The Evercool Magic Cooler (MAG01-CA) heatsink is one
of those really low cost thermal solutions which tries to do everything under
the sun. If we are to believe its packaging, the Evercool
MAG01-CA heatsink "Keeps your system running cool" - whether that be a
socket
A/370 K7/PIII processor, the newest K8 powerhouse, or a socket 478 Intel Pentium 4.
While the MAG01-CA certainly installs onto all of
those processor form factors, it's been our experience that a heatsink is either
best suited for a large heatspreader capped CPU or for pumping heat away from
the small surface area of bare silicon... almost never both.
The extruded aluminum Evercool MAG01-CA has most
recently been marketed towards K8 AMD Athlon64 application, so that is what well be
focusing on in this review. The FrostyTech Mk.II Synthetic Thermal Test Platform will help us
determine just where the Evercool MAG01-CA stands in comparison to a multitude
of other Athlon64 heatsinks. Will its compact 70mm fan deliver enough airflow?
Can its slim 4mm thick disk of copper set
into the base really make any difference? Is
this heatsink really suitable for socket 754/939 AMD Athlon 64 processors?
Evercool MAG01-CA
Heatsink
|
 | |
 |
| HEATSINK
SPECSHEET |
| Manufacturer: Evercool |
| Model No.: MAG01-CA |
| Materials: Extruded 6063 aluminum with copper
insert plate. |
| Fan Mfg: Evercool EC7015M12CA |
| Fan Spec: 3500RPM, 12V, 0.18A |
| Fan Dim: 15x70x70mm |
| Heatink & Fan Dim: 58x73x84mm |
| Weight: 325 grams |
| Includes: thermal paste, plastic K8
retention frame and clips for P4, K7, K8 processors |
Compatible with Sockets: 370/A/478/754/939/940 |
| Est. Pricing: $18USD
($22CDN) | |
The Evercool MAG01-CA heatsink comes with
three sets of clipping mechanisms, one for each of the different
CPU sockets it is compatible with. The Pentium 4 clips are tool free, while the K7 and K8 sets
require screwdrivers. A plastic socket 754/939 retention frame and accompanying back plate are also in the
package. There are four different versions of the Magic Cooler produced by the company, the differences being a fan which uses a long life bearing, one or two ball bearings or sleeve bearing. The MAG01-CA model shown here utilizes a single ball bearing in the fan motor.
Other than the
really nice shade of purple the anodized aluminum extrusion has been dyed, the
Evercool MAG01-CA doesn't have very many other characteristics that stand
out. A 35mm x 4mm thick disk of copper is set into the aluminum base of the
heatsink, but as we'll see in a moment its' effectiveness may be cut short by a
number of deep cross-cuts in the extrusion.
If you
would like to read about FrostyTech's Test Methodology and the equipment we use, that's outlined in detail right
here . Now let's move forward and take a closer look
at this heatsink, its acoustic characteristics, and of course how it handles the heat!
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