Thermalright XP-120 vs SI-120
Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee
-
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:08 pm
Thermalright XP-120 vs SI-120
What exactly is the difference between these coolers? I am trying decide which on to get but I'm not sure which one to get.
Yes its mainly about compatibility.
The SI-120 works with almost all boards its designed for.
The XP-120 is less compatible, and has issues with a few mainboards.
Have a look at these links
http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main ... 120_p4.htm
http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main ... 120_k8.htm
http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main ... _si120.htm
The SI-120 works with almost all boards its designed for.
The XP-120 is less compatible, and has issues with a few mainboards.
Have a look at these links
http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main ... 120_p4.htm
http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main ... 120_k8.htm
http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main ... _si120.htm
-
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:08 pm
Thanks. I was reading some reviews and although the xp-120 has more surface area, it only cools about 1ºC better than the sp-120.
With a customized LGA 775 adapter kit, XP-120 is designed to fit all socket T (LGA775) motherboard. So far, we have not found any board that is not compatible with XP-120. If you've found any, we would appreciate if you could report them to here.
Since both of them are supposed to fit on all LGA 775 motherboards, I will rpobably go with the XP-120With a customized LGA 775 adapter kit, SI-120 can be installed on a Intel Pentium 4 socket T motherboard. So far, we have not found any board that is not compatible with SI-120. We would appreciate if you could report them to here.
-
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:08 pm
-
- *Lifetime Patron*
- Posts: 618
- Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 7:05 am
- Location: State College, PA
Go to jmke's website (madshrimps.be) to see his results of the SI-120 to the XP-120. He saw a 4-5c diff in favor of the SI version in a closed case environment compared the open test setups most other reviewers did (which show only a 1c diff).
I have both versions as well, and had similar results as jmke. In a closed case environment (antec p160 + seasonic ss12-500) I saw an avg of 3-4c diff with the SI coming out on top.
I have both versions as well, and had similar results as jmke. In a closed case environment (antec p160 + seasonic ss12-500) I saw an avg of 3-4c diff with the SI coming out on top.
-
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:08 pm
I just installed an SI-120 tonight. Here's a potential problem that I haven't seen mentioned: The heatsink is so tall that once you mount a fan on it, particularly a 38mm thick fan, there may not be much room between the top of the fan and the case's side panel. I'm no engineer, but I would think that's almost certain to have an effect on the efficiency of the fan.
With a Panaflo L1A 120x38mm fan on top of my SI-120, in an Antec TX-635 case (same size as the P150) there's only about 1 1/2" of space to the side panel. A 25mm fan would be better, giving 2". Still better would be the XP-120 if it will work on your motherboard.
With a Panaflo L1A 120x38mm fan on top of my SI-120, in an Antec TX-635 case (same size as the P150) there's only about 1 1/2" of space to the side panel. A 25mm fan would be better, giving 2". Still better would be the XP-120 if it will work on your motherboard.
-
- *Lifetime Patron*
- Posts: 618
- Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 7:05 am
- Location: State College, PA
jj - that's just crying out for a side panel duct. Dremel, bit of thin foam and some cardboard and you'll have nice cool air for your CPU
as to the temp difference between XP-120 and SI-120, I'd personally guess that it's due to less back pressure in the more open SI design. The XP's a high performance HS with lots of close spaced fins that go down along way. As such it's likely to have a fairly high impedence to air flow. This isn't a problem with high CFM fans as they can overcome the backpressure and force the air through the HS, but low CFM fans (like the Nexus) can't. So theoretically the SI-120, even though it still has the fan spacing, should offer less impedence and therefore higher airflow and cooling with low CFM fans.
as to the temp difference between XP-120 and SI-120, I'd personally guess that it's due to less back pressure in the more open SI design. The XP's a high performance HS with lots of close spaced fins that go down along way. As such it's likely to have a fairly high impedence to air flow. This isn't a problem with high CFM fans as they can overcome the backpressure and force the air through the HS, but low CFM fans (like the Nexus) can't. So theoretically the SI-120, even though it still has the fan spacing, should offer less impedence and therefore higher airflow and cooling with low CFM fans.
The case actually has a duct - one of those extendable jobs, but it had to be removed just to clear the heat/fan assembly. There's also a second, smaller opening a little lower on the side panel, for the video card I assume. I'd planned to cover both of them in order to give better front to back cooling (hopefully better airflow over the hard drives where I'm using a low speed Nexus fan) as well as to block direct noise from the CPU fan.mattthemuppet wrote:jj - that's just crying out for a side panel duct. Dremel, bit of thin foam and some cardboard and you'll have nice cool air for your CPU
-
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Sat Jul 24, 2004 5:03 am
The XP120 has the fan blowing into a somewhat closed space - the air must blow in, then make a right-angle turn and exit sideways, all in the narrow gap between fins. Potentially results in dead spots in the middle where the air's not flowing.thetoad30 wrote: A 4-5C difference? Wow. I wonder if someone can explain that to me, because right now it doesn't make any sense. I'm not arguing with the results, however.
The SI120 has the fan blowing through the fins into open space - means next to no back pressure, so the air flows smoothly (and quietly!) and there are no dead spots.
Yes, the XP120 has bigger fins, but the extra metal isn't particularly useful, because it's mostly retarding the airflow.
That make sense?
-
- *Lifetime Patron*
- Posts: 618
- Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 7:05 am
- Location: State College, PA
jj- sorry, wasn't familiar with your case When I installed my SI-97A+YL 25mm fan, I needed to remove the extendable tube, cut down the tube fixed to the case wall and reattach the extendable tube to get the right hight. Perhaps it might be worth experimenting with some cardboard and cellotape to use the provided hole and make your own tube/ duct?
I don't think it interferes too much with the airflow through my case (though admittedly I haven't sealed the hole and removed the duct to test) as both the CAG and front intakes are foam filtered, the graphics card vent on the side is sealed and all possible openings other than the one in front of the HDD are sealed (with a sheet of A4 paper cut to shape). The 2 YL exhaust fans (1xD12SL12 in the PSU, 1x D12SM12 on the case, both @5v) together pull enough air though the case to keep my 7200.7 120GB at 35-40C. I avoided a front intake fan as I found it made marginal difference (2-3C) cooling the HDD.
I don't think it interferes too much with the airflow through my case (though admittedly I haven't sealed the hole and removed the duct to test) as both the CAG and front intakes are foam filtered, the graphics card vent on the side is sealed and all possible openings other than the one in front of the HDD are sealed (with a sheet of A4 paper cut to shape). The 2 YL exhaust fans (1xD12SL12 in the PSU, 1x D12SM12 on the case, both @5v) together pull enough air though the case to keep my 7200.7 120GB at 35-40C. I avoided a front intake fan as I found it made marginal difference (2-3C) cooling the HDD.
One thing I noticed is that there are two cooling paths with the SI-120.
1. the top finned section which is cooled directly with a 120mm fan
2. the base plate that mounts to the CPU which is a few from the top fins.
The air, even if warmed from the aluminum fins at the top of the hs, can provide secondary cooling to the base plate. Just as it can provide secondary cooling to your RAM and MOSFETs, depending on the fan speed and how you mount the 120mm fan.
1. the top finned section which is cooled directly with a 120mm fan
2. the base plate that mounts to the CPU which is a few from the top fins.
The air, even if warmed from the aluminum fins at the top of the hs, can provide secondary cooling to the base plate. Just as it can provide secondary cooling to your RAM and MOSFETs, depending on the fan speed and how you mount the 120mm fan.