Verdict: Totally unsuitable for an overclocked and overvolted CPU

SilverStone produces a huge range of well-designed cases and PSUs, but the company seems to have lost the plot when it comes to CPU HSFs.

The NT02 is designed for all modern CPU types, and is backwards compatible with Socket 478 chips. The heatsink comprises a large copper base and an array of aluminium fans soldered into the top of the base. On top of this is a further array of copper fins that are soldered onto five heatpipes, which emerge from the base. The 70mm fan is supplied with a rheostat that fits into a 3.5in drive bay and can adjust the fan speed between 1,800rpm and 3,800rpm, shifting its noise between 17dBA and 40.4dBA. The mounting mechanism is pretty atrocious, requiring three hands to fix a mixture of screws, nuts and bolts on both sides of the motherboard.

Even with the fan set to maximum speed, the NT02 couldn't prevent our Pentium 4 test CPU from overheating and shutting down. This is a pretty disastrous result for a HSF that spews out a very ear-unfriendly 40.4dBA. The NT02 wasn't any better on our Athlon 64 test CPU, which also overheated and shutdown.

As the NT02 failed to keep either of our test CPUs cool enough to operate for more than a few minutes, we can't recommend it.

• Cases - 21st November 2008
• Motherboards - 24th October 2008
• Gaming Headsets - 26th September 2008
• Dream PCs - 24th September 2008
• Headphones - 12th September 2008
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• PSUs - 14th July 2008

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