PSU giant FPS enters the cooling solutions game with the Windale series. FSP currently employs two CPU cooler models from the said series – with the Windale 6 being the best yet.
The Windale 6 received its name from the 6 copper heatpipes that directly contacts with the IHS. Material used for the 54 layer heat fins is an aluminum alloy coated in matte black. Our Windale model is the AC601 bearing a Blue 120mm fan.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
| Cooler | |
| Socket Compatibility | Intel LGA 2066, 2011-0, 2011-3, 1156, 1155, 1151, 1150 / AMD AM2, AM3, FM1, AM4 |
| Height | 165mm |
| Width | 110mm |
| Depth | 122mm |
| Weight | 823g |
| Heatsink Material | Copper, Nickel, Aluminum |
| TDP | 240W |
| Fan Compatibility | 3x 120mm mount fans |
| Fan | |
| Model | FSP PWM Fan |
| Speed | 600-1600RPM |
| Noise | 32dBA |
| Airflow | 60CFM |
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:
FSP had the Windale 6 packed inside a stout cardboard box with all the details you need to know to get acquainted with the cooler. It isn’t fancy compared to other manufacturer’s offerings, yet it is enough to keep everything inside secured.
Inside, you’ll find a slew of components. We have the handy user’s manual, front brackets for both Intel and AMD and the universal backplate for both systems. We also have a sachet of thermal paste, screws and plastic spacers sealing the deal.
DESIGN, LAYOUT AND BUILD QUALITY:
The FSP Windale 6 appears to be your typical 120mm tower cooler, yet it is more aesthetically pleasing due to the black coating. It’s matte too, so it’s a CPU cooler that should easily blend well with the rest of your components.
Dimensions are exactly 122 x 110 x 165mm with a base height of 14.22mm. Standard memory kits should fit nicely without touching the cooler, yet we should still take into account the fan’s dimensions together with the mounting position.
The 100% pure copper base is definitely not mirror finished nor nickel plated. No plating here yes, but the direct contact pipes are flat enough to distribute whatever paste you want to use.
There are 6 U-shaped pipes stretching out to the last heat fin. Overall cooler design is symmetrical yet it is not that mirror perfect. The heatpipes for example follows a parallel S-design and there’s the stamped FSP logo to boot.
FSP had the Windale 6 bundled with their own – yet unbranded 120mm LED fan. It is rated at 60CFM ± 10%, with a noise level of 32dBA.
CLEARANCE AND INSTALLATION:
The FSP Windale 6 comes with a universal backplate and that means less parts to worry about. We’re testing this cooler with an Intel system but we mounted it on an AM3 platform nonetheless.
The installation kit for the AMD systems is easy enough to use yet mounting options are limited to your motherboard’s socket orientation.
Intel systems got 4 mounting options, while AMD only had two. We kinda wish there’s another bracket for better range but I guess this is where FSP starts to save some moolah.
TEST SETUP AND METHODOLOGY:
Coolers are far from the hardest components to test, but it doesn’t mean they are easy enough to deal with since there are multiple factors to take into account while benchmarking. Factors includes the ambient noise, ambient temperature, the enclosure, and the test system’s overall configuration.
| TEST SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS | |
| PROCESSOR | Intel Core i5-6600K |
| MOTHERBOARD | ASUS Z170-A |
| CPU COOLER | FSP Windale 6 |
| MEMORY KIT | Crucial Ballistix Tactical @ 2666MHz 4x4GB Kit |
| GRAPHICS CARD | ASUS GTX 1060 STRIX OC 6GB |
| INTERNAL STORAGE | Crucial BX200 480GB |
| POWER SUPPLY | CORSAIR RM850X 850W |
| DISPLAY | DELL U2715H |
| OPERATING SYSTEM | Microsoft Windows 10 Pro |
The AIDA64 Extreme Edition System Stability Test is used to stress our Intel Core i5 6600K. The CPU, FPU, Cache and Memory are selected at the options. AIDA64 has been chosen due to its inclusion of AVX, AVX2 and FMA – 3 important instructions that will help us push our CPU to its limits.
- Ambient Temperature – 27°C (±1°C)
- Ambient Sound Level – 34dBA (±1dBA)
- Stock Profile – 3.9GHz (1.088v)
- Overclocked Profile – 4.4GHz (1.248v)
NOISE LEVEL:
Noise levels are tested on a variety of fan duty cycle settings available thru our motherboard. To measure the levels, a sound level meter is secured on a tripod with a foot of distance away from the cooler.
The FSP Windale 6 is the best yet when it comes to the lowest fan duty cycle tested with a 36.1dBA on the scale. At 100% fan duty cycle, it is still one of the best at 40.5dBA – close enough to the single fan config Raijintek Tisis.
TEMPERATURE:
Temperatures are tested with attainable CPU clock speed configurations that should resemble common systems. To measure the cooler’s capabilities, the CPU temperature is logged with HWiNFO64 and is cross referenced with AIDA64.
At 44.6°C, the FSP Windale 6 is able to keep up with the best we’ve got on the test suite. Overclocking however, it goes from 3rd to 4th place with our Core i5-6600K at a recorded 56.8°C.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
The FSP Windale 6 is a capable CPU cooler right out of the box and that’s with a matching price point below 50 USD. Acoustics is also an area that the FSP Windale 6 touched with utmost care and they delivered. For FSP to create such a capable product on their very first try, it means that they are truly serious in the business.
Of course, there are still areas to improve upon. For an instance and while the installation is a breeze, FSP could’ve gone the extra mile for a better AMD mounting system. Clearance for the fans could be better too, and while the fan could be mounted on a pull position, it is intended to run through the designated rubber mounting slot.
Overall, we felt that the FSP Windale 6 deserves a praise not only for its value, but also for its capabilities as a solid contender below the 50 USD price bracket.
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FSP Windale 6 CPU Cooler
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PERFORMANCE - 8/10
8/10
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BUILD QUALITY - 8/10
8/10
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FEATURES - 8/10
8/10
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AESTHETICS - 7/10
7/10
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VALUE - 8/10
8/10
Summary
The FSP Windale 6 is a capable CPU cooler right out of the box and that’s with a matching price point below 50 USD. Acoustics is also an area that the FSP Windale 6 touched with utmost care and they delivered. For FSP to create such a capable product on their very first try, means that they are truly serious in the business.
