Thermalright HR-03 - x1k Owners Rejoice!

[Sneaky]

found this while browsing at sidewinder computers today:

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/thhr.html

Thermalright HR-03





Product Description & Info

Definitely a world first and a first for Thermalright, the HR-03 VGA cooler can be run passively or accommodate a 92 mm fan. The HR-03 can be mounted in two ways also, which is a key factor for SLI users. The compatibilities of this VGA cooler have been enhanced to support all the latest cards as well. See the HR-03 for yourself below, we installed it on a BFG 7900 GT-OC, paired with one of our Akasa 92mm Amber series fans.

* Designed to work fan-less or with a 92mm fan at low RPM for low-noise operation and higher performance
* Proprietary through holes on fins for efficient ventilation and proficient cooling
* 4 innovative designed heat pipes (2 U-shaped and 2 N-shaped heat pipes) for thorough heat distribution across multiple fins
* Two ways of mounting the cooler on video card for best space and configuration management
* Light weight and easy no-tool installation
* Vast compatibility with system cases (ATX & BTX)
* SLI/Crossfire friendly for those serious gaming enthusiasts
* Cosmetically contoured design for that vanity look




Technical Specifications

Dimension

L133 x W156 x H38 mm (heatsink only)

Weight:

350g (heatsink only)

Compatibilities

ATI:
X1300TD, X1600TD, X1600XT, X1800XL, X1800XT, X1900XT, X1900XTX,X1950,X1900GT

NVIDIA:
6800, 6800TD, 6800XT ,6800GT ,7800GT,7800GTX ,7600GS ,7600GT ,7900GT ,7900GTX ,7900GS,7950GT

HR-03 $46.95

Judging by the 4-heapipe design and 92mm fan compatibility - this looks to be the first TRUE, GOOD air cooling solution (other than the noisy azz stock HSF) for owners of ATI X1800 and X1900 series cards


If I didn't have water cooling, I'd be jumping on this right now!

[iSlash]

Won't fit under my TT BT... and thans a pity=(

[Nanometer]

Damn... That would work with 7950gx2, but just the top card.

[Vapor]

I don't think this would work on the majority of ASUS LGA775 boards....why did they put the fins on the other side? Is this really that capable of being a passive cooler? Cause if it needs a fan for a lot of the cards, then putting it on the non-PWM, non-RAM side isn't good, and putting a fan on the fins makes it take up a lot of space many boards don't provide above the graphics slot.

[vudoodoodoo]

Damn... That would work with 7950gx2, but just the top card.

You can probably flip one of the coolers over to make it work for the bottom card.
I wonder how tall that base is... Hmmm..

[Sneaky]

as it said on the page - you can flip the entire thing over and use it with the fins pointing down away from the CPU heatsink - i'll bust out ms paint if anyone needs a better explanation

[Vapor]

Oh I see it now, thanks

[GrimReaper]

WOW but 46$ for just a gpu cooler?

[WeStSiDePLaYa]

wow, deffiently looks like a real contender.

[Praxis1452]

Bend the Heatpipes so it's parallel to your case wall and right in front of your Side Exhaust... No need for an extra fan or do it anyway if you don't have a side exhaust so that you don't have to take up another slot.

[Sparky]

Wow this looks like it just might be the ticket for me. I want water cooling but I can't really afford it. This isn't exactly cheap but it is definitely several times cheaper than watercooling

Hmmm sidewinder is OOS but heatsink factory has it for $49.99. More expensive though.

Now we need some reviews

[CPLB]

It looks like they got the mounting right this time... V1 was a bit difficult I think. I'll probably pick one up, it will be interesting to see which way of mounting produces better temperatures.

[erwinz]

nice cooler.. and nice price..

[Tacops]

http://www.nokytech.net/thermalright_hr-03-5335-a.html

[Miwo]

Looks really nice, maybe I will pick one up for my x1900xtx. Have a 92mm Tri-Blade Delta lying around. Ill probably have to bend the heatpipes to get it to fit in my Silverstone LC-20 though.

Wish sidewinder had them in stock, 6.50 for ground from California kinda sucks whereas Sidewinder ships priority

[Istasi]

If I didn't already have an Accelero which I was satisfied with and didn't plan on upgrading to DX10 in a few months, I'd be all over this.

[Kunaak]

seems like a really good heatsink.

heres a different view of it installed, so people can see this can be installed in a few different ways, and how small it reall is.

http://forums.silentpcreview.com/vie...203038b49567b6

[quicksilverXP]

Still like the Sytrin cooler at 30 bucks. They are coming out with a newer fan bracket so you can run a couple of the Sytrin coolers in SLI or Crossfire.

[Vapor]

That memory heatsink is interesting.....stealing the thunder of the HR-03 IMO

The more pictures I see, the less impressed I am by the HR-03.

[Darkenreaper57]

Wow, I like the design a lot. I haven't seen a wrap-around GPU cooler like that before. It looks like it preserves most the the PCI/PCI-E slots as well. The only worry I would have is that it might run into the CPU cooler or another heatsink/module on the motherboard.

I wonder how well a wrap-around waterblock would perform using heatpipes. Probably not as well (I would think) but it would be interesting to see.

[Cooper]

[deeznuts]

Since this can be mounted upside down so to speak, can it be mounted sideways, i.e. in a desktop case?

[Kunaak]

the only thing I dont like about this is...

take a close look at how little distance there is between the ram chips, and the heatpipes, in the pic I posted.
theres virtually no distance there for ramchips.

now the X1950's come with a 2 part heatsink.
theres 1 long ram chip, and then theres the core heatsink.
removing the core heatsink, your left with the 1 long ramchip heatsink.

I'd really like to continue using that ram chip heatsink, cause I really reallllllllly like the idea, of being able to have a heatsink on my ram chips, without permanantly adhering something to them.
however, using this VGA cooler on the core, would leave virtually no room to use that ram chip heatsink at the same time, unless you plain old grinded that area away, to make room for the heatpipes to pass over it, and still use that ram chip heatsink.

the problem then becomes a simple one for me...
I like to sell things, in nearly the same condition I got it in, so it's easier to sell.
it's always harder to sell a videocard, if the ramsinks are permemant on the chips, cause then the next person has to also need that kinda cooling, and most of the time, thats fine for a person watercooling, but not for a person interested in air cooling, which most people are...
so it becomes harder to sell something, the more I have to mod it.

I really wish they would have made that thing just a quarter of a inch taller, then it would have been perfect...

[Miwo]

Since this can be mounted upside down so to speak, can it be mounted sideways, i.e. in a desktop case?

I ordered one yesterday from Sidewindercomputers. I am using a Silverstone LC-20 desktop case, so I'll let you know.... lol. I am probably going to mount it so that the main portion is around where my other PCI-E slot is. I have about one inch clearance on top of the bracket, so hopefully that is enough room for the U shaped heatpipes, otherwise ill prolly bend it.

[deeznuts]

Thanks bro, that sounds great! One thing you can do is sit the computer (if possible, don't break anything!) on it's side and run it like a regular tower just for a few minutes, to compare to it being on its side.

Nice case btw., I have the LC-17B
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-lc17.htm