Thermalright HR-05 chipset heatsink(my review)

[thilanliyan]

Well, I got it installed, after a lot of fiddling.

The original heatsink has a sort of foam frame that rings the bottom of the heatsink so I figured I'd put the one on that came with the HR-05. Bad idea because the foam is too tall so when you first put it down, the heatsink doesn't fully contact the chipset core. I suppose once you put pressure on it and fully install it, it may contact the core, however I didn't wanna find out so I took out the piece of foam and now the base contacts the core directly.

As for space, there is ZERO room between the heatsink and my Thermaltake Big Typhoon. Right now mine is passively cooled but there is room for a fan that will blow UPWARDS (ie. towards the CPU heatsink). I'm probably gonna switch my CPU to water cooling (instead of my video card) anyway so space should no longer be an issue after that.

Tthe metal brackets provided that slide over the base of the heatsink and hold it down are are much too short or just a little too long. I used the long one and the white push through bolts are on a slight angle because it doesn't line up with the motherboard holes exactly. It seems to be working fine though as it hasn't popped off.

Even passively cooled, I think it does a better job than the stock heatsink did with a fan blowing on it. I never got any random lockups like I did (with the stock cooler) even when I upped the voltage on the Northbridge.

I'm definitely glad I bought it and I will be putting a fan on it.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Edit: I was able to get my E6400 up to 3.6GHz at 1.45v(IIRC) stable but the temperatures just skyrocket even with a bit more voltage so I put it back to where I had it at 1.35v 3.2GHz.

 

[Ayah]

:beer:

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: Ayah
:beer:

Thanks, I could use one.

 

[imported_wicka]

I'm a little terrified of aftermarket chipset coolers. The one I put on my old board was such a piece of crap to install. It's basically impossible for the average man to install with but two hands. What kind of retention mechanism does the HR05 use?

 

[DrMrLordX]

Seems like this is not a good solution for the DS3 if you're going to use a fan plus a HSF on your CPU. Blowing air off the northbridge onto the CPU's HSF is not a good idea. Maybe this isn't as big of a concern as I'd imagine it to be, especially if you have tall HSF like the Tuniq Tower 120 or something.

 

[TheUltimateNewbie]

Originally posted by: wicka
I'm a little terrified of aftermarket chipset coolers. The one I put on my old board was such a piece of crap to install. It's basically impossible for the average man to install with but two hands. What kind of retention mechanism does the HR05 use?

I also want to know about the retention mechanism. Does it use a clip or something or do you need some kind of adhesive?

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: TheUltimateNewbie

Originally posted by: wicka
I'm a little terrified of aftermarket chipset coolers. The one I put on my old board was such a piece of crap to install. It's basically impossible for the average man to install with but two hands. What kind of retention mechanism does the HR05 use?

I also want to know about the retention mechanism. Does it use a clip or something or do you need some kind of adhesive?

No it uses the same plastic white thingies used by the stock heatsink that pop through the motherboard.

HOWEVER, the metal brackets provided that slide over the base of the heatsink and hold it down are are much too short or just a little too long. I used the long one and the white push through bolts are on a slight angle because it doesn't line up with the motherboard holes exactly. It seems to be working fine though as it hasn't popped off.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: TheUltimateNewbie

Originally posted by: wicka
I'm a little terrified of aftermarket chipset coolers. The one I put on my old board was such a piece of crap to install. It's basically impossible for the average man to install with but two hands. What kind of retention mechanism does the HR05 use?

I also want to know about the retention mechanism. Does it use a clip or something or do you need some kind of adhesive?

No it uses the same plastic white thingies used by the stock heatsink that pop through the motherboard.

HOWEVER, the metal brackets provided that slide over the base of the heatsink and hold it down are are much too short or just a little too long. I used the long one and the white push through bolts are on a slight angle because it doesn't line up with the motherboard holes exactly. It seems to be working fine though as it hasn't popped off.

Originally posted by: DrMrLordX
Seems like this is not a good solution for the DS3 if you're going to use a fan plus a HSF on your CPU. Blowing air off the northbridge onto the CPU's HSF is not a good idea. Maybe this isn't as big of a concern as I'd imagine it to be, especially if you have tall HSF like the Tuniq Tower 120 or something.

Yeah the placement of the CPU socket and northbridge are fairly close together. I don't think with the Tuniq tower you would even be able to fit the HR-05. I think most 965 and 975 boards have this problem though. The good thing is though that the HR-05 works fine passively and good airfow in your case would be sufficient.

 

[imported_wicka]

The HSF I used has two bolts that go through the holes normally used by the plastic pushpins. The metal brackets that the bolts connect to actually slide into grooves on either side of the heatsink. Although this makes it so it fits virtually any motherboard, since the brackets can adjust to various lengths and angles, it also makes it ridiculously difficult to install.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: wicka
The HSF I used has two bolts that go through the holes normally used by the plastic pushpins. The metal brackets that the bolts connect to actually slide into grooves on either side of the heatsink. Although this makes it so it fits virtually any motherboard, since the brackets can adjust to various lengths and angles, it also makes it ridiculously difficult to install.

Which one are you using?

 

[Beiruty]

There is anew one HR-05 SLI which I am interested in. Waiting for reviews.

 

[imported_wicka]

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: wicka
The HSF I used has two bolts that go through the holes normally used by the plastic pushpins. The metal brackets that the bolts connect to actually slide into grooves on either side of the heatsink. Although this makes it so it fits virtually any motherboard, since the brackets can adjust to various lengths and angles, it also makes it ridiculously difficult to install.

Which one are you using?

The Cooler Master Blue Ice. I'm not using it anymore though, it was on my old board.
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/Products.aspx?pid=1120

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: wicka

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: wicka
The HSF I used has two bolts that go through the holes normally used by the plastic pushpins. The metal brackets that the bolts connect to actually slide into grooves on either side of the heatsink. Although this makes it so it fits virtually any motherboard, since the brackets can adjust to various lengths and angles, it also makes it ridiculously difficult to install.

Which one are you using?

The Cooler Master Blue Ice. I'm not using it anymore though, it was on my old board.
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/Products.aspx?pid=1120

I almost got that one, but opted for this http://www.rbmods.com/Articles/Thermaltake/Thermaltake_e_spirit2/1.php
I like it alot.
Keeps my ds3 in the low 40s

 

[imported_wicka]

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: wicka

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: wicka
The HSF I used has two bolts that go through the holes normally used by the plastic pushpins. The metal brackets that the bolts connect to actually slide into grooves on either side of the heatsink. Although this makes it so it fits virtually any motherboard, since the brackets can adjust to various lengths and angles, it also makes it ridiculously difficult to install.

Which one are you using?

The Cooler Master Blue Ice. I'm not using it anymore though, it was on my old board.
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/Products.aspx?pid=1120

I almost got that one, but opted for this http://www.rbmods.com/Articles/Thermaltake/Thermaltake_e_spirit2/1.php
I like it alot.
Keeps my ds3 in the low 40s

That was probably a good choice. The retention mechanism looks very similiar to the BI2, except that you can secure the brackets in place. All of the strengths, none of the weaknesses; it's like the Blade of chipset coolers.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: wicka

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: wicka

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: wicka
The HSF I used has two bolts that go through the holes normally used by the plastic pushpins. The metal brackets that the bolts connect to actually slide into grooves on either side of the heatsink. Although this makes it so it fits virtually any motherboard, since the brackets can adjust to various lengths and angles, it also makes it ridiculously difficult to install.

Which one are you using?

The Cooler Master Blue Ice. I'm not using it anymore though, it was on my old board.
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/Products.aspx?pid=1120

I almost got that one, but opted for this http://www.rbmods.com/Articles/Thermaltake/Thermaltake_e_spirit2/1.php
I like it alot.
Keeps my ds3 in the low 40s

That was probably a good choice. The retention mechanism looks very similiar to the BI2, except that you can secure the brackets in place. All of the strengths, none of the weaknesses; it's like the Blade of chipset coolers.

The reason i got it was because of my asus a8nsli deluxe (at the time) and how close the nb was to the video cards. I needed a little room to adjust. With the extreme spirit2, i can move it around. It has come in handy on this ds3 as well. I would def reccomend this hsf.