Thermalright Ultra 120 review!

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Goi
Believe me I've googled. I ended up with a Tuniq...

Smart move!

Something I learned a long time ago -- ppl always compare stuff to a known best, then try to convince you that they have some secret insight. Homey don't play that game!

If the title of this thread was:

" Tuniq Tower 120 review!
Finally a replacement to the Thermalright Ultra 120 "

...everybody would be, like, "WTF?!?!?"

So, to all of you that believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy, have fun with your new Tuniq Tower killer!

Us 'bragging rights boys' promise not to laugh too hard...

 

[Skotty]

Originally posted by: trisct
There is one question I've never seen answered, though. If you take one of these heatpipe tower coolers, how does it work if you mount it horizontally in a tower case (like at least half of the builders)? Heatpipe technology, if I am not mistaken, relies on gravity to draw the condensed coolant back down to the transfer plate after it vaporizes and carries away the heat.

How the heck does that happen if you mount the thing in a tower case? All of the review photos I've ever seen show a motherboard flat on its back while testing - so maybe these superduper cooling towers are behaving completely differently in a tower case? I'd like to see a comparison of the orientations with a tower 120 someday!!

I'd like to see someone with first hand factual knowledge speak on this issue. Wikipedia shows a thermal cycle happening within a heat pipe, but fails to fully explain what keeps the cycle in operation. Does it have something to do with gravity? With the composition of the "wick"? Some sort of pressure effect? If gravity is involved, it would indeed seem important which way your heatsink was mounted. Wikipedia suggests it can be done by gravity or through something called "capillary action". My guess is that PC parts use the capillary action, however that works.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Skotty
I'd like to see someone with first hand factual knowledge speak on this issue.

Here you go...

Source

The widespread and fast-paced adoption of notebook computers in the home, workplace and on-the-road owes part of its success to space shuttle and space station technology...

A heat pipe moves heat from spot-to-spot with little loss in temperature. The heat pipe employs a two-phase process in which a liquid is evaporated inside the pipe by heat input at one end. The resulting vapor is condensed back into the liquid by heat removal at the pipe's other end. The condensate is then returned to the evaporator by capillary action in a wick.

Source

A heat pipe is a simple device that can quickly transfer heat from one point to another. They are often referred to as the "superconductors" of heat as they possess an extra ordinary heat transfer capacity & rate with almost no heat loss.

The idea of heat pipes was first suggested by R.S.Gaugler in 1942. However, it was not until 1962, when G.M.Grover invented it, that its remarkable properties were appreciated & serious development began.

It consists of a sealed aluminum or copper container whose inner surfaces have a capillary wicking material. A heat pipe is similar to a thermosyphon. It differs from a thermosyphon by virtue of its ability to transport heat against gravity by an evaporation-condensation cycle with the help of porous capillaries that form the wick. The wick provides the capillary driving force to return the condensate to the evaporator. The quality and type of wick usually determines the performance of the heat pipe, for this is the heart of the product. Different types of wicks are used depending on the application for which the heat pipe is being used. ..

Inside the container is a liquid under its own pressure, that enters the pores of the capillary material, wetting all internal surfaces. Applying heat at any point along the surface of the heat pipe causes the liquid at that point to boil and enter a vapor state. When that happens, the liquid picks up the latent heat of vaporization. The gas, which then has a higher pressure, moves inside the sealed container to a colder location where it condenses. Thus, the gas gives up the latent heat of vaporization and moves heat from the input to the output end of the heat pipe.

Heat pipes have an effective thermal conductivity many thousands of times that of copper. The heat transfer or transport capacity of a heat pipe is specified by its " Axial Power Rating (APC)". It is the energy moving axially along the pipe. The larger the heat pipe diameter, greater is the APR. Similarly, longer the heat pipe lesser is the APR. Heat pipes can be built in almost any size and shape...

Some are concerned about the possibility of the fluid leaking from the heat pipe into the electronics. The amount of fluid in a heat pipe of this diameter is less than 1cc. In a properly designed heat pipe, the water is totally contained within the capillary wick structure and is at less than 1 atmosphere of pressure. If the integrity of the heat pipe vessel were ever compromised, air would leak into the heat pipe instead of the water leaking out. Then the fluid would slowly vaporize as it reaches its atmospheric boiling point. A heat pipe?s MTTF is estimated to be over 100,000 hours of use.

 

[trisct]

Great answer...

Thanks WinDSL, that pretty much covers it.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: trisct
There is one question I've never seen answered, though. If you take one of these heatpipe tower coolers, how does it work if you mount it horizontally in a tower case (like at least half of the builders)? Heatpipe technology, if I am not mistaken, relies on gravity to draw the condensed coolant back down to the transfer plate after it vaporizes and carries away the heat.

How the heck does that happen if you mount the thing in a tower case? All of the review photos I've ever seen show a motherboard flat on its back while testing - so maybe these superduper cooling towers are behaving completely differently in a tower case? I'd like to see a comparison of the orientations with a tower 120 someday!!

whether you mount the heatpipe cooler vertical or hirzontal 99 times out of 100 it does not matter at all!!

 

[wgoldfarb]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Now how to cool the heat sinks coming off of the heatpipes on the 680i motherboards.

This is a good question! And it also applies to the Asus P5B Deluxe -- it too relies on air from the CPU fan flowing down through the HSF and out the sides to cool the heatpipe heatsinks. What happens with coolers like the Tuniq Tower or the Thermalright 120? The air flows sideways through these coolers, and they sit so high above the MoBo that their airflow probably does not really help the heatpipe heat sinks.

Does anyone know if this is a problem?

 

[tareks]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Goi
Believe me I've googled. I ended up with a Tuniq...

Smart move!

Something I learned a long time ago -- ppl always compare stuff to a known best, then try to convince you that they have some secret insight. Homey don't play that game!

If the title of this thread was:

" Tuniq Tower 120 review!
Finally a replacement to the Thermalright Ultra 120 "

...everybody would be, like, "WTF?!?!?"

So, to all of you that believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy, have fun with your new Tuniq Tower killer!

Us 'bragging rights boys' promise not to laugh too hard...

VinDSL. I probably wasn't specific enough in my original post, and a little exaggerated when I said "replacement for the TT". What I meant was that the performances are very similar, however the Ultra 120 is actually available in stores (I can't find the TT anywhere in stock here in Canada!) and the mounting mechanism seems easier. Performance wise, as the review shows, they're both neck to neck. The ease of use is what seals the deal for me, honestly.

Also, when you say "ppl always compare stuff to a known best", isn't that the whole point of this? (By this I mean hardware forums, reviews, comparisons, etc). You want to take the best, then you want to do better! The TT is the 'popular choice', by which I mean most ppl take it to be one of the best air coolers, and so we naturally want to find something better than it -- and there of course will be something better, whether it be the Ultra 120, or something yet to be released. So I don't see why you're so attached to your choice of cooler, when it's the natural progression that things will improve?

Like I said earlier, identical performance, but availability and ease of use puts the Ultra 120 a notch above the TT for me.

That's all

 

[skubidoobie]

I was also looking at the TT but the slimmer Ultra 120 is a better fit for me. As for fans http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/de12tfexhisp.html this was a fan I used on my XP-120 when I got it, but it was just too much noise after a while. Cooling was superior, but I thought my PC was gonna take off lol. But the Ultra 120 Plus (or extreme) may never even come out, the IFX-14 is already on Thermalright's website. Wait and see!

 

[Rubycon]

Gravity most definitely does affect Tuniq Tower performance.

Problem is most users aren't at the critical heat input point to see it. Get a QX6700 running at 3.4GHz and 1.45 volts or higher and you will definitely see a difference in loaded temps from horizontal to vertical.

 

[Jules]

:thumbsup: Ultra-120, glad i picked this up instead of the TT

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I put a dent in one of the heat pipes while installing the mounting bracket between the heatpipes... I don't think it hurt it any, but still kind of annoying.

 

[skubidoobie]

My Ultra 120 rocks, have my X2 4800+ at 2.75Ghz right now, going for 2.8Ghz, but peaks at about 47c during 2 instances of Orthos. It was a pain to get that second screw started installing it, but I got good results the minute I fired my pc back up. I liked my XP-120 but this thing rocks. For a fan I use a Thermaltake Thunderblade low noise w/blue led's, can't hear it over the other 9 fans in my case lol. 4X 92mm 4X 120mm 1X 140mm (PSU) 1X 250mm (side panel) Air cooling FTW!

 

[PhoenixOrion]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Gravity most definitely does affect Tuniq Tower performance.

Problem is most users aren't at the critical heat input point to see it. Get a QX6700 running at 3.4GHz and 1.45 volts or higher and you will definitely see a difference in loaded temps from horizontal to vertical.

so you're saying its better to put a tower case flat on its side to keep motherboard parallel with the floor?

 

[nyker96]

damn I want one but I can't afford one!! my freezer 7 pro is only like 20 bucks. 1/2 price!

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: PhoenixOrion

so you're saying its better to put a tower case flat on its side to keep motherboard parallel with the floor?

IF it lowers temperatures and is acceptable, sure. Most users with C2D's and Athlon64's don't put enough heat into the tower to see the difference. Step up to an overclocked quad and the difference becomes quite apparent.