Antazone AS-C1000 Universal CPU Cooler Review

The Install:

     I installed the Antazone AS-C1000 into my Intel Pentium D gaming rig.  The build features an Intel Pentium D 940 overclocked to a modest 3490 MHz, a Connect3D X1900 XTX (658/810), and a  2 x 1 GB Kit of OCZ PC2 5400 (4-4-4-12) RAM installed on an ABIT AW8D Crossfire Motherboard.  The build included 2 x WD 74 GB Raptors in a RAID0, a Seagate 750 GB storage drive and a Plextor PX-755SA 16x DVD burner.  The system was mounted in a NZXT Apollo case and powered was provided by the a Antec TruePower Trio 650 Watt Power supply.  To test against the tower configuration, I also tested an AeroCool GT-1000 cooler for comparison.

     The Antazone installation guide is one of the best I have seen.  As you can see from the above picture, the full color glossy instructions are both detailed and easy to follow.

     First I added some of the included silver based heat sink compound and spread it evenly to form a light layer.  Always test the contact between your heatsink and your processor.  In the above picture I discovered I had gone too light and had to reapply an additional amount to ensure good contact.

     The back bracket is hinged in the center and can be adjusted to match today's common installation patterns.  The mounting screws are threaded so they must be inserted from the bottom and threaded in to similar piece attached to the actual heat sink.  Obviously, you must remove your motherboard to accomplish this, but you also have to hold the two brackets in place while treading and tightening the setup from the back of your motherboard.  This could probably be accomplished by one patient installer, but I found it frustrating and called for another set of hands almost immediately.

     In all fairness, some of my frustration was the result of a very tight fit on my AW8D motherboard caused by ABIT's OTES system of heat sinks.  As you can see here the fan is just larger than the space allotted.  Thanks to the universal mounting, I simply reversed the mounting to place the fan on the other side.

     Here you can see the finished install from the back.  The fan does not allow for reversing the fan so some light modding was required to get a push out of it.  Most installations should have no difficulty installing the AS-C1000 in the factory configuration.

     From the bottom of the board you can get a better look at the installation from the front of the motherboard.  The top bracket uses the same scissor function to adjust for the different installations.  The bracket holds the heatsink down by the central pivot point only.  To get a good fit I recommend tightening the screws like changing a tire, tighten each screw a little and rotate around the heat sink.  This will prevent damage to your processor and provide an more consistent contact with the processor surface.

Testing:

     I tested the AS-C1000 using the ABIT uGuru software and verified temperatures using the BIOS and my trust Multi-meter.  The above idle temperature was recorded after the system had idled overnight at the ABIT's default 205 MHz front side bus.  The ambient room temperature was 72 degrees (~22 C) and confirmed at the 120 mm exhaust fan to match.  The NZXT Apollo case uses two separate 120 mm fans to cool the case, one in the window and one exhaust fan. The As-C1000 consistently performs at about 6-8 degrees cooler than the OEM unit.

     To provide a load measure, I used the ABIT uGuru software to increase the overclocking to 219 MHz and ran PassMark's Burnin Test for about 30 minutes.  As you can see form this capture the AS-C1000 reaches a temperature of about 44 C.  The peak temperature I recorded was 48 C but never consistently.

     This chart shows the CPU core temperatures both at idle and at load.  A cooler core means a stable CPU.  Here we can really see the advantages over your stock cooler.  Under load the AS-C1000 performs measurably better than the stock cooler and even gives the more expensive GT-1000 a decent run. Not only does this show the long strides Intel has made in their OEM cooler but also how much room an aftermarket cooler can bring you.  The extra cooling also means more room for overclocking!

Conclusion:

     To be sure, the OEM coolers have made huge strides in improving the out of the box cooling they provide.  But to really get the most out of your processor, aftermarket cooling is a must!  Antazone has provided a very attractive unit that easily bests the cooler your processor shipped with and looks sweet doing it.  That alone should have you reaching for your wallet.  Even against the much larger GT-1000 it holds its own measurably.  By simply adding an additional fan to the other side you could probably drop the load temp another 5+ degrees.  Still using your stock cooler?  Antazone's AS-C1000 has the performance you need and wont break your wallet.

Club Overclocker Rating
Innovation:	8.5 out of 10
Performance:	8.5 out of 10
Quality:	9.5 out of 10
Stability:	N/A
Overclocking:	N/A
Software/Drivers Pack:	N/A
Value:	8.0 out of 10
Overall Rating 8.5
Skill Level
Project Skill Level (10 being most difficult)	4 out of 10