Socket-A & Socket-370 Cooler Roundup - March 2001

Swiftech MC462

The Swiftech MC462 is definitely the most impressive cooler we've ever reviewed - size, design and performance are extraordinary. The cooler's base plate is 80x80mm big and consists of copper. The aluminum pins are inserted into the base plate.

Performance and noise

The MC462's performance is absolutely convincing. At this time, it is by far the most efficient CPU cooler available (unless we consider watercoolers and similar setups). Note that with the current setup, we have only tested with a 43W heat load; with higher thermal loads, the performance advantage of the MC462 over its competitors should become even more obvious.

A problem with all super-efficient coolers is noise. This is also true for the MC462 - in its standard configuration, it is also the loudest cooler in this roundup. However, Swiftech has done something about this problem: They offer an optional rheostat that allows users to adjust fan speed, by lowering the voltage supplied to the fan. This way, users can find the noise/performance compromise that is most suitable for their needs. The fan speed can be adjusted from 3000rpm to 4900rpm. Even when the fan is spinning only at 2/3 of its maximum speed, the MC462 will still outperform its competitors. The rheostat does not provide automatic temperature control though; it only runs the fan at a lower, but constant speed.

Installation

The MC462 doesn't use the hooks on the CPU socket for installation - instead, it is mounted with screws; it takes advantage of the four holes around the CPU socket, which are found on all Socket A motherboards.

Therefore, installation is quite time-consuming; if you are upgrading from an older cooler, you will have to uninstall your entire motherboard in order to install the MC462. However, this is worth the trouble. The MC462's mounting method is definitely superior; it presses the cooler to the CPU very firmly, and even though the cooler is extremely heavy (790 grams, which exceeds the AMD specifications), there is no risk of damaging the CPU or motherboard when moving around the PC.

Even though installation takes some time, it is easy to do and well-documented by the manufacturer. Due to its huge size, the cooler might not fit all Socket A motherboards on the market; it does fit the Abit KT7, Asus A7V and their successors without problems, though.

The MC462's fan is equipped with a power supply connector, and therefore cannot be connected directly to the motherboard. This is good, because the fan's high power usage might damage the fan connectors of some boards. The downside, however, is that RPM monitoring isn't possible.