HEXUS.net - reviews :: LGA 775 CPU Cooler *Mega Test*

[MD]

The boxes were opened and all parts, where necessary, were laid on the counter.

The stopwatch was started, and if necessary the instructions read and the cooler installed.

This was the only fair way we could do this.

Matt

[chuckskull]

Huge review, nicely done. Lot of surprising results. Looks like I'll stick with my Zalman 9700 for now then. I cna't help but wonder how the results would of differed in a different case, but then again that's part of the challenge, there's not one cooler that will be best in every set up.

[MD]

Cases make a huge difference, which is why we at least defined a set layout and applied it to each one, bench testing in open air will return nothing but false results.

[V-5]

I have the Big Typhoon at the moment, but wonder if the Thermalright Ultra 120 would have performed better if it had the same fan as the Typhoon??

[steve_hb]

...there are a few which need a larger chassis than the Antec 900...

A larger chassis than the 900!?

What are you doing in there, bolting a bloody turbojet to the MB?

New rule, if you need a case the size of your fridge to fit your new shiny CPU cooler, you're not allowed to have it. Nyer.

[MD]

The 900 is an average sized chassis, the likes of the P180, P182, Stacker, Gigabyte Aurora suit the larger coolers because of the larger space for air-flow.

Matt

[menthel]

Any chance of a round up of HTPC suitable coolers? Some a bit smaller than these at least!

[d032sh]

Thanks! Made me feel so much better about the ridiculous amount of time it took me to install the NH-U12, I resorted to trying to find pictures of it installed on google images to see how those fan clips were supposed to attach. It was my first build as well so I felt a bit idiotic after hearing the old 'oh it'll only take an hour' after I'd spent at least that trying to figure out how the damn thing was supposed to work. It also seemed to require superhuman strength to get the screws in... but maybe I'm just a weedy nerd ;-)

[zephod]

suprised that the Noctua didn't do all that well, and also pleasently suprised my the Thermaltake typhoon VX and the Scythe Mine! Especially useful info for me as i'm in an antec900 right now. Suprised to see it described as an average sized chassis though, i suppose its not THAT wide...

[Johnny Bravo]

Nice work guys one of these was well overdue on t'internet. I must say I was surprised by the Thermalright Ultra 120 results too. I'm sure you guys are as aware as the rest of us the great results we've seen around the web for them. I wonder though you mention applying paste on both mounting faces - off the record did you try only one to see if it made any difference? Also from memory (if you can) can you recall how good the mounting pressure was for this cooler?

[MD]

Nice work guys one of these was well overdue on t'internet. I must say I was surprised by the Thermalright Ultra 120 results too. I'm sure you guys are as aware as the rest of us the great results we've seen around the web for them.

We were likewise surprised, so much so we tested it twice on that cooler.

I wonder though you mention applying paste on both mounting faces - off the record did you try only one to see if it made any difference?

No we didn't as we followed exactly what the instructions stated. (obviously we know the normal technique, but if the instructions say then the installer does )

Also from memory (if you can) can you recall how good the mounting pressure was for this cooler?

Pressure was fine, as expected

[cah]

great roundup.......BUT
a) yes, I would've tested the extreme 120 rather than ultra 120. I would've also put in a caveat that the thermalright really depends on what fan you use. Put a slow 1000rpm unit and it will perform badly. Put on a 2200rpm unit as on the Tuniq and I'm sure it will do much better....albeit with a lot more noise.
b) And that's the other thing - what is the point of a cooler review without some subjective or objective sound measurements?

I have a tuniq and it gives ok performance....but it's noisy at full speed. Very noisy. How does the typhoon compare? Does putting it on max speed give little performance gain for too much noise?
Not to mention did you actually try putting the motherboards for any length of time upright in a case?
I would be terrified putting a typhoon vertically when my Tuniq puts so much flex in the motherboard that you can move it around a fair bit - and yes, the motherboard is secured to the case with all supplied mounting screws (not enough provided by lian li though) and I have tightened the mounting screws as far as they go.....


Biggest criticism - noise levels!!!!!! thermals are pretyt irrelevant without the trade-off.

[Sengoku79]

brilliant review guys, very thorough, must have driven you barmy though.

Let's have more plz

[MD]

People, the EXTREME Ultra 120 wasn't out when this group review closed for submissions. We put through what we could, and only saw need to leave out a few (water based solutions)

Matt.

[Steve B]

this has to be the most epic review i've ever read. im not even half way through!

Excellent job MD

[cah]

Ok, if it wasn't out, it wasn't out.

But honestly whilst i applaud the length and thoroughness and the methods used (it is the best roundup in a while from any tech site) we still need acoustic information and that is my biggest sticking point.

Should I upgrade from a Tuniq to the typhoon? Temperature wise they are similar, but sound? Can you add any comments here on sound levels? I can't believe I'm the only one to be interested in that.


p.s. you should at least put a disclaimer on the thermalright review - you are harsh on it when the fan could be the limiting factor. would account for your surprise.