Acoustic Samples: Listen to this
Heatsink!
The Akasa AK-860SF heatsink
is a moderately audible heatsink, built with a 94mm fan that rotates at a fixed 2000RPM.
To listen to this heatsink in operation, click on the little headphones icon below
and play the sample MP3 file.
| frostytech acoustic sampling chamber - full
speed |
 |
standard waveform view of a 10 second recording.
click on the headphones icon to listen to an mp3
recording of this heatsink in operation. the fan is rotating at 2300
rpm. |
 |
Sound Level Measurements: Which Heatsink is
Quietest?
Listening to the actual noise a heatsink makes
allows you to hear what pure numbers alone cannot get across. To further
emphasize FrostyTech's reliance on cold hard facts when evaluating a heatsink,
we also take noise level measurements with a sound level meter.
FrostyTech Heatsink Noise
Level Measurements
Noise level Decibel measurements of each
heatsinks' fan in operation are taken with the aid of a sound level
meter and sound isolating enclosure. The values may be higher than
the mfgr's listed specs, but are directly comparable to one another.
Measurements are made on the dB (A) scale, lower values are best.
Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available
here. | |
|
| manufacturer: |
model no.: |
fan* speed: |
noise level (dba): |
cpu** platform |
|
| Arctic Cooling |
Silencer 64 Ultra TC |
low |
27.6 dB |
AMD |
| Verax |
Helado |
|
36.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Gigabyte |
NeonCooler 8-BL |
|
42.0 dB |
AMD |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper48 |
|
43.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Arctic Cooling |
Alpine64 |
|
43.9 dB |
AMD |
| Dynatron |
A22 |
|
44.5 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS7000B-CU |
high |
44.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS7000A-Cu |
high |
45.2 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS7000-Cu |
high |
45.2 dB |
AMD |
| Akasa |
AK-860SF |
|
45.2 dB |
AMD |
| Noctua |
NH-U12 |
|
45.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Ajigo |
MF043-044 |
|
45.4 dB |
AMD |
| Spire |
SP741B3 |
|
45.6 dB |
AMD |
| Scythe |
Shogun |
high |
45.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Scythe |
Kama SCKK1000 |
|
47.5 dB |
AMD |
| Spire |
SP601B3 |
|
48.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Thermaltake |
Silentboost K8 |
|
49.7 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 LED |
high |
50.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Gigabyte |
3D-Rocket |
|
50.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS7700-Cu |
high |
50.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Arctic Cooling |
Freezer 64 Pro |
|
50.9 dB |
AMD |
| Evercool |
K802-715 |
|
51.5 dB |
AMD |
| OCZ |
Tempest |
|
51.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Scythe |
Samurai SCSM1000 |
high |
51.6 dB |
AMD |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF80 |
|
51.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF90 |
|
52.1 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| nPowertek |
NPH K8-1 |
|
52.2 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 AM2 |
high |
53.2 dB |
AMD |
| Jetart |
JAX801 |
|
53.5 dB |
AMD |
| Thermalright |
Ultra 120 |
|
53.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| nPowerTek |
NPH-Big K8 |
|
54.0 dB |
AMD |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper6 |
high |
54.7 dB |
AMD |
| Verax |
Quattro 1 |
high |
55.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Arctic Cooling |
Silencer 64 Ultra TC |
high |
55.5 dB |
AMD |
| Evercool |
Magic Cooler |
|
55.5 dB |
AMD |
| Dynatron |
SK-V24 |
|
56.4 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
FS-C77 |
|
56.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Gigabyte |
3D Rocket-Pro |
high |
56.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Vantec |
Mach1 |
high |
56.9 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS8000 |
high |
57.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| EKL |
V8 |
high |
57.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Antazone |
AS-C1000 |
|
57.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Noctua |
NH-U9 |
|
58.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Alpha |
PAL-8150 |
|
58.9 dB |
AMD |
| Coolermaster |
Aquagate Mini |
high |
59.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| AVC |
Z7U3301001 |
high |
59.9 dB |
AMD |
| Ajigo |
MF064-074 |
high |
60.3 dB |
AMD |
| Thermalfly |
F1-IACSHA |
high |
60.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Cooljag |
SFO-Q |
high |
60.6 dB |
AMD |
| Cooljag |
SFO-H |
high |
60.6 dB |
AMD |
| Gigabyte |
3D Cooler-Pro |
high |
62.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Gigabyte |
3D Cooler-Ultra |
high |
63.0 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| AVC |
Z7U7414001 (stock AM2) |
high |
63.0 dB |
AMD |
| Titan |
TTC-K8ATB/825/SC |
|
63.1 dB |
AMD |
| CoolJag |
SFO-D(18SC) |
|
64.0 dB |
AMD |
| Gigabyte |
GH-PCU23-VE |
high |
65.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| ASUS |
Starice |
high |
67.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Thermaltake |
Polo 735 |
high |
68.0 dB |
AMD |
| Thermaltake |
Venus 12 |
high |
68.1 dB |
AMD |
| Gigabyte |
G-Power Pro |
high |
71.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
|
|
|
noise level (dba) |
|
|
*unless noted, for reference heatsinks with
variable-speed fans only the 'high speed' (12V) fan noise measurement is
included in the comparison sheet; more detailed results for the low fan
speed (~5V) tests reside in each specific heatsink review. ** 'AMD'
denotes compatibility with socket 754/939/940 & AM2 processors where
applicable. 'Intel' denotes compatibility with socket 775
platform. |
With its 95mm fan
spinning at 2000RPM the Akasa AK-860SF heatsink generates 45.2 dBA. As far as K8 AMD heatsinks go
this is pretty good, and in most office or commercial situations the cooler will not be
audible outside the case.
Surface Finish and Flatness
Surface finish is an important factor that we all
look for when holding a new heatsink. Flipping a cooler over to see how well the
base has been machined is a quick way to judge the attention to detail that was
put into making it. The following test involves the use of a Surface Roughness
Comparator, which offers a concise cross section common machine surface
finishes.
The Akasa AK-860SF heatsink has a surface roughness
of approximately 63 microinches, which is considered satisfactory. Next, let's see
how this heatsink handles the heat compared to a selection of other
heatsinks!
