Question Raising attention to the Ocypus Iota A62 "digital" air-cooler

[BonzaiDuck]

I would prefer Thermal Grizzly if it has similar performance. I feel that the LTT product is overpriced and I don't like that guy. He's only focused on money making. Doesn't really care about hardware.

TG has an established rep. I'll make notes about this for stage 2 -- when I become "purchasing agent".

I didn't see your post right away on coolers and processors. The i9-14900K thermal behavior was an incentive to wait, even as I wouldn't have purchased an i9.

I need to blow the cruft out of my file-server/media PC and consider newer storage. It currently has 4x 3.5" 3TB HDDs in a pool. It needs some maintenance. Then we're going to install the IoT Enterprise security solution.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

TG has an established rep. I'll make notes about this for stage 2 -- when I become "purchasing agent".

I didn't see your post right away on coolers and processors. The i9-14900K thermal behavior was an incentive to wait, even as I wouldn't have purchased an i9.

I need to blow the cruft out of my file-server/media PC and consider newer storage. It currently has 4x 3.5" 3TB HDDs in a pool. It needs some maintenance. Then we're going to install the IoT Enterprise security solution.

POSTING THIS AS A SHARED DISCOVERY

I was poking around for specs and info on my two TR Le Grand Macho (and RT) coolers. I have an idea as to how that old cooler stacks up against (a) Noctua NH-D15 G2 and (therefore) (b) Phantom Spirit 120 and EVO. In that rank order, I believe the LGM is under-rated. When they ran the bench-tests, they would not have used the TR accessory silicon-rubber accordion duct made to fit the LGM. You'll always squeeze out some extra cooling with a nice-fitting duct like that.

But back to my hap-hazard web searches. I turned up an outfit HQ'd in Spain called "Tech-Inn". They were offering a TR LGM RT for sale, and for the usual price of five years ago. It is important to point out at this juncture that TR seemed to have stopped producing those coolers perhaps earlier than 2022, when I bought my second unit.

There are advantages to a design that doesn't follow a double-tower approach, and that cooler was one of only a few I've ever found to have a special ducting accessory like that. I know the CoolerMaster 212 EVO has such a blue silly-cone accordion duct -- I have one of those also.

But I had posted earlier information to reveal LGA / Socket 1851 compatibility for a cooler made long before - uh - Socket 1851.

 

[igor_kavinski]

But I had posted earlier information to reveal LGA / Socket 1851 compatibility for a cooler made long before - uh - Socket 1851.

You need to worry about offset mounting with the new CPUs: https://noctua.at/en/lga1851-offset-mounting-background-and-benefits

 

[igor_kavinski]

Crazy cooler but the Royal Pretor is still top notch: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/air-cooling/jiushark-jf15k-review

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Crazy cooler but the Royal Pretor is still top notch: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/air-cooling/jiushark-jf15k-review

Yes -- I know about that one -- I looked at it and it ranks higher than just about any of them. But why does Amazon show a high return rate on those? And why are the fans "non-standard"? Reasons for my reticence, in any case.

 

[igor_kavinski]

But why does Amazon show a high return rate on those?

Most of the reviews saying that the installation instructions aren't clear. Also, I think most are making the mistake of putting the smaller fan inside which leads to the bigger fan causing RAM clearance issues.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Yeah, I wouldn't put too much faith in "high return rates". Most people are idiots...

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Yeah, I wouldn't put too much faith in "high return rates". Most people are idiots...

I think you both may have something there. I suppose that I just don't like the idea of proprietary fan design for a cooler, but nobody says one couldn't replace those fans with others of standard size.

To be honest, I had never been impressed with bundled fans for heat-pipe coolers. For instance, if I had a Noctua NH-D15 (G2 whatever . . ) I would think that stronger Noctua fans would be an improvement, because Noctua makes such fans -- for instance, the industrial iPPC line.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

MY LATEST GRAND PLAN:
I have now resolved all of my troubles anticipating the end of support for Windows 10.
I have three -- basically "twin"/"triplet" systems with SKY-/ KABY-LAKE processors, Z170 chipsets -- two identical Sabertooth boards and a Workstation board. The Sabertooth systems have all been updated to Win 11 Pro, and no problems installing the 25H2 feature update.
Even so, rather than build my budgeted $2,000 Arrow Lake system, I have acquired "spare parts" for maybe $500-- brand new in shrink-wrap -- boxed i7-11700K and ASUS STRIX Z590-E Gaming Wi-Fi motherboard. I can use my G.SKILL 4x16GB F4-3200C14D- 32GTZR kits from the Z170 systems. I could, for instance, "borrow" 2x16GB=32GB for the STRIX as I build it, and later completely decommission the PC I built in 2017.

OK! THE BIG STORY -- TRUMP'S EFFING TARIFFS
Earlier, I mentioned that I'd found the "discontinued" ThermalRight Le Grand Macho RT cooler -- brand new for about $80 (US price in 2017) -- from a Spanish reseller. Checking them out, they were A-OK and part of a consortium of similarly named reseller sites. I was just glad to find it, so I entered my payment information and pulled the string.
Arrived here safe and sound about 1st week of September. LAST WEEK, THOUGH! I receive an envelope from UPS -- the shipper. In this envelope is a bill for "customs-duties" -- tariffs -- of $156. That's right! The cooler had cost me in total about $236.
Water under the bridge. OK -- moving on.
Maybe I should get started on building a system with the Rocket Lake and STRIX board. I need something to do besides household chores. I've got three paid Win 11 Pro Retail-boxes. All I need, I think, is a power supply, and maybe a faster NVME drive for the boot disk. I've got a fairly new budget model nVidia graphics card that is beyond the performance of the old GTX-1070 mini-OC cards I have in two of the Z170 systems.
What else do I need? I've got a slim Sony ODD, and probably spare laptop drives for the ICYDOCK 2.5" hot-swap bays in the device with the ODD.
But here's the skinny on the adequacy of the ThermalRight Le Grand Macho RT for the Rocket Lake processor.
First of all, best information suggests that it mounts on LGA1200 with the included hardware, so no need to order an adapter or accessory hardware.
Why the Le Grand Macho RT is a good match

• High thermal capacity: The Le Grand Macho RT is rated for a TDP of up to 280 watts. The i7-11700K has a much lower base TDP of 125W but can draw up to 251W under peak load (PL2), especially in an unlocked state. The Le Grand Macho RT's high thermal capacity provides ample headroom to handle these short-term power spikes and maintain stable temperatures even under heavy workloads or moderate overclocking.
• Performance on par with dual-tower coolers: In 2016, reviews showed that the Le Grand Macho RT provided cooling performance that rivaled or even surpassed premium dual-tower coolers like the Noctua NH-D15, and did so more quietly. This level of performance is well-suited for a high-end air-cooled build.
• Efficient and quiet operation: The included Thermalright TY-147B fan operates at a low speed, between 300 and 1,300 RPM, with a minimal noise level of 14 to 20 dBA. This allows the cooler to run nearly silent at idle and very quietly even under heavy load.

Factors to consider

• Discontinued product: The Le Grand Macho RT was released in 2016 and is a discontinued product. This means it may be difficult to find new, and a more modern cooler may offer similar or better performance for a similar or lower price. Modern alternatives to consider include the Thermalright Phantom Spirit or other high-performance air coolers.
• Modern mounting kits: Since the cooler was designed before the i7-11700K's LGA1200 socket existed, you must ensure your model includes or you can purchase a compatible LGA1200 mounting kit

I think I will begin this project soon, just because I want something to putter with. I did enough of that dealing with the Windows 10 crisis deadline, and I have most of the parts and the OS, so at most I only need to buy a PSU. It's always been my practice to replace any PSU with a new one, even if it had a 10 year warranty but had been running non-stop for 5 years.

 

[WilliamM2]

That's right! The cooler had cost me in total about $236.

So you paid $236 for a 9 year old cooler, so that you can build another 5 year old machine. Can the parts be returned if defective? Do they have any warranty? $500 for a 5 year old proc and motherboard?

You baffle me.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

So you paid $236 for a 9 year old cooler, so that you can build another 5 year old machine. Can the parts be returned if defective? Do they have any warranty? $500 for a 5 year old proc and motherboard?

You baffle me.

All those parts were new in shrink-wrap, and all fully warrantied. The cooler, for being a model from more than 5 years prior, still performs in relation to coolers like NH-D15 the way it always did. It will be neck-and-neck with Phantom Spirit.

How I can blame myself for ordering it shipped from Europe, given that other items with similar origins didn't come with any surprises like this, seems -- I dunno -- unfair.

With three mid-tower desktops, a four-year-old processor and motherboard is a decent upgrade for one of them. I was going to build an Arrow Lake system, but I can defer that into the next year.

 

[WilliamM2]

All those parts were new in shrink-wrap, and all fully warrantied. The cooler, for being a model from more than 5 years prior, still performs in relation to coolers like NH-D15 the way it always did. It will be neck-and-neck with Phantom Spirit.

Where do you buy 5 year old parts with a warranty? Please explain.

 

[igor_kavinski]

The real problem with the 11700K is that it needs to be delidded for best performance. So if you can manage to have it delidded professionally or do it yourself if you think you can risk it, that would be FAR better than any powerful cooler you get for it, other than custom cooling.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Where do you buy 5 year old parts with a warranty? Please explain.

If they are new in retail-box and shrink-wrap, the warranty is as good as if you'd bought them two years earlier. Warranties begin to run at the time of purchase, not at the time the product was first released for sale.

From Kavinsky: "The real problem with the 11700K is that it needs to be delidded for best performance. So if you can manage to have it delidded professionally or do it yourself if you think you can risk it, that would be FAR better than any powerful cooler you get for it, other than custom cooling."

I don't think Silicon Lottery is still in business. I may need to buy the device which pops the processor cap -- if I want to do as you suggest.

 

[WilliamM2]

If they are new in retail-box and shrink-wrap, the warranty is as good as if you'd bought them two years earlier. Warranties begin to run at the time of purchase, not at the time the product was first released for sale.

Warranties are not transferable, and even if they were, these items were bought years ago. And they won't be in shrink wrap when you open them.
When I buy a new item, the warranty is just as good as if I bought it today.
Good luck.

The whole point, was that $500 could have got you a new current board and processor.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Warranties are not transferable, and even if they were, these items were bought years ago. And they won't be in shrink wrap when you open them.
When I buy a new item, the warranty is just as good as if I bought it today.
Good luck.

The whole point, was that $500 could have got you a new current board and processor.

Maybe. I was preparing for troubles with the old desktops in running W11. But if I build one new system and need to keep one or two others running, the older parts resolves that issue.

These recent choices and events would've taken a different turn if I didn't need to resolve the Windows 10 EOL.

I'm OK, though. I budget $1,000 per year for computer parts and software, and hadn't spent so much as a dime since 2021.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

The real problem with the 11700K is that it needs to be delidded for best performance. So if you can manage to have it delidded professionally or do it yourself if you think you can risk it, that would be FAR better than any powerful cooler you get for it, other than custom cooling.

Are you mistaken with this? I ran a search and the result shows that i7-11700K uses Indium Solder between the IHS and processor die. Apparently even upper-tier 10th gen cores use Indium Solder.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Are you mistaken with this? I ran a search and the result shows that i7-11700K uses Indium Solder between the IHS and processor die. Apparently even upper-tier 10th gen cores use Indium Solder.

Overclocking 11700k/11900k results, bins and discussion

Here we go :D Stock 11700k on Apex z490 b-die @3200c14 2x16

www.overclock.net

10-15C decrease is a big deal when your CPU is struggling to get rid of accumulated heat.

Of course, you can choose not to do that and most likely it won't matter anyway since most of your use cases do not involve all core workloads (unless you get addicted to re-encoding all your videos but then a simple and cheap Intel ARC A380 videocard will beat almost any CPU). The point was that a delid would help you more than a larger cooler since the bottleneck is in the heat transfer from the die to the IHS, not the IHS to the air.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Overclocking 11700k/11900k results, bins and discussion

Here we go :D Stock 11700k on Apex z490 b-die @3200c14 2x16

www.overclock.net

View attachment 131392

10-15C decrease is a big deal when your CPU is struggling to get rid of accumulated heat.

Of course, you can choose not to do that and most likely it won't matter anyway since most of your use cases do not involve all core workloads (unless you get addicted to re-encoding all your videos but then a simple and cheap Intel ARC A380 videocard will beat almost any CPU). The point was that a delid would help you more than a larger cooler since the bottleneck is in the heat transfer from the die to the IHS, not the IHS to the air.

I understand that -- about improving heat transfer between the processor die and the IHS. But how can it improve much with Thermal Grizzly Conduct-o-naut versus the Indium solder that is already used? Apparently the linked material proves the liquid metal is an improvement.

But the reason I had my Skylake and Kaby Lake delidded was their use of a non-metal TIM in those processors. I believe the modification reduced my load temperatures by 20C -- at a time when I was over-clocking those processors.

But here, as you say as well, my usage is not likely to push the thermal energy high enough for such a difference to matter -- that is, a difference between Indium solder and the liquid metal.

Information gathered from Google AI suggests that using the Le Grand Macho (or equal/better cooler like a Phantom Spirit) will offer some over-clocking headroom. I'm just not likely to do that much with it.

Whatever anyone wants to say about the expense of the Rocket Lake and the motherboard, it's a project to work on without spending a couple grand (as I'd planned for a more recent processor and chipset). A "project to work on" is good therapy. It takes my mind off the bad TV news and the bad speculation about my uncertain aging future.

I'm trying to forget about the Customs / Duties -- tariffs -- on the cooler. I had the item in my hands for 3 weeks before I got the bad news about the additional tax. I cannot blame myself for that in any way, except for wanting an older cooler of known familiarity and performance. I've ordered from overseas before, but nothing like this ever happened.