P4C800-E and Thermalright Heatsink Model XP-120

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Snowball

Hi,

I'm building a machine with the P4C800-E deluxe board and a P4 3.0E.
With the notorious heat problem of the Intel Pentium 4 3.0E, I'm
thinking of using the Thermalright XP-120 HS instead of the Intel
stock HS. But looking at the picture, the Thermalright HS looks huge!
I don't know if it will fit on the board, and if it's worth the
trouble. Did anyone here using that HS on the P4C800-E board? Any
problem in installing it? Does it fit? And what other HS would you
recommend (besides changing the CPU!) Any help on the matter would be
greatly appreciated.

Regards,
 
Hi,

I'm building a machine with the P4C800-E deluxe board and a P4 3.0E.
With the notorious heat problem of the Intel Pentium 4 3.0E, I'm
thinking of using the Thermalright XP-120 HS instead of the Intel
stock HS. But looking at the picture, the Thermalright HS looks huge!
I don't know if it will fit on the board, and if it's worth the
trouble. Did anyone here using that HS on the P4C800-E board? Any
problem in installing it? Does it fit? And what other HS would you
recommend (besides changing the CPU!) Any help on the matter would be
greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Click to expand...

Now here is a user comment :-) A "scratch and dent" sale :-)

http://groups.google.com/groups?threadm=3WA%c.79504$jZ5.37817@clgrps13

"a week old XP-120 heatsink + YS Tech 120mm 4 Pin 45dBA 105CFM
couple of fins bent, it's impossible not to bend one or two fins
during installation cuz the clip is almost hidden underneath the
heatsink small dent on one of the heatpipe (too close to NB cooler)
perfomance not affected! still the super fine heatsink"

So, to start with, plan on installing the heatsink outside the case,
where you have complete access to it. With a big heatsink, this can
mean finding a computer case with no "crossbar" or a case with a
removable crossbar, or maybe one with a removable motherboard tray.
Cases with a crossbar can make it difficult to get the motherboard
inside the case, without dropping it. (I know this, because I like
to install the HSF outside the case, so I can see it.)

The compatibility list mentions "*caps mechanically obstruct pipe
slightly, cap tilting necessary".

http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main_support_faq_motherboard_xp120_p4.htm

And, here is a successful user:
http://groups.google.com/[email protected]

So, it can be done.

Paul
 
There is one issue that is no doubt at the front of everyone's mind: not to
install the stock Intel heatsink if you are only going to change it soon. To
this end, I would remove the thermal pad from the stock Intel heatsink,
install it using ordinary heat gunk, and wait for some reviews re: the
Thermalright before being the Guinea pig. The thought of pushing capacitors
out of the way to make room for a heatsink of as yet unproven worth is a tad
on the risky side IMHO. They could always add a bend to the heat pipes to
remove this necessity and hopefully will perhaps in a V2.


- Tim
 
I'm building a machine with the P4C800-E deluxe board and a P4 3.0E.
With the notorious heat problem of the Intel Pentium 4 3.0E, I'm
thinking of using the Thermalright XP-120 HS instead of the Intel
stock HS. But looking at the picture, the Thermalright HS looks huge!
I don't know if it will fit on the board, and if it's worth the
trouble. Did anyone here using that HS on the P4C800-E board? Any
problem in installing it? Does it fit? And what other HS would you
recommend (besides changing the CPU!) Any help on the matter would be
greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

I use the Thermalright SP-94 and it is not huge, but effective.
Fits perfect in my P4C800-E Deluxe board with a 92mm fan (1500rpm).
CPU is 32-48°C with 24°C air intake to the case.
CPU is 3.2 GHz Northwood at 3.2 GHz.
Danish test here
http://www.hardwaretidende.dk/hard/artikel/03/10/10/5075375
 
Thanks Paul, for the info. I'd always install HS outside the box
anyway (although the "cross bar" you mentioned got me stumped as to
what you referred to) I'm more worry about the physical stability of
the Thermalright HS over time, as someone here mentioned (especially
with all that "shakin' goin' on" while the thing hanging vertically on
the mobo. All the pictures I've seen of the installed HS describes the
HS with the mobo lying flat - as in a desktop, and not vertical as in
my tower case) and keeping the loaded CPU under, say, 50°C; or 45°C if
I can. Reason is this new machine is a replacement for an old Asus PII
which I kept running for months on ends.

For the more immediate concerns, I don't like the "cap tilting"
mentioned in Thermalright's compatibilty list. I would not care to
"tilt" anything if I can avoid it. I was worry also about clearing the
northbridge HS, and the RAM, but thanks to Tim and his link, it's
clear that that would not be a problem.

Ken, thanks for the info, unfortunately I can't read Danish so I can
only have a dim understanding of the test in the link. But your SP-94
comes with a mobo brace in the back, am I correct?

Thanks everyone for your helps on the matter. You are great! I think
I'll go with Tim's suggestion, and wait for v2, unless someone have a
different idea... :-)

Best regards,

Snowball
 
Thanks Paul, for the info. I'd always install HS outside the box
anyway (although the "cross bar" you mentioned got me stumped as to
what you referred to) I'm more worry about the physical stability of
the Thermalright HS over time, as someone here mentioned (especially
with all that "shakin' goin' on" while the thing hanging vertically on
the mobo. All the pictures I've seen of the installed HS describes the
HS with the mobo lying flat - as in a desktop, and not vertical as in
my tower case) and keeping the loaded CPU under, say, 50°C; or 45°C if
I can. Reason is this new machine is a replacement for an old Asus PII
which I kept running for months on ends.

For the more immediate concerns, I don't like the "cap tilting"
mentioned in Thermalright's compatibilty list. I would not care to
"tilt" anything if I can avoid it. I was worry also about clearing the
northbridge HS, and the RAM, but thanks to Tim and his link, it's
clear that that would not be a problem.

Ken, thanks for the info, unfortunately I can't read Danish so I can
only have a dim understanding of the test in the link. But your SP-94
comes with a mobo brace in the back, am I correct?

Thanks everyone for your helps on the matter. You are great! I think
I'll go with Tim's suggestion, and wait for v2, unless someone have a
different idea... :-)

Best regards,

Snowball
Click to expand...

Riveted cross bar, lower in position than the PSU. Depending
on the height of the CPU heatsink, the heatsink can bind on the
crossbar, while you are trying to install the motherboard. On
some computer cases, this bar is secured by screws and can be
removed:

http://images10.newegg.com/productimage/11-129-118-06.JPG

No cross bar. The cross bar makes the case stiffer, so the whole
computer case may be easier to twist or torque when the bar is
missing. This case will be less of a challenge to install a loaded
motherboard:

http://images10.newegg.com/productimage/11-129-149-04.JPG

There are a couple positive things in favor of the XP-120. It has
a low height, and when the computer case is standing upright, there
is little "force arm" like there would be with a "tower heatsink".

The mass of the XP-120 is quite reasonable, compared to the 600+
grams of some designs. I would have no concerns about that.

I don't think this thing is a particularly bad design, not as
egregeous as some of the tower heatsinks are. Many heatsinks
blow it, when it comes to the design of the clip/fastener to
the motherboard, and that is what makes the difference in terms
of installation experience.

The key issue is the "cap tilting", and I cannot recommend this
as a mechanically damaged cap will void the warranty. They should
have raised the profile of the heatsink a bit more, so it would
clear stuff around the socket.

HTH,
Paul
 
Riveted cross bar, lower in position than the PSU.
Click to expand...
<<snip>>

Got you. Unfortunately, my case is the one with the cross bar (Antec
Performance Plus 1080AMG) but I hope it won't cause much difficult.
The mass of the XP-120 is quite reasonable, compared to the 600+
grams of some designs. I would have no concerns about that.
Click to expand...
The key issue is the "cap tilting", and I cannot recommend this
as a mechanically damaged cap will void the warranty. They should
have raised the profile of the heatsink a bit more, so it would
clear stuff around the socket.
Click to expand...

I agree with you there. The warranty is less of a concern for me; it
is the capacitors. I've been working/playing with electronics for 15
years, I know how delicate the "legs" on those little things are. Do
you think the people at Thermalright will take suggestions? Thanks
again for your great help! I greatly appreciate that.

Snowball
 
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