Running Thermalright 120 Extreme without fan

falcon26 · Post by **falcon26** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:30 am

Is it possible to run the thermalright 120 extreme without a fan in a P180 case with only a rear exhaust fan and using a stock C2D E6600?

BIONIC_EARS · Post by **BIONIC_EARS** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:09 am

It's possible...I've seen a few examples of people doing it...but even the slightest amount of airflow through the heatsink makes a huge difference in cooling, so it's worth it to consider using an extremely slow/under-volted fan, or maybe some ducting to the exhaust fan.

jaldridge6 · Post by **jaldridge6** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:22 am

i think if you create a positive pressure situation it'll work better, although Ive done no tests myself. theres one guy who has an intake on the front and back of his case. the increased air pressure causes the air to be pushed out of the top. You could try something like that.

ck8-04 · Post by **ck8-04** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:22 am

I have a U120X passively on an E6700 in a Solo right now. It works, but under full load using Intel's TAT, temps approach 75C. Idle is about 50C. However, the only 2 fans in my system are an undervolted Nexus for exhaust, and the stock fan in my Corsair PSU. When I had the stock Antec exhaust fan set to low, I would idle at 45C and approach 60C at load. As you can see, there is very little airflow in my system. You should have absolutely no problems as long as your CPU stays stock and the rear exhaust is running at least 900 RPM. If you plan on running the rear exhaust fan below 800 RPM, you may want to consider a fan for the U120X as I am.

BIONIC_EARS · Post by **BIONIC_EARS** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:31 am

jaldridge6 wrote:i think if you create a positive pressure situation it'll work better, although Ive done no tests myself. theres one guy who has an intake on the front and back of his case. the increased air pressure causes the air to be pushed out of the top. You could try something like that.

With only one exhaust case fan, that is a fantastic idea to convert it to an intake fan.

Edit: Although, I remember reading tests that show a pull configuration for the fan on the U-120 cools slightly better than pushed air.

falcon26 · Post by **falcon26** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:49 pm

Well I got the 120 extreme installed today with a scythe fan 800 rpm's The computer is dead silent which very very nice. Temps are ok I guess

Idle: 47C
Haven't done load yet. But it is like 80C in my house now, its pretty dam hot outside. I'm hoping when its cooler out my temps are lower. My system is quieter now than it was with the zalman 9500 and the temps are pretty much the same as the zalman its just my system is quiter with a 800 rpm fan...

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:25 am

falcon26 wrote:But it is like 80C in my house now,

*blinks* You mean you have + 80 Degrees Celsius in your house?! O.o
That's as hot as average Sauna :p

falcon26 · Post by **falcon26** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:53 am

One thing I did notice is how the 120 itself is not on their very tight. I mean I can twist it from left to right without much effort, yet the 4 bolts on the motherboard are on nice and tight. Is that how it is supposed to be? My old zalman 9500 was the same way too...