AX-7 vs all others.

[TRUMPHENT]

I am shopping for a new heatsink for a Socket A mainboard. I want to replace my PAL6035 with the clip from hell. Every review I have seen of the Thermalright AX-7 has it beating everything else to include Alpha8045's and Swiftech's MCX462. Since the AX-7 can take an 80mm fan without an additional adapter, is there something I am missing? My observations gleaned from several write ups.

1. It works very well even though it is older than most others.
2. It appears to be easy to install. I hate installing things like heatsinks in the first place.
3. It is cheap. SVC has it for 20 dollars.

What is the downside? I am not going to be overclocking in the extreme with a KT333 mainboard and an XP processor.

Just curious, why is it so good in comparisons and so cheap at the same time? Is it super heavy? Does it run out of capacity with hotter processors?

This computer may be required to operate in a room that exceeds 90 degrees F during the summer.

 

[aphex]

i've had mine for over a year and i love it...

 

[beatle]

It's a great heatsink for the $. I dunno about it beating the 8045, but I bet it's within a couple degrees. Most people put the AX7 on par with the SK7. It's an especially great choice if you're using a low flow fan. Only disadvantage is that it may not fit on all motherboards if they have capacitors that crowd the socket.

 

[VTrider]

I've been running 3 AX-7 in my machines for ages now. It's a great heatsink, it's pretty heavy but the clip mechanism is nice and strong. I do have to take some time and patience when I remove the thing, I wouldn't say it's difficult though.

I'm running an XP 2100+ right now @ 2.3Ghz, and motherboard monitor is reporting 44 degrees.

I wouldn't hesitate to get another AX-7 if I was building another Socket-A machine right now, especially considering it's price right now vs. spending 2x $$ for a newer model.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: VTrider
I've been running 3 AX-7 in my machines for ages now. It's a great heatsink, it's pretty heavy but the clip mechanism is nice and strong. I do have to take some time and patience when I remove the thing, I wouldn't say it's difficult though.

I'm running an XP 2100+ right now @ 2.3Ghz, and motherboard monitor is reporting 44 degrees.

I wouldn't hesitate to get another AX-7 if I was building another Socket-A machine right now, especially considering it's price right now vs. spending 2x $$ for a newer model.

Wow, my thoughts EXACTLY. I have an AX-7 paired with a 32CFM Antec BB fan and it works superbly, especially when coupled with AS3.

The HS is heavy, but the 3-prong clip is exceptionally well engineered. I move my case all the time and haven't had a single problem. The HS is big and with most mobos requires you to remove the mobo from the case to install/uninstall it. But that is a small niggle.

The AX-7 is only beat out by the newer, all-copper HSs. That is saying something for a design that's almost two years old.

The AX-7 works very well with a low-CFM fan and that is what it's designed for. I had a 22 CFM fan on there and my OC'd XP2100 was idling at about 46C. When I changed to the faster 32CFM fan, my idle dropped to 42C which is pretty darn good for a processor running at 1.775v.

 

[VTrider]

same here 1.775 volts with one of those funky blue LED 80mm fans, probably somewhere 23-29 CFM - pretty quiet.

It's funny how quick a great Heatsink will be produced, only to be quickly moved to the shadows by some newer, flashy..copper laden Heatsink. I was really thinking on trying one of those new all copper ($35.00-$40.00) heatsinks for my next system, but now that i'm thinking the AX-7 is still a contender for me.

I'm one of those price/performance budget kinda of guys anyhow!

 

[Cerb]

Very few places have it now. It doesn't beat everything else anymore, but check SilentPCReview's round-up...it gives amazing results when the fans are undervolted.

The downside, I imagine, is production cost. Very few places carry the AX-7 now, and it may no longer be made. It seemed to be gone just before the SK-7 was severely dropped in price at several sites. In additon, my SK-7 came in a much nicer box, and had a different labeling sytem (SK-7 to SLK-900 and a red sticker next to the one it was).

I hope they make a successor to it for the A64. An AX-7-like HS, sticky rubber bumper feet for the fan, and the fan clips like the SK- and SLK- models, and expanded out to fit 92mm fans would be great.

 

[HokieESM]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: VTrider
I've been running 3 AX-7 in my machines for ages now. It's a great heatsink, it's pretty heavy but the clip mechanism is nice and strong. I do have to take some time and patience when I remove the thing, I wouldn't say it's difficult though.

I'm running an XP 2100+ right now @ 2.3Ghz, and motherboard monitor is reporting 44 degrees.

I wouldn't hesitate to get another AX-7 if I was building another Socket-A machine right now, especially considering it's price right now vs. spending 2x $$ for a newer model.

Wow, my thoughts EXACTLY. I have an AX-7 paired with a 32CFM Antec BB fan and it works superbly, especially when coupled with AS3.

The HS is heavy, but the 3-prong clip is exceptionally well engineered. I move my case all the time and haven't had a single problem. The HS is big and with most mobos requires you to remove the mobo from the case to install/uninstall it. But that is a small niggle.

The AX-7 is only beat out by the newer, all-copper HSs. That is saying something for a design that's almost two years old.

The AX-7 works very well with a low-CFM fan and that is what it's designed for. I had a 22 CFM fan on there and my OC'd XP2100 was idling at about 46C. When I changed to the faster 32CFM fan, my idle dropped to 42C which is pretty darn good for a processor running at 1.775v.

And people who are trying to do "silent" cooling will find that at stock voltage, you can adequately cool a 2500+ with a Panaflo L1A (and probably not hear it).

I have a PIII-S 1.4 under an AX-7 with a Panaflo L1A and it idles at 35oC and after two days of computation (100% CPU) its still running at 38oC. The AX-7 is wonderful for low-flow fans (check out the SPCR review).

 

[TRUMPHENT]

I might just go with a retail XP processor with heatsink, lap the surface and put a decent fan and Ceramique on it. Overclocking isn't going to happen on this computer unless I get the multiplier unlocked. I just lost my CDRW and keyboard due to bad luck and have to attend to them first. I hate computers.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: TRUMPHENT
I might just go with a retail XP processor with heatsink, lap the surface and put a decent fan and Ceramique on it. Overclocking isn't going to happen on this computer unless I get the multiplier unlocked. I just lost my CDRW and keyboard due to bad luck and have to attend to them first. I hate computers.

If you just want a decent heatsink, Speeze. The one w/ an 80mm fan. $12 @Newegg, great little heatsink.
I love my SK-7 and AX-7, but for the money, the Speeze can't be beat.

 

[mindless1]

AX-7. It's large size and bulk is actually an asset when the motherboard has limited space for mounting a 'sink, as the fins are so sturdy that you can just grind away a bit here-or-there to make room for caps/etc, without bending/deforming/etc, unlike thin finned all-Cu 'sinks. The large, square top makes better use of a 92mm fan too... thin wire-ties, <16 gauge electical wire, or a few slivers of drilled sheet metal can be used to mount such oversized fans.

 

[VTrider]

ditto about the Panaflo L1A fans, I usually have all my machines outfitted with them. An AX-7 combined with a Panny L1A make a real effecient and quiet combo.