Information not expressly stated anymore concerns the pre-applied thermal pad (we remove this for testing any way), the number of fans, general fan noise and clip force observations, and ambient temperature.

As always, Frosty's Synthetic Temperature Test results for the Socket 478 Intel Pentium 4 platform are grouped according to the results of the 100W test die.

FrostyTech Synthetic Temperature Heatsink Test Results: *Ranked according to 100W interface die test results.

( Socket 478 - Pentium4 ) Rise Above Ambient Temp. (c)
Mfg.	Model	27mm large copper block		27mm large copper block
		50W		100W
Cooljag (high)	CJC66IC-A	10.4		21.3
Gigabyte (high)	PCU31-VH	12.5		22.3
Coolermaster (high)	Hyper6 KHCV81U1	12.4		23.4
Zalman	CNPS7000A-Cu	12.4		24.9
Alpha	S-PAL8952	12.7		25.4
Thermal Integration	TI-RV104N	14.4		25.4
AVC	Z7U7408001	12.9		25.8
Alpha	PAL8942	14.7		26.1
Gigabyte (high)	3DCooler-pro	15.6		26.6
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	14.1		27.7
AVC	117140	15.2		27.8
JMC Products	401100	15.6		27.9
Coolermaster (high)	Jet4	12.6		28.1
Taisol	CEP447181	14.6		28.7
Jetart	JAP416A	11.8		29.1
Thermal Integration	TI-A8736N	12.4		29.1
Arkua	8568	15.4		29.3
Intel	Stock 3.06GHz	15.0		30.1
Jetart	JAP407A	13.8		30.2
Taisol	CCP445172	17.5		30.7
Thermal Integration	TI-RV108N	15.9		31.7
Vantec	VP4-7245	18.0		31.7
Arkua	Q85X-7J	16.7		31.9
Thermal Integration (high)	TI-V7035TN	18.1		32.7
AVC	Z7H2403012	15.2		33.4
Cooljag	JVC661A	17.3		33.5
TS Heatronics (6" fan dist)	NCU-1000	15.6		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	838T-7G	18.7		36.7
Intel	Socket 478	19.4		37.4
Zalman	CNPS5700D-Cu	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
Evercool	CUW8-715	21.8		40.8
Arctic Cooling	SuperSilent4 Pro	21.7		43.0
Verax	P16	27.4		54.0
Dynatron	DC1U-B02	32.9		67.4
		50W		100W

When it comes time to beat the heat, you can rest assured that the Alpha Novatech S-PAL8952 heatsink certainly has what it takes! In the rise above ambient temperature test results for the 100W heat load on FrostyTech's synthetic temperature test platform, the Alpha S-PAL8952 heatsink performed well enough to be considered a performance cooler. Compared to the other Pentium 4 heatsinks used in this comparison, the S-PAL8952 was about 4 degrees warmer than the top-listed heatsink, and approximately 4 decibels quieter as well.

The Alpha S-PAL8952 would certainly be a good heatsink for overclocking applications, and may even benefit from a sightly higher CFM fan if noise is not an issue. On the opposite end of the spectrum, for low noise cooling the stock configured Alpha S-PAL8952, while not in the 60 dB range, is still not quiet enough to really be considered a contender. There are a couple other heatsinks with similar thermal performance, and much quieter noise levels, the Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu being a prime example. However, if the S-PAL8952 were paired with a quieter 80mm fan, it should have enough headroom to provide respectable cooling.

In its stock configuration, the Alpha S-PAL8952 certainly improves on the thermal performance reached by its predecessor, the PAL8942. As is typical of Alpha heatsinks, the traditional socket 478 heatsink retention frame has been ditched for a slightly more complicated mounting system. Installing the brass mounting points on the motherboard will require the user to effectively empty their computer out first, but the process is pretty straightforward once you get past this inconvenience.

The heatsink itself is held in place not so much with screw pressure, but by the force of four compression springs. This helps to ensure that the S-PAL8952 is seated firmly, and evenly on the Pentium 4 heatspreader. To lessen the chance of mistakes, I'd recommend anyone installing this heatsink to have a look at the instructions included along with the package. And once installed, swapping out a processor is not overly difficult - the heatsink can be unscrewed from its mounting posts, the new processor installed, and the S-PAL8952 simply reinstalled.

As a heatsink manufacturer, there are only a handful of companies Alpha compete with on the quality level - very few heatsink producers can justify building such precise heatsinks for consumer markets - but that certainly is the case here. Ultimately though, we have found from countless heatsink reviews, that appearances really don't amount to all the much in the grand scheme of things. Thermal performance is the deciding factor, and while there are other heatsinks that have achieved slightly cooler results, the Alpha S-PAL8952 is certainly a high performance heatsink. Retailing for about $40USD , the Alpha S-PAL8952 offers performance enthusiasts a very compelling option for cooling Prescott and Extreme Edition Intel Pentium 4 Processors.

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