Bigger Cooling, Smaller Footprint: Cooler Master Hyper TX (Intel version) Review- Page 2/5
September 20, 2006
By
Thomas Soderstrom
Design Features
The Hyper TX uses a plastic shroud to direct air past the sink and to divert part of the exhaust air downward toward the motherboard. The diverted air can be used to cool voltage regulator components or passive chipset coolers, depending on how the buyer chooses to mount it -- but only on one side of the socket. Most motherboards place VRM transistors on two sides of the socket, limiting the effectiveness of this secondary feature.
The 92mm fan is held to the shroud with silicon pins, the tops of which push against cooling fins to dampen vibrations.
A vertical radiator of lightweight aluminum fins places minimal mass at the top of the sink, reducing stress on the motherboard and allowing relatively low-pressure clips to be used. The clips themselves are the push-in type previously seen on Intel's stock cooler.
A relatively smooth copper base includes pre-installed thermal interface material to further reduce installation time. Just a little firmer than paste, care should be taken not to wipe it off while handling the uninstalled unit.