Has anyone tried the Thermalright fan duct for HR01 PLUS?

netmask254 · Post by **netmask254** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:31 pm

I occasionally saw this interesting product on Thermalright's webpage. It connects the passive CPU cooler with the system 12cm fan, therefore the system fan can drain air pass through the cooler.
http://www.thermalright.com/new_a_page/ ... _duct.html

With this duct, it's possible to use single low-speed fan to cool the whole system (assuming IGP is used) and make an extremely quiet system, e.g. with a semi-passive PSU such like X-650 and SSD storage. What's important, the CPU performance doesn't need to be sacrificed, especially for the new Intel CPU with GPU integrated. Below is a review of this approach:
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=28 ... pert&pid=2

tim851 · Post by **tim851** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 5:42 pm

I use this setup to cool my C2D E8400. The difference in cooling performance with and without the airduct wasn't as dramatic for me as it was for the PCG guys, but that's to be expected with the much cooler C2D.

netmask254 · Post by **netmask254** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:12 pm

tim851 wrote:I use this setup to cool my C2D E8400. The difference in cooling performance with and without the airduct wasn't as dramatic for me as it was for the PCG guys, but that's to be expected with the much cooler C2D.

Thanks a lot for your feedback!

One thing I'm uncertain is: Once we connect the fan with the heatsink using this duct, the VRM part around CPU is a dead spot of cooling since no air flow around them. I don't know whether it's safe.

How about your feeling? Is the system as stable as before (when it's not installed)?

alleycat · Post by **alleycat** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:33 am

I made this duct for an i7 rig that I built last year. It's just a piece of folded cardboard. Air is pulled through the HR-01 Plus by the rear case fan and the PSU fan.

tim851 · Post by **tim851** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:06 am

netmask254 wrote:
tim851 wrote:One thing I'm uncertain is: Once we connect the fan with the heatsink using this duct, the VRM part around CPU is a dead spot of cooling since no air flow around them. I don't know whether it's safe.

How about your feeling? Is the system as stable as before (when it's not installed)?

I've been using this setup for almost 3 years. In a traditional ATX setup the power supply will exhaust air from the VRM area. Although my PSU is modded with a Nexus fan that barely spins at all.

But I get your concerns. This coming weekend I'm gonna move my rig into a P182. There, the PSU is in the bottom and I'm not planning on using the top fan. So using the airduct would once again provide for a dead spot in the VRM area. I haven't decided what to do about it. Maybe I'll leave the airduct off. As I mentioned, even without it the temps of the C2D were acceptable.

I think I'm gonna build my own airduct as alleycat did. One that includes the VRM in it's airflow. Not that a Nexus fan at <600 rpm is generating a lot of airflow.

Well, anyways, the mobo supports 125w Quad core CPUs, so I guess the E8400, which should consume less than 40w at all times, isn't stressing the VRMs too much to begin with.

netmask254 · Post by **netmask254** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 5:56 pm

Great thanks to you guys!

tim851 · Post by **tim851** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:47 pm

Okay, I have now moved my hardware to the P182, where I am employing the HR01 without the airduct. Temps are 5-6Â°C higher than before.

netmask254 · Post by **netmask254** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:03 pm

tim851 wrote:Okay, I have now moved my hardware to the P182, where I am employing the HR01 without the airduct. Temps are 5-6Â°C higher than before.

Do you mean 5~6Â°C difference either in idle or in load (I guess the passive cooled CPU in load may be a challenge)? If so, I think it's pretty acceptible to not use the airduct

tim851 · Post by **tim851** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:43 am

5-6Â°C difference in "light use", that is surfing, itunes or HD videos.
EDIT: temps under this scenario are around 55Â°C, were usually below 50Â°C before.

Constant full load (100% on both cores) brings temps up to 66Â°C according to Core Temp. That's definitely too high for me, although the CPU itself doesn't throttle. Still, I'm gonna stick a Nexus fan on the HR-01 asap. It's become available, since in the P182 I don't need a dedicated HDD-fan.

BTW, the 66Â°C is with a E8400 that's already undervolted to 1.0v, although it automatically readjusts to 1.175v under 100% load. And I've already attached my own makeshift airduct that includes the VRMs.

To conclude: if you have a traditional ATX layout, where the PSU fan exhausts air from around the VRM area, using the original Thermalright airduct makes a whole lot of sense!

netmask254 · Post by **netmask254** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:53 pm

I totally agree, for Antec Solo type case, an air duct may be useful.

Currently I'm using a 12cm fan@400rpm for my HR01 PLUS, it doesn't generate much noise and enough to cool my E8300 without undervolting. While, single fan in the whole system is a dream to me.

alleycat · Post by **alleycat** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:27 pm

Temperatures dropped by 12C when I installed the cardboard duct mentioned in my previous post. Easiest mod ever.

MadHarry · Post by **MadHarry** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:28 pm

Just wondering, is it best for the ducting to enclose the VRM area (expelling VRM heat), or not (so as not to blow hot CPU air over them)?

len509 · Post by **len509** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 5:54 am

The problem with the HR01 duct is that you need to have the right motherboard and case for it to align properly. The CPU socket should be close to the top as possible. And the top of the case exhaust fan should closely align to the top of the motherboard.