Conclusion:
The Scythe Infinity Heatpipe CPU Cooler provided cooling results that will keep your high end AMD and Intel processors at a safe operating temperature, but I was expecting a bit more. Given the shear size of the cooler, the total number of heatpipes provided to draw heat away, and the Scythe reputation, I was sure this would be the new number one cooler on my list.
Even though the results landed it in the middle of the pack of coolers tested, it has a few things going for it. One is that the universal, tool-less mounts make switching between the various processors simple. With support for AMD 754/939/940/AM2 and Intel 478/775 (including dual core models of both brands), you could be using a cooler like the Infinity for years to come no matter what system you wind up on down the road.
The design allows for you to easily swap the fan out for something more suited to your needs. Perhaps an LED fan for a bit of flare, or perhaps a fan with more horsepower for improved cooling. Although a faster fan would most definitely improve cooling, you would then have to deal with the issue of noise. One of the key features of the Infinity is that it cools in near silence.
Installation was not as smooth as I had hoped, and issues arose in a couple places. From securing the cooler to the board, to avoiding interference with motherboard features, the size of the Infinity made things a bit trickier than with most other coolers I have used. The tool-less mounting design is nice, but it wasn't easy to reach and I would recommend removing your motherboard from your case for installation even though you do not need access to the back side of the board.
Crazy PC carries the Scythe Infinity for $53.99, which used to seem like a ridiculous amount of money for a CPU cooler to me. These days, that kind of price may still be a bit on the high side, but not extreme. That said, the performance of the Infinity didn't "Wow" me, and I might be inclined to guide you toward the Scythe Mine, available from Crazy PC for $41.99. The Mine provided temperatures just 1 degree Celsius higher, while offering a more compact design, an easier installation, and a savings of twelve dollars.
The Scythe Infinity is well built, looks menacing (as far as coolers go), and provides near silent cooling for today's modern processors. In the end it is all about cooling performance though, and the competition in this market is tough. The Infinity does well, but just not as well as I had hoped.
Pros:
» Respectable cooling performance, but I was expecting better
» Design of universal CPU mounts
» Cooler and fan can be installed in 4 different directions
» Tool-free installation
» Near silent
Cons:
» Big... Too big (interfered with multiple motherboard features)
» Respectable cooling performance, but I was expecting better
» Even with tool-free features, installation wasn't particularly easy
» Price
Special thanks to Crazy PC for providing the Scythe Infinity Heatpipe CPU Cooler to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
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