Thermalright's huge cooler attempts to take
the low noise crown
Required spec: Intel sockets LGA2011,
LGA1155, LGA 1156, LGA1366, LGA775; AMD sockets FM1, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2;
162mm CPU cooler clearance
Large heatsink and fan combos have, for the
past few years, come under pressure from all-in-one liquid coolers like the
Corsair H80, which provide the very best cooling available for CPUs in a single
device. However, they're expensive and can be very noisy too, meaning that in
these two areas air coolers can shine, which is certainly what the $64.8
'ultra-low noise' Macho Rev.A from Thermalright is looking to do.
Thermalright
Macho Rev.A
Physically, the Macho Rev.A consists of six
copper heat pipes that transfer heat up from the super shiny baseplate into the
aluminium stack of fins. The density of the fins could be higher, but there's
still ample surface area for shifting heat. Also included in the package is a
Thermalright TY-140 fan with mounting clips and anti-vibration pads as well as
enough thermal paste for a few installations.
The installation procedure makes use of a
universal mounting plate for AMD and Intel coolers. This is a poor choice on
Thermalright's part, as the I was unable to mount the cooler on the AMD test
board because there wasn't enough room for the Intel part. All it would take to
avoid this issue is a separate mounting plate but, as such, the Macho Rev.A is
not recommended for AMD systems, because there's a chance it won't fit.
Thermalright
TY-140 fan with mounting clips and anti-vibration pads as well as enough
thermal paste for a few installations.
Nevertheless, for Intel sockets,
installation is pleasingly simple for an air cooler. The backplate and mounting
plate (or just the mounting plate with LGA2011 systems) are attached first, and
only then do you lower the cooler into place on the CPU. You secure it with
another piece of metal that pushes down on the cooler's baseplate when it
attaches to the mounting plate, ensuring a very tight fit.
With the mounting plate installed, only two
screws are required to secure the cooler. One of the screws is not covered by
the heatsink, as the fin stack only extends to the rear of the CPU baseplate in
a lopsided fashion. The screw that is covered, however, is also easy to access
thanks to a tunnel that goes through the fin stack and the provided long
screwdriver that enables you to reach it. Ultimately, it means you're never
having to squeeze your hands into tight crevices and risking scrapes and cuts
to mount the cooler, which is certainly a bonus.
Cooling performance is on par with other
quiet coolers like the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro (slightly more expensive) and
the Zalman CNPS14X (slightly cheaper). It's a good deal easier to install than
both of these coolers too, as it doesn't rely on super fiddly bolts. The low
noise advertising is entirely accurate too, because even under heavy load the
fan remains basically indistinguishable from other hardware noise. In
well-ventilated cases, it's also possible to install the Macho Rev.A without
its fan and use it as a passive cooler.
Cooling
performance is on par with other quiet coolers like the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro
(slightly more expensive) and the Zalman CNPS14X (slightly cheaper).
Though AMD users will want to give the
Macho Rev.A a miss due to possible compatibility issues, users of Intel
sockets, particularly the less demanding LGA1155 socket, will be well served by
it. Its price is where you'd expect it to be for a well-made single-fan air
cooler, and the ease of installation is a real bonus. While it won't offer the
very best cooling, the balance between low noise and performance is very well
struck.
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Details
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Price: $63.58
·
Manufacturer: Thermalright
·
Website: www.thermalright.com
Ratings
·
Quality: 7
·
Value: 8
·
Overall: 8
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