Thermalright SI-128 SE
Thermalright is a company that needs no introduction. Ever since they released their popular SK series heatsinks several years ago, they have consistently produced innovative, high-performance products. Today we’ll be looking at the new and improved revision of the SI-128, the SI-128 “SE” or “Silent Edition.” The SI-128 SE is an evolution of the downdraft cooler design that Thermalright has been striving to perfect over the years. In the usual Thermalright fashion, the buyer is left to purchase a fan of their choice.
Thermalright SI-128 SE Specifications
From: www.thermalright.com
- Dimensions: 125mm (L) x 145mm (W) x 91.5mm (H)
- Socket Compatibility: Socket 775, Socket AM2
- Material: Nickel-plated copper with aluminium fins
I love the simplicity. Thermalright products have always had a sort of elegance about them. Simple, understated packaging can always be found housing Thermalright products. The heatsink was very securely packaged within.
The SI-128 SE employs four heatpipes. These heatpipes are 8mm in diameter, which is wider than those you can find on heatsinks like the Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme. Although there are only four, they are more efficient in design. The SI-128 SE relies entirely on its heatpipes for heat dissipation and has a solid base without auxiliary base cooling fins like the Scythe Mugen and Ninja Mini. Fin density is high on the SI-128 SE. I didn’t bother trying to count the fins, but as you can see in the photo, there are quite a few.
The SI-128 SE has what appear to be two small bars on the opposite side of the heatpipes. These are for support purposes and help to keep the heatpipes from bending. The SI-128 SE uses proprietary “Thru-holes” much like the “High Riser” series heatsinks — this is the most noticeable design difference between the SI-128 and the SI-128 SE. There were also some changes to the mounting system, with the SI-128 SE employing a backplate instead of the pushpins of its older brother.
There is quite a bit of included mounting hardware included with the SI-128 SE. The backplate is universal and unfortunately pretty large. I had some immediate concerns about its compatibility with 775 boards like the Asus P5K-E. Thankfully, there is about a millimetre or two of clearance thanks to the insulated standoffs on the backplate just outside of the socket area indentation. This should improve compatibility significantly. At any rate, the rest of the backplate is not insulated so be sure to thoroughly check for contact with any pins before you power up your system.
The base of the SI-128 SE has a nice shine to it. There is some minor texturing visible due to machining but it has definitely been polished.
Unfortunately, the Thermalright SI-128 SE is somewhat convex as could be seen during our glass pane test. This was verified using our straight edge. Some lapping would definitely benefit the SI-128 SE that we have in the lab. I cannot comment on how common this problem is, but I certainly expect better considering the relatively high price tag on the SI-128 SE. Thankfully, the convex effect is fairly minor and should not impact performance very much — please keep in mind that the glass pane test makes it look much more convex than it actually is, which is why this test is so good at identifying this issue.
Socket AM2 Installation
Installing the SI-128 SE was very easy on our AM2 test platform. The included wrench makes tightening the bolts a simple task.
Once The SI-128 SE was installed, however, I was not very comfortable with the security of the mount. The pressure plate mounts over the base and is held in place by a single round dimple. The problem with the round shape of this dimple is that the entire heatsink can be rotated over 45 degrees in each direction. There is sufficient pressure to keep gravity from causing this rotation but I did not have to push very hard on the heatsink to turn it. Thermalright could have easily remedied this problem by using two dimples or a single indentation of a different shape.
It is a little difficult to see in the image, however the support bars blocked the first DIMM slot on the DFI NF570-M2/G. I certainly won’t hold this against the heatsink as this board does not leave much clearance between the socket and the memory slots. The sink can be rotated 180 degrees for two installation orientations.
As you can see, it is huge. There is lots of surface area and there will inevitably be a great deal of second-hand cooling to the mainboard. Although there were some faults with the base and mounting, I was still very impressed by the sheer size and high-quality build of the SI-128 SE. It truly is an impressive site to see when mounted. I look forward to putting it to the test in the performance section.
Socket 775 Installation
Installation of the SI-128 SE was just as easy on our Asus board as it was on the DFI.
As you can see, it was very close. Our P5K-E is thankfully designed with very short capacitors that allow the brackets to fit. The coils are also short enough not to get in the way.
Once mounted, you can see that there is a lot of the board covered. The northbridge and VRM components should receive a fair bit of airflow.
Articles RSS