Vantec K7T-4030

This is similar to the previous model - the same heatsink is used but a plate runs along the top with 3x Y.S.Tech 40mm sleeve-bearing fans attached. These are all pre-wired into a single header. This unit uses the same excellent mounting clip as the previous model and sells for $35.00 with a free tube of thermal paste.

RDJD K701

This impressive looking unit follows in the same vein as previous offerings from RDJD (see our reviews of their K602 Socket370 and 2 of their P3 Coolers). This feels quite a bit more robust than their previous coolers, partially due to the 3mm thick aluminium plate running the length of the bottom of the sink. Typically, RDJD have packed in the thin aluminium sheets and once again used the JMC 52mm double ball-bearing fan. I have found this fan to be annoyingly loud on their previous coolers and it's rated airflow (16CFM) is not very high but their coolers all seem to fare well with it. The mounting system is clever, a screw-in system which is very easy to use and grips quite firmly. This unit sells for AUD$42.00.

Performance Comparison
To compare these heatsinks I used a P2-400 overclocked to 460MHz at 2.1v on a Soyo SY6-VBA-133 motherboard. P2's pump out a fair bit of heat when overclocked and with the over-voltage this one is a bit of a monster. This motherboard is a favourite of mine for cooler comparisons because it allows you to read the P2's internal thermal diode. This motherboard was used in a Macase K10 mid-tower case with the case-front fan disabled. Each heatsink was run for 20 minutes of Unreal flyby with SETI running to catch any spare CPU cycles. The ambient temperature according to my probably wildly innaccurate Dick Smith thermometer was 23.8C for the duration of the tests.

Well, it pretty much speaks for itself. You get what you pay for with the cheaper Vantecs trailing at the back of the pack. I was dissapointed in the Globalwin VEK-32 which manages fairly poor cooling considering how much air it moves around. I did some more testing with it but got similar results. The RDJD's fan was not as loud on this unit as on their previous coolers - in fact the only cooler in this group that was annoyingly loud was the Vantec K7T-4030 with it's 3 fans. However as it was also the worst performer I don't think the noise will be bothering many people who read this review. Once again RDJD turn in good but not spectacular results (reversing the fan had no effect). The big surprise was the Globalwin FKK-50. Despite the smaller fans, in standard form it beat the others comfortably but as I suspected, moving the fans to the centre improves it further. This is a great cooler for the money - it's staying on the P2 for now and I know what I'll be using when I build my Athlon box.