EXCLUSIVE - Thermalright MUX 120 LGA 1156 cooler

[Monstru]

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

[Charles Wirth]

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.

[Monstru]

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

[labs23]

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

I think that mounting could be a bit flimsy on the TRUEx, being bigger and heavier.
There'll be another BTKs for the TRUEx to work on P55.

[Bradan]

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..

[jmke]

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

[SubZero.it]

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...

[Monstru]

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

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.

[Jamesrt2004]

-wants- buy true 1156 mounting

[jmke]

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

[Monstru]

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

[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.

Anandtech -


Small, cheap and better !!!

[clayton]

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

[jmke]

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 !!!

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.

[SKYMTL]

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.

QFT.

[Monstru]

Yes, yes, me too =))

[Leeghoofd]

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

[saaya]

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..

[sholvaco]

^
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!

[Monstru]

Leeghoofd - amen to that brother

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).

[bowman]

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.

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.

[GamingDaemon]

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

[initialised]

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.

[lundrog]

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

Need to mount a XFX 285 under it.

[Jamesrt2004]

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

Need to mount a XFX 285 under it.

huh?