I'm really pissed, ThermalRight has dropped their flagship Socket A heatsink in preperation for the supposed
upcoming replacement SI-97; which is aluminum and looks to have alot less mass in addition to weight.

Tell me that the new SI-97 doesn't look skimpy, especially in comparison to the SP-97:

• Multiple heatpipes for well spread heat around aluminum fins
• Enormous wingspan gives extra cooling to surrounding components
• Soldered fins to copper base (nickel plated) to make effective contact
• Light weight and easy installation

I don't know, they haven't made any screwed up decisions in the past...but I somewhat doubt the cooling
capabilties of this upcoming SI-97, then again the last time I've had an alum. sink was in the Socket 423 days.

What do you guys think?

While I don't normally shop around the market for heatsinks everyday (I'm not in the computer business), I was always under the impression that copper conducts heat a little more efficiently than aluminum does. That's why I can't understand the sudden fascination with all the aluminum heatsinks I've seen on the markets lately. Am I wrong on that?

Yeah, T, it does look a little skimpy. To me, it really doesn't make sense because most everyone is on this "oh, the hsf is supposed to blow down onto the cpu" kick. If someone wants to do that, all they are doing is blowing that hot air right back down to where it just came from. I guess with this model, they are going with the theory that the hsf is supposed to be blowing away from the cpu, drawing the air up off of it.

While the lighter weight is always welcome, I'm of the school that I'm not going to sacrifice performance for a few grams. That's probably what drove me out of the mountaining biking scene eight years ago. They were so obsessed with losing grams, people, yes, I said grams, that they would drill holes in their cranks. Totally out of control obsession is what that is.

I know I'm not going to try it. My SLK900A with an 80mm Panaflo fan gives me 36C idle and 38C/39C under load, which I'm perfectly content with.

Rob

I helped Tek look around yesterday for any of SP-97 in stock and we couldn't find any. If anyone knows of a supplier who has them in stock, let us know.

Quote: Originally Posted by Crazy_J I helped Tek look around yesterday for any of SP-97 in stock and we couldn't find any. If anyone knows of a supplier who has them in stock, let us know.

Yeah, thanks for digging through the net, bro, even though to no avail.
eBay is going to have a load of overpriced auctions I can see it now...

Not only can I not get a hold of a single SP-97, but now I am having to settle for the SLK-947U in
systems sold, which, in some of the overclocked configurations I sell, can cause a real heat issue.

Ebay has one Look here

I don't know if he'll have much luck other than trying to notify the major retailers that he's looking for some as the five big sites I just looked at all state that it's discontinued. He might get lucky here and there if someone should return it or they find a box of them in inventory that they forgot. That is suprising that they would discontinue it even when they are still selling the 900. Weird.

I'll keep looking but I imagine that many other people here know of more places that I can find.

Rob

You know, I saw that model last week when I was sniifing around there site, didn't pay it too much attention since it wasn't copper.

It may do pretty well, but I doubt it will beat the SP-97, I love mine..RIP!!!

Yeah, I've been looking for one over the past couple days too. That or an SLK-900U. No luck so far, so I'm thinking maybe the SLK-800U or that 947.

While I have confidence in Thermalright, I'm a little leery of that SI-97, because

• It relies entirely on heatpipes. Heatpipes didn't give the SP-97 a performance advantage over the pipeless SLK-900.
• Copper conducts heat better than aluminum
• It just LOOKS fragile, like an inadvertant bump will bend the heatpipes

I guess the mostly-aluminum ALX-800 performs well, but those results are with a freakin' loud fan. At least it's priced right (just over fifteen bucks, little man), but I swore I'd never use another clip-on heatsink if I could help it.

That eBay one is tempting, but I'm curious to see what it'll close at -- it's already at $37 with over 3 days left..

EDIT: Just bought me an SLK-900U at one of the few places that still has 'em in stock.

I beg to difer baout the aluminium copper differences. Yes, I'll agree that copper does "absorb" (ok conduct) heat form the core, but getting rid of it is a different story. Aluminium on the other hand cant conduct as much heat, but sure as hell can get rid of it quicker. This is probably why they are introducing AL covered copper fins or the like.

Iguess they are just trying different methods. The one Tekxy has posted looks smegginly similar to the Shuttle XPC's ICE cooling system, just bent over a further 90 degress. Maybe TR is learning form the small people?

Again, maybe it's just the noOb in me, but I have a hard time being convinced that a heat pipe of any type of metal alone is an efficient method of thermal transference. The more metal you have in contact with the base seems to me a more ideal way to disapate the heat. For example, you have a box with only one hole punched into the bottom and another with 20 holes punched into the bottom. You pour a pitcher of water in to the bowl, which do you think is going to drain the water faster? Additionally, while aluminum will disapate heat more rapidly, it doesn't absorb it as efficiently as copper does.

FunkyFresh also hit on something that would have me pretty worried using that kind of heatsink. An accidental bump would be pretty hard if not the end of your cpu by having only one fulcrum (perhaps the wrong word but I've only three hours sleep) point in relation to it's attachment to the base. Instead of evenly distributing the impact energy over the entire heatsink base, in effect all that energy is directed to the point on the base where the heat pipes are attached.

I don't know, maybe I'm just full of crap but that's my viewpoint. I'll agree with T that I think this heatsink is a crappy "upgrade" from the SP-97.

Just my humble opinion...

Rob

i'm very happy with my sp-97 , but i'm also curious to see what this new freaky looking critter will do. any word on when we can expect some actual test results?

Quote: Originally Posted by Rob Again, maybe it's just the noOb in me, but I have a hard time being convinced that a heat pipe of any type of metal alone is an efficient method of thermal transference. The more metal you have in contact with the base seems to me a more ideal way to disapate the heat. For example, you have a box with only one hole punched into the bottom and another with 20 holes punched into the bottom. You pour a pitcher of water in to the bowl, which do you think is going to drain the water faster? Additionally, while aluminum will disapate heat more rapidly, it doesn't absorb it as efficiently as copper does.

If you break out the old college books, you will find the different heat transfer properties, you will find the copper is substantialy better in heat disipation, I understand about Aluminum being beter at rejecting heat, that is true...However.

Water Cooling provides a quick way to reject the heat for Copper, and Silver is even better.

Just go to DangerDen and look at the RBX series..read a few test results from reviews...it does make a difference the type of metal you use.

http://www.dangerden.com/mall/Blocks/rbx.asp

BTW..I believe Diamond has the ultime heat absorption rate of any known solid substance
Zennzzo explained this to me a while back, thought I would pass it on

they just came out with the xp-90 which looks stronger than the SI-90. from reviews it looks to perform on par with the sp94/97. i can't imagine that this SI-90 could perform better since it has less fin surface area.

the xp-90 doesn't appear to fit socket 462/A. i checked all of the "where to buy" links on TR's website...none of them had sp-97 in stock...lookin grim TEK.
i'm detecting a trend here. all of the new TR HS are getting substantially lighter:

sp-97= 585g
sl-97= 280g
xp-120= 370g (included for sh1ts & giggles).

Reasons why Thermalright is switching to aluminum heatsinks:

1.) Lower materials cost

2.) Lower manufacturing cost (both equalling lower retail price)

3.) Density

Lower density means a much larger surface area using aluminum over copper, when constructing HSFs of equal mass. Just compare the dimensions of the SI-97 with that of the SP-97. Although it's made of aluminum, the SI has a much larger surface area. Only time will tell if it's enough to compensate for the materials trade-off.

P.S.--This copper / aluminum absorbtion / heat release has been covered several times already in the forums, and created quite a stir back in the day, so if you're unsure about the thermo it might be worth a quick read.

P.S.S.--Those of you shopping for a new HSF might want to keep an eye on the prices in the next few weeks, as I've seen severel stores with the older SLKs on sale.

Quote: Originally Posted by lAnonymousl Reasons why Thermalright is switching to aluminum heatsinks: 1.) Lower materials cost 2.) Lower manufacturing cost (both equalling lower retail price) 3.) Density Lower density means a much larger surface area using aluminum over copper, when constructing HSFs of equal mass. Just compare the dimensions of the SI-97 with that of the SP-97. Although it's made of aluminum, the SI has a much larger surface area. Only time will tell if it's enough to compensate for the materials trade-off. P.S.--This copper / aluminum absorbtion / heat release has been covered several times already in the forums, and created quite a stir back in the day, so if you're unsure about the thermo it might be worth a quick read. P.S.S.--Those of you shopping for a new HSF might want to keep an eye on the prices in the next few weeks, as I've seen severel stores with the older SLKs on sale.

Well, the base of the upcoming SI-97 is nickel-plated copper, well-executed copper/ aluminum
combinations have done well in heatsinks in the past (e.g. Zalman Al-Cu), so we'll have to wait and see.

I still think that discontinuing a current line in preperation for a new one, while cost-efficent
for the factory, is going to lower sales for the company in the mean time, not smart, IMHO.
I'm sure they could manage to fart out a few last SP-97's while we wait.

I'll have to be using a SLK-947U and a Tornado just to get the same temps
as the SP-97 and an Enermax 92MM. Yeah, the SP-97 is that much better.

The SI-97 better own, or else...

Lookin into things, Hexus again provided me with some intresting facts giving a link on how to efficiently cool a presscot P4 *cringes*. With their "high performance cooler* that i can only point to being copper (no other details given) was running a 478 3.2 Prezzi at well over 65C. They then used the XP120 to lower noise and increase efficiency. Lo and behold the temperature dropped to below 50C. This was with a 1900rpm 120 fan.

LINK gives you the rest of the story...but it seems certianly in this case the heatpipes stand out as king. I will give heatpipes their credit...my shuttle system runns a little under 35C under load with an 1600 Duron. A system I built not long ago with a 1600 Duron and Coolermaster copper based heatsink.fan ran at well over 45C (both using ceramic paste, and shim).

Hey this is my first post here so forgive me if its not helpful. If your motherboard has the 4 mounting holes in the PCB then you might be able to use this .

http://heatsinkfactory.com/cgi-bin/H...talogno=HS-027



or you may go with this one as well I just got it and ITS A MONSTER and works great! Looks Awesome in the case as well.

http://store.yahoo.com/directron/clp0024.html

Quote: Originally Posted by CSUnholy Hey this is my first post here so forgive me if its not helpful. If your motherboard has the 4 mounting holes in the PCB then you might be able to use this . http://heatsinkfactory.com/cgi-bin/H...talogno=HS-027 or you may go with this one as well I just got it and ITS A MONSTER and works great! Looks Awesome in the case as well. http://store.yahoo.com/directron/clp0024.html

Sorry pal the SLK-948U is for Athlon64/IntelP4 only. The SLK-947U is what I am using now, and
although it does keep the CPU below 40C, nothing can imitate the SP-97 which is what I need...

Thanks for the suggestion, but I will never buy a ThermalTake heatsink. All mass, no class.

Let's say the SI-97 turns out to absolutely kick ass performance-wise, but it's socket-mount, not bolt-through.

God, the horror.

Quote: Originally Posted by TekXoID Let's say the SI-97 turns out to absolutely kick ass performance-wise, but it's socket-mount, not bolt-through. God, the horror.

You said it. Whoever invented the clip-on heatsink should be forced to disarm bombs for a living -- using only a rubber mallet.