FrostyTech Mk.II
Synthetic Thermal Heatsink Test Results
AMD Athlon64 / FX / X2 &
Sempron class heatsinks
Results
based on readings from a 38x38mm copper interface die with 125W heat
load on the K8 version of the Mk.II Test Platform. Temperature
results listed for each heatsink were calculated by determining the
rise over ambient temperatures at time of test. Information on
Frostytech's test methodology is available
here. |
 |
| Socket 939/940/754 &
AM2 compatible CPU heatsinks | |
|
| manufacturer: |
model no.: |
*fan speed: |
125w thermal test
(°c) |
noise level (dba) |
|
| Thermalright |
Ultra-120 |
|
12.4 |
53.7 |
| Zalman |
CNPS9700 LED |
high |
16.5 |
56.5 |
| AVC |
Z7U7414001 (stock AM2) |
high |
17.0 |
63.0 |
| Noctua |
NH-U12 |
|
17.5 |
45.4 |
| Gigabyte |
GH-PCU23-VE |
high |
17.5 |
65.6 |
| Gigabyte |
G-Power Pro |
high |
18.6 |
71.9 |
| Enzotech |
Ultra-X |
high |
18.7 |
59.1 |
| Noctua |
NH-U9 |
|
18.8 |
58.4 |
| Akasa |
AK-920 |
high |
20.2 |
52.9 |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF90 |
|
20.5 |
52.1 |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper6 |
high |
20.5 |
54.7 |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF80 |
|
21.3 |
51.9 |
| Thermaltake |
Venus 12 |
high |
21.7 |
68.1 |
| Cooljag |
SFO-Q |
high |
22.2 |
60.6 |
| ASUS |
Starice |
high |
22.8 |
67.4 |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 AM2 |
high |
23.0 |
53.2 |
| Arctic Cooling |
Freezer 64 Pro |
|
23.2 |
50.9 |
| Coolermaster |
Aquagate Mini |
high |
23.2 |
59.2 |
| Thermaltake |
Polo 735 |
high |
23.4 |
68.0 |
| Cooljag |
SFO-H |
high |
23.6 |
60.6 |
| Alpha |
PAL-8150 |
|
23.7 |
58.9 |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 LED |
high |
23.8 |
50.3 |
| Verax |
Helado |
|
24.3 |
36.3 |
| AVC |
Z7U3301001 (stock 939) |
high |
24.6 |
59.9 |
| Zalman |
CNPS8000 |
high |
24.8 |
57.4 |
| Gigabyte |
3D Cooler-Ultra |
high |
24.8 |
63.0 |
| OCZ |
Tempest |
|
26.0 |
51.6 |
| Scythe |
Shogun |
high |
26.0 |
45.9 |
| Rosewill |
RCX-Z2-EX |
high |
26.3 |
45.9 |
| EKL |
V8 |
high |
26.3 |
57.5 |
| Thermalfly |
F1-IACSHA |
high |
26.6 |
60.4 |
| Zalman |
FS-C77 |
|
26.7 |
56.5 |
| Gigabyte |
3D Rocket-Pro |
high |
26.9 |
56.7 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7700-Cu |
high |
27.0 |
50.7 |
| Gigabyte |
3D Cooler-Pro |
high |
27.0 |
62.5 |
| nPowerTek |
NPH-Big K8 |
|
27.8 |
54.0 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7700-Cu LED |
high |
28.1 |
49.8 |
| Akasa |
AK-873 |
high |
28.2 |
59.2 |
| Spire |
SP601B3 |
|
28.3 |
48.9 |
| Ajigo |
MF064-074 |
high |
28.8 |
60.3 |
| Gigabyte |
3D-Rocket |
|
28.9 |
50.7 |
| Vantec |
Mach1 |
high |
29.2 |
56.9 |
| Thermalright |
SLK-948U |
|
29.4 |
58.8 |
| AVC |
Z7U7414001 (stock AM2) |
low |
29.6 |
48.1 |
| CoolJag |
SFO-D(18SC) |
|
29.6 |
64.0 |
| Antazone |
AS-C1000 |
|
30.2 |
57.6 |
| Arctic Cooling |
Alpine 64 |
|
30.5 |
43.9 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7000A-Cu |
high |
30.3 |
45.2 |
| Dynatron |
SK-V24 |
|
30.3 |
56.4 |
| Verax |
Quattro 1 |
high |
30.7 |
55.4 |
| Xigmatek |
AIO-S80DP |
high |
30.7 |
55.0 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7000-Cu |
high |
31.0 |
45.2 |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper48 |
|
31.7 |
43.6 |
| Rosewill |
RCX-Z1 |
high |
31.9 |
54.1 |
| Scythe |
Kama SCKK1000 |
|
31.9 |
47.5 |
| Scythe |
Samurai SCSM1000 |
high |
32.1 |
51.6 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7000B-CU |
high |
32.3 |
44.9 |
| Thermaltake |
Silentboost K8 |
|
32.3 |
49.7 |
| Jetart |
JAX801 |
|
33.2 |
53.5 |
| Dynatron |
A22 |
|
34.5 |
44.5 |
| nPowertek |
NPH K8-1 |
|
34.6 |
52.2 |
| Ajigo |
MF043-044 (stock 754) |
|
35.0 |
45.4 |
| Arctic Cooling |
Silencer 64 Ultra TC |
|
37.5 |
55.5 |
| Gigabyte |
NeonCooler 8-BL |
|
37.7 |
42.0 |
| Titan |
TTC-K8ATB/825/SC |
|
38.7 |
63.1 |
| Akasa |
AK-860SF |
|
39.4 |
45.2 |
| Evercool |
K802-715 |
|
42.1 |
51.5 |
| Rosewill |
RCX-Z1 |
low |
42.7 |
38.7 |
| Spire |
SP741B3 |
|
43.2 |
45.6 |
| Evercool |
Magic Cooler |
|
46.6 |
55.5 |
| ASUS |
Starice |
low |
92.4+ |
34.4 |
|
|
|
125w thermal test
(°c) |
noise level (dba) |
| *heatsinks are ranked according
to the 125w thermal test results column (rise over ambient temp.). low
temperatures with low noise levels are considered best. for reference
heatsinks with variable-speed fans, only the high speed (12v) fan test
result is included in the comparison sheet; more detailed results reside
in each specific heatsink review. |
With a 125W heat load applied by the FrostyTech synthetic
thermal test platform, the Rosewill RCX-Z1
heatsink
yields a rise above ambient temperature its slowest fan speed of 42.7°C, with 38.7 dBA noise.
When the RCX-Z1's fan speed is increased from 1700RPM to 3100RPM with the
included fan speed controller,
the heatsink posts better thermal results. At 3100RPM, the fan pushes out 54.1
dBA noise and the rise above ambient temperature result decreases
to 31.9°C.
In comparison to the socket AM2 Asia
Vital Components Z7U7414001 reference heatsink, the Rosewill RCX-Z1
doesn't really stack up. The AVC heatsink runs significantly cooler at
full speed, and at its lowest fan speed setting runs quieter and slightly cooler
than the Rosewill RCX-Z1 at full throttle. Thus, while the Rosewill RCX-Z1 is a
satisfactory AMD K8 heatsink in its default mode, it doesn't outperform the
stock socket AM2 unit supplied with most AMD Athlon64 processors. The fan speed
controller included with this heatsink does help reduce noise levels, but as we
see here it also impacts thermal performance substantially. A low price may be
the only really positive mark in the Rosewill RCX-Z1's favour. Yet
given the wide choice of heatsinks in this reference list which perform both
cooler, and quieter, there are better options to consider if a heatsink
upgrade is on your mind.
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