Information not expressly stated in the Final Rise above Ambient Temperature Test Results List concerns the pre-applied thermal pad (we remove this for testing any way), the number of fans on each heatsink, general fan noise and clip force observations, and ambient temperature measurements. As always, FrostyTech's Synthetic Temperature Test results for the Socket 478 Intel Pentium 4 platform are grouped according to the results of the 100W test die.

FrostyTech Synthetic Temperature Heatsink Test Results: *Ranked according to 100W interface die test results.

( Socket 478 - Pentium4 ) Rise Above Ambient Temp. (c)
Mfg.	Model	27mm large copper block		27mm large copper block
		50W		100W
Cooljag (high)	CJC66IC-A	10.4		21.3
Gigabyte (high)	PCU31-VH	12.5		22.3
Coolermaster (high)	Hyper6 KHCV81U1	12.4		23.4
Zalman	CNPS7000A-Cu	12.4		24.9
Alpha	S-PAL8952	12.7		25.4
AVC	Z7U7408001	12.9		25.8
Alpha	PAL8942	14.7		26.1
Gigabyte (high)	3DCooler-pro	15.6		26.6
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	14.1		27.7
AVC	117140	15.2		27.8
JMC Products	401100	15.6		27.9
Coolermaster (high)	Jet4	12.6		28.1
Taisol	CEP447181	14.6		28.7
Jetart	JAP416A	11.8		29.1
Thermal Integration	TI-A8736N	12.4		29.1
Arkua	8568	15.4		29.3
Intel	Stock 3.06GHz	15.0		30.1
Jetart	JAP407A	13.8		30.2
Thermal Integration	TI-RV108N	15.9		31.7
Vantec	VP4-7245	18.0		31.7
Thermal Integration (high)	TI-V7035TN	18.1		32.7
Verax	Polargate AL S (High)	17.0		32.9
AVC	Z7H2403012	15.2		33.4
Cooljag	JVC661A	17.3		33.5
TS Heatronics (6" fan dist)	NCU-1000	15.6		33.6
Scythe	Kamakaze	18.9		34.1
Zalman	CNPS6500-AlCu	17.2		34.3
Taisol	CEP426151A	19.4		35.4
Spire	SP420B8	17.4		36.2
Arkua	838T-7G	18.7		36.7
Intel	Socket 478	19.4		37.4
Zalman	CNPS5700D-Cu	18.9		38.3
Evercool	NW9F715CA	19.1		38.5
Aopen	ACP4LC	17.9		38.8
Globalwin	VA476	20.8		39.3
Dynatron	DC1206BM-S	20.8		39.6
AVC	117160	20.3		39.8
Evercool	CUW8-715	21.8		40.8
Arctic Cooling	SuperSilent4 Pro	21.7		43.0
Verax	P16Cu	22.0		45.1
Verax (high)	P17CuX	27.8		47.6
Verax	Polargate AL S (Low)	25.7		49.4
Verax	P16	27.4		54.0
Dynatron	DC1U-B02	32.9		67.4
		50W		100W

The Verax Polargate AL S isn't necessarily 'polar' in the level of cooling it provides, but it does provide both good mainstream cooling at reasonable sound levels, and acceptable cooling at extremely low noise levels.

With the speed of both CAIRdB fans running at full capacity, the Polargate AL S comes in about mid way in this heatsink reference list, with a temperature of 32.9 degrees Celsius rise above ambient. All the while, the Polargate created 52.5dBA of noise, which is pretty standard. These results are good for Verax, but don't necessarily point to a high performance, low noise heatsink... for example, the Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu produces less noise, and runs cooler than this setting.

Where the Verax Polargate AL S really comes into its own, is when running under the 'super silent cooling' mode. With both fans rotating at their slowest speed, thermal performance drops by about 17 degrees Celsius, to 49.4 Celsius rise above ambient. However, noise levels also fall substantially, bottoming out at just over 32 dBA which is virtually inaudible from a foot or two away.

Once again, Verax have proven that when they put sound ahead of thermal considerations, they are able to manufacturer some of the quietest active heatsinks out there. When running in its most quiet mode, the Verax Polargate AL S is certainly among the quietest of heatsinks we have tested. With a rise above ambient temperature nearing 50 Celsius, the Polargate AL S is certainly not an overclockers heatsink, but as long the PC it is used in is well ventilated, and keeping noise down is of most importance, it will be a sufficient cooling solution.

Related Articles:

Here are a few other articles that you might enjoy as well...

1. Coolermaster Hyper6 KHCV81U1 Review
2. Gigabyte 3DCooler-Ultra PCU31-VH P4/K7/K8 Heatsink Review
3. Coolermaster Jet 4 ICB-V83 Pentium 4 Heatsink
4. Scythe Kamakaze AthlonXP / Pentium 4 Heatsink Review
5. Thermal Integration TI-RV108N Pentium 4 Heatsink
6. Cooljag CJC66IC-A Copper Pentium 4 Heatsink Review
7. Alpha Novatech S-PAL8952 Pentium4 Heatsink Review
8. Verax P17CuX Ultra Quiet Heatsink Review