Heatsink Roundup April 2010

One of the most important components within any computer and usually the most expensive one is the CPU. Despite the latest processors edging towards being more energy efficient than previous generations they all still require significant cooling to operate optimally. AMD and Intel offer cooling solutions with their retail products but the thermal performance of these coolers is adequate for some but rarely acceptable to performance and enthusiast users, especially when we consider that they are often rather noisy. This drives a very large number of users to shop for a better cooling solution for their processor.

The market nowadays is crowded with dozens of products which makes it very difficult for inexperienced users to pick the right cooler for their needs. Today we will present you four coolers from different manufacturers, ranging from the cost-effective versatile Gelid Tranquillo to the monstrous NH-D14 from Noctua and will be discovering what they can offer to end users.