The Rosewill
RCX-Z2 heatsink is designed for socket 775 Intel Pentium D and Core 2 Duo
processors, and as with most heatsinks vying to push the stock
Intel heatsink out of the PC, it comes
equipped with a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) fan. The fan on the
RCX-Z2 spins at speeds of 500-3400RPM, and is internally illuminated with
blue LEDs. The fan motor is suspended from the frame, and this is
called an open fan frame style. It yields quieter operation and better
airflow at reasonably low impeller speeds, as would happen with PWM fan whose
velocity is controlled by the computer BIOS.
Pulse Width Modulation compatible fans are noted by their 4-pin power connectors,
and what PWM does is enable the BIOS to directly
control fan speed. The impeller speed increases or decreases relative to the processor's
temperature at any given moment, in this case between 500RPM and 3400RPM.
When the
Rosewill RCX-Z2 heatsink is
used with a motherboard that does not support PWM, the fan rotates at full
speed. At full tilt (3400RPM) the heatsink produces 59 dBA noise. The Rosewill
RCX-Z2 is identical to the Akasa AK-961 heatsink, which FrostyTech
has reviewed previously.
Rosewill RCX-Z2
Heatsink
|
 | |
 |
| HEATSINK
SPECSHEET |
| Manufacturer:
Rosewill |
| Model No.: RCX-Z2 |
| Materials: 52 aluminum fins, copper heat
pipes, copper base |
| Fan Mfg: n/a |
| Fan Spec: 500-3400RPM, 12V, 0.25A |
| Fan Dim: 25x90x90mm |
| Heatsink & Fan Dim: 71x96x95mm |
| Weight: 380 grams |
| Includes: thermal compound |
Compatible with Sockets: LGA775 |
| Est. Pricing: $25USD ($29CDN
/ 12GBP) | |
Rosewill's RCX-Z2 heatsink is made from a
collection of 52 thin stacked aluminum fins with zippered interlocking tabs, three
copper heatpipes, and a small block of copper at the base. The aluminum
fins are rather squat, measuring just under 35mm tall, but that gives the heatsink a
compact profile. The aluminum fins aren't nickel plated, so heatpipe-to-aluminum fin joints
are not soldered. Hopefully the joints aren't loose, or thermal transmission will suffer. The
three 6mm diameter heatpipes are soldered to the copper base.
The 90mm fan has
four internal blue LEDs to illuminate the blue plastic. The lights are pretty small,
but the effect is nice. The fan mounts on posts spaced 80mm apart, with little
plastic clips that grip the fan
frame. Intel's reference tool-free plastic snap clips are
used to install the Rosewill RCX-Z2 heatsink. The heatsink ships with a small
syringe of thermal compound.
FrostyTech's
test methodology is 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 it performance in the thermal tests!
87%
