such candidate.

	Heatsink Specsheet: Model No.: 728M-7N01 HS Material: Aluminum extrusion, copper slug insert Fan: 3600 RPM, 12V, 0.24A Fan Dim: 20x70x70mm FHS Dimensions: 67x74x74mm Weight: 353gram Made by: Arkua Sold By: www.arkua.com.tw

The Arkua 728M-7N01 is an extruded aluminum heatsink with a 19mm diameter copper slug running through the core. The copper center provides a more thermally conductive material to better disperse the thermal energy absorbed from the processor to the surrounding aluminum fins which radiate out from the center.

The top of the copper slug is exposed, but is below part of the clip assembly so all the cooling is accomplished by the aluminum fins. The clip is designed in such a way that the force is applied directly to the center of the processor core. Earlier heatsinks applied the force to the center of the heatsink body instead.

The extrusion pattern Arkua employ has several benefits that typical impingement heatsinks lack; the most significant of which is the benefit of exhaust airflow to further cooler the processor directly. The aluminum fins are rather thick be necessity, but the surface is rippled to help introduce turbulence into the system.

At the very bottom of the heatsink, the copper core lies protected with a metallic thermal interface pad - what material this is we're not 100% certain however.