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Thermalright TRUE Black 120 Heatsink Review

Thermalright TRUE Black 120 Heatsink Review

Conclusion

Thermalright has undoubtedly created a legendary heatsink with their Ultra Extreme. I am pleased to say that their new TRUE Black 120 is no exception and has thoroughly impressed me. Its performance was second to none on our toasty Q6600 test platform. Not only did it best all sixteen other heatsinks we have tested, it did so by a significant margin. I was also very fond of Thermalright’s mounting system for the TRUE Black 120. It is very easy to use and provides a very solid mount. The aesthetic improvements over the Ultra eXtreme are also very impressive. The black nickel coating of the TRUE Black 120 looks fantastic, and makes a good-looking heatsink look even better. Thermalright’s premium thermal paste and extra set of fan clips also make this a more attractive package.

The only real complaint I have about the TRUE Black 120 is the lack of an included AM2 backplate. With AMD heading more to the price-conscious sector of the market, board makers are cutting corners, and OEM backplates are not always included. Some AM2 buyers may be up a creek without a paddle. Similarly, I’ve always liked fan clips, but I feel that the ones included with the TRUE Black 120 are a bit flimsy, and Thermalright could have found a better way for them to attach to the heatsink.

Although the TRUE Black 120 is not easy to find at the moment, it is selling for around the same price as the Ultra eXtreme. This is good news, because the Ultra eXtreme is already pretty expensive, at around $60. Considering that there is no included fan, this price is definitely higher than most heatsinks we’ve tested. You can keep checking our Marketplace for current availability and pricing information. Given its phenomenal performance, high quality construction, and included accessories, however, it is worth the high price tag. I am pleased to award the TRUE Black 120 with Icrontic’s “Outstanding Product Award”. A big thanks goes out to Thermalright for providing us with this sample. I really look forward to seeing what they have in store for the future!

Pros:

  • Fantastic performer! The best we’ve tested to date.
  • Excellent mounting system
  • Black nickel plating looks great
  • Extra fan clips and premium thermalpaste included

Cons:

  • No AM2 backplate included
  • Fan clips are a bit flimsy
  • Expensive

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Comments

  1. Garg
    Garg That's pretty impressive. Looks great, too.
  2. MAGIC
    MAGIC ill just take a black sharpie to my current TRUE
  3. TvManPwns
    TvManPwns
    ' wrote:
    [v][AGIC']ill just take a black sharpie to my current TRUE

    Bet it still would look quite as hawt! (grin)
  4. PurplezArctic
    PurplezArctic Wow the performance and finish looks great!

    I love the Apple-esque sleekness that it has.
  5. Leonardo
    Leonardo I'm impressed that you got such good results without pressure modification to the mounting and without lapping the base. Did you get lucky or is Thermalright actually paying attention to their customers' feedback now?

    Don't get me wrong, I think TRUEs are excellent...if you are willing to spend a few hours in modifications. But apparently in this case, the base was quite flat.
  6. jared
    jared Maybe I missed in the article, but what 120mm fan is recommended for the TRUE hs?
  7. BuddyJ
    BuddyJ I believe Thrax says it's 45-55 cfm that makes the TRUE really shine. Lots of people seem to recommend the Scythe fans.
  8. Thrax
    Thrax I use a Thermalright A2029 on about 50% to max RPMs. I find that if I run the fan at full speed, temperatures are actually higher. I surmise that the force of a high CFM creates static pressure between the fins and produces dead air that acts as an insulator.
  9. jared
    jared Danke. Thraxipedia at its finest.

    :jared:
  10. Rickey Breaud <strong>obama jokes about shovel ready jobs...</strong>

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