Thermalright HR-02 Silent 120mm Heatpipe Tower Heatsink Unboxing & First Look Linus Tech Tips
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Description
This thing is so big it's meant to be used passively, but you can also strap a low noise, low RPM cooling fan to it and get some seriously good performance with its huge surface area.
The video presents a hands-on unboxing and first look at the Thermalright HR-02 Silent 120mm heatpipe tower heatsink. The host emphasizes the sheer size and weight of the unit, noting that Thermalright markets it as suitable for fanless passive cooling, with the option to attach a low RPM fan for enhanced performance. The unboxing reveals a comprehensive bundle including mounting hardware for multiple sockets (AM2, AM3, 775, 1156, 1366), a magnetic screwdriver, a wrench, and thermal compound, all organized in a practical kit. The heatsink itself is showcased in detail: a broad fin array with wide spacing to facilitate passive airflow, six U-shaped heat pipes providing what the presenter considers substantial thermal transfer capacity, and a flat, highly reflective base. The host explains the design rationale behind the wide fin spacing, which aims to minimize resistance to rising air and maximize cooling efficiency in low airflow environments. He also notes small design touches like cutouts and bent fins that slightly increase surface area for better heat dissipation. Concluding the segment, the reviewer reflects on the practicality of mounting such a large cooler and contemplates testing its performance on CPUs like a Core i7, while acknowledging the heavy and space-consuming nature of the device. The overall takeaway is that the HR-02 is designed for high surface area cooling, with passive operation as a baseline and potential active cooling when a fan is added, though installation complexity and weight are non-trivial considerations.
Topics · hardware · unboxing · pc-cooling · technology
Questions answered
- What makes the Thermalright HR-02 suitable for passive cooling?
- It has very wide fin spacing and large surface area, designed to allow natural air flow to rise through the fins without active fan assistance, with the option to add a low RPM fan for improved performance.
- How many heat pipes does the HR-02 use and how are they arranged?
- The HR-02 uses six U-shaped heat pipes, alternating in their routing, arranged to keep all pipes at a similar level for efficient heat transfer to the fins.