Thermalright XP-120 CPU Cooling Heatsink - Retail

This heatsink sucks

Reviewed By: Jeff on 5/25/2007

Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 day to 1 week

Pros: It uses a 120 mm fan that can blow on my ram and on my onboard chipset heatsink. I got an Asus A8N-SLI Premium Motherboard with silent cooling.

Cons: No improvement over stock Opteron Heatsink. Stock idle temp was 34 degrees C. I thought this XP-120 would take me down another 5-10 degrees since it uses a much bigger fan, (from 80 mm stock to a 120 mm). My CPU still idles at 34 degrees C with the XP-120. I just paid like 50 bucks for a heatsink that doesn't work better than my stock... I'm pretty disappointed.

Other Thoughts: Stock Opteron 170 heatsink has a copper base and copper heatpipes with aluminum blades. Blades are laid out horizontally so air gets pushed to the left and right. Left hits the onboard chipset heatsink cooler and goes out the back of the case. Right hits the ram and cools it a lil I guess.

The XP-120 is designed so that the blades are vertical. meaning air goes up n down, instead of left and right? Maybe thats why my CPU didn't see any improvement? Could be that its 100% aluminum too... No copper...

The highest temp I seen my stock temp go to was 55 degrees C. I still have yet to see how high this CPU will go with the XP-120 (so far 50 degree C was highest I seen with two prime 95 taking cpu to 100%). I got an opteron 170 overclocked from 2.0 ghz to 2.5 ghz. I was hoping this XP-120 could let me clock higher to some 2.8 ghz range...

Tests were done on open case. So... If I Closed the case, temp would be higher... =[ My Raptor Hard drives get too hot...

1 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for the valuable feedback you provided!

Reviewed By: Bestial Shenanigans on 5/20/2007

Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 month to 1 year

Pros: Fits tight and secure. Twice the size and half the weight of the stock cooler. Unbelievable cooling capacity. Aggressive look.

Cons: Bit annoying to install.

Other Thoughts: When using the LGA-775 adapter, start by nudging the screws slightly into the brackets. Apply grease and attach the sink to the brackets. Then and only then tighten down the screws. Your mobo will thank you.

Did you find this review helpful?

Thanks for the valuable feedback you provided!

Very Cool

Reviewed By: Dcdyd on 5/7/2007

Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 week to 1 month

Pros: It cools my E4300 which is overclocked to 3.26 (362.5 x 9) very well. E4300 runs at 29C idle and 45C full load. I am using EVGA 680i SLI LT mobo in Silverstone LC20M case. I am using Nexus 120mm fan which runs at 1000rpm.

Cons: The installation needs some patient. The bracket on the back was not flat and needs some work. You need hold both the bracket and the leg on the front in order to tighten the screw. Otherwise the boundle is not tight.

Other Thoughts: The original cooler doesn;t have mounting braket for socket 775. You need to buy a seperate mounting bracket which is extra expense.

Once you mount it it will be very hard to take it down. I tried to take it done in order to use it on another mobo, the glue for attaching the mounting bracket is so strong and when I got it down I almost thought that I would damage the mobo.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for the valuable feedback you provided!