If there is one field of computer electronics in which there is an overwhelming amount of competition and choices, that sector would be probably be CPU heatsinks. It seems that every day I become aware of new heatsinks which promise to cool one's CPU better than ever before. Whilst everyday would most certainly be an exaggeration, I had recently became aware of the Taiwanese company, CoolMax, and their newest copper based cooler the CoolMax CBG-38.

Long time veteran in the field Vantec has also sent us one of their newest copper coolers dubbed the CCK-6035D. In this review we're going to compare it to the slightly less expensive, though very competitive cooler from CoolMax. Both are designed for the high end Athlon processors which are known to radiate very high amounts of heat. It's worth noting that both of these coolers will also work on any Pentium III utilizing the socket architecture.

Cooler Specs:

Vantec CCK-6035D

Recommended for: Intel PIII Coppermine(FC-PGA)1.13 GHz and above
AMDThunderbird(Socket A or 462)1.33 GHz and above
Clip Material SK7
Heat Sink Material: AL 6063T5 & Copper
Heat Sink Dimension: 65.0 x 64.0 x 39.0 (mm)
Fan Dimension: 60.0 x 60.0 x 25.0 (mm)
Outline Dimension: 78.0 x 64.0 x 64.0 (mm)
Bearing Type: Two Ball Bearing
Clip: CLP508
Thermal Resistance: 0.29 C/W

CoolMax CBG-38

Dimensions: 60x60x55mm
Weight: 306g
Fan Dimensions: 60x60x25
Bearing System: Ball Bearing System
Rated Voltage: 12V DC
Fan Speed: 6800rpm

The Units

The Vantec unit is noticeably larger than the CoolMax heatsink. Unlike the Vantec, in the box you will find nothing more than the Heatsink. Vantec included a small amount of thermal grease as well as a three to four pin power adapter, while the CoolMax unit did not. Both units come with sizable fans which are between the 6000-6800RPM 38 CFM range (as was reported by the BIOS of the KA266-R). While noticeably louder than most fans, they also cool much better. You may also notice in the pictures that the Vantec also has a grill over the fan which prevents cables and other goodies from blocking the fan.

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