Zerotherm Core 92 Heatsink

heatsink specsheet manufacturer: zerotherm model no.: core 92 materials: dark nickel plated aluminum fins & base, copper heatpipes fan mfg: power logic pla09225s12m fan spec: 900-2500rpm, 12v, 0.2a fan dim: 25x92x92mm air flow: 56cfm heatsink & fan dim: 121x103x93mm weight: 470 grams includes: mounting brackets, thermal compound, instructions. Compatible with Sockets: AMD - none Intel - 775/1156/1366 Est. Pricing: $39USD ($40CDN)

Zerotherm opt for three 6mm diameter sintered wick copper heatpipes which are swagged into the heatsink's aluminum base block, and left exposed on the base for optimum heat conduction. These are in turn connected to two separate towers of aluminum fins, with the fan snugly embedded between.

Exposed heatpipe base heatsinks work best with processors that have integrated heatspreaders and an even heat distribution over the whole CPU surface. The technique can encounter problems when heat is localized too directly, such as if only one or two heatpipes receive the bulk of heat from the CPU.

Given the recent confusion over heatsinks built for socket 775 Intel motherboards not fitting on LGA1156/1366 platforms, Frostytech is pleased to see Zerotherm's use of the universal Intel mounting bracket. Basically, the space for the Intel push-to-click clip is a slot, allowing the fixture to slide a millimeter this way or that, and install correcting into any Intel motherboard - be it Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i5/i3 or Core i7. Nice!

Heatsink Installation

Zerotherm's Core 92 heatsink is compatible with Intel socket 775/1156/1366 processors only. No AMD brackets are supplied. The installs with standard Intel push-to-click plastic retention mechanisms, so there is no need to remove the motherboard from the PC case. The bracket is also, thankfully, compatible with 775/1156/1366 mounting hole layouts. A small tube of thermal compound and finger condom are supplied for smearing it across the base of the heatsink and surface of the processor.

FrostyTech's Test Methodologies are outlined in detail here if you care to know what equipment is used, and the parameters under which the tests are conducted. Now let's move forward and take a closer look at this heatsink, its acoustic characteristics, and of course its performance in the thermal tests!