Considering foremost that the Sunbeam Silent Whisper is an entry level, low cost heatsink, it actually performed fairly well. In fact, it managed to hold its own against other heatsinks that cost more than twice as much, even when those more expensive heatsinks were run with their fans at high speed. The fan on the Silent Whisper was not totally silent, but it was very quiet indeed. Since installation is based on the same methods for stock coolers, mounting the cooler was quick and easy.

However, for that low price tag, what you won't get is a fancy cooler with great looks and impeccable craftsmanship. The base was poorly matched, extremely rough and splattered with solder along the sides. And with that low price tag comes limited mounting, meaning that the user can only apply the heatsink to the original socket type it was purchased for. If changing platforms the user must purchase another heatsink to go with it.

Overall I was extremely surprised at the performance, and would consider using the Silent Whisper in a low-budget machine where there wasn't a need for impressive looks. With its quiet fan and smaller size, it may just be perfect for an HTPC.