Is this the newest contender for the ITX cooling crown?

[2timer]

Guys, we of the SFF are a small community. We have to stick together and help each other out, because lots of people think we are nuts. That's why I wanted to share this with you, because I want everyone to know about the best and brightest SFF tech.

Meet the Thermolab ITX30:

It appears to be made of solid copper in the heat fins - wow. It's called the ITX30 because, well, it's 30mm high. Yes, that is half the size of the stock Intel 1155 cooler. And it's rated for up to 100W of dissipation.

Just look at the thing. Isn't it beautiful? It has an 80mm BeQuiet slim fan, it weighs only 300g, and it packs a set of heatpipes inside that tiny space!

This would be the perfect cooler to sit on top of an i3 or an i5-3570S/T. I'm feeling the geek love. :wub:

More shots:

 

[firewolfsm]

100W? I just need to wait for the BGA GT3e haswell boards now.

 

[SithSolo1]

Not what I was expecting with such a sensational thread title. Its certainly nicer that a lot of the other super low profile heatsinks but I wouldn't call it anything remotely close to a cooling crown contender.

 

[Sleepingforest]

If you can afford a slightly taller (45mm) cooler, you can get the proven Phantek PH-TC90LS. Somewhat cooler than the stock cooler, while remaining much quieter.

 

[2timer]

Not what I was expecting with such a sensational thread title. Its certainly nicer that a lot of the other super low profile heatsinks but I wouldn't call it anything remotely close to a cooling crown contender.

Correct, I did say ITX crown but perhaps I should have specified "ultra low profile" too

 

[2timer]

If you can afford a slightly taller (45mm) cooler, you can get the proven Phantek PH-TC90LS. Somewhat cooler than the stock cooler, while remaining much quieter.

Nice find! That cooler wasn't on my radar. Looks to be low profile and super quiet - AND sleek looking as well.

 

[God Mode]

That fan has to be obnoxious to be able to handle 100watts. It looks like one of those Thermalright motherboard northbridge coolers sideways.

 

[Anonemous]

If you can afford a slightly taller (45mm) cooler, you can get the proven Phantek PH-TC90LS. Somewhat cooler than the stock cooler, while remaining much quieter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835709017

Is that the one? Doesn't seem like the reviews are encouraging. edit: I guess they don't appreciate the form factor and low noise.

 

[AkumaX]

I actually considered the ITX30 for my build, but it was too hard to obtain in the US.
I even considered having a friend who is/was stationed in South Korea to get one.. hahaha
I did end up getting that Thermaltake Slim X3 though. It's a 80x80x15mm PWM fan, wish they made them in 10mm height :\

 

[Sleepingforest]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835709017

Is that the one? Doesn't seem like the reviews are encouraging. edit: I guess they don't appreciate the form factor and low noise.

Yeah, they're putting it on 130W monster CPUs and expecting it to cool well when it's explicitly meant for SFF. It doesn't help that Phanteks is known for their monster Noctua D14 competitor rather than SFF HSFs.

 

[2timer]

I actually considered the ITX30 for my build, but it was too hard to obtain in the US.
I even considered having a friend who is/was stationed in South Korea to get one.. hahaha
I did end up getting that Thermaltake Slim X3 though. It's a 80x80x15mm PWM fan, wish they made them in 10mm height :\

You can get them now on Ebay here

But at less than half the price, I'd say that Slim X3 is a bargain. Do you have any performance numbers on it?

 

[2timer]

Yeah, they're putting it on 130W monster CPUs and expecting it to cool well when it's explicitly meant for SFF. It doesn't help that Phanteks is known for their monster Noctua D14 competitor rather than SFF HSFs.

I'm interested in that HSF. The specs say there are two "heat pipes," but I *don't* see any heat pipes.

 

[AkumaX]

You can get them now on Ebay here

But at less than half the price, I'd say that Slim X3 is a bargain. Do you have any performance numbers on it?

not really... well, soon anyways, look for my acrylic itx thread in the future

the thing is, since i'm not using the pwm fan (for now), the numbers will be skewed.

 

[AkumaX]

not really... well, soon anyways, look for my acrylic itx thread in the future

the thing is, since i'm not using the pwm fan (for now), the numbers will be skewed.

also, my original application was going to be for an underclocked i5-2500k (quad core HD3000 Sandy Bridge), but changed to an i3-3225 (dual core HD4000 Ivy Bridge). There is room to move to an i5-3570K (underclocked) in the future, but we'll see how the temps are for the dualie?

 

[Skott]

I'd have to see some bench tests and comparisons before using the word 'crown' but the manufacturers are now starting to make some nice low clearance itx hsf that can actually do decent cooling beyond just stock.

 

[2timer]

lthe thing is, since i'm not using the pwm fan (for now), the numbers will be skewed.

So your fan only has one constant RPM setting?

also, my original application was going to be for an underclocked i5-2500k (quad core HD3000 Sandy Bridge), but changed to an i3-3225 (dual core HD4000 Ivy Bridge). There is room to move to an i5-3570K (underclocked) in the future, but we'll see how the temps are for the dualie?

Sure.

I understand the underclocked quad core K chip, but does the i-3570k allow for dynamic clock rates between the cores, ie selective Turbo? The i5-3570S/T chips have dynamic over clocking, which would make them the superior choice in a small ITX space.

 

[AkumaX]

So your fan only has one constant RPM setting?

Yes, the two 120mm fans only have one RPM setting. I believe they are the Scythe Slim SlipStream L's, which are 1200rpm? They range from SL/L/M/H, from 600rpm up to 2000rpm.

I could go back to the original 80mm fan, which has PWM (variable rpm)

Sure.

I understand the underclocked quad core K chip, but does the i-3570k allow for dynamic clock rates between the cores, ie selective Turbo? The i5-3570S/T chips have dynamic over clocking, which would make them the superior choice in a small ITX space.

I'm pretty sure it does, but I would want to cap it out at maybe 3.0GHz/3.2GHz. Who knows, if this system is that cool w/ the 2 x 120mm fans, maybe I'll keep it at "stock" and undervolt, haha.

But either way, I wouldn't be able to go with either of the S/T CPU's because they don't have the HD3000/HD4000 IGP chipset (a requirement for Hackintosh)

 

[2timer]

Yes, the two 120mm fans only have one RPM setting. I believe they are the Scythe Slim SlipStream L's, which are 1200rpm? They range from SL/L/M/H, from 600rpm up to 2000rpm.

I could go back to the original 80mm fan, which has PWM (variable rpm)



I'm pretty sure it does, but I would want to cap it out at maybe 3.0GHz/3.2GHz. Who knows, if this system is that cool w/ the 2 x 120mm fans, maybe I'll keep it at "stock" and undervolt, haha.

But either way, I wouldn't be able to go with either of the S/T CPU's because they don't have the HD3000/HD4000 IGP chipset (a requirement for Hackintosh)

Interesting. I guess I must be stuck in the S775 mindframe. I thought that clock rates in the BIOS were static - no?

If the K chip has dynamic clock rates, does it require the Z68 board?

 

[ecosmartpc]

My favorite low-profile HSF right now is the Dynatron T459. It's very quiet and does a great job cooling in mini-ITX cases.

 

[wirednuts]

My favorite low-profile HSF right now is the Dynatron T459. It's very quiet and does a great job cooling in mini-ITX cases.

you know some people just glance through the internet and they would simply like to click on links and not have to search

http://www.amazon.com/Dynatron-T459-.../dp/B006V5SZMI

 

[ecosmartpc]

you know some people just glance through the internet and they would simply like to click on links and not have to search

http://www.amazon.com/Dynatron-T459-.../dp/B006V5SZMI

I guess it's good then that they have you to cater to their wishes. Gold star for you!

 

[aigomorla]

lolol... is this thing slimmer then the base pump of a AIO?

if so can i kiss the AIO goodbye for spots where even the darn stock heat sink has problems pulling air in?

My favorite low-profile HSF right now is the Dynatron T459. It's very quiet and does a great job cooling in mini-ITX cases.

nah the one in this thread is far superior then the dynatron.

It uses dual heat pipes for better transfer and better effiency.
Its about as thin a stock heat sink itself with a 15mm fan.

I can go on and on about how much greater this sink is compared to the dynatron just from visualizing it.

I would like to see some numbers tho..

 

[twjr]

Yes, the two 120mm fans only have one RPM setting. I believe they are the Scythe Slim SlipStream L's, which are 1200rpm? They range from SL/L/M/H, from 600rpm up to 2000rpm.

I could go back to the original 80mm fan, which has PWM (variable rpm)



I'm pretty sure it does, but I would want to cap it out at maybe 3.0GHz/3.2GHz. Who knows, if this system is that cool w/ the 2 x 120mm fans, maybe I'll keep it at "stock" and undervolt, haha.

But either way, I wouldn't be able to go with either of the S/T CPU's because they don't have the HD3000/HD4000 IGP chipset (a requirement for Hackintosh)

I haven't tried underclocking my 3570 but even at the lowest stable voltage (can't remember the exact volts now) it would boot at it was still able to overclock to 3.8. Was nice and cool too. But then this was in an ATX case with lots of fans and a tower heat sink. So not quite the same application.

 

[ecosmartpc]

nah the one in this thread is far superior then the dynatron.

It uses dual heat pipes for better transfer and better effiency.
Its about as thin a stock heat sink itself with a 15mm fan.

I can go on and on about how much greater this sink is compared to the dynatron just from visualizing it.

I would like to see some numbers tho..

I'd like to see some numbers too. Right now I can find the T459 for $30 on Amazon and the Thermolab for $60 on eBay. I'd like to know if it's twice as good for the money.

In the couple of dozen builds I've done with the T459 it keeps Ivy Bridge CPUs cool and quiet. The most powerful CPU it's been used with is the i7-3770S in the Realan E-K3 case but mostly it's used with the i3-3225. It's been consistently quieter and cooler than other low-profile CPU coolers tried: Gelid Slim Silence i-Plus, Silverstone NT07-1156 and a Titan 30mm cooler.

That's been my experience anyway. I haven't tried the $50+ low-profile coolers like the Noctua or this one. It'd be hard to justify the price for those in my builds but if you have the money why not?

 

[Sleepingforest]

I'm interested in that HSF. The specs say there are two "heat pipes," but I *don't* see any heat pipes.

In my opinion, the heat pipe count, while good as a rough indicator, doesn't matter so much as the actual performance. I'd take it purely on the merits of low cost and being shorter and cooler than stock.

Now, if the Thermolab is actually much cooler while maintaining a quiet noise level, it might be worth an extra $30. Maybe we can all chip in to get both for a comparative review?