- Back to homepage
- Related articles
  Related articles

Improving the Scythe Infinity CPU Heatsink for extreme cooling

Modding/Small Mods by enz660 @ 2007-05-08

In this guide you can follow the steps required to unleash the full cooling power of the large tower CPU heatsink from Scythe. The Infinity is fitted with custom motherboard mounting, 2x120mm fans and cool black shroud. Read on to find out how much performance one can extract from this CPU cooler by doing some ghetto style modifications.

Stock vs Modded and one Tuniq Tower 120?

Comparative Performance Results

On an open test bench with ambient temperature of ~20°C I compared the performance of the Infinity at different CPU speeds and vcore values.

The “stock” Infinity was equipped with a 53CFM 120mm Stealth fan from Vantec, the modded Infinity has two 120mm fans (47CFM each) from Yate Loon.

Madshrimps (c)

As the heat output increases the extra cooling power of the modded Infinity shines through, starting out with a difference of 2°C at 2.4Ghz it goes up to 6°C at 3.6Ghz quite a nice difference.

How does this modified Infinity stack up against the competition? The Tuniq Tower 120 has been regarded as one of the best (if not best) air cooled CPU heatsinks out there, so with the help of a friend I could do a head to head comparison.

One Modified Scythe Infinity vs Tuniq Tower 120

Madshrimps (c)

Comment from Rutar @ 2007/05/08

What is the difference the thermal paste mess made?

Comment from jmke @ 2007/05/08

on the Infinity, minimal at best with slightly better contact between base and heatpipes, on the Tuniq more substantial as the heat pipes are soldered only to the top of the base not the top plate;

Comment from Sidney @ 2007/05/08

I assume using solder (silver solder) to fill the gaps will be easier and better heat transfer; good thinking on his part

Comment from Rutar @ 2007/05/08

I think it would be possible to insert the base in a mold and fill it with liquid tin so you end up with the heatpipes being inside a complete tin block

Comment from jmke @ 2007/05/08

that's the next step, good suggestion, solder would be more conductive than thermal goop?

Comment from Rutar @ 2007/05/08

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmke

that's the next step, good suggestion, solder would be more conductive than thermal goop?

at least, less messy and it wouldn't trap dust

Comment from Sidney @ 2007/05/08

http://www.dansdata.com/goop.htm

I'd say silver solder
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/th...ity-d_429.html

Comment from Massman @ 2007/05/08

Awesome article

Comment from geoffrey @ 2007/05/08

Nice article (y)

Comment from wutske @ 2007/05/08

nice articles, but the thermal goop isnt' going to help the way you usu it. It only transfers heat when it's a very thin layer. The more goop you use, the less conductive it gets until you reach a point where you could say it start isolating rather than conducting ...

Comment from Tarantula @ 2007/05/10

I feel like it isn't exactly a fair comparison between the modded infinity and the unmodded one.

there should've been used 2 fans for the unmodded one as well

All information and graphics contained in Madshrimps are sole property of the Madshrimps crew and may not be reproduced or copied in any manner without written permission from us.