Universal HSFs for Pentium4

Air cooling an overclocked CPU no longer means having to wear ear muffs, because the latest generation of HSFs are not only better than their predecessors, they're quiter too.

Gigabyte G-Power Lite

Manufacturer:	Price:
Gigabyte	£23.44 inc VAT
Reviewer:	Review Date:
James Gorbold	Feb 2006

	OVERALL RATING

SCORE

2/6

Verdict: Save a bit more money and buy a G-Power Cooler Pro instead

The G-Power Lite is Gigabyte's attempt to create a cut-price version of the very impressive Cooler Pro.

The Lite differs from the Pro in that it has no Socket A mounting mechanism, and instead of a full rheostat, has a simple two-setting fan speed controller. The 92mm fan also lacks the blue LEDs of the Cooler Pro, so the Lite is much less visually distinctive.

The actual heatsink is the same, and is composed of four aluminium heatpipes that transfer heat from the copper base to the nest of aluminium fins above.

With the fan set to 2,000rpm, the Lite cooled the Pentium 4 to 2ûC below the reference Intel HSF, and to 3ûC below at 2,450rpm. At 2,000rpm, the Lite cooled the Athlon 64 test CPU to 10ûC below the reference AMD HSF, and to 12ûC below at 2,450rpm.

On average, the Lite is about half as effective as the Cooler Pro, yet it's only around £5 cheaper. If you're after the ultimate in Athlon 64 air cooling then the Cooler Pro is the HSF to buy, but for a Pentium 4 system, both Gigabyte HSFs are left bobbing in the wake of the awesome Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro.

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