Test and Conclusion
This content was originally featured on Amdmb.com and has been converted to PC Perspective’s website. Some color changes and flaws may appear.
With the CORE now installed we were ready to conduct our four days of extensive real-world computing tests. The exact same tests were run using the same system, the only difference being the HSF, instead of the CORE the Hedgehog with the same Delta fan was used. This was done so we could show you a comparison using one of the major contenders.Please remember the CPU used is the Athlon 1.2 GHz 266 fsb processor. I read that it ran hot but, as a seasoned Athlon user I didn’t pay much attention to it until I ran it for the first time, it was a lot hotter than my 1 Gig CPU ever was. Hopefully, the numbers below will give you an understanding of why a cooling fanatic was so impressed with the CORE.
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| Average Temp |
NOTE: your temperatures may be different than the ones attained here due to differences in equipment and cooling.
Now that’s what I call a significant difference and if I were an Overclocker (well maybe I overclock a little) I’d look real hard at the numbers because the CORE’S cooling potential could get me to that next MHz plateau. As a home or business user the numbers spell power, longevity and no heat generated problems. STABILITY and PERFORMANCE, sounds real good together. Don’t it though??
The King is dead (Hedgehog retired); long live the King (my new CORE HSF) May I add, that as stated earlier, installation of the motherboard method is not for the faint of heart and care and good judgment are always a requirement when replacing or installing a new HSF or for that matter any device inside your computer. If you don’t feel you can do it yourself, seek out a professional, if anything goes wrong they are responsible. Downsides, I really can’t say I found any, out of the ordinary. Weight might be an issue to some (500 grams – 475 grams for the Hedgehog) but then the package including the shim, quickly nullifies that argument. Noise might be another, I don’t find it to be objectionable, but if you do, just install a quieter fan, problem solved.
If you are like me and like the “latest and greatest” then the only thing that upsets me is, I can’t see it in the closed case. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to have a window put in the side of the case, so I can see how pretty it is.
Another thing I really like about the CORE, is you know that it is working, if you put your hand close to the side of the unit you can feel the heat it is dispelling. How many times have you touched a heatsink and wondered if it’s working because it wasn’t warm to the touch?? If you are like me, plenty!!
The Bottom Line:
Sooner or latter I knew you wanted to know what all this Performance and Beauty would cost you. The answer is about $75.00 if you have your own fan; if you need a fan, the high-powered Delta will set you back another $12.00
That’s not bad when you consider one of the best, the Hedgehog complete would cost you close to $50.00 and another of the new Performance HSF’s would run you about the same as the CORE and it won’t fit on some motherboards. Where as the CORE’s spring-loaded mechanism will fit all but the oddball motherboard out there.
The CORE is American made and can be purchased from: http://www.cpufx.com/ tell’em PowerHungry sent ya!!
Thanks to ClubOC for this last pic of the spring mechanism.
