EXCLUSIVE - Thermalright MUX 120 LGA 1156 cooler

Thermalright is preparing to launch a new heatsink for Intel LGA 1156 platform. With 4 heatpipes, 48 aluminium fins, a push-pin retention system and a PWM fan (1000-1500rpm), Thermalright MUX 120 comes as a natural extension of the LGA 1156 platform, which is meant to offer good performance at a lower price. However, the push-pin retention system and the similarities with the cheaper Cogage True Spirit is not what you would expect from a succesor of the real Thermalright monster, Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme.

The whole story and lots of pictures - Thermalright MUX 120 LGA 1156 cooler | lab501


http://lab501.ro/wp-content/uploads/...10-498x580.jpg

The base of this cooler is exact to the extreme, with the exception to the clearance between the fins and base. You must collapse the push pins on the LGA 1156 retention bracket and it will clear the space. Meaning you can use the extreme 120 with the MUX mounting bracket.

The i7 870 should idle under 30c

Its not really exclusive as these were sent out will all the press kits and we are under NDA atm even though we could write about the cooler.

Yes, the mounting system can be used with TRUE but ATM I am using Noctua's NH-U12P SE2, because of the much more serious mounting system. Honestly, I was especting a TRUE with LGA1156 bolt-thru, but this was a little bit of the surprise.

I know eveyone got them, but somebody had to write about it first :)

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Originally Posted by Monstru

Yes, the mounting system can be used with TRUE. Honestly, I was especting a TRUE with LGA1156 bolt-thru, but this was a little bit of the surprise.

I know eveyone got them, but somebody had to write about it first :)

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I think that mounting could be a bit flimsy on the TRUEx, being bigger and heavier.:shrug:
There'll be another BTKs for the TRUEx to work on P55.http://www.operationsports.com/forum...emlins/y15.gif

I don't get it, I can't see it beating the Mugen2 or CM 212+ or anything comparable for the price.

People will still pay for the name though.. :(

This is an Ultra-120, renamed to MUX-120, adding LGA1156 mounting bracket. nothing more:)

They made it smaller as the CoGage TRUE with a 1156 bracket and then....what else??Ah yes two heatpipes less...I'm curious to see the difference between the TRUE Rev.B with the V shape trough the fins and this cooler...but seems so similar to the CoGage TRUE...

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Originally Posted by jmke

This is an Ultra-120, renamed to MUX-120, adding LGA1156 mounting bracket. nothing more:)

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No sir, the original Ultra 120 was as big as TRUE but with 2 HP less. This one is smaller overall.

The TRU weights 745g without any fan, the MUX 120 weights 670g including the fan.

-wants- buy true 1156 mounting

so performance sub Ultra-120, so unless it costs less than $30, it doesn't stand a chance agaist Scythe Mugen 2:)

With this mounting it does not stand a chance against.....most decent heatsinks :)

Don't waste your money on this cooler, you would be better off buying Thermalright Ultima 90i, has 6 heatpipes, Ultra 120 and MUX 120 has only 4.

Anandtech -
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6025/loadsml.png

Small, cheap and better !!!

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/702/32u90wnocttb.jpg

Cogage True Spirit is the best buy right now. Anything else is just for looks.

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Originally Posted by Nomadsoul

Don't waste your money on this cooler, you would be better off buying Thermalright Ultima 90i, has 6 heatpipes, Ultra 120 and MUX 120 has only 4.


Small, cheap and better !!!

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if you don't care about noise, sure, Ultima 90 is better, but performance/noise ratio is MUCH better with the Ultra-120

no CPU cooler review is complete without dBA readings and an easy method to compare the ratio; you can ALWAYS slap on 2x120mm Delta fan's and each and every heatsink will be top notch performer; and while this might be fun for a 20min bench session; in a desktop PC you'd actually like to use, the absent of noise is a blessing.

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Originally Posted by FUGGER

Its not really exclusive as these were sent out will all the press kits and we are under NDA atm even though we could write about the cooler.

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QFT.

Yes, yes, me too =))

You came for the beer too ? lo my long lost twin brother :p

Ultima 90 might be good up to a certain level of Overclock, it's bigger brother will take over from there without breaking a sweat... and the extra noise you generate by using a 9cm fan isn't worth it in my case (otherwise my girlie will kill me for sure) If ya case can handle a big tower cooler, this might be nice... but for the OC'ers a real TRUE with a seperate bracket might be just that tad better...

Popularity might depend a lot on the retail price

good! was starting to be confused by the lack of 1156 heatsinks out there... most retail shops still only have one or two aftermarket heatsink? wth?
i thought 1366 was bad in that regard, but they had more than that at launch... and i figured 1156 being mainstream will have a dozen of heatsinks at launch... weird..

^
No they didn't. LGA 1366 had by far the worst launch in this regard. Coolermaster V8 was the only aftermarket cooler with 1366 support out of the box you could buy within the first month. I didn't try Noctua back then but Thermalright LGA 1366 bolt-thru kit supplies were abysmal for the first couple of months; I had to wait until january 2009 to get mine!

Leeghoofd - amen to that brother :D

sholvaco - AFAIK Noctua supplied free LGA 1366 mounting kits to all Noctua owners right after launch, and now they are doing the same. If you have the receipt for your Noctua heatsink, just write them an email and they will ship the new NM-I3 mounting (I got mine weeks ago).


http://lab501.ro/forum/attachment.ph...2&d=1251633334

I see Thermalright is busy cashing in on the new socket as they did with 1366 while Noctua is busy rewarding their customers as THEY did with 1366. :shakes:

I have a TRUE, but if I do end up buying another heatsink at some point in time it will definitely be a Noctua and not a TR.

I'm a fan of the Xigamtek Rifle cooler (pun intended). Does anyone know if there is an 1156 bracket for it?

Tuniq tower should fit: use AM2/3 securing nuts (you kept them right?) on the mounting screws behind the board to get the right height, lose the backing plate. TRUE can be made to fit 1156 using the 1366 bracket in a similar fashion but you have to lose the rear backing plate and add plastic washers.

Looking at a EVGA 123-CD-E635-KR, recommended cooler?

Need to mount a XFX 285 under it.

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Originally Posted by lundrog

Looking at a EVGA 123-CD-E635-KR, recommended cooler?

Need to mount a XFX 285 under it.

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huh?

i will never understand why people with thousands of dollars invested in their systems still choose to go air.

because high end air is comparable to a "normal" watercooling kit at a lower price, easier to install and maintain and lower risk for component damage?

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Originally Posted by Levish

because high end air is comparable to a "normal" watercooling kit at a lower price, easier to install and maintain and lower risk for component damage?

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whats do you class as high end cooling ?

i had true pressure modded and lapped with 2 3000rpm+ fans... and it still got up to 75~80 under load depending on ambient, with my cheap loops of £150... it hasnt gone over 37*C its 3 times the price... and really worth it :up:

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Originally Posted by lundrog

Looking at a EVGA 123-CD-E635-KR, recommended cooler?

Need to mount a XFX 285 under it.

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If want Air Cooling at best for LGA1156, get the Venomous X. The X is the current TR flagship.

BTW you can ask this in the air-cooling section, not the news section:shakes:

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Originally Posted by Jamesrt2004

whats do you class as high end cooling ?

i had true pressure modded and lapped with 2 3000rpm+ fans... and it still got up to 75~80 under load depending on ambient, with my cheap loops of £150... it hasnt gone over 37*C its 3 times the price... and really worth it :up:

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Without a doubt, if I wind up going to core i7 I've concluded it's time to drop the air cooling. It just dones't make sense anymore. Air coolers are getting so expensive that it really makes more sense to simply buy a water block when switching sockets. (assuming you've already bought a good radiator, pump, and fans) Comparable cost, but way better performance out of water.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jamesrt2004

whats do you class as high end cooling ?

i had true pressure modded and lapped with 2 3000rpm+ fans... and it still got up to 75~80 under load depending on ambient, with my cheap loops of £150... it hasnt gone over 37*C its 3 times the price... and really worth it :up:

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What do you mean by "cheap loops of Ł150"? What exactly is in this loop. And I guess there should be "it hasnt gone over 73*C..

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Originally Posted by osiris999

i will never understand why people with thousands of dollars invested in their systems still choose to go air.

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Because high end air is cheap as hell compared to high end watercooling.
A single Heatkiller 3.0 can get you 2 U-120Es (in Canada). Pump = 40-70$.
Rad = 50$-150$, res = 20$-60$, full coverage waterblock = 90-120$. CPU block - 40$-130$, Mosfets/NB - 50-80$.

Watercooling adds up to a lot more than air cooling. With the $$ invested though, you get some amazing as hell temps though..

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Originally Posted by Necetra

Because high end air is cheap as hell compared to high end watercooling.
A single Heatkiller 3.0 can get you 2 U-120Es (in Canada). Pump = 40-70$.
Rad = 50$-150$, res = 20$-60$, full coverage waterblock = 90-120$. CPU block - 40$-130$, Mosfets/NB - 50-80$.

Watercooling adds up to a lot more than air cooling. With the $$ invested though, you get some amazing as hell temps though..

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I understand where you're coming from, because this used to be exactly what I thought. What changed my mind? A few points..

1) Unless you're going to watercool EVERYTHING in your system (MOBO, Vidoeo card, mem, hard drives), then most of your costs are one time. Your money spent on a good rad, pump, hose, fans and fittings really is only a one time expense.

2) Remember, you're buying an aftermarket HSF to do one thing. Cool the CPU.

3) With 1 and 2 in mind, you're only buying a CPU waterblock when you upgrade your system.

A good waterblock is roughly the same cost as a good high end HSF, and both are doing the same job. But waterblock will perform way better.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Monstru

Leeghoofd - amen to that brother :D

sholvaco - AFAIK Noctua supplied free LGA 1366 mounting kits to all Noctua owners right after launch, and now they are doing the same. If you have the receipt for your Noctua heatsink, just write them an email and they will ship the new NM-I3 mounting (I got mine weeks ago).


http://lab501.ro/forum/attachment.ph...2&d=1251633334

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monstru, what fan is that in your photo? it looks interesting :)

Coolink SwiF2 120P :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rock&Roll

I understand where you're coming from, because this used to be exactly what I thought. What changed my mind? A few points..

1) Unless you're going to watercool EVERYTHING in your system (MOBO, Vidoeo card, mem, hard drives), then most of your costs are one time. Your money spent on a good rad, pump, hose, fans and fittings really is only a one time expense.

2) Remember, you're buying an aftermarket HSF to do one thing. Cool the CPU.

3) With 1 and 2 in mind, you're only buying a CPU waterblock when you upgrade your system.

A good waterblock is roughly the same cost as a good high end HSF, and both are doing the same job. But waterblock will perform way better.

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100% agree and a lot of people i see buying new heatsinks on the same systems. a new waterblock is only 50-60$.

along that same line of thinking a new i5/i7 bracket is 5-15$ for most heatsinks and some of them are sent free of charge