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
Enzotech	Ultra-X	high	18.7	59.1
Noctua	NH-U9		18.8	58.4
Akasa	AK-920	high	20.2	52.9
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
Rosewill	RCX-Z2-EX	high	26.3	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
Thermalright	SLK-948U		29.4	58.8
AVC	Z7U7414001 (stock AM2)	low	29.6	48.1
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
Xigmatek	AIO-S80DP	high	30.7	55.0
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	high	31.0	45.2
Coolermaster	Hyper48		31.7	43.6
Rosewill	RCX-Z1	high	31.9	54.1
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
Rosewill	RCX-Z1	low	42.7	38.7
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 Rosewill RCX-Z1 heatsink yields a rise above ambient temperature its slowest fan speed of 42.7°C, with 38.7 dBA noise. When the RCX-Z1's fan speed is increased from 1700RPM to 3100RPM with the included fan speed controller, the heatsink posts better thermal results. At 3100RPM, the fan pushes out 54.1 dBA noise and the rise above ambient temperature result decreases to 31.9°C.

In comparison to the socket AM2 Asia Vital Components Z7U7414001 reference heatsink, the Rosewill RCX-Z1 doesn't really stack up. The AVC heatsink runs significantly cooler at full speed, and at its lowest fan speed setting runs quieter and slightly cooler than the Rosewill RCX-Z1 at full throttle. Thus, while the Rosewill RCX-Z1 is a satisfactory AMD K8 heatsink in its default mode, it doesn't outperform the stock socket AM2 unit supplied with most AMD Athlon64 processors. The fan speed controller included with this heatsink does help reduce noise levels, but as we see here it also impacts thermal performance substantially. A low price may be the only really positive mark in the Rosewill RCX-Z1's favour. Yet given the wide choice of heatsinks in this reference list which perform both cooler, and quieter, there are better options to consider if a heatsink upgrade is on your mind.

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