Spire SPA04B4 WhisperRock IV Copper Core Heatsink Review
The low-noise Spire 5PA04B4 AthlonXP heatsink supports an 80mm fan, but slims down to just a 60mm x
60mm footprint so it is easy to install. The inward curved shape of
the heatsink means that noise levels can be kept under control thanks to the
large 35mm thick fan above, while still maintaining the profile necessary to make it mountable on a socket A. Were the heatsink 80mm wide at the base
it would certainly interfere with adjacent capacitors and other board mounted
devices, making it useless.
In an effort to further enhance the efficiency of the
cooler, a 30mm diameter copper disc has been set into the base. If done
properly, the copper disk will ultimately increase the surface area of the heat
source as it interfaces with the rest of the aluminum heatsink. With a quiet
fan and copper base does the Spire
SPA04B4 have what it takes to become a useful low
noise heatsink, or is simply unfit for serious duty? Read on and find
out!
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| Heatsink Specsheet: |
- Model
No.: SPA04B4
- HS
Material: Extruded aluminum with, copper base insert
- Fan: 2300 RPM, 12V, 0.09A
- Fan Dim: 25x80x80mm
- FHS
Dimensions: 80x80x71mm
- Made
by: Spire
Sold By: www.spirecoolers.com
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Flat and smooth base finishes are one of the prime
examples of what to look for in a heatsink. The Spire SPA04B4 has a rather nice
machined base - one so flat you can even see the individual
crystaline structure of the extruded aluminum if look close enough.
Where most heatsinks are squeezed out from pretty common dies, the Spire SPA04B4 goes
one step further and modifies standard extrusion techniques with a one of the major
advances we have seen in recent times; the triangular base.
The only real problem may be that for the
triangular base to really work, the fins have to be oriented in the opposite
direction, which they are not. Still, for an impingement heatsink setup, it will be interesting to
see what effect the raised central base and copper core insert ultimately
play in the thermal efficiency of this low-noise heatsink from Spire.
72%
