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

[Ar3s]

yeah well thermalright makes great coolers just terrible mountings from all i read.

[Sparky]

Something sure seems amiss, from the sheer size of the thing you'd think it would perform better than this.

Guess I'm glad I ended up with water instead of waiting on the IFX or the U120ex. Both seem to have their problems. Thermalright seems to have dropped the ball recently

[enz660]

So how many reviews do we have? I know more people ordered this thing than 3 or 4 results, POST YOUR TEMPS!!!!!!

oh yeah, i bet my infinity would smoke em all

[Navig]

I think that if all you do is peruse forums, you get a very exaggerated picture of things. Let's face it, people like to complain and moan on forums (or the alternative fanboyism). For example, yes you can still twist the Ultra120x and the IFX-14. Personally testing horizontal and vertical, and even moving between the 2, I've never noticed a performance difference. On the other hand, I often don't notice much about mounting mechanisms because I automatically alter things as I see fit (I have a whole drawer full of modified back plates).


Understand, we are sitting here comparing nitpick details about 2 heatsinks (120X vs IFX-14) that are really head and shoulders above heatsinks just 1 year old. Unquestionably, these new heatsinks raise the bar. My double-fan lapped Tuniq Tower is now relegated to a corner folding rig. I'm thinking about how I can mount my Big Typhoon to a video card. When folks say "disappointed" it means there might have been some exaggerated hype that the IFX would thrash the Ultra120X. Me I'd suggest that just matching the incredible performance of the Ultra120x with a little bit quiter fan is no small feat.


All things aside, just consider this:

Currently I am smp folding with an ambient of 90F on my e6600 @ 9*350, and I am running a 14mm fan at 1000rpms, and my load temp is 47c.

[Ender17]

very disappointed so far
I wait 3 months for this thing to come out and it can't even tie the ultra extreme?
I'm about ready to send mine back and order the 120

[pochoboy]

I'm wondering if the IFX-14 delayed debute was due to it not surpassing the TR UltraEx in their inshop testings and that they tried to remedy it before the AMD/Intel CPU price reductions in July. Meaning they released it prematurely(although delayed)to catch the wave of new buyers with new CPU's in hand thinking this would be the lastest and greatest TR heatsink? Timing and Marketing goes hand in hand as for sales.

[Gig4moller]

That's it. I think i'm changing my order to 120 eX instead of IFX-14

[Vapor]

Navig--very interesting. It seems that with lower loads, the IFX-14 can keep up and even surpass the Ultra-120 eX. Hopefully I can get to the TTBT and dual core testing tonight and tm

If it can, this is good news for me. My Ultra-120eX can go on my quad and my IFX-14 can go on my E6700 No money lost

[fireice2]

so far my ultra 120 doesn't disappoint. It's unlapped and im using the chill factor thermal grease.

[GFORCE100]

What's the clip like on the IFX-14? Obviously it holds the IFX-14 down via two screws but does this prevent the cooler feeling loose or liable to twisting with little pressure?

[Ender17]

Navig--very interesting. It seems that with lower loads, the IFX-14 can keep up and even surpass the Ultra-120 eX. Hopefully I can get to the TTBT and dual core testing tonight and tm

If it can, this is good news for me. My Ultra-120eX can go on my quad and my IFX-14 can go on my E6700 No money lost

interesting
all I want is 3.6GHz from my E6600

[TheBeast1590]

Navig

Understand, we are sitting here comparing nitpick details about 2 heatsinks (120X vs IFX-14) that are really head and shoulders above heatsinks just 1 year old. Unquestionably, these new heatsinks raise the bar. My double-fan lapped Tuniq Tower is now relegated to a corner folding rig. I'm thinking about how I can mount my Big Typhoon to a video card. When folks say "disappointed" it means there might have been some exaggerated hype that the IFX would thrash the Ultra120X. Me I'd suggest that just matching the incredible performance of the Ultra120x with a little bit quiter fan is no small feat.

Thats true, but we wanted something more...

[superray]

Seems U120E will still be the king

[ineedaname]

wooot nice review vap

2 b honest i didn't really think the ifx could do much better than the ultra 120 x cuz its already so good.

[evoic]

There are both 1000RPM and 2000RPM variants of the 120mm fan, I have both here.

I can't seem to find a seller that offers the 2000rpm version of the 120mm.

[Okda]

wow, i waited 3 months for this cooler to replace my Bigtyphoon

seems that i may change and order the Ultra-120 EX

[cantankerous]

I can't seem to find a seller that offers the 2000rpm version of the 120mm.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=20832

[cantankerous]

wow, i waited 3 months for this cooler to replace my Bigtyphoon

seems that i may change and order the Ultra-120 EX

I have a Big Typhoon currently as well that I am looking to replace.

[Vapor]

I have a Big Typhoon currently as well that I am looking to replace.

I hope you don't have a quad core



(also posted in post 2, but this is a new page, so easier to post here as well)

[cantankerous]

lol no, still on X2 for now but even on that I am getting quite high temps for the low voltage used.

[Vapor]

The more I test the IFX, the more I think there's a big design issue. Airflow.

The fins are too dense, IMO. I can't feel much airflow at all through it, even with a 2000RPM fan. Trying to pull air through one and push through the other is an exercise in futility....

Also, the flame-fins don't help....they add turbulence for no gain. With fin density more like the Scythe Infinity's or the HR-01 and a fin structure like the Ultra-120's, this HSF could really be a stronger contender, IMO.

Hopefully there will be a revision down the road that addresses this.

I am curious why dual-fan testing has shown better results though.....

BTW, dual core results will be ready soonish. Only tested the TTBT, Infinity and half-tested the IFX. The test is faster on a dual core though, and mounting was a lot faster for all of them.

[Sparky]

Maybe you should notify thermalright about that? Just a thought. You'd think though that they'd pay attention to things like that but then who knows...

[Vapor]

Maybe you should notify thermalright about that? Just a thought. You'd think though that they'd pay attention to things like that but then who knows...

Okay: vent mode on

Problems with the design:

1) fin density is just overpowering for even the strongest fans. By forcing both a push and a pull through it, you force NEARLY all airflow to the very outer edges of the fan. The effect is worsened with low RPM fans. Even airflow is ideal.

2) 140mm fans have even worse pressure/cfm (and even pressure/noise) than 120mm fans. Hence why I haven't even bothered testing them (that and my 140mm fans are not in my good graces for other reasons).

3) Flame fins are not good for dispersing airflow evenly. The Ultra-120's arc design is VERY good at it, however. Flame fins just increase turbulence and allows only the highest pressured air through (the edges) and prevent migration (inward, most importantly).

4) There's other minor things that irk me a little, but these are the most important ones that, IMO, are seriously hindering what could otherwise be a very good HSF.

I might contact TR but I'm not sure if they would listen much.....never thought I'd say this about them, but "they already got my $80"

[ineedaname]

Hmmmm maybe try some 3 fin ultra high speed delta's? They have better pressure.

[Vapor]

And the IFX-14 kinda wins the round!



Both the IFX-14 and Ultra-120eX have mastic-modded mounts (similar to penny mods, but used mastic tape instead of pennies.

Backside cooler was also used for the IFX-14.