A Roundup of Coolers for Pentium 4: Q4'2003
New "boxed" Intel cooler
Increased heat emission of processors resulted in that Intel had to look for new approaches to improving the cooling system. This mainly applies to the optimization of airflows: the BTX-format case was presented for the public judgment. However, a long time will pass until the new cases are introduced everywhere, but for now the company is trying to improve the design of the processor cooler. First owners of the first Pentium4 3.06 (stepping C1) processors have got the opportunity to estimate the efficiency of the new "boxed" cooler.
The main distinction from the "old" design (some time ago we tested such a cooler) is in the massive copper plate installed on the cooler base.
The job of the copper plate is to maximally spread heat off the processor core to the aluminum fins. Such a technical solution demonstrates the best efficiency with open-core processors. But on Pentium4 processors is originally closed with a heat spreader (a nickel-plated copper plate) which protects the core against mechanical damages. But the cooling efficiency of an aluminum-copper cooler will not be much better than that made fully of aluminum.
As regards this cooler, its efficiency seems dubious because of the poor contact between the radiator fins and the base. Each fin is deepened into the base by approximately one fourth; besides, no interface is there in the contact point.
In all the other respects, the designs of "old" and "new" coolers fully coincide.
In particular, to fasten the cooler to the socket, a quite awkward system with a fastening frame is used. In installing the cooler there aren't any problems: the fastening frame catches on the plastic frame of the socket, and the cooler is strongly pressed to the processor with levers. But to remove the cooler, you've got to apply much efforts - you've got to squeeze every clinch of the frame with a screwdriver.
As regards the fan, its dimensions haven't changed. But it has turned more noisy due to the increase of the average rotational speed. I intentionally mentioned the average speed: the fan is able varying the speed depending on the air temperature inside the housing.
Such a solution is not the most optimum: in increasing the load upon the processor, the fan will increase the rotational speed in only a while after. From this viewpoint, Titan W5TB(TC) in which the fan's thermal sensor is based in the radiator base looks more attractive.
Interim conclusion - this cooler will most likely cope with processors that run at nominal clock speeds. But you you would have to look for a more efficient cooler if you intend to overclock the processor.
By the way, one more version of the "boxed" cooler was developed in Intel's workshops:
Most likely, the higher-end Prescott processors will be equipped with such a cooler. However to date it is extremely difficult to make it available in the retail.
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