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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.

Modded Infinity vs Tuniq Tower 120

Modified Infinity vs Tower 120

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I borrowed a brand new Tuniq Tower 120 from a friend who was kind enough to let me do these tests, I’ve also acquired an enclosure to work with, an Asus Vento ATX Tower case was used for housing the new CPU cooling monsters.

The Scythe Infinity was mounted using the custom back plate and screws:

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As you can see, lines up nicely with the rear exhaust opening. On to the Tuniq Tower 120 which was mounted with its default bracket but with custom screws to provide for an extra tight fit.

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The goal was to compare the performance of both heatsinks at similar noise levels, the 120mm Yate Loons fans on the Infinity are far from extremely loud, the Tower 120 default fan at full speed is definitely more obtrusive. So I tested the Tuniq Tower 120 at different fan speeds by use of the included fan controller:

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The “low” setting as pictured above made the Tuniq’s fan as loud as the 2x Yate Loons on the Infinity.

The results: Round 1

Ambient room temperature was ~18°C this time, with the system installed in a case CPU temps were bound to be a bit higher, although without the side panel the coolers still get a lot of fresh air.

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Well, quite a difference here, at 2.4Ghz the Infinity lead is already 5-8°C, with the heat turned up at 3.6Ghz with 1.6v vcore there is quite a big gap: 6~12°C in favor of the Infinity, it pays off to modify the mounting, lap the base, bend some fins and add two low(er) noise fans.

But wait… there’s more! What if we modified the Tuniq Tower 120 a bit to even things out. Modded Infinity vs Modded Tower 120 next ->

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

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