ThermoEngine real or hype??

[X14]

I just ordered a ThermoEngine HSF today but found this over at the overclockers.com forum.

Apparently they are claiming that production models of the ThermoEngine are not hollow and are completely solid. Looks like a cost cutting move and an attempt to flood the market w/ these HSs.

Anyone have comments on this?

ThermoEngine cutaway

 

[Biggs]

Yes, I was reading Mike's comments on the Cases and Cooling board and this caught my attention since I got a Thermoengine myself.

 

[X14]

I can't imagine that every review of this product is with a hollowed center specimen and that the retail model is a totally different HSF.

Just about every review done has been favorable for this product. Just wondering if I should cancel my ThermoEngine order if it's not too late.

 

[Biggs]

Can you say, rip-off?

 

[roc]

From the many articles I have read it is great. I doubt that the many review sites out there would compromise integrety just to give that HSF a good score and accept some money. I personally have not seen the drive perform, but from others I have talked to it performs resonably well. -roc

 

[Mikewarrior2]

Whether or not there is a huge performance difference between retail and "test-units" is not really the issue(i think there is a significant difference, personally)

The fact that they are clearly sending out review units that are hollow-core, while producing non-hollow core units is highly disturbing to me. The fact that they sent an e-mail to Mikhailtech's Usul about the production change 1 and a half months ago, yet have continued to supply hollow-core thermoengines to test sites is also disturbing. If they are so confident that the new thermoengine will match hollow-core thermoengine performance, why not send out solid thermonegines to test sites????


Mike

 

[Mikewarrior2]

Roc,

Test-units are typically the hollow-core variant, since Thermosonic is very receptive to "sending out" review units.

Early production models may have been indeed hollow-core units.

But newer/later production run thermoengines are turning out to be Solid core, and it isn't a matter of websites compromising their integrity, its Thermosonic compromising their own by sending one thing to test then delivering a different product.


Mike

 

[MadRat]

Mike, do you think hollow core is better?

 

[Mikewarrior2]

I've tested several retail ones(and one hollow core one is on the way) and from what i've seen compared to reviews, the retail thermonengines are not beating the snot out of every other heatsink. They are okay, downright bad with the stock fan, acceptable with the delta. So yeah, I do think there is a performance difference between the two, if there wasn't, why would thermosonic keep sending non-production models to test-sites.

Some of the retail units(specifically, the first run that went to Azzo.com) may have been hollow core. Trying to verify that now, but the rest of the production units from various websites do seem to be solid-core.


Mike

 

[X14]

I just called the to check on my order and the guy told me the one they are sending me has a definite circlular "cut out" on the bottom of the HS where it contacts the core. I'm not sure if this guarantees that it has a hollow core but I'm willing to try one.

In the review at HardOCP, you can see the circular "cut out" on the bottom of the hollow core version cutaway.

The link that I posted of the solid cutaway definitely shows that the bottom of the HS is 100% solid and no "cut out" circle whatsoever.

The person I talked to on the phone said that he will be sending me the one he was inspecting while talking to me on the phone. I tend to believe him since he did not know what I was looking for when I asked him to open up the ThermoEngine and inspect it for me.

I've got 3 unused HSs lying around, I guess one more paper weight isn't going to hurt.

 

[X14]

One other note, the ThermoEngine with the solid cutaway appears to be silver. I'm not sure if the black anodized ones make a difference but I've also read that the black anodized ones seem to give lower temperature readings.

Oh well, I'll know in a few days. I'm replacing (acutally just wanted something to play with) my Alpha6035 that works quite well. If the ThermoEngine doesn't work, I've always got the Alpha to fall back on.

I'm also replacing all 4 of my case fans with Panaflo L1As. I'm tired of having an airplane for a computer and would like to hear my MP3 files played w/out the blowing sound in the background.

 

[Viper22]

Well ive got one on my 1.33Ghz Athlon right now and running full load its at 98F. Personally i think its doing a damn good job. That also might be because ive got a black label Delta on it also

It does what i need it to do.

Viper22

 

[MadRat]

It makes me wonder (again) if the hollow core isn't worth pursuing in testing. I'd think the hollow core would force heatflow away from the middle more efficiently since there is no place for heat to pool. Of course, I'm still a big believer in the copper bottoms and aluminum tops. Seems like the miniORB has both designs, copper bottom/aluminum top and hollow airspace above the middle of the heatplate.