So let's revisit the basics; the ideal CPU heatsink cools the processor to the lowest possible temperature with the least amount of noise. Simple enough, except the performance of that heatsink is directly tied to the temperature of the air inside the PC chassis.

We call this 'ambient case temp.' or 'internal case temp.' The laws of thermodynamics dictate that an air cooled heatsink can at best only equalize with the temperature of the surrounding air mass. Thus, internal case temp. is the defacto theoretical limit of how cool things can go. Simple enough if ambient temp is 20°C.... but what if ambient temp inside your computer is 50°C, or warmer?

Frostytech typically sees values of ambient temp. + 16°C as the practical threshold a top-end heatsink can achieve with unobstructed air intake and exhaust. Good heatsinks tend to cool to between ambient temp. + 25°C, from there it goes up as heatsink efficiency goes down.

In other words, with the best heatsink available if your internal case temp is 58°C, you're potentially looking at a CPU temp of 74°C. A faster fan or cutting edge heatsink might push that temp down a few degrees, a fancy thermal paste might knock another couple degrees off. The smarter approach is to deal with the other half of the equation by lowering the internal case temperature to as close to ambient room temp. as you can get it. In this hypothetical example, a drop in internal case temp. to 38°C would potentially allow CPU temps tol fall to 54°C. Get it? Good. :)

On with Frostytech's review of Thermaltake's Jing heatsink, a dual fan tower style cooler that comes in a bright shade of nuclear green.

Thermaltake Jing Heatsink

heatsink specsheet manufacturer: thermaltake model no.: jing (clp0574) materials: bright nickel plated aluminum fins, copper heatpipes, aluminum base cap, copper base plate. fan mfg: (x2) tte122712ls fan spec: (x2) 800-1300rpm, 12v, 0.20a fan airflow: 37-42 cfm each fan dim: 27x128x128mm heatsink & fan dim: 161x131x121mm weight: 920 grams includes: multi-socket socket mounting hardware, thermal compound, instructions Compatible with Sockets: AMD - AM2/AM3+ Intel - LGA775/1155/1156/1366 Pricing: $60USD ($60CDN)

The green is supposed evoke nature and 'Jing' supposedly means 'wind' in Mandarin. The heatsinks' twin 128mm fans spin at 800-1300RPM in a push-pull orientation and create a modest amount of noise according to our real world sound measurements.

Weighing a hefty 920 grams, the Thermaltake Jing stands 161mm tall and installs onto Intel socket 775/1155/1156/1366 and AMD socket AM2/AM3+ processors.

Behind the bright green plastic fan shroud are five 6mm diameter heatpipes which work in unison to conduct heat from a chunky copper base plate to the 110mm tall fin stack.

The Thermaltake Jing heatsink retails for about $60 USD via the usual online heatsink retailers.

Heatsink Mounting Hardware