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Intel FCLGA4-S Core 2 Extreme Reference Heatsink Review
Intel FCLGA4-S Core 2 Extreme Reference Heatsink Review
  86%   
Abstract: Let's spend some quality time with Intel's newest 45nm Core 2 Extreme class reference cooler and find out if it's better than every heatsink ever made, or not.

 Manufacturer  Category  Published  Author 
Intel   Cooling / Heatsinks   May 07, 2008   Max Page  

Home > Reviews > Page: Intel LGA775 Heatsink Temperature Comparisons

FrostyTech Mk.II Synthetic Thermal Heatsink Test Results
Intel Pentium D / Extreme Edition & Quad Core class heatsinks tested at 150W
Intel Core 2 Duo / Pentium 4 / Celeron class heatsinks tested at 85W

Results based on readings from a 30x30mm copper interface die with 150W and 85W heat loads applied on the LGA775 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 775 compatible CPU heatsinks
manufacturer: model no.: fan speed: 150w
thermal test* (°c)
85w
thermal test (°c)
noise level (dba)

Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer high 16.1 10.0 51.3
Xigmatek HDT-S1283 high 16.8 10.7 50.7
Thermalright Ultra 120 17.8 10.6 53.7
Coolermaster Hyper Z600 18.0 11.6 47.7
3Rsystem Iceage 120 high 18.2 12.1 47.9
Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme 18.4 11.4 44.5
Xigmatek HDT-SD964 high 18.8 11.6 57.2
SilenX iXtrema IXC-120HA2 high 18.9 11.2 52.9
Coolermaster Hyper 212 19.0 11.8 45.9
Apack Zerotherm BTF92 OC Ed high 19.0 11.2 53.6
Zalman CNPS9700 LED high 19.0 10.4

56.5

Xigmatek HDT-S983 high 19.5 11.8 52.7
Scythe Mugen 19.5 11.4 46.0
Tuniq Tower 120 high 19.6 12.2 51.6
Thermalright Ultra-90 high 19.6 13.0 56.2
Apack Zerotherm Nirvana 120 high 19.8 12.3 49.2
Enzotech Ultra-X high 20.0 8.5 59.1
Zalman CNPS9700NT high 20.3 12.4 52.2
Scythe Infinity SCINF-1000 20.3 12.6 37.8
OCZ Vendetta high 21.3 13.5 52.8
Noctua NH-U12P high

21.3

13.4 40.7
Apack Zerotherm BTF90 21.8 12.7 52.1
Xigmatek HDT-S963 high 21.9 13.7 50.2
Akasa AK-965 high 22.2 13.8 48.1
Apack Zerotherm BTF80 22.8 13.9 51.9
Zalman CNPS8700 LED high 23.2 14.1 48.1
Cooljag Falcon 92-AL high 23.2 14.2 52.1
Rosewill RCX-Z3 high 23.3 14.0 58.6
Coolink Silentator high 23.5 16.4 41.2
Scythe Mine Rev. B 23.6 15.0 36.8
Cooljag Falcon 92-Cu high 23.6 14.8 52.8
Akasa AK-920 high 24.3 14.1 52.9
Intel FCLGA4-S Reference (P mode 2900RPM) high 24.5 15.2 61.1
Scythe Zipang 24.7 15.2 33.1
Glacialtech Igloo 5750 PWM high 24.9 14.6 52.3
Asus Arctic Square high 24.9 14.9 44.9
Akasa AK-922 (EVObue) high 25.5 15.4 60.3
Coolermaster Aquagate Mini R80 high 25.7 16.2 59.2
Asus Silent Square EVO high 25.8 15.6 42.8
Glacialtech Igloo 5610 PWM high 25.9 15.9 59.5
Thermalright SI-128SE 26.5 15.2 44.5
Scythe Andy Samuri Master SCASM-1000 26.7 14.2 38.4
Noctua NH-U9B high 27.1 17.2 41.9
ASUS Triton 77 high 27.7 17.6 41.2
Auras SLC-747 high 27.9 25.7 52.2
Auras LPT-700 28.3 16.9 52.2
Intel FCLGA4-S Reference (Q mode 2000RPM) low 28.9 17.9 52.1
Thermalfly F1-IACSHA high 29.0 18.3 60.4
nPowertek TTIC NPH1000 29.3 16.8 47.5
Glacialtech Igloo 5710 Silent 29.4 18.0 43.4
Thermalfly I75DUB high 29.5

16.8

68.5
Zalman CNPS9500 AT 29.6 17.3 53.3
Glacialtech Igloo 5750 Silent 29.8 18.5 35.5
Coolermaster Hyper TX2 29.9 18.8 53.7
Alpha Novatech PRE9060M92P high 29.9 18.5 51.5
Scythe Kama Cross 30.0 18.8 40.0
Akasa AK-961 30.0 18.7

60.7

Auras LPT-709 30.1 18.6 43.9
Rosewill RCX-Z2-EX high 30.1 18.7 45.9
nPowertek NPH-775-1 30.1 18.8 50.1
Glacialtech Igloo 5610 Silent 30.4 17.1 44.7
Sunon Waturbo 30.6 18.3 57.5
Auras CTC-868 (closed) 31.0 18.6 48.7
Akasa Revo (horizontal) high 31.0 20.3 44.5
Scythe Shuriken high 31.4 18.8 38.2
Apack CF800 high 31.4 20.7 48.4
Thermaltake Jungle512 high 31.6 20.4 60.8
Coolage Frozen Orb F0-Z924AL high 32.0 19.9 48.9
Xigmatek AIO-S80DP high 32.4 21.4 55.0
Scythe Katana II 32.5 18.6 37.9
Rosewill RCX-Z2

32.6

19.3 59.9
Zalman CNPS7700-Cu high 32.9 19.7 50.7
Apack CF900 high 32.9 20.3 48.3
Evercool PT02-9232CP 33.3 19.9 63.3
Zalman CNPS7700-Cu LED high 33.5 20.6 49.8
Scythe Ninja Mini 33.7 19.9 41.7
Thermalright MST-977SLE 33.8 20.0 46.5
Intel Stock Pentium D high 33.8 20.7 47.5
Scythe Orochi SCORC-1000 34.0 20.8 27.8
Thermolab TLI-S Micro Silencer 34.7 19.2 52.0
nPowerTek SF775-2 high 34.7 21.1 64.6
Asus Silent Knight 2 high 34.9 21.4 46.2
Akasa AK-960E 36.1 21.4 56.3
Gigabyte Volar GH-PSV21-FB high 36.3 22.1 56.1
Auras SMF-660 36.4 23.0 43.4
Zalman CNPS7500-Cu LED high 36.4 22.9 50.9
Thermalfly I75DUH 37.8 22.8 48.7
Akasa AK-975CU high 38.4 23.0 47.7
Cooljag OAK-H high 38.5 22.9 55.7
Cooljag OAK-H2 high 38.6 24.1 55.6
LS Cable SHS-T700 38.7 22.8 48.5
Arctic Cooling Alpine 7 Pro high 40.5 23.8 44.1
Intel FCLGA4-S Reference (1000RPM) low 41.0 24.5 44.9
Intel Stock Core 2 Duo 49.2 29.0 36.7
Thermolab TLI-U Nano Silencer 50.4 28.8 48.3
Glacialtech Igloo 5062 Cu Light 50.6 29.7 45.2
Glacialtech Igloo 5057 E 58.5 36.1 53.4
Asus Triton 75 58.6 16.1 49.6
Spire Fourier IV SP607B3-C 63.6 18.7 60.2
150w
thermal test (°c)
85w
thermal test (°c)
noise level (dba)
*heatsinks are ranked according to the 150w 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.

The heat output from Intel processors varies widely between single and multi-core processors, so Frostytech relies on two thermal values that represent the upper limits of existing CPU families.

With a 150W heat load applied by the Intel LGA775 version of FrostyTech's synthetic thermal test platform, the Intel FCLGA4-S reference heatsink was able to maintain a test temperature of 24.5°C over ambient, at full fan speed (P mode).

The noise generated by the fan spinning at 2900RPM is a hefty 61.1 dBA according to our real world sound measurements. This is little bit loud to live with on a constant basis...

If we flick the switch from "P" to "Q" mode, the fan slows to a moderately audible 52.1 dBA and test temperatures rise 5 degrees to 28.9°C over ambient.

The next fan speed tested is not directly user controlled, but it serves as a good example of what's attainable in a cool running system with the BIOS in control of the PWM fan speed. The rotational speed was dialed down to 1000RPM, and this saw test temperatures increase significantly to 41.0°C over ambient. Noise levels fell to their lowest, 44.9 dBA.

For the next round of testing the Intel FCLGA4-S reference heatsink was tested with an 85W heat load. A heat load of 85W is more in line with the actual thermal loads Core 2 Duo processors.

The FCLGA4-S heatsink maintained a 15.2°C rise in temperature in Performance fan mode with 85W applied. When operating in Quiet mode the test temperature held steady at 17.9°C over ambient. With the fan slowed to 1000RPM the result was 24.5°C over ambient.

So there you have it, Intel's best and brightest socket 775 heatsink compared to 100 of the best third party Intel heatsinks available.

The verdict?

Intel's FCLGA4-S reference heatsink offers good thermal performance at full fan speed where it's also quite noisy. As you can see by the reference list, there are many other heatsinks which offer both cooler temperatures and lower noise output, though to be fair few are as vertically compact and I don't think any are as lightweight.

Intel's FCLGA4-S reference heatsink offers a good ratio of performance-to-noise when set to the quiet fan mode. If you're using this heatsink with a 45nm Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 processor right now, you may as well leave the switch permanently set to "Q". The rise in temperature is moderate, the drop in noise is significant.

If you're an enthusiast looking for the lowest temperatures an air cooled heatsink can provide, and you don't mind tall tower heatsinks or heavyweights, there are plenty of better performing third party heatsinks to pick from. Where weight and height restrictions are critical factors, Intel's FCLGA4-S reference heatsink remains very competitive. In all other respects the FCLGA4-S reference model is a good all around LGA775 heatsink.

Related Articles:

The Top 5 best heatsinks for low noise and low temperature are ranked here. For more reviews on the latest heatsinks and cooling solutions, rely on FrostyTech's inventory of 400+ heatsink reviews. Here are a few other articles that you might enjoy as well.

- Xigmatek HDT-SD964 Exposed Heatpipe Base Heatsink Review
- Scythe Orochi SCORC-1000 Low Noise Heatsink
- SilenX iXtrema IXC-120HA2 Heatsink Review
- Noctua NH-U9B Low Noise Heatsink Review
- Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer Heatsink
- ASUS Silent Knight II Heatsink Review
- Coolermaster Hyper Z600 Passive Heatsink Review

 Previous Page ° Heat Sink Review Index  

Table of Contents:

 1:  Intel FCLGA4-S Core 2 Extreme Reference Heatsink Review
 2:  360° View - Intel FCLGA4-S Reference Heatsink
 3:  Acoustic Sample and Heatsink Sound Levels
 4: — Intel LGA775 Heatsink Temperature Comparisons

List all Intel heat sinks that Frostytech tested?

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