[Socket 478] Rise Above Ambient Temp. (c)
Mfg.	Model	27mm large copper block		27mm large copper block
		50W		100W
Thermalright (high)	SLK-900U	11.6		20.5
Cooljag (high)	CJC66IC-A	10.4		21.3
Alpha	PAL8942	14.7		26.1
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	14.1		27.7
AVC	117140	15.2		27.8
JMC	401100	15.6		27.9
Coolermaster	IHC-H71	14.0		28.1
Taisol	CEP447181	14.6		28.7
Jetart	JAP416A	11.8		29.1
Arkua	8568	15.4		29.3
Intel	Stock 3.06GHz	15.0		30.1
Jetart	JAP407A	13.8		30.2
Spire	SP411C5	17.3		31.7
Taisol	CCP445172	17.5		30.7
Arkua	Q85X-7J	16.7		31.9
Dynatron	DC1207BMX	17.2		32.4
Thermal Integration (high)	TI-V7035TN	18.1		32.7
Cooljag	JVC661A	17.3		33.5
TS Heatronics (6" fan dist)	NCU-1000	15.6		33.6
Dynatron	DC1206BMY	18.6		33.6
Scythe	Kamakaze	18.9		34.1
Zalman	CNPS6500-AlCu	17.2		34.3
Taisol	CEP426151A	19.4		35.4
Spire	SP420B8	17.4		36.2
Arkua	8456X-8T	18.6		36.3
Arkua	838T-7G	18.7		36.7
Scythe	Kamakaze	17.9		36.9
Intel	Socket 478	19.4		37.4
Dynatron	DC1207BMW	19.5		37.9
Zalman	CNPS5700D-Cu	18.9		38.3
Titan	CW9TB/SC	18.9		38.3
Evercool	NW9F715CA	19.1		38.5
Aopen	ACP4LC	17.9		38.8
Globalwin	VA476	20.8		39.3
Dynatron	DC1206BM-S	20.8		39.6
AVC	117160	20.3		39.8
Arctic Cooling	SuperSilent4 Pro	21.7		43.0
Dynatron	DC1206BMV	22.0		45.1
Vantec	GSN-7105	25.1		46.6
Arkua	848X-6B	27.3		53.2
Verax	P16	27.4		54.0
Dynatron	DC1U-B02	32.9		67.4
		50W		100W

There are a few more socket 478 heatsinks than there were socket A heatsinks, but the Scythe Kamakaze still manages to come in basically dead center in the list of reference heatsinks. Therefore, we can easily say the Kamakaze offers good performance, but doesn't quite have the ingredients to fall into the performance heatsink category.

Looking at the Scythe Kamakaze I can't help but think of the good old Alpha Novatech heatsinks which used to run the show. While the physical construction is quite similar between the Kamakaze and Alpha, there are distinct differences. The use of a fan shroud is an interesting adaptation, but one which may have been best served had a more powerful fan been used. The Kamakaze doesn't fit into the low-noise category seeing as it produces 51 dBA noise in our tests, but could if the fan controller were better thought out.

It doesn't give me much confidence to see the fan actually stop while trying to find the lower limits of the fan speed. This indicates that either the rheostat is too strong, or the fan really isn't designed to work too far below 12V. In either case, the fan controller is not something I would recommend using.

I should also mention that I'm not much of a fan of the fact that you have to use the fan controller. The molex pass through cable is one thing, but it would have been much nicer to have a standard 3-pin motherboard connector, and separate fan speed controller with appropriate jacks that could be used if desired.

Bottom line, the Scythe Kamakaze heatsink is a good cooler for both the socket A and socket 478 platforms, but doesn't have the right mix of qualities to give the performance heatsinks a real run for their titles.

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