Vantec CCK-6027D

Another less noise, more heat cooler.–Joe

SUMMARY: Vantec’s lower noise option trades off performance for hearing comfort.

Vantec was kind enough to send samples of their latest heatsink, CCK-6027D. This features a copper base with copper fins soldered to it, with a copper plated aluminum shroud holding the fan.

The fan is a Delta #AFB0612VH; it’s rated at 5500 rpm, 30 cfm and 39.5 dBA, although the fan I had ran at about 5900 rpm (maybe 31 cfm). This is far easier on the ears than the Delta 38, although a tad noiser than the YS Tech 27 cfm unit. However, no doubt cooling performance will be lower.

The base is copper while the shroud is copper plated aluminum; I noticed that some of the copper coating was peeling.

The clip features and articulated hinge – this allows you to engage the front socket lug (by the lever arm) more easily than some others. However, I found it difficult sometimes to get the rear clip onto the socket lug. Once on, you may have to rock the heatsink forward to engage the front socket lug. Do this very carefully as you may chip the CPU core.

This unit has 44 densely packed fins; I am guessing that Vantec, in its quest to lower noise, traded off more fin area for acceptable performance with a lower noise fan. This is about 168 in² surface area, or 1.16 ft².

I did notice that one side of the heatsink’s fins were not entirely contacting the base:

I don’t think this detracts significantly from performance, as it was only about 1 mm deep; I pointed this out to Vantec for correction.

Peering down into the heatsink, the density is very apparent. Part of the reason for this is the center channel; if a different clip was used that eliminated the center groove, perhaps as many as 7 additional fins could have been added, yielding even better performance.

The base I received is flat and buffed – don’t count on seeing this finish.

I prepared the Vantec by boring a hole completely through the base so I could epoxy a thermocouple above the CPU. The thermocouple is attached to an Omega HH23 Digital Thermometer. Ambient temps were measured with a thermocouple placed about 1 inch from the fan’s intake. I used Prime 95 to stress the CPU on an Iwill KK266, BD133 (MBM temps are on-die) and Abit KT7. Arctic Silver grease was used in all tests. CPU Case Temp is the temp at that point where the CPU contacts the heatsink, CPU Back Temps are measured by a thermocouple on the center back of the CPU.

In addition to motherboard tests, I also tested using a static test block. This block typically gives higher C/Ws than board tests and should be considered a “pure” C/W – i.e., free from secondary heatpath effects found on motherboards.

I measured fan noise with a Radio Shack Sound Meter placed 8″ from the fan’s intake; it measured 65 dBA. This compares to about 62 dBA for a YS Tech 27 cfm fan and about 70 for the Delta 38.

Interpreting C/W: For every watt the CPU radiates, the heatsink will cool the core by the (C/W x watts) plus ambient temp. For example, at an ambient temp of 25 C, a C/W of 0.25 with a CPU radiating 50 watts means that the CPU temp will be 50 x 0.25 = 12.5 C over ambient temp, or 37.5 C. The lower the C/W, the better.

The static block test just about splits the difference between the T-Bird and Duron/PIII results at 0.35. Vantec publishes a C/W of 0.32, and our test results average a little higher. For heatsink planning, I would use the 0.35 figure (remember: this means that a 100 watt CPU will show a 35C rise over ambient temps).

If noise does not bother you, the Delta 38 will get you over 10% better C/W – 0.31 compared to 0.35. For a 100 watt CPU, this will net you a 4 C drop in temps

The Vantec CCK-6027D at an average C/W of 0.35 is over what we consider acceptable for Socket A CPUs – 0.30. A Delta 38 can get you into better territory but at higher noise. However, if noise is a concern and you’re not aggressively pushing the CPU, the Vantec is an option worth considering.

Email Joe