Orientation of TRU X 120

[Mr. Cipher]

I was wondering if anyone knew whether or not the Thermalright Ultra Extreme 120 could be screwed into the motherboard such that the fan(s) are pointing front to back (of the case):

top
||
|| front

or top/bottom (of the case):

top
=== front
===

Right now I have it such that fans are pointing front/back, as in my first crappy ASCII picture but I want it such that the fans are pointing up/down, as in the second picture. I have a DS3R and Antec 900, and I was hoping to have the second orientation so I could (hopefully) add on the side fan to the chassis and improve cooling.

When I tried putting my TRU on the mobo however, it was ridiculously hard to screw it in so the fans were up/down, but less hard when the fans were front/back (but still harder than I imagined).

So (a) anyone know if the TRU can have either orientation, (b) has anyone else found that screwing it in was very tough (in the eternal words of Arnold, I'm no girly man!), and (c) if adding in the side fan is not possible even with the orientation change, can anyone suggest other ways to improve the air cooling in my system? (I still probably have to RMA my ds3r since the SB is missing its heatsink. I haven't bothered with that yet...oops. Maybe it may be easier just to get a 3rd party sb hsf?)

Also to give you an idea of temps... e2180 @ 3.4ghz, 1.425v, 24/24 idle, 54/56 load

Any thoughts/experience would be appreciated.

[Empty_Quarter]

When I had the Antec 900 and the TRUE. I had to use the second configuration because with my motherboard, the TRUE cant be mounted vertically (pic 1). I had an EVGA 680i and the TRUE would hit the top of the case if mounted vertically. So to answer your question, yes, the TRUE can be mounted in any direction. In the case of the Antec 900, either way works well.

Actually, I found installing the TRUE to quite easy, much easier than that of other coolers (such as zalman 9700LED ). Are you installing the TRUE with the mobo in the case or out of the case? The only way I can think of installing the TRUE is by removing the mobo. After the TRUE has been installed, I then attach the fan to it with the mobo still being out of the case. Then after that has been done, I install everything back into the case.

[EddieTO]

Here's my configuration:



A 1200RPM fan is "pulling" from the TRUE120 toward the upper exhaust fan. Found no difference whatsoever having it pull vs push. And only 1degree drop if I install another fan for a push/pull. Core temp loads from 49-56 (@3.5ghz)

a-definately!
b-It was the same screwing in the TRUE120 either way
c-yup it's possible to install the side fan (on the maximus and p5k at least. it depends on how high up the cpu slot is on the board)

I have a spot cool pointed towards the end of my video card and the southbridge. Also a tiny fan stuck on to my NB. The side fan helps quite a bit cooling my 8800 and NB.

[Mr. Cipher]

Thanks for the replies. I'll try turning it so it faces the 200mm big boy and see if I can fit the side fan on the chassis.

@EddieTo - that is exactly what I want
@Empty_Quarter - maybe they can't be mounted as in pic 1 because of gigabyte? My MoBo is a ga-p35-ds3r. To answer your question I'm mounting it outside of the case first, however I found screwing in the TRUE to be the biggest PITA in the world. I never thought I had to apply to much pressure onto my cpu/mobo.

[JD]

Originally Posted by EddieTO

Here's my configuration:
A 1200RPM fan is "pulling" from the TRUE120 toward the upper exhaust fan. Found no difference whatsoever having it pull vs push. And only 1degree drop if I install another fan for a push/pull. Core temp loads from 49-56 (@3.5ghz)

a-definately!
b-It was the same screwing in the TRUE120 either way
c-yup it's possible to install the side fan (on the maximus and p5k at least. it depends on how high up the cpu slot is on the board)

I have a spot cool pointed towards the end of my video card and the southbridge. Also a tiny fan stuck on to my NB. The side fan helps quite a bit cooling my 8800 and NB.

Sorry to kind of hi-jack, but can that be mounted if it's turned 90 degrees as well? I just ordered the Maximus Formula and TRUE with 2 Noctuas and I wanted to do a push-pull config, however if there's no major benefit then I guess I don't need to do so...

[EddieTO]

Originally Posted by jdrom17

Sorry to kind of hi-jack, but can that be mounted if it's turned 90 degrees as well? I just ordered the Maximus Formula and TRUE with 2 Noctuas and I wanted to do a push-pull config, however if there's no major benefit then I guess I don't need to do so...

Yup, it can be turned to expel air to the back of the case. The TRUE120 clears the northbridge heatsink. You won't be disappointed with the Maximus :D. I installed it expelling upward so i can fit the side fan :) which does wonders cooling my vidcard and NB.

For my setup and overclock (with all the fans and all), the push/pull config didn't seem to make much difference but it may and probably will with the 2 x Noctuas (I'm using a cheap coolermaster 1200rpm fan which i had left over from my previous build).

[JD]

Ah, thanks. I'd like to keep the side fan too but it's not my major concern. The video card can take more heat than the CPU. I was going to attach a 2nd fan onto the empty drive cage which would bring in cool air to the NB and CPU and possibly the GPU a bit.

I actually have said Coolermaster fan on my side right now. I got an Antec Spotcool coming too, so I guess I'll play around with it all until I find something that works good.

[Mr. Cipher]

I changed the orientation so it's the way you have it setup Eddie. I'm glad you shared whether your fan was push/pull, since I read that you should push the air through the TRUE, however if my fan was at the top, that would go against the point of having my 200mm pull air; if I put the fan on the bottom of the true to push air up through it, then I couldn't attach the side fan to my case. I settled with keeping the fan up top, 'pulling' air up.

I attached the side fan, and was wondering if anyone had tried to compare the exhaust/intake config with it? Right now I have the side fan as an intake, bringing cool air onto my GPU but I wonder if it would be better to use it as an exhaust?

Thanks in advance.

[JD]

Just thought I'd share mine too:

I took out the plastic window piece from behind the mesh. The mesh is hot glued on now along with the plastic pieces where the screws normally go into.

The fan is mounted using the Noctua rubber mount things, I tried colouring them black but that didn't work too well (brown on black mesh doesn't look right). The right top corner of the fan is mounted through where the screw for holding the window is.

It clears the TRUE perfectly. There's literally no space to spare. The fan clips are basically touching the side fan.

Incase your wondering, 2x NF-P12s on the TRUE and NF-S12 on the side.

[Mr. Cipher]

lucky, my CPU is too low on the mobo to have my true that way, I had to turn it around.

I don't care though, I still have an extra fan now!