Socket-A Heat Sink Comparison

Date Reviewed: October 3, 2001
Reviewed By: Jason Rabel
Companies: VantecUSA, Dynatron, Swiftech, Antec

What's on the platter?:

This roundup is five of the latest heat sinks out on the market. Three are all copper, one is all aluminum, and one is a hybrid mix. Also each heat sink came with a different speed fan that varied from the whisper quiet to the screaming loud! However in addition to their stock fan on all heat sinks, except for the Antec, I used the ever-popular 38CFM Delta so a more accurate measure of performance could be given.

Also it should be noted that these heat sinks can also be used for P3 applications, except for Antec, which has separate model for the P3.

The actual lineup of coolers is as follows:

• Vantec CCK-6035D

• Vantec CCK-6027D

• Dynatron DY1206BH-638

• Swiftech MCX-370

• Antec Jet Cool

Vantec CCK-6035D:

The CCK-6035D by Vantec has gained widespread acceptance as an excellent heat sink at a reasonable price. It has certainly been my favorite ever since it was released. It's a solid heat sink with an easy to use clip, and comes with the 38CFM Delta fan w/finger guard. A 3-4 pin adapter and silicone compound is also included in the box.

(click on image for close-up)

Vantec CCK-6027D:

The CCK-6027D by Vantec is a bit smaller than its older brother the 6035D, but it still packs quite a punch. In the first picture you can see the two heat sinks side-by-side. While the 6027D is shorter, it does have more fins than the 6035D. Also the entire heat sink has been coated or polished with something to make it very glossy. The base is as flat and smooth as any heat sink I have seen. Another feature of this heat sink is that is came with a 6000RPM Delta fan which I noticed was MUCH quieter than the 7000RPM (38 CFM) model. I don't know if this is true for all production models or just the particular sample I received. You don't know how refreshing it was to turn on the computer with this fan, it was very nice not to hear the regular high-pitch whine, but more of a low hum. A+ for Vantec for all the attention to detail and quieter fan!

 
(click on image for close-up)

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