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Alpha PRE9060 - Anyone with experience?

C

CDigs

Member
So I'm putting together a C2D system with E6400 and I plan on doing some mild OC. I have ordered the GA-965P-DQ6 and was originally planning on ordering the Zalman CNPS9500 before I remembered that there were issues with the backing plate on this board.

In the past, I've had good success with Alpha heatsinks; in particular, the S-PAL8952 (http://www.micforg.co.jp/jp/c_s-pal8952.html). It's done a wonderful job with my old P4 1.8A @ 2.4 for several years now.

However, this *only* weighed in at 645 grams.

The PRE9060, by comparison, is massive at 960 grams (http://www.alphanovatech.com/cat_lga775.html)!!

I am mixed on this. On the one hand, they wouldn't design it like this if it would rip the CPU socket out of the board right 😛 ? But on the other hand, it seems like this would put a lot of pressure on the board in a vertical position. I've looked at alternatives that don't require a backing plate such as Thermalright SI-128, Ultra 120, Ultra 90, and Arctic Cooler Frezer 7 Pro, but I'm turned off by the possiblity of the mounting system coming loose over time and I've come across many users who have reported on issues with flatness of the base on the Thermalright products. Perhaps I'm being a bit too skeptical with the mounting system on the Thermalrights and the AC7P?

Thoughts and input would be appreciated 🙂
 
Its performance isn't that great, if their thermal resistance spec is accurate. Besides, where would you find one?
 
Newegg actually carries it; I think that's where I got my previous Alpha as well.

While the performance may not be all that great, I can't say that I trust the mounting mechanism on the Thermalrights and the AC7P and the support plate may/may not be able to be mounted on the DQ6 and still fit into the case (depends on how tall the standoffs in the case are plus I would need longer scres 🙁).
 
Yeah, I was wondering about that Alpha too. Link at newegg

I've always really liked my Alpha's with a super high-speed fan on them... I've had a lot of luck with these over the years.
 
After giving it some more thought, I think I'll stick with the CNPS9500 and simply hope that the bracket will fit on the back between the passive heatsink on the back of the CPU socket and the case (here's hoping the standoffs are tall enough).

I'll just have to find some longer screws at Home Depot or bust out the Dremel and cut down a few screws.
 
I used to buy Alpha HSF for my older AMD systems, but they make HSFs that are hella hard to clean.
 
I noticed it as well. Alpha makes some very impressive heatsinks; their manufacturing is the best I've ever seen, beyond precision.

I wouldn?t worry about the weight too much since most of the mass is in the base which would make for a very low center of gravity.

If I go socket 775 this would probably be my heatsink of choice, hopefully there is an AMD equivalent soon also.
 
Alpha heatsinks have always been well suited to low noise / low CFM fans, they also scale well with increased CFM.

Personally to me the appeal has always been the build quality, which is the best I've seen (Zalman is close). I'm willing sacrifice a bit of performance for the quality as long as it's competitive.
 
OK, I can buy that.

One bad thing about the XP-90/120...Because of the full fin to base construction, the important
VRM caps between the CPU socket & I/O plate are shielded from direct air flow.

The Alpha is open on all four sides.


...Galvanized
 
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