What is with Thermalright and bad heatsink bases?

[ZzZGuy]

I went looking around for a new heatsink for my new build, between the looks and ability I chose the Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme [Black Edition].

Also read they have problems with their bases being concave or convex, I thought "ok, probably won't be that bad". So I finally get my hands on it and put it on a piece of glass and it F***ing rocks back and forth! So a little lapping is in order (first time, with me luck).

How can a company that caters to DIY PC enthusiast let their quality control (QC) be this bad for their bases? Everything else seems to be top notch so I can't figure this out. Do they buy the bases (copper plate that sits on the CPU) form another company or something similar?

http://www.ncix.com/products/i...nufacture=THERMALRIGHT

 

[Sheninat0r]

Thermalright said it was intentional, to match the concave base of the Core 2 heatspreader.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Sheninat0r
Thermalright said it was intentional, to match the concave base of the Core 2 heatspreader.

That's what I recall.

So, if you lap the base, then you'll have to lap your CPU.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Funny thing is that when I had my TRUE, it was slanted after installation and had an exposed area underneath the heatsink so the chip wasnt 100% covered. Had to lap it to have 100% base contact.

 

[ZzZGuy]

After some more sanding with 200 grit (wish I had 100 now) I found that the bulge ran the entire width of the base offset like this /. The highest point was around the center with two other high points on each end right on the edge. There is also a low spot in one of the corners with the vvveeerrry edge raised.

Either they are masters of creating just the right base or are incompetent when it comes to QC. There is no middle ground.

-Edit- Oh and when I'm done I will take a razor blade to the CPU to check how flat it is.

 

[WoodButcher]

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
After some more sanding with 200 grit (wish I had 100 now) I found that the bulge ran the entire width of the base offset like this /. The highest point was around the center with two other high points on each end right on the edge. There is also a low spot in one of the corners with the vvveeerrry edge raised.

Either they are masters of creating just the right base or are incompetent when it comes to QC. There is no middle ground.

-Edit- Oh and when I'm done I will take a razor blade to the CPU to check how flat it is.

You have a plan!

I bought the original ultra for an E6600 and the convex base almost matched my concave chip, almost. close but no cigar. Laplaplaplap!!!!

 

[ZzZGuy]

Done!

Went and lapped the CPU, forgot to check how flat it was before I started but it was pretty good with only the the very edge of 3 sides raised and a very slight bulge in the middle. On my friends advice I didn't sand the CPU down until all the copper was exposed, most of silver layer is still there but it's a mirror finish now.

I don't know what the marketing department of Thermalright is smoking, but If I had not lapped my heatsink or CPU i'd have about a grand total of ~2 square millimeters of good contact, mostly because bulge in the center of both the CPU and heatsink.

Heatsink 220 grit to 2000 grit. (would have started with 100 if I had my time back)
CPU 600 grit to 2000 grit.

So word of advice, if you don't want to lap your CPU heatsink or don't know what lapping is, avoid Thermalright.

 

[wwswimming]

Originally posted by: ZzZGuySo word of advice, if you don't want to lap your CPU heatsink or don't know what lapping is, avoid Thermalright.

i spent 2 hours lapping a motor case once, that was enough.

for people that don't want this experience, there's a bunch of other
companies that have functional quality control.

for exampe, the Noctua NH-U12
http://www.xoxide.com/noctua-nh-u12-cooler.html

review @ Frostytech
http://www.frostytech.com/arti...iew.cfm?articleID=1923

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Sheninat0r
Thermalright said it was intentional, to match the concave base of the Core 2 heatspreader.

People need to stop perpetuating this myth that its intentional, its poor QC, plain and simple. There's readily documented pictures of bases that are concave OR convex as well as CPU IHS that are concave OR convex so depending on luck of the draw you're in a coin flip situation as to whether your heatsink properly spoons with your CPU.

Its not enough imo to avoid Thermalright, as it will still probably perform similarly to most top coolers out there unlapped, however, if you are hoping to improve temps over other coolers or temps dont' seem to jive with other reports around the web, then you'll most likely need to lap both the HS and CPU. You may also want to look into tweaking the mounting mechanism as well as I personally found it left a lot to be desired.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: chizow

Originally posted by: Sheninat0r
Thermalright said it was intentional, to match the concave base of the Core 2 heatspreader.

People need to stop perpetuating this myth that its intentional, its poor QC, plain and simple. There's readily documented pictures of bases that are concave OR convex as well as CPU IHS that are concave OR convex so depending on luck of the draw you're in a coin flip situation as to whether your heatsink properly spoons with your CPU.

Its not enough imo to avoid Thermalright, as it will still probably perform similarly to most top coolers out there unlapped, however, if you are hoping to improve temps over other coolers or temps dont' seem to jive with other reports around the web, then you'll most likely need to lap both the HS and CPU. You may also want to look into tweaking the mounting mechanism as well as I personally found it left a lot to be desired.

I am sorry if you believe it is poor quality control...IMO that is a myth!!

I have never ever had to lap a thermalright base!! I collect heatsinks and use each one that I have for at least a month.
I have several riggs and all of them are currently using Thermalright heat sinks!!

Peace!!

 

[Gillbot]

I've seen MANY poor bases from thermalright but to give them credit, many manufacturers do not put out 100% flat and smooth bases.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
I am sorry if you believe it is poor quality control...IMO that is a myth!!

I have never ever had to lap a thermalright base!! I collect heatsinks and use each one that I have for at least a month.
I have several riggs and all of them are currently using Thermalright heat sinks!!

Peace!!

Its not a myth when there's pictures all over various forums showing concave TRUE bases, convex TRUE bases, concave CPU bases and convex CPU bases. Oh, and you'll occasionally see flat ones too. So if someone has a concave TRUE and a concave CPU IHS, you think that's "intentional"? That's the worst possible case scenario. The fact that the TRUE bases can be either concave or convex proves any claims about intentional base design as false. It might not be poor QC, it might just be industry standard as they don't spec their parts to meet such stringent requirements as being perfectly flat.