HR-02 Macho orientation

[mv2devnull]

Thermalright did recently introduce a cheap variant of HR-02 cpu cooler, "Macho". David Ramsey (Benchmark Reviews) writes:

As I mentioned in the testing section, this review has been updated with new results after Thermaright recommended we re-test with the heat sink oriented so that the fan blows out the back of the case, rather than the top. Considering the dramatic performance difference (almost 5 degrees), Thermalright should make sure that this orientation is specified in the mounting instructions.

Before that paragraph the cooler seemed nice for Silverstone FT-02. Now I'm not sure any more.

Overall, this heatpipe orientation topic is confusing. Silverstone's examples emphasize putting the cooling end higher than the heating patch, and avoiding heatpipe loops that are even higher than any other part in the cooler. Based on that and the nonsymmetric nature of the HR-02 design the "blow to top" orientation should be rather good.

 

[Clinkster]

I would set the heatsink up to blow out the case (back), not out the top. Its just better direction for the air to pass over from the front (assuming you have a front fan).

 

[mv2devnull]

Yes, but FT02 is not like that.

 

[BoomerD]

Yes, but FT02 is not like that.

I'm not that familiar with the case, but it looks it's one of the "upside-down cases" where everything is mounted "from the top," so just set the cooler to blow out the top of the case.
Remember, MOST reviews are written for standard case configurations...

 

[mv2devnull]

FT-02 has the motherboard turned 90 degrees; the connectors point up and not back. FT-02 has input fans on its floor, blowing up. Its only exhaust fan is on the top. Thus, all the airflow inside the case is from bottom to the ceiling. There is a straight non-obstructed path from intake fan through the cooler to the exhaust fan.

Remember, MOST reviews are written for standard case configurations...

Yes, they are. It is actually odd that this particular review did put the coolers into "standard case", but blowing to top rather than to back. Furthermore, in their pictures about installed Macho, neither of the back and top fan openings has any exhaust fan. Perhaps they do have a reason to do so?

The real question is thus: what would be the main cause, if change of orientation changes temperature by five degrees? Is it the airflow of the case? Is it the heat from the graphics card? Or is it a feature of the heatpipes of this particular tower cooler? Only the last one is meaningful in FT-02.