Thermalright si-128 vs si-120

stukovx · Post by **stukovx** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:35 am

I currently have a si-120 and was thinking about upgrading to a si-128. pairing them up with a nexus on a p5b. What do you think the temp differences are and if their worth it.

paapaa · Post by **paapaa** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:04 pm

Also consider Ultra-120 which seems to be a very good heatsink. Better than Scythe Ninja which was better than Scythe Infinity - according to SPCR.

stukovx · Post by **stukovx** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:15 pm

I thought about it, but I read that tower coolers main disadvantage is that they dont cool the motherboard. Not only that but the p5b northbridge is right next to the cpu making downward coolers a better choice right? Planning to put a passive hr-05 on the northbridge so more air flowing in that area is my main concern.

Mats · Post by **Mats** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:51 am

stukovx wrote:Planning to put a passive hr-05 on the northbridge so more air flowing in that area is my main concern.

That's why you should use a Ninja.

Read the review here, the reviewer thought about using a XP-120 first, but changed his mind for a Ninja instead.

paapaa · Post by **paapaa** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:56 am

Scythe Ninja rev.B is not compatibe with most C2D motherboards having capacitors near the socket - ie. all C2D mobos. This includes P5B Deluxe for example. I guess P5B is also not compatible.

Scythe Ninja is not the best heatsink unless you run it totally passive. Ultra 120 for example was better at basically all voltage levels (equal at 5V). In most reviews Infinity was also better than Ninja - in SPCR Ninja was better, though.

stukovx · Post by **stukovx** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:47 am

anyone have any reviews which shows that tower heatsinks cool the nb equal to or better than downward coolers? Cause if you think about it, the p5b temps range anywhere from 50-70c while the cpu goes from 30-50c. Just like my dfi ultra-d, the nb created more heat while recieving the smaller passive cooler.

EsaT · Post by **EsaT** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:34 pm

Here's one review with results of both SI-128 and 120 showing couple degree advantage in CPU temperature:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfis ... 597_8.html
I don't think those PWM temperatures are useful at all, in open air tower coolers get considerable advantage from that they don't blow airflow (which is warmer than room temperature air) towards motherboard, in closed case I would expect situation to be entirely different if CPU HSF has only fan which moves air near motherboard.
(IIRC notable part of cooling of components around CPU is even designed to come from airflow of CPU cooler)

Mats wrote: Read the review here, the reviewer thought about using a XP-120 first, but changed his mind for a Ninja instead.

XP-120 more than shows its age and already SI-120 wins it clearly:
http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getart ... rticID=406
(lowest PWM temperature with stock fans is because of very high fan speed)

Considering SI-128's fins are denser and larger that should cause more resistance for airflow meaning SI-120 might be actually slightly better considering cooling of other components if that was your main intention.
I don't know how it's in other motherboards but at least in Asus P5W DH thermal "paste" used under chipset coolers is definitely very crappy so that could be also one reason for hot chipset temps... also hopefully there aren't those idiotic "PR stickers" on top of heatsinks in other motherboards.

Mats · Post by **Mats** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:30 pm

EsaT wrote:
Mats wrote: Read the review here, the reviewer thought about using a XP-120 first, but changed his mind for a Ninja instead.
XP-120 more than shows its age and already SI-120 wins it clearly:
http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getart ... rticID=406
(lowest PWM temperature with stock fans is because of very high fan speed)

I was just pointing out that this type of HS may not be the best choice, the reviewer wanted to use the XP-120 for the same reasons as stukovx did, but he changed his mind.

stukovx · Post by **stukovx** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:46 pm

decisions decisions. Im not even sure anymore. Input from personal experience of the ultra 120 would be nice also.

stukovx · Post by **stukovx** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:37 pm

still undecided. So tempted to just get the si-128 since the ultra-120 seems to be sold out everywhere.

raziell · Post by **raziell** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:45 pm

from my expirience my xp-120 cool my mobo better
then the ninja so if you care about cooling the mobo and the cpu
go for a cooler that blow air down insted of the ninja and the ultra 120.