FrostyTech Mk.II
Synthetic Thermal Heatsink Test Results
AMD Athlon64 / FX / X2 &
Sempron class heatsinks
Results
based on readings from a 38x38mm copper interface die with 125W heat
load on the K8 version of the Mk.II Test Platform. Temperature
results listed for each heatsink were calculated by determining the
rise over ambient temperatures at time of test. Information on
Frostytech's test methodology is available
here. |
 |
| Socket 939/940/754 &
AM2 compatible CPU heatsinks | |
|
| manufacturer: |
model no.: |
*fan speed: |
125w thermal test
(°c) |
noise level (dba) |
|
| Thermalright |
Ultra-120 |
|
12.4 |
53.7 |
| Zalman |
CNPS9700 LED |
high |
16.5 |
56.5 |
| AVC |
Z7U7414001 (stock AM2) |
high |
17.0 |
63.0 |
| Noctua |
NH-U12 |
|
17.5 |
45.4 |
| Gigabyte |
GH-PCU23-VE |
high |
17.5 |
65.6 |
| Gigabyte |
G-Power Pro |
high |
18.6 |
71.9 |
| Noctua |
NH-U9 |
|
18.8 |
58.4 |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF90 |
|
20.5 |
52.1 |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper6 |
high |
20.5 |
54.7 |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF80 |
|
21.3 |
51.9 |
| Thermaltake |
Venus 12 |
high |
21.7 |
68.1 |
| Cooljag |
SFO-Q |
high |
22.2 |
60.6 |
| ASUS |
Starice |
high |
22.8 |
67.4 |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 AM2 |
high |
23.0 |
53.2 |
| Arctic Cooling |
Freezer 64 Pro |
|
23.2 |
50.9 |
| Coolermaster |
Aquagate Mini |
high |
23.2 |
59.2 |
| Thermaltake |
Polo 735 |
high |
23.4 |
68.0 |
| Cooljag |
SFO-H |
high |
23.6 |
60.6 |
| Alpha |
PAL-8150 |
|
23.7 |
58.9 |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 LED |
high |
23.8 |
50.3 |
| Verax |
Helado |
|
24.3 |
36.3 |
| AVC |
Z7U3301001 (stock 939) |
high |
24.6 |
59.9 |
| Zalman |
CNPS8000 |
high |
24.8 |
57.4 |
| Gigabyte |
3D Cooler-Ultra |
high |
24.8 |
63.0 |
| OCZ |
Tempest |
|
26.0 |
51.6 |
| Scythe |
Shogun |
high |
26.0 |
45.9 |
| EKL |
V8 |
high |
26.3 |
57.5 |
| Thermalfly |
F1-IACSHA |
high |
26.6 |
60.4 |
| Zalman |
FS-C77 |
|
26.7 |
56.5 |
| Gigabyte |
3D Rocket-Pro |
high |
26.9 |
56.7 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7700-Cu |
high |
27.0 |
50.7 |
| Gigabyte |
3D Cooler-Pro |
high |
27.0 |
62.5 |
| nPowerTek |
NPH-Big K8 |
|
27.8 |
54.0 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7700-Cu LED |
high |
28.1 |
49.8 |
| Akasa |
AK-873 |
high |
28.2 |
59.2 |
| Spire |
SP601B3 |
|
28.3 |
48.9 |
| Ajigo |
MF064-074 |
high |
28.8 |
60.3 |
| Gigabyte |
3D-Rocket |
|
28.9 |
50.7 |
| Vantec |
Mach1 |
high |
29.2 |
56.9 |
| CoolJag |
SFO-D(18SC) |
|
29.6 |
64.0 |
| Antazone |
AS-C1000 |
|
30.2 |
57.6 |
| Arctic Cooling |
Alpine 64 |
|
30.5 |
43.9 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7000A-Cu |
high |
30.3 |
45.2 |
| Dynatron |
SK-V24 |
|
30.3 |
56.4 |
| Verax |
Quattro 1 |
high |
30.7 |
55.4 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7000-Cu |
high |
31.0 |
45.2 |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper48 |
|
31.7 |
43.6 |
| Scythe |
Kama SCKK1000 |
|
31.9 |
47.5 |
| Scythe |
Samurai SCSM1000 |
high |
32.1 |
51.6 |
| Zalman |
CNPS7000B-CU |
high |
32.3 |
44.9 |
| Thermaltake |
Silentboost K8 |
|
32.3 |
49.7 |
| Jetart |
JAX801 |
|
33.2 |
53.5 |
| Dynatron |
A22 |
|
34.5 |
44.5 |
| nPowertek |
NPH K8-1 |
|
34.6 |
52.2 |
| Ajigo |
MF043-044 (stock 754) |
|
35.0 |
45.4 |
| Arctic Cooling |
Silencer 64 Ultra TC |
|
37.5 |
55.5 |
| Gigabyte |
NeonCooler 8-BL |
|
37.7 |
42.0 |
| Titan |
TTC-K8ATB/825/SC |
|
38.7 |
63.1 |
| Akasa |
AK-860SF |
|
39.4 |
45.2 |
| Evercool |
K802-715 |
|
42.1 |
51.5 |
| Spire |
SP741B3 |
|
43.2 |
45.6 |
| Evercool |
Magic Cooler |
|
46.6 |
55.5 |
| ASUS |
Starice |
low |
92.4+ |
34.4 |
|
|
|
125w thermal test
(°c) |
noise level (dba) |
| *heatsinks are ranked according
to the 125w thermal test results column (rise over ambient temp.). low
temperatures with low noise levels are considered best. for reference
heatsinks with variable-speed fans, only the high speed (12v) fan test
result is included in the comparison sheet; more detailed results reside
in each specific heatsink review. |
With a 125W heat load applied by the FrostyTech synthetic
thermal test platform, the nPowerTek NPH-K8
Big heatsink yields a rise above ambient temperature of 27.8°C, with 54.0
dBA noise generated. The results shown here
are valid only with the 120mm Martech D712025125Z2N fan we used; if
you swap it out
for another unit in an effort to produce less noise the thermal values may
change.
On the
whole, the thermal performance of the nPowerTek NPH-K8 Big heatsink is slightly
lower than the stock socket 393 AVC Z7U3301001 heatsink (a difference of 3.2°C)
and better than the old standard socket 754 Ajigo MF043-044 heatsink (a difference of
7.2°C).
The TTIC
nPowerTek NPH-K8 Big is a good mid-level AMD K8 heatsink, situated almost at the
dead center of this reference list in fact. Noise levels are pretty moderate
too, and comparable to heatsinks which run warmer. Unfortunately, this version
of the product is not socket AM2 compatible.
Given the opportunity, there are three changes FrostyTech would
make to this heatsink. First we would alter the aluminum mounting bracket so
it is not flush with the base of the copper heat column. Second, those aluminum
fins would get a nice nickel plating allowing them to be soldered directly
to the copper column, and ensuring a better thermal interface. Lastly, we'd
add some texture and geometry to the straight flat aluminum fins to enhance heat
transfer. nPowerTek
is certainly on the right path here, but the NPH-K8 Big heatsink still
feels like it could do well with a few additional refinements....
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