Akasa introduces cheap SFF coolers for Intel Alder Lake processors
The LGA 1700 mounting hole change sent all the cheap alternatives to Intel’s box coolers into retirement. Akasa is starting to build a selection of third-party coolers from the ground up, with three different models. These, of course, were not created from scratch, and among the first batch of “revived” coolers with larger push-pin spacing, there is also a low-profile model with a height of only 27 mm.
The trio of new coolers are united by a combination of SFF (small form factor), LGA 1700 platform support and low prices. The largest and most powerful model AK-CC6606BP01 is strikingly reminiscent of the older Intel box coolers, only it is taller, at 63.2 mm. That’s almost two centimetres more than the Laminar RM1 from the Core i3–Core i7 Alder Lake CPU box, and at 439g, it’s 26 % heavier too.
The fins are curved to intensify the turbulent flow across the heatsink body and split into “forks” towards the end. This is to increase the surface area. The fins are aluminium, but the core is made of copper for faster heat absorption. The AK-CC6606BP01 is, in terms of thermal capacity, on par with the older coolers that shipped with the first Core i7 Nehalem (models 920–970). The TDP of the Akasa cooler is 125W, which corresponds to Intel’s recommended PL1 setting for Core i5-12600K, Core i7-12700K and Core i9-12900K.
The AK-CC6606BP01 has a 90 mm fan with a speed range of 500–3400 rpm. The bearings used are ball bearings, thus with higher durability. The mean time between failures is quoted at 80,000 hours.
The smaller and almost half the price AK-CC6603EP01 does not have such robust bearings (MTBF is 40 000 hours). It is an EBR (Enhanced Bearing by Rolling element), which is, just like a plain porous bearing, saturated with lubricant (oil). The TDP of this heatsink is 77W and it may be an attractive option for more power-efficient processors with a TDP of 65W. With that said, the cooler could still have some headroom for quieter operation. Unlike the previous cooler, this one has a circular bezel around the rotor to support higher pressure. The height of the AK-CC6603EP01 is 59.2 mm and the weight is 300 grams.
The smallest of the new coolers is the AK-CC6601EP01 model. Thanks to its extremely low profile, it also fits into thin cases with Thin Mini-ITX motherboards. The fan here is recessed into the finning, the level of which it does not exceed. In height, the low-profile Akasa cooler is only 26.9 mm.
The extra small size is also related to the relatively low TDP of 35 W. It is thus recommended to pair it with low-power processor models with a T in the designation (from Celeron G6900T to Core i9-12900T). These have their frequencies and power supply reduced to fit within the cooler’s thermal performance. This one (AK-CC6601EP01) is also an aluminium monolith. The fan bearings are again “EBR” and the claimed MTBF is 40,000 hours in this case as well.
Akasa has been running similar coolers in its lineup for a long time, and the list is already quite long, so the designs are built on time tested foundations. The main difference is in the support and in the adaptation to the new situation on LGA 1700. All coolers attach to the socket via traditional push-pins, and the recommended retail prices for each model are as follows. Gradually from the most powerful 25 EUR (AK-CC6606BP01), 15 EUR (AK-CC6603EP01) and 14 EUR (AK-CC6601EP01). Availability in stores is still limited, but some stores are already listing Akasa’s new products in their price lists.
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš
