Heatsink Roundup
Reviewed by James 02.19.2004
Overview
The heatsinks that will be reviewed are the SK-6+, SK-7, and SK-900u by Thermalright; the Goliath 2 SE and the Gladiator 2 by OCZ; the XDreamSE by Cooler Master; and Microfins new CPU Cooler:
| Model/Manufacturer | SK-6+ Thermalright | SK-7 Thermalright | SK-900u Thermalright | |
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| Dimensions (no fan) | 74Lx65.5Wx33H mm | 85Lx65.5Wx42H mm | 99Lx59Wx45H mm | |
| Weight | 382g | 485g | 570g | |
| Model/Manufacturer | Gladiator II by OCZ | Goliath 2 SE by OCZ | BH-625 by Microfins | XDream SE by Cooler Master |
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| Dimensions (no fan) | 62Lx70Wx29H mm | 58Lx64Wx38H mm | 63Lx62Wx60H mm | 80Lx69Wx45H mm |
| Weight | 355g | 420g | 312g | 435g |
Evaluation:
As evinced by the below photos, a well-polished base is standard on new heatsinks, and copper is the material of choice. The polished base helps to increase the surface area in contact with the processor core, maximizing heat conduction to the rest of the heatsink. All of the heatsinks acted like mirrors, with only slight variations in the quality of the reflection. The performance of these heatsinks will likely rest more on how effectively the heatsink is shaped and manufactured to transfer heat not only from the core to the edges from the heatsink, but also from the heatsink to the air being moved through the fins by the CPU fan.The heatsinks, for the most part, are all attached with standard 3-pronged socket connectors. The Microfin, disappointingly, attaches to the socket using only the middle clip, though it is enough to hold on the lighter metal. The other exception is the SK-900u which screws down to the physical motherboard through the Socket screw holes located on most motherboards, though not all. While this assures that the massive chunk of copper does not rip off your socket, it is exceedingly difficult to install as one must remove his/her motherboard from the case to install this beast. The good news is that, once installed, you can take it off and put it back on with relative ease and no motherboard removal.
Fans are attached using a variety of methods. The Goliath, to attach the included 80mm fan, needs a 80mm-to-60mm adaptor, though it is included. Thermalright, in particular, uses a unique method for attaching fans. Instead of screwing the fan into the heatsink like most manufacturers do, Thermal right includes little several pairs of little strands of wire, which use tension on two sides of the heatsink to hold the fan in place. Initially, this sounds quite convenient as you no longer have to deal with a screwdriver but just use a tough flick of the wrist to remove and replace fans. However, the wires only come in so many sizes, drastically limiting the ability to put on the desired sized fan. Furthermore, once the wires are mixed together, it takes forever, not only to untangle them, but to find the matching pair that goes with the fan of choice. The time saved by easy replacement of fan is certainly lost rummaging through tangled wire clips.
Though not shown here, the Microfins heatsink came with a thermal pad attached. While many processor companies and some consumers prefer thermal pads, they are generally deemed insufficient by overclockers who need to transfer every last bit of energy out of their processor to achieve the next step in overclocking. If this heatsink looks like it is for you, but you hate thermal pads, don't fret. You do not need to scrape at the incredibly sticky gunk for several hours. While rubbing alcohol will prove ineffective at dissolving the pad, a product called Goo-Gone, or any similar cleaner, will prove extremely effective at removing the pad. However, these products are oil based and will destroy your processor if not thoroughly removed by rubbing alcohol. Remember to use a high alcohol to water ratioed, in the 90% range or above, or you may leave water on your heatsink, which certainly doesn't mix with electricity.
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| SK-6+ | SK-7 | SK-900u | XDreamSE |
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| Microfin | Gladiator 2 | Goliath 2 |
| « Introduction | Benchmarks » |
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