[Vapor] IFX-14 vs. Ultra-120 eXtreme (and others!)

[Vapor]

Got my IFX-14 in earlier today and have been playing pretty much all day, and would like to share some pics and results

I only have pics now, wanna get at least a full set of data before I throw it up in a graph

So here's some pics:

The boxes


First opening:


The HSFs :


Take them out, take them out of the plastic bags, and this is what you get (not what I wanted to see....):


Well, it was easy to straighten out:

(wasn't perfect, but a 38mm fan fits well and fairly snuggly inside, which is satisfactory)

Fin comparison, IFX vs. Ultra-120 eX vs. backside cooler:


The backside cooler (notice the clear plastic strip for electrical insulation ):


What's included with the Ultra-120 eX:


What's included with the IFX-14:


Next post will have results

[Vapor]

[tomati]

hi vapor,

thanks for your pics, waiting after your result.

If you can put your hand on a sonic tower give it a shot, my test showed me a better temp by 1°C to 2°c with the sonic ( 3 x120 @ 650 rpm vs 2 x 120 @ 650 rpm) against the U120e but it was on A64 only .

[[cTx] Nooc]

pics finally

sucks the sink arrived so bent

PS what's up with the nasty scratch on one of the metal thing in the last pic??

[zerazax]

nice! can't wait...

[AcuraDC5]

How about a Tuniq Tower in the comparo as well?

[Vapor]

]PS what's up with the nasty scratch on one of the metal thing in the last pic??

Not a scratch...seems to be some sort of adhesive (residue).

The HSFs being tested are the IFX-14 (with and w/o backside cooler), Ultra-120 eX, Scythe Infinity, TTBT, and QX6700 stock cooler.

CPUs being tested are:
1) QX6700 @ 3.2GHz, 1.39V loaded (high load....clocks are low because with 800RPM fans, none of these coolers can clock too high)
2) E6700ES @ 3.4GHz, 1.5V loaded (medium load)
3) E6700ES @ 2.66GHz, 1.27V loaded (low load)

Fans....well, lots and lots of fan configs will be tested

[Monkeywoman]

THATS SICK! i think i'll wait for the IFX-14 Xtreme to come out befor i upgrade, i see that there is room for another 2 heatpipes

[pochoboy]

would you happen to have a pic showing the bottom of the main heatsink base(the underside that makes contact with the cpu)?

[Vapor]

would you happen to have a pic showing the bottom of the main heatsink base(the underside that makes contact with the cpu)?

I'm sorry, I do not. It was better quality than the Ultra-120's base, very shiny and no striations.

Initial results posted.

Note that 'with back' results are on a remount where I added some mastic tape to the mounting bracket (a la penny-mod for the Ultra-120 eX). I also have a 100mm fan on the backside sink, removing it raises temps by 1C (if that).

[raccoonone]

Wow, interesting. Guess I'll wait for them to come out with an IFX Extreme

Thanks for the great comparison

*edit* Do you have a Ultra 120 (non-Extreme) that you could test against it? It would be interesting to see if it's the extra two heatpipes that are making the difference.

[Vapor]

Nope, just the eXtreme. I would offer to cut the heatpipes, but that'd kinda ruin a few things, and I like it anyway

[CPLB]

Thanks a lot for the review Vapor, always appreciate your work.

[Flinch]

Nice job Vapor,

From the point of the Panaflo on, those temps look real good for both coolers.

I do have a question(s) on what your using to load the cpu's...Prime? Orthos? and how long running at load to achieve those temps?

If you had plans to post that info, then disregard this

Thanks

[Vapor]

Dual ORTHOS is used (via manual affinity setting and two separate .exe's) for loading. At 3.2GHz with slow RAM on the quad, I've found that between the 4:40 to 5:10 time marks is a very, very hot, very temp-stable period. At 5:10 (or so), Test 2 on all four cores concludes and temps wobble (at a much lower temp) for the next 15min. At the 5min mark I read what Coretemp .94 says and average all four cores. No sense waiting for 20+min every single config to get a slightly hotter temp when this one is so hot and so consistent.

The "IFX-14, no back w/ the S-Flex D" had two cores at 96C at that point. I don't think the Infinity or the TTBT will be able to remain stable through that test, lol.

[wa2000]

Thanks for the review Vapor.

Looks like Ultra 120 Extreme is better and cheaper than IFX-14.

[Flinch]

Wow 96c

I'm really impressed from what both are yielding for results. I'm coming a Zalman CNPS 9700 where Prime*cpu stress no ram* goes to 71c and idle averages 39-42c.

So for me, those temps look incredible, at least from my standpoint. The backplate actually appears to be making a fair difference.

[Vapor]

Wow 96c

I'm really impressed from what both are yielding for results. I'm coming a Zalman CNPS 9700 where Prime*cpu stress no ram* goes to 71c and idle averages 39-42c.

So for me, those temps look incredible, at least from my standpoint.

These are deltas over ambient....so add ~23C to each one for averaged core temps at the 5min mark.

Doing the Infinity tests right now (so much easier to mount and mount fans....lol). Only done S-Flex D and E so far, but it's holding its own against the IFX-14 (D really beat the IFX-14, E was a minute loss....higher CFM should pull the IFX-14 ahead even further)

I really want to see others' results with their IFX-14. I'm hoping/fearing that mine is a dud.

(btw, all HSFs and tests are done with stock base and stock mounting unless otherwise stated)

[enz660]

well, its good to see that the small motherboard sink works! roughly 5c improvment! great! Maybe if paired with the ultra 120 extreme, even better results would come around.

still, a disappointment....

no offense...but what the hell!!!! Either you did something wrong, or thermalright is smokin something...

[Vapor]

well, its good to see that the small motherboard sink works! roughly 5c improvment! great! Maybe if paired with the ultra 120 extreme, even better results would come around.

still, a disappointment....

no offense...but what the hell!!!! Either you did something wrong, or thermalright is smokin something...

Post #10: "Note that 'with back' results are on a remount where I added some mastic tape to the mounting bracket (a la penny-mod for the Ultra-120 eX). I also have a 100mm fan on the backside sink, removing it raises temps by 1C (if that)."

i.e., 'with back' results have a modded mount.

I'm also disappointed

[sdkevin]

do you have some 140mm fans to test with IFX-14?

[Flinch]

Correct me if I'm wrong,*want to make sure I'm understanding correctly* but I'm looking at the same temps with the IFX-14 (with the backplate on)

If that's the case, I may not break the seal on mine when it arrives tomorrow.

[Vapor]

do you have some 140mm fans to test with IFX-14?

Yes....results won't be pretty though, two have zero-HSF/radiator ability and the other spins at all of 1050RPM

I'm thinking of ways to give a little pep to this IFX-14, and I'm drawing blanks If two San Aces can't get good temps out of it, then damn.

Correct me if I'm wrong,*want to make sure I'm understanding correctly* but I'm looking at the same temps with the IFX-14 (with the backplate on)

If that's the case, I may not break the seal on mine when it arrives tomorrow.

I'm not sure if I follow?

[enz660]

I think its the mounting.... its connected by only two screws...while the lighter ultra 120 x is mounted via four screws. Makes sense....NOT

what is it with these monster sinks & crappy mounting, must be a trend or something..

[Vapor]

I think its the mounting.... its connected by only two screws...while the lighter ultra 120 x is mounted via four screws. Makes sense....NOT

what is it with these monster sinks & crappy mounting, must be a trend or something..

I'm testing horizontally....fwiw.

I do think the mounting system is a little weird, and not super-strong, but definitely 'good enough' to hold it and have good contact. A simple layered-elec tape or mastic tape mod can always help though.