| Thermalright IFX-14 CPU and Back-side Heatpipe Cooler
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Conclusion:
The Thermalright IFX-14 CPU and Back-side Heatpipe Cooler is well built and offers a variety of different fan options, including the ability to use 120mm and/or 140mm fans. Depending on the user's needs, the IFX-14 could be configured to use 1 to 3 fans (4 if you include the fan options for the back-side cooler). This ability to custom tailor its performance is the IFX-14's strongest attribute. Testing revealed that with two 120mm fans that the IFX-14 could perform as well or better than some of the top air coolers, and there are plenty of ways to add even more airflow.
Thermalright includes a nice assortment of hardware and mounting options with the IFX-14, ensuring that most hardware configurations will be accommodated. If your case has the required 70mm of space, and your motherboard is on the compatible list, the IFX-14 would be a nice solution for some fairly extreme air cooling.
A quick search of the Internet finds the Thermalright IFX-14 CPU and Back-side Heatpipe Cooler at a few stores with an average price of $70 (US). This is significantly more than the other heatsinks used in this review, and places it near the top of the charts for all air coolers. As a point of reference, it can be found at the following locations, among others: Tank Guys for $69.99, Jab-tech for $69.95, and Pixel USA for $73.00.
The IFX-14's cost, large size, and possible issues with the back-side cooler are significant drawbacks, but the ability to tailor the system to your needs is extremely compelling. Overall I like the IFX-14's design and the numerous fan options the system provides.
When it comes to recommending this cooler, things get a bit complicated. I would definitely recommend the IFX-14 for any overclocker who wants the cooling performance and fan configuration flexibility this design offers. I would not recommend it for the average user who is just looking for an improvement over their stock heatsink. All things considered, the strong performance and unique concept of the Thermalright IFX-14 CPU and Back-side Heatpipe Cooler earn it the Bigbruin.com "Recommended" award.
Pros:
» Very nice design and high quality construction
» Strong cooling performance
» Unique concept
» Numerous fan configurations and options
» Good assortment of hardware included
Cons:
» Price
» Large size may limit memory cooler and case options
» No fans included
» Contact issues with the backside cooler on some motherboards.
Special thanks to Thermalright for providing the Thermalright IFX-14 CPU and Back-side Heatpipe 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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