ThermalRight SP-97 Heatpipe Cooler

Manufacturer: ThermalRight
Supplied by:  Sidewinder Computers
Street Price: $55

by Dean Barker (2/03/2004)

Introduction

The world of high performance air cooling for processors is alive and well.  You would think with the increased availability and improvements on water cooling kits that air cooling would be suffering a slow death.  This could not be further from the truth.  ThermalRight, always known as making some of the most efficient and innovative coolers around, offers their newest big gun, the SP-97.  The ThermalRight SP-97 is designed as a heatpipe cooling solution for AMD that can handle several fan sizes.  Thanks to Sidewinder Computers, we take an opportunity to see what the SP-97 is all about.  White paper please.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 59 (W) x 50 (H) x 99 (D) mm - the width and depth taper down to 55 (W) x 58 (L) mm at the base

• Construction: Copper 

• Observed Weight: 570 gms

• Fan: not included

• Clip: Mainboard mounting bracket via holes around CPU socket

On opening up the SP-97 box you find several items.  The sink of course as well as a mainboard mounting plate, fan clips for both 80 and 92mm fans, mounting hardware (with one extra of everything), a syringe of silicone thermal paste and instructions.  One important note, ever since the ThermalRight SLK-900, ThermalRight encourages potential users of their product to confer with a mainboard compatibility list.  Last thing you want to do is drop $50 on a cooler and find it doesn't fit.

Weighing in at an observed 570 grams the SP-97 is a good sized cooler.  Convection is achieved through thirty-two copper fins whose width bows out in relation to the cooler's height.  These fins measure 99mm at their top tapering down to 58mm at the base.  This type of design allows the ThermalRight SP-97 to maximize its surface area while remaining compatible with most mainboards.

     

 

NEXT