Alpha was the first to create fancy coolers before any other companies realized that there was a demand for them. The PAL8055 is basically a PAL8045 cooler with mostly square rather than round fins. Considering the fact that I don’t own nor have access to a PAL8045 I can not test these coolers head to head. However, I have tested this unit against a thermaltake extreme volcano12 which just happens to be quite a good heatsink, on par with the high-end thermalright heatsinks.
Specs:
∙ 292 aluminum fins
∙ Copper base
∙ 137CFM 80MM Delta fan
Installation:
This unit can be both mounted using the socket’s plastic lugs or the four holes on high end Socket A motherboards.
I have tried both methods. Unfortunately the four hole mount requires the motherboard to be taken out.
Due to this heatsink’s incredible size, installation is rather difficult.
In order to install it using the lugs a metal frame needs to be assembled around the socket which provides four holes to which the cooler is screwed to.
The metal clip needs to be attached to the heatsink before everything is placed onto the frame. If this is not done before the heatsink is installed, the fan won’t be attached properly.
The fan must be screwed to the shroud by two screws. The metal clip holds down that side. The other side is screwed directly into the heatsink block.
If installing the Alpha PAL8055FU using the four holes, four standoffs are included with the heatsink that are to be screwed directly to these holes.
Noise:
The fan wasn’t too loud, definitely less audible than the volcano 12 but still too loud to be called quiet or so to speak.
Unfortunately we don’t have a dB meter available to us so we can’t give actual readings.
Performance:
This is the first heatsink I have ever encountered which has a fan in the ‘suck’ position. So I was quite excited to see the Alpha PAL8055 perform.
I tested both the volcano 12 and the PAL8055 at an ambient temperature of 23 degrees Celsius. The test setup is an XP-M 2500 IQYHA 0408 RPMW and NF7-S motherboard. During the test the processor was run at two speeds; 2530 (220x11.5) and 2420 (220x11) both at 1.8V.
These results are not stellar but are quite good for an aluminum/copper cooler that doesn’t make a horrible racket.
Conclusion:
This cooler performed exceptionally well. If you are looking to buy a cooler that can take your CPU to hell and back without bursting your eardrums while maintaining a good temperature, the Alpha PAL8055FU looks like just what you’re after.
Pros:
∙ Cools well
∙ Looks good
∙ 292 fins
Cons:
∙ Loud fan
∙ Not fully copper
