The Zaward Gyre (ZCJ010) is a box of a heatsink. There is of course adequate clearance around the CPU socket for memory and VRM heatsinks and such, but at first glance it's not exactly clear how the Gyre works. A 120mm fan rests on top of the heatsink, but all four sides of the 110mm tall cube are wrapped in smokey grey plastic. Making the heatsink even more perplexing, the 120mm fan blows perpendicular to the direction of the aluminum fins.

The fins are pressed over three 8mm diameter copper heatpipes, but how exactly do the fins disperse heat conducted by the heatpipes? Flipping the Gyre over reveals an exposed heatpipe base similar to a variety of Xigmatek heatsinks and two large cut-outs on either side of the aluminum fins. A large 40mm hole transects through the center of its aluminum fins and only adds to the confusion.

On the whole the Zaward Gyre heatsink is otherwise quite normal. It stands 149mm tall, weighs 670 grams and is equipped with a 120mm PWM fan that operates at 2000-1000RPM.

Zaward Gyre Heatsink

heatsink specsheet manufacturer: zaward model no.: gyre flow (zcj010) materials: aluminum fins, copper heatpipes and base plate. fan mfg: n/a fan spec: 2000-1000rpm, 12v, 0.26a fan airflow: 76 cfm fan dim: 25x120x120mm heatsink & fan dim: 149x119x119mm weight: 670 grams includes: multi-socket mounting hardware, thermal compound, instructions Compatible with Sockets: AMD: 754/939/940/AM2/AM3 Intel: LGA775 Est. Pricing: $25USD ($25CDN)

The heatsink is compatible with Intel socket 775 and AMD socket 754/939/940/AM2+/AM3 processors. At the time of this review, the Gyre is not compatible with Intel socket LGA1366 Core i7 or LGA1156 Core i5 processors.

To understand how the Zaward Gyre heatsink works we need to remove the fan shroud, for this is what makes the thermal solution tick.

Upon doing so it becomes clear that vanes extend down the length of the 110mm box and force air blown down to take a 90 degree turn, move through the horizontal aluminum fins, take another 90 degree turn and exhaust out the bottom of the Gyre.

It's this indirect airflow path that Zaward claim makes the Gyre and effective low noise heatsink, we'll have to wait till the test results to know how valid that statement is.

The only other notable technology employed by Zaward on the Gyre heatsink are golf ball dimples on the fan blades. Dimples are supposed to have some positive qualities which I can't recall at this moment. The bottom of each impeller blade is also dimpled.

Mounting Method and Hardware

The Zaward Gyre heatsink is compatible with both Intel and AMD processors. Two different mounting brackets are supplied. Installation is quite simple for socket 775 processors because the heatsink uses simple spring tensioned screws and a metal rear motherboard support plate. A long screwdriver is supplied to reach the mounting screws through the body of the heatsink.

For AMD processors a simple K8 mounting clip is used which locks onto the existing heatsink retention frame.

This heatsink will be tested on FrostyTech's Intel LGA775 and K8 version of the Mk.II synthetic thermal temperature test platform, and compared against a hundred reference LGA775 and K8 heatsinks. The whole test methodology is outlined in detail here if you'd like to know what equipment is used, and the parameters under which the tests are conducted.