Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme fanless with Q6600

[Sjors E]

I've assambled a system with the following components:

CPU: Intel Q6600 (GO)
MOBO: Asus P5E (X38)
Memory: Corsair Dominator PC8500 (DDR2)
PSU: OCZ GameXStream 700W
Case: CM Centurion 5
Cooling: Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme using Artic silver S5 thermal paste and (no fan)

According to the article Thermal right Ultra 120 fanless This should be possible right? Or does a Quad core produce too much heat?

 

[imported_Scoop]

The cooler in the article is the older TR Ultra 120, you are asking about the newer extreme version which has two added heatpipes and performs even better, article HERE. If you are considering this cooler, why not shell out 20 bucks or so for a silent fan like Noctua if you're worrying about noise AND temps.

 

[Sjors E]

You are right I'm using the 6 pipes version and I have a 120mm fan I just wanted to know if it was possible.

At first startup my fan wasn't operational and I ignored the warning after a few minutes the system crashed during bios setup and now my mobo doesn't do anything anymore. I'm wondering if I overheated my CPU but I almost can't imagine it did, because it was in een open case scenario with two 120mm fans (case and PSU) very close to the termalright (less than an inch) blowing air through the case.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Possible (to go fanless), but not necessary.

For example, I've modded an old 1994 Compaq ProLiant Server case to ATX specs.

With a simple foam-art-board duct-box fitted to the U-120-extreme, I have a rear-drive-cage "intake" fan pulling air off the hard disks from the case front which ports its exhaust right into the duct-box, and a rear exhaust fan which draws air from the duct-box and sends it right out the case rear.

So technically, I don't have a "CPU fan." But I DO believe in efficient air-flow, and it takes attention, effort and trial-and-error to get it. My best guess is that even "quiet" operation of my case fans still provides about 60 to 70 CFM of airflow through the TR-120-Ex's fins. But the fans are generally running at between 1,400 and 1,900 rpms -- and they're quiet.

since your question speaks only to CPU cooling, I won't go into detail about VGA, chipset and motherboard cooling as it fits into my "Bonzai-Duct-ing" project. But you're always welcome to ask.

For a simpler setup -- just the case and fans as you may be inclined to use them -- it's probably wiser to put a CPU fan on that sucker . . . . .

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Reset the CMOS if necessary according to mobo instructions.

I can't tell if you had made any changes to the BIOS settings too soon in your "adventure" with these parts. If you did, you need to test everything at stock settings, test the memory with the MEMTEST86+ utility according to guidelines, and assure that everything is working properly.

My understanding is that there would be an "alarm" if the CPU-FAN header isn't driving a fan. I can't imagine it causing a crash, though, unless your heatsink isn't properly mounted.

 

[F1shF4t]

Doubt you can go fanless, I've stopped the fans on my q6600 and it hit 95C at which point it failed prime and i just turned off the comp. (the 120mm exhaust fan was still working) In a fanless config a cooler like sonic tower should perform better than the U120E simply cause it has a lot more aluminium fins.

Either way I doubt you could get reasonable temps fanless even with an undervolted G0 q6600 unless you have some real good case airflow. I've got 2 coolermaster 120mm fans at 1300rpm which are completely silent on mine U120E.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I agree, and have to say my "assertion" of fan-less-ness hinges on whether or not a fan is ATTACHED to the cooler. But in effect, I have case-intake and -exhaust doubling as cooler-intake and -exhaust.

So your remark is even more important and worth attention from the OP.

 

[wwswimming]

depends a lot on air circulation in the case & the mate
between the base of the heat sink & the heat source/CPU.

i bet it's a "go" if you have good air circulation and good
flat heat-sink-to-CPU match (or if the heat sink is
perfectly concave to match a perfectly convex CPU cover)

 

[BoboKatt]

I am using the same HS (extreme version) on my other system (Asus P5K-E WiFi) running the Q6600 G0. With this HS, I originally did not place a fan on it. I Just wanted to see based on trying other HS like the Tunic Tower and Ninja Rev B, how good this was.

I had no problem leaving it fanless in my Antec 182 SE (although there are a few fans inside moving air in and out and the ones in the back and top). Upon boot-up my temps (at stock speed) using the new CoreTemp were 42, 39, 36, 37. I had the Voltage for the CPU actually 2 notches under stock. Thus it is possible. After using the computer for a few hours (nothing extensive though) again I never noted any issues but the temps were up just a bit. If you are happy with those temps then again it is possible.

However I must admit that when I did finally add a good quality, slow almost silent fan on the TL Ultra Extreme, the diff in temps was impressive. What got me even more was adding a second fan pulling air through also made a difference. Again both fans are on their lowest speed and I am totally happy with the cooling and the fact that it's still virtually silent. I hate to say it but I swear my PS (OCZ 600) is freaking louder than my 2 CPU fans. GRRRR.

 

[Sjors E]

Thanks everyone for your response and for sharing your experience

What I get from all this is that, although it is not recommended to use a fanless T120U eXtreme on a Q6600 with artic silver s5, it is not likely that this made my system unstable after only 5 minutes running.

I did my first startup with an open case and the bios setup hang up after 5 minutes and never recovered. Is this conlclusion correct or to simple?

 

[WoodButcher]

Originally posted by: Sjors E
Thanks everyone for your response and for sharing your experience

What I get from all this is that, although it is not recommended to use a fanless T120U eXtreme on a Q6600 with artic silver s5, it is not likely that this made my system unstable after only 5 minutes running.

I did my first startup with an open case and the bios setup hang up after 5 minutes and never recovered. Is this conlclusion correct or to simple?

I think your question was lost before it got answered, only duck ansered it, So, did you reset the CMOS? Pull the battery and set the jumper?
If it will boot, set bios to default settings, check your memory for the manufacrurer spec'ed voltages and timings, be sure the SATA is correct, and then run mem tests.
You may have fried something but it is doubtful as there are many protections. Because your case was open there was no airflow through the sink, attatch a fan and try again, Clear the CMOS if it won't post! Do you have a speaker on the board? Investigate the "beep codes"

 

[F1shF4t]

Originally posted by: BoboKatt
I am using the same HS (extreme version) on my other system (Asus P5K-E WiFi) running the Q6600 G0. With this HS, I originally did not place a fan on it. I Just wanted to see based on trying other HS like the Tunic Tower and Ninja Rev B, how good this was.

I had no problem leaving it fanless in my Antec 182 SE (although there are a few fans inside moving air in and out and the ones in the back and top). Upon boot-up my temps (at stock speed) using the new CoreTemp were 42, 39, 36, 37. I had the Voltage for the CPU actually 2 notches under stock. Thus it is possible. After using the computer for a few hours (nothing extensive though) again I never noted any issues but the temps were up just a bit. If you are happy with those temps then again it is possible.

My assumption for being able to go fanless is so it does not overheat even under 4 instances of prime. Its not the idle temps which are important but the load ones.

Originally posted by: Sjors E
Thanks everyone for your response and for sharing your experience

What I get from all this is that, although it is not recommended to use a fanless T120U eXtreme on a Q6600 with artic silver s5, it is not likely that this made my system unstable after only 5 minutes running.

I did my first startup with an open case and the bios setup hang up after 5 minutes and never recovered. Is this conlclusion correct or to simple?

If the heatsink was mounted properly then no it is highly unlikely that it was the cause of instability. Took about 3 mins for mine q6600 to rise from 80C to 95C when I stopped the fans while priming. So I can't imagine Idling in BIOS would result in overheating that quickly if at all.

 

[Sjors E]

Originally posted by: WoodButcher

I think your question was lost before it got answered, only duck ansered it, So, did you reset the CMOS? Pull the battery and set the jumper?
If it will boot, set bios to default settings, check your memory for the manufacrurer spec'ed voltages and timings, be sure the SATA is correct, and then run mem tests.
You may have fried something but it is doubtful as there are many protections. Because your case was open there was no airflow through the sink, attatch a fan and try again, Clear the CMOS if it won't post! Do you have a speaker on the board? Investigate the "beep codes"

Yes I did reset my CMOS (RTC switch on my asus board) I removed the battery switched disable/enable for about 15 sec en switched back and returned the battery. But my mobo doesn't make any sounds at all, No beeps (not even when I unplugged all memory slots and video card) so i think my Bios is corrupted by a flash failure.
I installed a fan on my T120U after the failed boot but I never got to see if that was the problem.

Right now I will RMA my system and they will investigate all components. I will post the outcome here on this post as soon as I get it.

 

[Sjors E]

For those people who are still interested,
Research showed that my mobo was defect and needs to be replaced.
It was a factory error. So I'll just have to wait for my new P5E Mobo.

Thanks again to everyone who reacted to this post.