Socket-A Cooler Roundup: September 2001

The SK6 comes with a standard clip which uses two of the six cleats on the CPU socket. This isn't great, but since the SK6 isn't very large or excessively heavy, it doesn't cause problems when moving around the PC either. Installation is easy; a screwdriver is required, though.

Performance and noise, conclusion

The SK6's performance is quite amazing - especially considering its small size. Among the coolers equiped with one 60mm fan, the SK6 proved to be the most efficient.

Thermalright sells the SK6s without fans, so they are available with different fan combinations. Thanks to the good design of the heatsink, the SK6 is also a good base for a "quiet" cooler, when used with a lower RPM fan.

Conclusion: We definately recommend the Thermalright SK6. Its performance is good - it is outperformed only by the Alpha & Swiftech units with 80mm fans, and the Kanie Wing with two 60mm fans. So, the SK6 is the top choice when the Alpha/Swiftech coolers with through-motherboard mounting can't be used, or in any case where small size is an advantage. This makes the SK6 the best choice for Intel Celeron/P3 CPUs. Also, at around $34, the SK6 is a price/performance winner.

When buying the SK6, keep in mind that the Delta fan we used for testing is loud, and consider getting it with a lower RPM fan.