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Rosewill RCX-Z1 Heatsink Review
Rosewill RCX-Z1 Heatsink Review
  70%   
Abstract: Rosewill ship the RCX-Z1 with a patch of pre-applied thermal compound and a PCI bracket fan speed controller. The 92mm spins at between 1700-310RPM, which generates as much as 54 dBA, according to our real world sound measurements.

 Manufacturer  Category  Published  Author 
Rosewill   Cooling / Heatsinks   Feb 26, 2007   Max Page  

Home > Reviews > Page: Acoustic Comparisons and Base Surface Quality

Acoustic Samples: Listen to this Heatsink!

With the Rosewill RCX-Z1 heatsink is a moderately audible heatsink, built with a 92mm fan that rotates at 1700-3100RPM depending on the fan speed controller setting. When connected directly to the motherboard, the heatsink defaults to full speed. To listen to this heatsink operating at full speed, and reduced speed, click on the little headphones icon below and play the sample MP3 file acoustic recordings below.

frostytech acoustic sampling chamber - high speed
standard waveform view of a 10 second recording. click on the headphones icon to listen to an mp3 recording of this heatsink in operation. the fan is rotating at 3100 rpm

frostytech acoustic sampling chamber - low speed
standard waveform view of a 10 second recording. click on the headphones icon to listen to an mp3 recording of this heatsink in operation. the fan is rotating at 1700 rpm

Sound Level Measurements: Which Heatsink is Quietest?

Listening to the actual noise a heatsink makes allows you to hear what pure numbers alone cannot get across. To further emphasize FrostyTech's reliance on cold hard facts when evaluating a heatsink, we also take noise level measurements with a sound level meter.

FrostyTech Heatsink Noise Level Measurements
Noise level Decibel measurements of each heatsinks' fan in operation are taken with the aid of a sound level meter and sound isolating enclosure. The values may be higher than the mfgr's listed specs, but are directly comparable to one another. Measurements are made on the dB (A) scale, lower values are best. Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available here.
manufacturer: model no.: fan* speed: noise level (dba): cpu** platform

Arctic Cooling Silencer 64 Ultra TC low 27.6 dB AMD
Verax Helado 36.3 dB Intel/AMD
Rosewill RCX-Z1 low 38.7 dB AMD
Gigabyte NeonCooler 8-BL 42.0 dB AMD
Coolermaster Hyper48 43.6 dB Intel/AMD
Arctic Cooling Alpine64 43.9 dB AMD
Dynatron A22 44.5 dB AMD
Zalman CNPS7000B-CU high 44.9 dB Intel/AMD
Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu high 45.2 dB AMD
Zalman CNPS7000-Cu high 45.2 dB AMD
Akasa AK-860SF 45.2 dB AMD
Noctua NH-U12 45.4 dB Intel/AMD
Ajigo MF043-044 45.4 dB AMD
Spire SP741B3 45.6 dB AMD
Scythe Shogun high 45.9 dB Intel/AMD
Rosewill RCX-Z2-EX high 45.9 dB Intel/AMD
Scythe Kama SCKK1000 47.5 dB AMD
AVC Z7U7414001 (stock AM2) low 48.1 dB AMD
Spire SP601B3 48.9 dB Intel/AMD
Thermaltake Silentboost K8 49.7 dB AMD
Zalman CNPS7700-Cu LED high 49.8 dB Intel/AMD
Zalman CNPS9500 LED high 50.3 dB Intel/AMD
Gigabyte 3D-Rocket 50.7 dB Intel/AMD
Zalman CNPS7700-Cu high 50.7 dB Intel/AMD
Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro 50.9 dB AMD
Evercool K802-715 51.5 dB AMD
OCZ Tempest 51.6 dB Intel/AMD
Scythe Samurai SCSM1000 high 51.6 dB AMD
Apack Zerotherm BTF80 51.9 dB Intel/AMD
Apack Zerotherm BTF90 52.1 dB Intel/AMD
nPowertek NPH K8-1 52.2 dB AMD
Zalman CNPS9500 AM2 high 53.2 dB AMD
Jetart JAX801 53.5 dB AMD
Thermalright Ultra 120 53.7 dB Intel/AMD
nPowerTek NPH-Big K8 54.0 dB AMD
Rosewill RCX-Z1 high 54.1 dB AMD
Coolermaster Hyper6 high 54.7 dB AMD
Xigmatek AIO-S80DP high 55.0 dB Intel/AMD
Verax Quattro 1 high 55.4 dB Intel/AMD
Arctic Cooling Silencer 64 Ultra TC high 55.5 dB AMD
Evercool Magic Cooler 55.5 dB AMD
Dynatron SK-V24 56.4 dB AMD
Zalman CNPS9700 LED high 56.5 dB Intel/AMD
Zalman FS-C77 56.5 dB Intel/AMD
Gigabyte 3D Rocket-Pro high 56.7 dB Intel/AMD
Vantec Mach1 high 56.9 dB AMD
Zalman CNPS8000 high 57.4 dB Intel/AMD
EKL V8 high 57.5 dB Intel/AMD
Sunon Watrubo 57.5 dB Intel
Antazone AS-C1000 57.6 dB Intel/AMD
Noctua NH-U9 58.4 dB Intel/AMD
Thermalright SLK-948U 58.8 dB AMD
Alpha PAL-8150 58.9 dB AMD
Enzotech Ultra-X high 59.2 dB Intel/AMD
Akasa AK-920 high 59.2 dB Intel/AMD
Akasa AK-873 high 59.2 dB AMD
Coolermaster Aquagate Mini high 59.2 dB Intel/AMD
AVC Z7U3301001 high 59.9 dB AMD
Ajigo MF064-074 high 60.3 dB AMD
Thermalfly F1-IACSHA high 60.4 dB Intel/AMD
Cooljag SFO-Q high 60.6 dB AMD
Cooljag SFO-H high 60.6 dB AMD
Gigabyte 3D Cooler-Pro high 62.5 dB Intel/AMD
Gigabyte 3D Cooler-Ultra high 63.0 dB Intel/AMD
AVC Z7U7414001 (stock AM2) high 63.0 dB AMD
Titan TTC-K8ATB/825/SC 63.1 dB AMD
CoolJag SFO-D(18SC) 64.0 dB AMD
Gigabyte GH-PCU23-VE high 65.6 dB Intel/AMD
ASUS Starice high 67.4 dB Intel/AMD
Thermaltake Polo 735 high 68.0 dB AMD
Thermaltake Venus 12 high 68.1 dB AMD
Gigabyte G-Power Pro high 71.9 dB Intel/AMD
noise level (dba)

*unless noted, for reference heatsinks with variable-speed fans only the 'high speed' (12V) fan noise measurement is included in the comparison sheet; more detailed results for the low fan speed (~5V) tests reside in each specific heatsink review. ** 'AMD' denotes compatibility with socket 754/939/940 & AM2 processors where applicable. 'Intel' denotes compatibility with socket 775 platform.

With its 92mm fan spinning at a full 3100RPM, the Rosewill RCX-Z1 heatsink produces upwards of 54.1 dBA noise. By utilizing the included fan speed controller, it is possible to reduce this noise output down to 38.7 dBA (or 1700RPM). At its stock fan speed, the Rosewill RCX-Z1 heatsink fairly average in terms of noise output.

Surface Finish and Flatness

Surface finish is an important factor that we all look for when holding a new heatsink. Flipping a cooler over to see how well the base has been machined is a quick way to judge the attention to detail that was put into making it. The following test involves the use of a Surface Roughness Comparator, which offers a concise cross section common machine surface finishes.

The Rosewill RCX-Z1 heatsink has a surface roughness of approximately 63 microinches, which is considered very good. Next, let's see how this heatsink handles the heat compared to a selection of other heatsinks!

 Previous Page ° ° Next Page 

Table of Contents:

 1:  Rosewill RCX-Z1 Heatsink Review
 2:  360° View - Rosewill RCX-Z1 Heatsink
 3: — Acoustic Comparisons and Base Surface Quality
 4:  Final Heatsink Temperature Comparisons

List all Rosewill heat sinks that Frostytech tested?

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