Ok now I can say I'm impressed with the VX!
Where it really shows its strength is with lower airflows. I gained 1-2 degrees C from going to a pair of 1800RPM Gentle Typhoons to a single 120MM fan (the one that comes with the H50 that is nearly silent). I figured with the lower airflow temperatures would soar but they barely budged! In the RV02 with a stock clock (W3530) I'd be willing to bet this cooler could run passive just relying on the airflow from the bottom 180mm fans. Even a moderate oc to 3.2GHz would not be out of the question in the scheme of things.
Testing continues...
Do you think the mounting system on VX might be better than Megahalems?
Isn't Megahalems a physically larger cooler? (with more air fin/surface area) Or am I wrong about this?
The Mega has a larger footprint overall. Both are superb coolers. The VX doesn't allow temps to rise as fast under reduced airflows. It will be a hit with the operators obsessed with silence.
When you say "Footprint" are you talking about the part of the Megahalems that makes contact with the CPU heatspreader?
Did you test before lapping? Is your CPU lapped?
That's a pretty good summary explaining dimensions, etc.
This HSF is definitely going to be received well by the silent pc crowd.
If they tested an original TRUE they would've definitely seen a bigger spread. The REV C. TRUE (like they had) is very close to a Megahalems. Either way one cannot go wrong. If your load temps with one of these is in the 90s you either live in the Sahara, are using lots of VCORE at high speeds, or didn't RTFM with regards to applying TIM and installing!
Water cooling would be recommended in your case. (NOT including H50)
I tested the VX before lapping it on my unlapped CPU and noted temps, then I lapped the H/S as it was really convex in a North/South plane, then I lapped the CPU as that was a tad convex.
careful lapping vx and mega etc might decrease performance since they are convex for better heat xfer. but do let us know the results if you already lapped it. :]
With the exact same system settings, my idle and load temps have been reduced by 2*C. Now I know this is 2*C better than a TRUE so that's a good thing, but to be honest it's not as big a difference as some have been implying.
Use fully loaded (i.e. LinX) temperatures for a metric not idle temps. That's what separates the men from the boys.
That's the reason I didn't have many different test results to show you guys really, as everything I did resulted in the same 2*C difference in temps compared to my TRUE, even after a 50 pass LinX run the temp was that same 2*C less
Sounds like you have the original TRUE. The RevC is very close to the Megahalems and VX. Both (Mega and VX) are considerably better than the original TRUE.
I would NOT modify the base on either. They are purposely machined to match with IHS producing a contact patch for optimal transfer. The only way to get better would be to lap BOTH CPU and base to ensure flat contact. If this is done correctly a tiny drop of olive oil placed on the cpu will hold the heatsink with impressive power. It will slide of course but pulling straight off will be nearly impossible! (Jo-block test)
What is the purpose of the convex base to the VX instead of a true flat surface?
I had no option really on whether to lap my VX or not as it was so convex it was unbelieveble, far more than my previous TRUE was. On a perfectly flat surface I could get a 3000th/inch feeler blade underneath both ends at the same time
that sounds like a lot, but since I don't have either cooler can't say how much is too much. I think the idea is for the retention to put enough force to flatten out the contact surface during installation. But since you lapped, did you observe better temperature and/or better contact?
Yes, the cooler actually fitted much better after lapping and couldn't be twisted at all and the temps were 3*C improved. Beforehand the cooler could be twisted very easily, even when locked down on the chip with the screw tightened up quite a bit (I checked the twisitng with a washer mod as Thermalright's new bracket design shape stops any twisting.)
I believe that that the convex shape was causing such a small point of contact on the CPU there was very little resistance between both surfaces. In fact I'm wondering whether having that extra pressure from Thermalright's new screw mechanism would increase the convex further over time as the screw hole for extra pressure is drilled quite a way into the base. thus the pulling/pushing forces are created in a sufficient direction & manner to achieve this. On the other hand though I'm sure that Thermalright would have checked all this out - or maybe they don't, and it's the same QA team that do the H/S base level checking
Sound like I'm moaning about this cooler doesn't it? I'm not though, I love it. I'm just posting my opinions and what I have found with mine.
This is interesting, I mean you actually getting 3c better temp that is. BTW, when you report temp, you talking delta right? (actual temp-room temp). because you get a few degrees of room temp differences quite easily. Anyhow, if you are right then TR needs to check into this. Maybe a fix in VX Rev B.
I'm a little scared of these high pressure mechanisms, I wonder if they will damage cpu head spreader over time. ProMeg still has the most secure mounting system in my opinion no twisting.
Yes I always make sure room temps are good and stable before doing any cooler testing. My system and the lights in my room always seem to keep the temp stable at around 20*C but I can control this more accurately if I needs be. Both my digital thermometers are also permanently placed away from any direct heat sources for overall consistency.
You do have to be careful tightening the new VX's pressure screw down, I've heard of guys loosing memory slots temporarily if tightened down too tight.