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Which provides better CPU cooling?

X

XothicX

n00b
Joined
May 12, 2007
Messages
11
I'm currently running a Zalman 9500 on my C2D and my temps are great, and I've been using this Zalman for quite some time.

However, the fan/bearings are starting to go I think, so I recently bought the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme to replace the Zalman soon.

After my experience with the Zalman, and reading that the Zalmans (like the 9700) cool better, and the massive size and some "structural" issues with the Ultra 120 extreme, I'm wondering whether or not to stick with Zalman.

Though I also know Thermalright to do a good job with certain things.

I'm running Intel's 975XDBX2 mobo with an E6600 C2D with good temps, even with the Zalman running on low.

Would the aluminum Ultra 120 Extreme be equal/better in cooling?
Is the thing just too heavy to be reasonable, especially with a 120mm fan attached?

I don't want to over-stress my mobo with weight, and this thing is damn weighty.
I've also read alot about it twisting and not sitting as flush on the CPU as it should.

Weighing-in with all of these issues, I'm almost inclined to stick with Zalman and move up from the 9500 to the 9700, but since I already purchased the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme, I wanted to get some input before I just completely dismiss it.

I'm probably going to need to replace this Zalman soon, so any thoughts/experience/suggestions on the issue would be appreciated.

Cheers.

P.S.
Love the idea of cooler with non-integrated fans, because then the fans can be replaced and cooler lasts forever. However...

P.P.S.
Some reviews off of Newegg (where I buy everything) regarding the problems with the Ultra 120 Extreme: accurate for many?


Pros: Lots of cooling fins, multiple heat pipes, sound engineering theory.

Cons: Unless you plan on mounting your motherboard flat, it is too heavy. The 775 base is too flimsy to support its weight properly on a vertical motherboard (tower). The base design causes it to sag under it's weight when mounted on a vertical motherboard, to the point of causing the 2 upper cores to spike on Core Temp on my QX6700. I've watched temps realtime fluctuate as I take weight off the end, reducing sag. Tested while running Orthos, all 4 cores loaded saw upper cores exibit 15C fluctuations as I supported it with my hand and then released it to allow base to hold it up.

Other Thoughts: In principle it is sound, large fins, many pipes, lots of heat shedding ability. In practice it fails due to its size and weight. The footprint of the HS is small compared to it's overall size, and when mounted in a tower case, the mounting base cannot properly support it's weight, resulting in an uneven application across the face of the cpu. I'll be getting a smaller, lighter high efficiency cooler to replace it.

Cons: Out of the 15 or so user reviews here and elsewhere that I've read, about 5-6 mentioned quality control issues, mine too is junk. The base where it meets the CPU is about half machined. You can actually see where it was machined and where it's not. Holding it up to the light it is clearly not even flat. Not to mention the fins are all crooked. Obviously a shoddy assembly job. They got a great review from those 'and' guys and decided to cut corners on the production run. Too bad. Buy this and you may get a fantastic heat sink and you may get junk. BTW mine cools exactly the same as the stock HSF. E4300 @ 3.0ghz, 4.56 Vcore, Silverstone case 2x12 cm fans, 36 degrees idle, 65-70 load (yes, really).
Remounted 3x with Arctic Silver 5 til I inspected the bogus base. I'll try RMA but one more bad one I'm picking anything else.

Other Thoughts: Manufacturers pick choice parts for those hardware review sights. And and techies got the best copy, maybe you will get a good one, maybe you won't...
 
Thanks, but that's old news.

Whether or not Thermalright was actually made any revisions to prevent the 775 problems is still up for debate. Some people are still having problems, while others are not.

I need feedback from people who are using it, or know someone using it, to address the questions I asked about both heat and weight, as well as mounting, whether they're still problems or not... vs just going with another Zalman.
 
I have a friend that has it, and it is pretty big, but they cool better than the Zalmans. He has the same mounting bracket that's mentioned in the retail review, and I don't think Thermalright has made any changes. But it seems to hold it down fine, granted that he almost never moves his rig.
 
I have the Ultra120 Extreme; though the only I can compare it with is the stock cooler. I haven't had any major issues with it so far. It mounted easily, and is 99% secure. While the cooler does not move vertically away from the cpu (it's very tight), it can rotate ever so slightly...no more than 1mm at the bracket corners. I think that's the only negative I can think of.

Temps are 39/63 on my 6400 @ 3200mhz @ 1.5v with 81F ambient.
 
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