[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
The Thermalright AXP-100 is a low profile CPU cooler aimed at SFF (small form factor) computers and HTPCs. It has six heatpipes and a 100 mm fan, and is only 2.28 inches (58 mm) tall. Let’s see if it is a good option.
Figure 1 shows the box of the cooler.
Figure 2 shows the contents of the box: heatsink, fan, a small syringe of thermal compound, a manual, a case sticker, and installation hardware.
Figure 3 displays the AXP-100 heatsink.
Figure 3: The heatsink of the Thermalright AXP-100
This cooler is discussed in detail in the following pages.
[nextpage title=”The AXP-100″]
Figure 4 illustrates the front of the heatsink. You are able to see the tips of the heatpipes at the heatsink (protected by covers) and inside the base.
Figure 5 reveals the side of the cooler. Besides the heatsinks, there are to wires connecting the heatsink to the base, in order to prevent the heatpipes to bend.
Figure 6 shows a rear view of the cooler, where the curves of the heatpipes are visible.
The top of the heatsink is visible in Figure 7.
[nextpage title=”The AXP-100 (Cont’d)”]
Figure 8 shows the base of the cooler. It is a nickel-plated copper plaque, with a perfectly mirrored finish.
In Figure 9, you can see the TY-100 fan that comes with the AXP-100. It is a 100 mm PWM fan, with maximum speed of 2,500 rpm, 30 dBA, and 44.5 cfm. The cooler comes with an adapter that allows you to install a 120 mm or even a 140 mm fan.
Figure 10 presents the AXP-100 with the fan installed. There is no vibration absorbing system.
[nextpage title=”Installation”]
Figure 11 shows the backplate for use with AMD and Intel processors, with the screws inserted in the holes for use with socket LGA1155. The four white washers hold the screws in place and also keep a space between the backplate and the motherboard. As the backplate is fairly large and is not insulated, it may cause short circuits if your motherboard has big solder points on component leads near the CPU. If this is your case, the manufacturer recommends to install the CPU cooler without the backplate.
Figure 11: Backplate with screws
After inserting the screws from the solder side, hold them with four thumbnuts that also work as spacers. Then place the frame shown in Figure 12, holding them with four screws.
Figure 12: Metal frame installed
Then, install the cooler over the CPU, holding it with two screws.
The last step is to install the fan.
Figure 14: Installation finished
[nextpage title=”How we tested”]
We tested the cooler with a Core i5-2500K CPU (quad-core, 3.3 GHz), which is a socket LGA1155 processor with a 95 W TDP (Thermal Design Power). In order to get higher thermal dissipation, we overclocked it to 4.0 GHz (100 MHz base clock and x40 multiplier), with 1.3 V core voltage (Vcore). This CPU was able to reach 4.8 GHz with its default core voltage, but at this setting, the processor enters thermal throttling when using mainstream coolers, reducing the clock and thus the thermal dissipation. This could interfere with the temperature readings, so we chose to maintain a moderate overclocking.
We measured noise and temperature with the CPU under full load. In order to get 100% CPU usage in all cores, we ran Prime 95 25.11 with the “In-place Large FFTs” option. (In this version, the software uses all available threads.)
We compared the tested cooler to other coolers we already tested, and to the stock cooler that comes with the Core i5-2500K CPU. Note that the results cannot be compared to measures taken on a different hardware configuration, so we retested some “old” coolers with this new methodology. This means you can find different values in older reviews than the values you will read on the next page. Every cooler was tested with the thermal compound that comes with it.
Room temperature measurements were taken with a digital thermometer. The core temperature was read with the SpeedFan program (available from the CPU thermal sensors), using an arithmetic average of the core temperature readings.
During the tests, the panels of the computer case were closed. The front and rear case fans were spinning at minimum speed in order to simulate the “normal” cooler use on a well-ventilated case. We assume that is the common setup used by a cooling enthusiast or overclocker.
The sound pressure level (SPL) was measured with a digital noise meter, with its sensor placed near the top opening of the case. This measurement is only for comparison purposes, because a precise SPL measurement needs to be made inside an acoustically insulated room with no other noise sources, which is not the case here.
Hardware Configuration
- Processor: Core i5-2500K
- Motherboard: ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z
- Memory: 16 GB G.Skill Sniper (DDR3-1600/PC3-12800), configured at 1,600 MHz
- Hard disk: Seagate Barracuda XT 2 TB
- Video card: MSI GeForce GT 210 1 GB
- Video resolution: 1920×1080
- Video monitor: Samsung SyncMaster P2470HN
- Power supply: Seventeam ST-550P-AM
- Case: Cooler Master HAF 922
Operating System Configuration
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1
Software Used
Error Margin
We adopted a 2°C error margin, meaning temperature differences below 2°C are considered irrelevant.
[nextpage title=”Our Tests”]
The table below presents the results of our measurements. We repeated the same test on all coolers listed below. Each measurement was taken with the CPU at full load. In the models with a fan supporting PWM, the motherboard controlled the fan speed according to core load and temperature. On coolers with an integrated fan controller, the fan was set at the full speed.
Cooler | Room Temp. | Noise | Speed | Core Temp. | Temp. Diff. |
Intel stock cooler | 18 °C | 41 dBA | 2000 rpm | 97 °C | 79 °C |
Cooler Master Hyper TX3 | 18 °C | 50 dBA | 2850 rpm | 69 ºC | 51 °C |
Corsair A70 | 23 °C | 51 dBA | 2000 rpm | 66 ºC | 43 °C |
Corsair H100 | 26 °C | 62 dBA | 2000 rpm | 64 ºC | 38 °C |
EVGA Superclock | 26 °C | 57 dBA | 2550 rpm | 67 ºC | 41 °C |
NZXT HAVIK 140 | 20 °C | 46 dBA | 1250 rpm | 65 ºC | 45 °C |
Thermalright True Spirit 120 | 26 °C | 42 dBA | 1500 rpm | 82 °C | 56 °C |
Zalman CNPS12X | 26 °C | 43 dBA | 1200 rpm | 71 °C | 45 °C |
Zalman CNPS9900 Max | 20 °C | 51 dBA | 1700 rpm | 62 °C | 42 °C |
Titan Fenrir Siberia Edition | 22 °C | 50 dBA | 2400 rpm | 65 °C | 43 °C |
SilenX EFZ-120HA5 | 18 °C | 44 dBA | 1500 rpm | 70 °C | 52 °C |
Noctua NH-L12 | 20 °C | 44 dBA | 1450 rpm | 70 °C | 50 °C |
Zalman CNPS8900 Extreme | 21 °C | 53 dBA | 2550 rpm | 71 °C | 50 °C |
Gamer Storm Assassin | 15 °C | 48 dBA | 1450 rpm | 58 °C | 43 °C |
Deepcool Gammaxx 400 | 15 °C | 44 dBA | 1500 rpm | 60 °C | 45 °C |
Cooler Master TPC 812 | 23 °C | 51 dBA | 2350 rpm | 66 °C | 43 °C |
Deepcool Gammaxx 300 | 18 °C | 43 dBA | 1650 rpm | 74 °C | 56 °C |
Intel stock cooler | 18 °C | 41 dBA | 2000 rpm | 97 °C | 79 °C |
Xigmatek Praeton | 19 °C | 52 dBA | 2900 rpm | 83 °C | 64 °C |
Noctua NH-U12P SE2 | 18 °C | 42 dBA | 1300 rpm | 69 °C | 51 °C |
Deepcool Frostwin | 24 °C | 46 dBA | 1650 rpm | 78 °C | 54 °C |
Thermaltake Frio Advanced | 13 °C | 56 dBA | 2000 rpm | 62 °C | 49 °C |
Xigmatek Dark Knight Night Hawk Edition | 9 °C | 48 dBA | 2100 rpm | 53 °C | 44 °C |
Thermaltake Frio Extreme | 21 °C | 53 dBA | 1750 rpm | 59 °C | 38 °C |
Noctua NH-U9B SE2 | 12 °C | 44 dBA | 1700 rpm | 64 °C | 52 °C |
Thermaltake WATER2.0 Pro | 15 °C | 54 dBA | 2000 rpm | 52 °C | 37 °C |
Deepcool Fiend Shark | 18 °C | 45 dBA | 1500 rpm | 74 °C | 56 °C |
Arctic Freezer i30 | 13 °C | 42 dBA | 1350 rpm | 63 °C | 50 °C |
Spire TME III | 8 °C | 46 dBA | 1700 rpm | 70 °C | 62 °C |
Thermaltake WATER2.0 Performer | 11 °C | 54 dBA | 2000 rpm | 49 °C | 38 °C |
Arctic Alpine 11 PLUS | 11 °C | 45 dBA | 2000 rpm | 82 °C | 71 °C |
be quiet! Dark Rock 2 | 10 °C | 41 dBA | 1300 rpm | 58 °C | 48 °C |
Phanteks PH-TC14CS | 16 °C | 47 dBA | 1300 rpm | 58 °C | 42 °C |
Phanteks PH-TC14PE | 16 °C | 48 dBA | 1300 rpm | 57 °C | 41 °C |
SilverStone HE01 (Q) | 19 °C | 44 dBA | 1150 rpm | 63 °C | 44 °C |
SilverStone HE01 (P) | 20 °C | 57 dBA | 2050 rpm | 62 °C | 42 °C |
Thermaltake WATER2.0 Extreme (S) | 17 °C | 44 dBA | 1250 rpm | 52 °C | 35 °C |
Thermaltake WATER2.0 Extreme (E) | 17 °C | 53 dBA | 1900 rpm | 50 °C | 33 °C |
Deepcool Neptwin | 11 °C | 46 dBA | 1500 rpm | 56 °C | 45 °C |
SilverStone HE02 | 19 °C | 49 dBA | 2000 rpm | 64 °C | 45 °C |
Zalman CNPS9900DF | 23 °C | 45 dBA | 1400 rpm | 68 °C | 45 °C |
Deepcool ICE BLADE PRO V2.0 | 22 °C | 43 dBA | 1500 rpm | 67 °C | 45 °C |
Phanteks PH-TC90LS | 24 °C | 47 dBA | 2600 rpm | 95 °C | 71 °C |
Rosewill AIOLOS | 20 °C | 40 dBA | 1600 rpm | 94 °C | 74 °C |
Corsair H60 | 20 °C | 49 dBA | 2000 rpm | 64 °C | 44 °C |
Zalman LQ310 | 27 °C | 51 dBA | 2050 rpm | 65 °C | 38 °C |
Noctua NH-L9i | 24 °C | 44 dBA | 2500 rpm | 95 °C | 71 °C |
NZXT Respire T40 | 20 °C | 45 dBA | 1850 rpm | 76 °C | 56 °C |
NZXT Respire T20 | 21 °C | 45 dBA | 1900 rpm | 77 °C | 56 °C |
Zalman LQ315 | 20 °C | 52 dBA | 1950 rpm | 57 °C | 37 °C |
Corsair H80i (Quiet) | 19 °C | 44 dBA | 1100 rpm | 61 °C | 42 °C |
Corsair H80i (Maximum) | 19 °C | 57 dBA | 2500 rpm | 55 °C | 36 °C |
NZXT Kraken X40 (Silent) | 25 °C | 44 dBA | 1050 rpm | 66 °C | 41 °C |
NZXT Kraken X40 (Extreme) | 25 °C | 53 dBA | 1650 rpm | 62 °C | 37 °C |
Zalman LQ320 | 20 °C | 52 dBA | 2100 rpm | 57 °C | 37 °C |
Corsair H100i (Quiet) | 22 °C | 45 dBA | 1150 rpm | 58 °C | 36 °C |
Corsair H100i (Maximum) | 22 °C | 61 dBA | 2500 rpm | 54 °C | 32 °C |
NZXT Kraken X60 (Silent) | 26 °C | 46 dBA | 1000 rpm | 62 °C | 36 °C |
NZXT Kraken X60 (Extreme) | 26 °C | 60 dBA | 1650 rpm | 60 °C | 34 °C |
Prolimatech Genesis Black Series | 25 °C | 46 dBA | 1150 rpm | 69 °C | 44 °C |
Phanteks PH-TC12DX | 25 °C | 51 dBA | 1850 rpm | 74 °C | 49 °C |
Corsair H90 | 23 °C | 51 dBA | 1550 rpm | 61 °C | 38 °C |
Corsair H110 | 27 °C | 58 dBA | 1500 rpm | 60 °C | 33 °C |
Evercool Venti | 23 °C | 49 dBA | 2250 rpm | 72 °C | 49 °C |
Thermalright Archon SB-E X2 | 22 °C | 45 dBA | 1400 rpm | 68 °C | 46 °C |
Scythe Kabuto II | 20 °C | 41 dBA | 1450 rpm | 67 °C | 47 °C |
Prolimatech Megahalems Red Series | 20 °C | 51 dBA | 1500 rpm | 63 °C | 43 °C |
Zalman FX100 (fanless) | 18 °C | NA | NA | 98 °C | 80 °C |
Zalman FX100 (92 mm fan) | 18 °C | 50 dBA | 2850 rpm | 69 °C | 51 °C |
Gelid The Black Edition | 21 °C | 45 dBA | 1650 rpm | 66 °C | 45 °C |
Thermalright AXP-100 | 22 °C | 42 dBA | 2400 rpm | 76 °C | 54 °C |
In the graph below, you can see how many degrees Celsius hotter the CPU core is than the air outside the case. The lower this difference, the better is the performance of the cooler.
In the graph below, you can see how many decibels of noise each cooler makes.
[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]
The main specifications for the Thermalright AXP-100 CPU cooler include:
- Application: Sockets AM2(+), AM3(+), FM1, FM2, LGA775, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1366, and LGA2011
- Dimensions: 4.1 x 4.8 x 2.3 inches (105 x 121 x 58 mm) (W x L x H)
- Fins: Aluminum
- Base: Nickel-plated copper
- Heat-pipes: Six 6 mm copper heatpipes
- Fans: 100 mm
- Nominal fan speed: 2,500 rpm
- Fan air flow: 44.5 cfm
- Power consumption: 3.0 W
- Nominal noise level: 30 dBA
- Weight: 11.29 oz (320 g)
- More information: https://www.thermalright.com
- Average price in the U.S.*: USD 70.00
* Researched at Amazon.com on the day we published this review.
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The Thermalright AXP-100 performed exceptionally well for a low profile CPU cooler. Even being only 2.28 inches (58 mm) tall with its stock fan, it outperformed all the low profile coolers and even some big tower coolers we tested.
Besides that, the AXP-100 reached this excellent performance while keeping a low noise level, which is very important for HTPC applications.
If you are looking for a low profile CPU cooler, quiet and powerful, for building a computer in an SFF or HTPC case, the Thermalright AXP-100 is an excellent choice. It deserves our Golden Award.
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