Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme-775 RT
Posted 08/07/09 at 02:30:15 PM by Nathan Edwards
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Big, heavy, simple, and powerful
The last Thermalright cooler we reviewed, the IFX-14 (November 2008), actually bested our then-champion Thermaltake DuOrb in performance, but its enormous size cost it the crown. The slimmer Ultra-120 eXtreme, while still a skyscraper of finny goodness, is much skinnier than the IFX-14, and (happily) includes one 12cm clip-on fan—the older model supported two fans, but included none.
Five nickel-plated copper heat pipes rise from opposite sides of the base through a large stack of heat-dissipating fins, cooled by a 12cm fluid-dynamic bearing fan. The included fan connects to the motherboard fan socket with a 3-pin connector, so there’s no onboard fan-speed control.
It's not the lightest nor newest air cooler out there, but it's quiet and brutally effective.
The Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme rises 6.3 inches from the CPU socket and looks like nothing more than a large apartment building, at two inches deep and 5.2 inches wide (not including the fan). At two and a half pounds, it’s as heavy as the Cooler Master V10 (reviewed in April 2009), but not nearly as cumbersome, and unlike the V10 its bulk is directed upwards—it doesn’t overhang the RAM or stand in the way of crucial components.
Installation of the Ultra-120 on an LGA 775 or 1366 socket motherboard is trickier than we’d like—even if your case has a removable motherboard tray with a cutout for the backplane, you’ll find the cooler much easier to install if you take the motherboard out first. The folding retainer bracket is a pain in the arse to keep in place, but once you’ve fastened the spring-loaded screws into the backplane, everything becomes much easier.
The good news is that once the cooler is installed and the 12cm fan is clipped to its front, the Ultra-120 easily outperforms our current champion air cooler, the Zalman CNPS 9900. Thermalright’s cooler decreased idle temps by two degrees more than the Zalman, and nearly eight degrees at full burn. For that matter, the Ultra-120 outperformed our stock Intel cooler by a shocking 25 degrees at full burn.
The Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme isn’t the newest air-cooler out there—it came out in early 2007, but we missed it the first time around. Now that we’ve finally put it through its paces, we’re glad we caught it. It’s the new (old?) air cooler to beat.
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme-775 RT
Right
Best air cooler we've tested. Includes quiet 12cm fan, but you can swap in your favorite.
Fight
Tricky install; heavy.
Benchmarks
| Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme | Zalman CNPS 9900 | Stock Cooler | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idle (C) | 29 | 31.25 | 46.5 |
| 100% Burn (C) | 43.5 | 51 | 67 |
Best scores are bolded. Idle temperatures were measured after an hour of inactivity; load temperatures were measured after an hour's worth of CPU Burn-in (four instances). Test system consists of a stock-clock Q6700 processor on an EVGA 680i motherboard inside a Cooler Master ATCS 840 case with stock fans.
Stuck between manufacturer's instructions
Submitted by Wolfgang on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 1:35pm
I've always trusted MaxPC's reviews and KickAss Awards (back in 2005 when I discovered MaxPC Mag) and hope this acquisition yields similar results. Although I am sure it will.
The cooler is certainly beautiful and imposing; the fact that it is big is just a hint of its supposed performance. I aesthetically love it if you ask me!
Installation on an AMD platform seems pretty easy and straightforward, just researching the best way to apply thermal paste since boht Thermalright and the Thermal Paste vendor have different instructions/methods. I will go with MaxPC's method which after extensive research is what most pro's do.
Will try to benchmark and post results later on...
they SAY different versions...
Submitted by K0BALT on Sun, 08/23/2009 - 11:24pm
I got the solid copper edition of this from FrozenCPU.com and they included the 1366 kit with it. along with 775 and AM2's. For some reason, FrozenCPU offered optional bolt-thru kits at checkout, but it still comes with all of them. I opted out, obviously. Its for my Phenom II 955BE. I pushed it past 4ghz on water, so we'll see how this does.....
Is it weird that I'm upgrading from my custom watercooling system to the solid copper version of this? I'll post back with temp results :D
Submitted by john65001 on Wed, 08/12/2009 - 6:07pm
I haven't tried to install it yet, but I'm having trouble tracking MPC's instructions for mounting, because their mounting parts don't seem to match what came with mine. In the 9/09 issue MPC uses an X bracket like the 775 part. But my 1366 part has two straight brackets and a crossplate. The brackets anchor the backplate, and the crossplate holds the cooler to the brackets. It looks easier to mount than what MPC has. I guess I will find out, but it looks like they had some old mounting parts maybe..
Submitted by Bustout on Mon, 08/17/2009 - 10:48am
There are several versions of this product sold out there. The main difference for most of them is the mounting hardware. Make sure you purchase the version that is appropriate for your motherboard.
The right one for the 1366 processor would be this one:
Submitted by K0BALT on Wed, 08/12/2009 - 5:18pm
Just got my full copper version of this and FrozenCPU.com included a 1366 mounting kit for this cooler. It also comes with all the rest of AMD/Intel kits.
Submitted by vfxcorp on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 6:18pm
Maximum PC is telling you the truth about the installation. I own this cooler and it is a little tricky to hold the X-brace while trying to get the spring screws aligned and put in. It takes a few tries and a possible bloody knuckle, but you eventually get'em in.
I previously had the Cooler Master V-8 and this Ultra-120 beats it easily. I would also highly recommend using the OCZ Freeze thermal compound as it has been tested several times to beat Artic Silver and many others.
Submitted by K0BALT on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 10:55am
The "Rev. B" model of this heatsink IS compatible with socket 1366 mobos...... nothing is overboard when it comes to cooling your CPU! ;D
"The Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme-1366 RT Rev. B CPU Heatsink is the
ever so popular Ultra-120 eXtreme heatsink with out of the box
compatibility for Intel's latest socket type, the LGA 1366 Socket."
775 or 1366
Submitted by Digital-Kid0101 on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 8:38am
Can this go on a LGA 1366? When I get some $$ I'm gonig to build a rig and Iwant to make sure my CPU is cold as ice, is this over board?
Submitted by K0BALT on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 7:25am
I wanted the full copper version because it's made in limited quantities and because it does look that cool. I'll be using it for my Phenom II 955 BE @ 4ghz
Submitted by SpazzAttack on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 2:39am
The solid copper version of the TRUE is just a gimmick. It weighs a ton, so many vendors post warnings to not install it on an upright-standing motherboard. In the end, the copper version only drops the temps around 2C lower than the standard version anyway. It does look nice though!
Its about time!!! Every time
Submitted by vistageek on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 11:03pm
Its about time!!! Every time you crwn a new campion cooler, i think, well, they haven't tried the thermalright ultra 120 extreme. lol now you ahve. Thanks guys!!!
Submitted by K0BALT on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 5:23pm
I just ordered the full copper version of this. i'll post back with the temp differences from my current liquid setup.... :D WOOT!
Submitted by WFUJay on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 10:05am
Obviously you've never used a Prolimatech Megahalems. It's been proven to be a better heatsink than a TRUE in benchmarks.
Submitted by WFUJay on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 10:07am
This comment was supposed to be in response to drizzle but I clicked the wrong button. Oh well, you get the point.
Submitted by K0BALT on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 5:55pm
I'm tempted to try and switch from my dual 120mm rad liquid setup, to the solid copper version of this.... depending on the temp differences, I can always switch back and use the TRUE in another build. I love the looks of this and the ease of owning an air cooled PC. Liquid cooling is a pain when I'm upgrading crap all the time.
I'd throw an Antec fan on it cuz they push LOTS of air. Noise isn't an issue for me. I'm already running (9)120mm Antecs at full speed....amongst a few other random fans. My PC sounds like a wall air conditioner!
Submitted by DriZzLe on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 4:46am
If you want a good fan that is quieter & pushes more air, go with a Noctua or Xigmatek, or Panaflo. The TRUE is a great cooler that just cannot be beat.
Submitted by snapple00 on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 3:39pm
Whats the ambient temp in the tests?
Without that temperature the results are useless. Was the Zalman tested at the same time? What if it was a few degrees hotter when testing the Zalman? Did Will Smith fart in the room while testing? COME ON!
How can anyone live with such un-thorough tests?
Submitted by SEALBoy on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 1:37pm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029
The Xigmatek S1283 is basically a copy-cat Ultra 120 eXtreme, but it's an extremely good and inexpensive copycat. I've looked up some benchmarks and it performs right up there with the Ultra 120.
Submitted by SpazzAttack on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 2:39am
I'll support Thermalright, the inventors of the TRUE, and pass on the knockoffs.
The real question. How
Submitted by nekollx on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 1:13pm
The real question.
How muck blood do you have to sacrifice to mount it?
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
In my experience Max PC seem
Submitted by dag1992 on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 1:24pm
In my experience Max PC seem to like exaggerating the difficulty sometimes, they made the Cooler Master V8 sound scary to install, when it wasn't all that bad, of course I could be wrong on this one.
Submitted by Bustout on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 2:10pm
I installed one of these and while the install was a chore because I had to remove the mobo to put in the bottom plate, it wasn't too bad. However, once I had the mobo back in and was trying to reconnect all of the cables I kept scraping my knuckles against it. I didn't think much of it, it didn't really hurt at first, but once I was done and I looked at it, the whole side was red. I then realized I had slowly scrapped off a layer of skin a little at a time. I cleaned it off some, but not wanting to go through the removal process again just to clean it, I didn't remove everything. This machine was definitely built with my blood and sweat! (No tears though)
Submitted by Bustout on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 3:39pm
I forgot to mention that in combination with a thermal paste upgrade (went from arctic silver 2 to arctic cooling mx 2) the Ultra 120 dropped temperatures by 40 degrees celcius. Really can't beat that without switching to water cooling.
Well, soon enough, when
Submitted by AntiHero on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 9:22am
Well, soon enough, when something (hopefully doesn't) break down, and you need to replace it, you'll cry over it because you've gotta get around one of those insanely sharp objects.
I don't like Microsoft, I associate with it.
Submitted by nekollx on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 9:58am
AND now we know why Gondon always has the blue surgons gloves on. It's not to protect us for the horific vision of his gnarled geek hands as he said, it's to keep from feeding these vampiric components.
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by dag1992 on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 3:58pm
My Silverstone TJ09 left me with a few cuts, and I payed $250 so it wouldn't cut me like other cheaper cases I've worked with =/ .
Submitted by nekollx on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 4:02pm
Blood! It's the new 'liquid' cooling.
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by K0BALT on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 11:43am
Fantastic cooler, but for the extra $$$, I'd splurge on the Limited Edition solid copper model here...
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8335/cpu-tri-55/Thermalright_Limited_Edition_TRUE_Copper_Ultra-120_eXtreme_CPU_Heatsink_Socket_LGA_775_LGA_1366_AM2_Xeon.html?tl=c373s966b34
Submitted by erolsipar on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 10:55am
If your fan is powerful and has a big airflow your cpu can be like liquid cooled.
It's a nice fan on my Core i7 920 C1 @ 3.2 Ghz. 25 Idle 45 Load (Celcius)
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