Thermalright IFX-10 Motherboard Backside Cooler Review

INSTALLATION

Depending on what cooler you are planning on using, the installation can be considered either very easy or moderately easy. If you have one of the Thermalright models listed in the compatibility chart one simply has to substitute this backplate for the one which comes with it, install the IFX-10 and then install the cooler just like you would if you were not using the IFX-10. If however you are using either the Intel stock cooler or any of the numerous coolers on the market that use the ubiquitous 775 push pin mounting system it is a bit more complicated in that you first have to remove those four plastic pushpins.


To remove the original push pins that came with Intel’s stock cooler one simply needs either very strong fingers or a pair of pliers. By simply holding the white plastic piece with pliers while giving a sharp twist and pull the black piece easily pops off. Then you simply have to line up the plastic key so as to be able to remove the white plastic part via the keyhole in the metal bracket. This may sound complicated but after the first one you will quickly get the hang of it and should have all four removed in under a minute.


For either of the above two options the installation of the IFX-10 itself is exactly the same. One first has to remove the motherboard from the case (if your case has a removable motherboard tray we recommend leaving the tray installed and simply removing the motherboard from it). You then have to install the four hollow pillars into the backplate and secure them with the supplied o-rings. These o-ring makes the installation process much easier as when you are finished all four hollow pillars are seemingly frozen to the backplate. You then apply the .3mm double sided tape to the bottom of the IFX-10's base and the 1.5mm thermal pad to the top of it. You then remove the paper covering the double sided tape and stick the IFX-10 to the baseplate. The baseplate has a hollow indent in the center that makes this very easy. You then gently, while threading all four hollow pillars through their perspective holes in the motherboard, mount the base plate to the motherboard. Once this is done you carefully lay the motherboard back down and either install the modified pushpin cooler using the four screws included or continue on with the installation of the compatible CPU cooler.


If you wish to install an 80mm fan all you have to do is insert the wire clip into their perspective holes on the top and bottom of the cooler. There is no left and right clips per say but you can easily install them upside down if you are not careful. Unfortunately, this cooler can only handle one fan and does not have anymore holes to allow for a push pull setup. However, if your case has a top mounted fan that is near enough to the InfernoFX-10 you may luck into having an almost natural push pull arrangement. How this would effect temperatures is anyone’s guess, but it would almost assuredly have a positive impact on its cooling abilities.