Intel Core i7 / LGA1366 CPU Cooler Roundup

Kingwin XT-1264

Well one thing is for certain: the Kingwin XT-1264 sports one flashy full color box. The box itself is made of moderately thick cardboard and is covered in a riot of colors but it still provides decent protection for its contents. In a nut shell this box has all you could ask for information and detail wise to make a fairly informed decision.

We do take umbrage to the fact they only show the AMD mounting setup on the box and not the pushpin based Intel 775 / i7 setup. This is a bit misleading but we have a sneaking suspicion that this product was designed mainly as an AMD cooler and the Intel attachments are more of an afterthought. Let’s call it a hunch for now, shall we?


Let’s start with explaining the nomenclature Kingwin uses in their naming scheme and then move onto the dimensions of this curious cooler before we really start exploring in depth the design of this cooler. Basically, Kingwin’s naming scheme is the same as Xigmatek’s as you start with the fan size (12cm), then state the size of the heatpipes (6mm) and then the number of them used. In fact, Xigmatek makes the HDT-S1264 cooler that uses the exact same technology as this unit.


Even though it may look big in the pictures, the Kingwin XT-1264 weighs in at a relatively light 467 grams….with a fan attached. This does put it at a distinct size disadvantage when compared to other HDT coolers we have reviewed; and in fact, it is one of the lightest weight coolers we have reviewed in a long while.

Making things slightly worse is the fact that this cooler can only mount a single fan and it uses the less than optimal (in an aftermarket cooler) push pin style mounting setup found on stock Intel coolers. Sure, a second fan can be mounted but not without extensive modifications to the lower portion of the fin array.


The top of the base has nine mini-sized heatpipes added to it, much like the OCZ Gladiator Max, Xigmatek Thor’s Hammer and a host of other HDT coolers out there. The theory behind these mini heatpipes they help dissipate the heat that builds up in the aluminum sections between the heatpipes which in effect should add to the thermal efficiency of this cooler. The fatal flaw in this theory is that they are below the fan and are thus passively cooled but Kingwin has added smaller fins to increase the surface area of these mini cooling towers.

The heatpipes themselves have been slightly bent inwards to form the base of this cooler, and the base itself has a decidedly poor finish even for an HDT-based unit. Also on the positive side, the gaps between the aluminum pillars and the flattened HDTs are relatively small so they shouldn’t suck up as much thermal compound other HDT heatsinks.


When it comes to the 120mm fan which ships with this unit, things are little bit murkier as the label shows a product number of AD0912HX-A7BGL. When you decode this label it tells you that this is a 92*92*25mm fan….which is obviously incorrect. Most likely this label was supposed to be AD1212HX-A7BGL, which would make this a higher speed version of the ADDA fan which graces the Ximgatek S1283. Basically, this is a 7 bladed 120x25mm hypro bearing fan made by ADDA which is PWM capable and designed to run between 1000 and 2200RPMs. At its maximum nominal speed of 2200RPMs it is rated to move about 99.6CFM.

The above specs are based on the assumption that this is an AD1212HX-A7BGL, and there is some evidence that we may be incorrect. According Kingwin THEIR version of this fan is rated for 700 – 2300RPMs, moves 82.0 – 101.2 CFM and has between 3.28 – 3.97mm of static pressure. We are inclined to believe most of their specifications as it is fairly close to the ones listed above. The only part of their specifications we have issues with is we are not sure how ANY 120x25mm fan can move that much air at 700rpms, nor have so much static pressure at such low speeds.

Unfortunately, this fan also displays a lot of shaft slop but no off axis slop which we are more worried about. Forward and backward motion or shaft slop is not an issues and it really is only when you have a lot of off axis slop that it becomes an issue. Honestly, we have no doubts about this fan lasting a long while.

The hypro bearing (as ADDA’s patented tweak on the design is called) or the “Rifle bearing” as it is usually called, is a unique hybrid sleeve bearing design in which a normal sleeve bearing has been modified so that there is a continuous groove (that looks a lot like lands and groves of a “rifled” gun barrel) on the bearing shaft which keeps a constant flow of oil moving between the shaft and the bearing. While they may not be as quiet as normal sleeve bearings, they do have a longer life expectancy. To make things even more interesting, ADDA has added a magnetic field to prevent friction between the bearing and fan hub, further increasing the life of the bearing. On the positive side, this fan is PWM capable.