Date:
Sunday , July 30, 2006
Author:
Justin Diduch
Editor:
Kyle Bennett
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AMD AM2 Processor Air Cooler Roundup

We bring together 7 CPU coolers on AMD’s new AM2 platform and put them to the test to find out how they stack up against each other.

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AMD 4 Heatpipe Cooler

Here we have the stock AMD64 Dual core cooler that came with the 4400+ 939 cooler doing a tour of duty in my network server. It is new and has never been used before this review; it also works with the AM2 stock retention bracket just fine (as will most A64 heatsinks that use the stock retention bracket).

Construction consists of four “U” shaped heat pipes soldered to a copper base that are pressed into a series of aluminum fins topped with a slim 80mm Delta fan. This fan has a small thermal diode near the hub that increases the speed of the fan as the temperature rises. At 24c the fan stayed fairly quiet at just under 3000RMP. It is possible to short the diode with a small piece of metal (like a staple) to force it to run at full speed (about 5000RPM) which is quite a bit louder (and a medium pitch) but still bearable when mounted inside a case. The base of the heatsink is flat and quite smooth with small lines from the milling process visible.

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Installation was simply a matter of sliding the clips on either side of the heatsink over the tabs on the retention bracket, then flipping the lever over to lock the whole thing in place.

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Aside from the unusually good performance for a stock cooler I was also impressed by the ability to replace the stock fan with a standard 80mm LED fan to add a touch of bling on a budget.