• Shuttle AK-31 rev. 3.1
• Tbird 1 gig
• 768 pc2100 DDR
• C-media 5.1 sound
• Maxtor 30gig 7200rpm
• Lite-on 24x cdrw
• Windows XP Pro

Idle temps are taken after a fresh boot and letting the system sit for 15 minutes and then surfing the net. There was no difference in temps from surfing or letting it sit. Load temps were attained by running the Prime 95 cpu torture test for 45 minutes. Room temp was maintained at 68 degrees. Arctic Alumina was applied between the heatsink and cpu core.

As you can see the Cak-II 38 performs like a champ! Probably the most well known of the cpu coolers is the sk6. I've tested the sk6 this same way and the only way the sk6 beats the Cak-II 38 is by using a lawnmower loud 8100rpm 50cfm delta fan. The 7000rpm delta fan on the Cak is rated at 38cfm and while it is loud it doesn't have what I call that darned lawnmower sound that most delta fans have like that 50cfm monster. It's far more tolerable but still louder than a quiet case or power supply fan. Testing the sk6 and the Cak-II 38 with the same exact quiet fan from a volcano II, this Cak-II won out! Yes that means this Cak-II 38 heatsink performs BETTER than the sk6 heatsink. More about that later in our upcoming cpu cooler shootout. Biggest thing missing with the Cak-II as it is with most heatsinks is a 3-prong clip. I just wish they all would make 3-prong clips and stay away from a 1-prong solution. The more secure these heavy copper heatsinks are the better.

• cools a hot cpu core like a champ
• nice looks
• has seperate connections for 5v power and to monitor fan rpm
• long cord can come in handy for many
• easy install using a screwdriver

• fan is still loud
• no 3-prong clip

With a price of around 30-$35 at most places I checked the Cak-II 38 is for sure a cpu cooler to seriously consider and one that I recommend. It cools as well or better than the best that is available under $50 and the fan, while still a bit loud it is tolerable and doesn't have that god-awful loud high-pitched sound many delta-like fans have. I mean, why even bother with an annoying fan unless your deaf. This one just isn't nearly annoying and that along with the most excellent cooling and ease of install I give this Global WIN Cak-II 38 the most esteemed:

Mucho thanks goes out to Global WIN for sending us this very fine cpu cooler for review.