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What's your latest tech purchase?

White PA120......unfortunately, Reddit was wrong as usual. Phanteks T30 really doesn't fit properly, at least not without damaging fins/T30's corner pads/the white paint. Works on the FC140 but I can't fit a FC140.

I want to love Thermalright, but they just don't let me. The SS135's coldplate defaced one of my CPUs' IHS, and now one of the PA120's heatsink banks can't even stand up straight (leans visibly to one side). The tech may be basically identical between TR and Noctua but as hard as I try I just can't ignore the difference in care and build quality. I don't think they deserve a third chance.

I think I will return the PA120 and buy a U12A Chromax. A PA120+A12x25s costs me almost $10 more than the U12A Chromax by itself, and RAM clearance becomes a problem. Pity because the PA120 would have been one gorgeous cooler with the T30s mounted.

Can't say I didn't try, Thermalright.

View attachment 273068
How were they saying the t30s would work? As outside fans ziptied or something? Interesting.
 
You should ask whoever on reddit said it would work, if they were just guessing go kneecap them - but they may have have an installation method that solved the issue
 
How were they saying the t30s would work? As outside fans ziptied or something? Interesting.
You should ask whoever on reddit said it would work, if they were just guessing go kneecap them - but they may have have an installation method that solved the issue

They didn't run outside fans so I wasn't expecting to run push pull (the size and shape of T30 corner pads isn't like the TR fans or A12x25). They ran a middle fan, with clips no less. The most I can do is shove a T30 in the middle and just let the heatsinks hold it in place - clips will damage the heatsink/bend the T30/start bisecting the corner pads


PA120SE and PA120 are the same cooler except the SE omits a few fins and the cover plate. Serves me right for taking advice from reddit.
 
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Reddit was wrong as usual. Phanteks T30 really doesn't fit properly
This quote just led me down a 45 minute rabbit hole of if/how I could fit T30's to replace P12's in my build, seems fraught with challenges.
 
Ah, I'm not familiar with their fan model names so i missed that
 
This quote just led me down a 45 minute rabbit hole of if/how I could fit T30's to replace P12's in my build, seems fraught with challenges.

Seems easier on 140mm coolers, since the extra length to fit 140x25 logically works for 120x30. Fuma 2 has less fin density, but looks like some force and removal of corner pads still required


Took a closer look at the reddit post and regrettably I missed the fact buried in a comment down the page that OP removed all 8 corner pads from the T30. I removed 4 corner pads on one side but stopped when I realized that they are not intended to be removable (ie. glued with weak adhesive), and it didn't ameliorate anything.

If anything that irks me more. Having to rip glued corner pads off a fan to fit isn't what people call "Compatible!", at least not without a big asterisk. And that's if it helps at all (didn't look like it).
 
At least double sided adhesive tape is cheap and easy to use, so you can re-stick them on there later if you go with it
 
At least double sided adhesive tape is cheap and easy to use, so you can re-stick them on there later if you go with it

You have my respect if you can do it. I doubt my ability to consistently apply it in an oddly shaped pentagonal area with a large round hole protruding from the middle. These fans cost me $38 each, not happy to bend and butcher them.

U12A should get here on Thursday.
 
The Thermalright PA 120 SE that I'd ordered on Saturday arrived yesterday. I was told by my bud that the Leven JS600 4TB SSD has also arrived at his place, though he'd informed me in the afternoon back home, and it was around 3am here in Toronto. Read good reviews of this Thermalright air cooler, even said to be comparable to Noctua/Be Quiet!, yet cheaper! It's been a while since I've gone air, it's been AIOs for the last few builds, looking forward to this new project when I get back.
zOsbKzC.jpg


I have a few more items to complete my 3900X build, I'm expecting delivery (to my bud's place):
Gigabyte X570S Aorus Elite AX
Corsair Vengeance RGB RT 32GB (2x16GB)DDR4 3600C16 (for 5900X rig, 32GB RAM from that rig will go into the 3900X build)
1TB NVMe M.2 NGFF SSD (for use as portable SSD) + NVMe M.2 NGFF SSD Enclosure (bought enclosure by mistake, so I got a cheap NGFF SSD to go with it)
 
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I decided to try my luck and get a Herman Miller Sayl chair from their Outlet store on Ebay, paid £381 for a nearly new one. This will replace my "Amzon Brand" office chair (which was pretty decent for the money, £131 on sale).
I can confirm the Sayl chair is quite nice, I wouldn't pay the RRP for it though.
IMG_0183(1).JPEG

Just realised this is not quite a tech purchase so I hope it won't bother anyone :)
 
Isn't that thing like... 250 bucks for a 750W? Lol, so overpriced tbh. As I recall, the topology also missed on one thing some even heftier PSUs like the AX1600i used. To do with the resonant circuitry or something. I looked into those to buy for myself, ended up with the Thor. Seemed better for what it's worth. Not saying it's a bad PSU, just not the most sensible unit... well, except probably for the fan used in it. :D
 
Isn't that thing like... 250 bucks for a 750W? Lol, so overpriced tbh. As I recall, the topology also missed on one thing some even heftier PSUs like the AX1600i used. To do with the resonant circuitry or something. I looked into those to buy for myself, ended up with the Thor. Seemed better for what it's worth. Not saying it's a bad PSU, just not the most sensible unit... well, except probably for the fan used in it. :D
a 1000W Thor Platinum II costs already 334€ (and i don't like to pay 330€ for a 250€ PSU just for some edgy RGB and a display)
this 1500W DPP12 costs 389€.
the AX1600 costs ~ 560-600€
 
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a 1000W Thor Platinum II costs already 334€ (and i don't like to pay 330€ for a 250€ PSU just for some edgy RGB and a display)
this 1500W DPP12 costs 389€.
the AX1600 costs ~ 560-600€

I'm not sure what you even get by buying the second revision, but a British review said, you get a more sensible unit by buying the 850'er. That's what I've done.

Also, excess power literally gives you nothing in most cases, just a worse efficiency curve unless you're at the sweet spot. Looking at your specs, it can be told you don't need 1500W.
 
I'm not sure what you even get by buying the second revision, but a British review said, you get a more sensible unit by buying the 850'er. That's what I've done.

Also, excess power literally gives you nothing in most cases, just a worse efficiency curve unless you're at the sweet spot. Looking at your specs, it can be told you don't need 1500W.
And why do you assume he wants your opinion?

It seems your confused as to what the purpose of this thread is. You may want to brush up on the rules.
 
I'm not sure what you even get by buying the second revision, but a British review said, you get a more sensible unit by buying the 850'er. That's what I've done.

Also, excess power literally gives you nothing in most cases, just a worse efficiency curve unless you're at the sweet spot. Looking at your specs, it can be told you don't need 1500W.

Do I smell some jealousy....:D
 
And why do you assume he wants your opinion?

It seems your confused as to what the purpose of this thread is. You may want to brush up on the rules.

Am I supposed to positively talk about everything in this thread though? You're right that it carried on, but I had to tell the truth... kinda lol

Do I smell some jealousy....:D


Nah, I'm good. The FSP topology lacked something that made me not buy the 750W version anyway... :D
 
The Thermalright PA 120 SE that I'd ordered on Saturday arrived yesterday. I was told by my bud that the Leven JS600 4TB SSD has also arrived at his place, though he'd informed me in the afternoon back home, and it was around 3am here in Toronto. Read good reviews of this Thermalright air cooler, even said to be comparable to Noctua/Be Quiet!, yet cheaper! It's been a while since I've gone air, it's been AIOs for the last few builds, looking forward to this new project when I get back.
zOsbKzC.jpg


I have a few more items to complete my 3900X build, I'm expecting delivery (to my bud's place):
Gigabyte X570S Aorus Elite AX
Corsair Vengeance RGB RT 32GB (2x16GB)DDR4 3600C16 (for 5900X rig, 32GB RAM from that rig will go into the 3900X build)
1TB NVMe M.2 NGFF SSD (for use as portable SSD) + NVMe M.2 NGFF SSD Enclosure (bought enclosure by mistake, so I got a cheap NGFF SSD to go with it)
That looks like a good cooler. How's it perform?

Just realised this is not quite a tech purchase so I hope it won't bother anyone :)
It's tech related, no worries!
 
THG did a review:

Hardware Canuck did a YT review:

HC's review is of the regular PA120.

My problem with reviews like Hardware Canucks is that a 260W 10980XE is relevant..........if we were living in like 2015 and thermal density was never a problem. X3D is the great equalizer of coolers.

I pressed the return button but I'll keep the PA120 around for a few days. In about a week I will have my rig back out on the bench and will have both U12A Chromax and PA120 head to head on the 5800X3D, with A12x25s and T30s. Perhaps it'll get a chance at redemption if it manages to positively destroy the U12A like Hardware Canucks is implying.
 
HC's review is of the regular PA120.

My problem with reviews like Hardware Canucks is that a 260W 10980XE is relevant..........if we were living in like 2015 and thermal density was never a problem. X3D is the great equalizer of coolers.

I pressed the return button but I'll keep the PA120 around for a few days. In about a week I will have my rig back out on the bench and will have both U12A Chromax and PA120 head to head on the 5800X3D, with A12x25s and T30s. Perhaps it'll get a chance at redemption if it manages to positively destroy the U12A like Hardware Canucks is implying.
Hi,
36 threads to cool
I'd say it's a good test for any cooler to try and be relevant with :laugh:
 
HC's review is of the regular PA120.

My problem with reviews like Hardware Canucks is that a 260W 10980XE is relevant..........if we were living in like 2015 and thermal density was never a problem. X3D is the great equalizer of coolers.

I pressed the return button but I'll keep the PA120 around for a few days. In about a week I will have my rig back out on the bench and will have both U12A Chromax and PA120 head to head on the 5800X3D, with A12x25s and T30s. Perhaps it'll get a chance at redemption if it manages to positively destroy the U12A like Hardware Canucks is implying.
I've tested both the pa120 and se vs the u12a chromax. The u12a isn't as loud at all fan ranges (dual a12s)but the pa is better at cooling (both versions),in my backup rig, by 5-7c consistently. I far prefer the u12a mounting mechanism over the pa 120/se. It's just better. The pa 120/se is fidgety af to line up compared to the securefirms dead on everytime ease. So no destruction going on.
Nevertheless, You won't be disappointed in the u12a chromax, it looks sweet and performs very well on everything I've used it with. Price to performance the pa 120/se does crush it but what hsf can compete with it at less than $40?
 
HC's review is of the regular PA120.

My problem with reviews like Hardware Canucks is that a 260W 10980XE is relevant..........if we were living in like 2015 and thermal density was never a problem. X3D is the great equalizer of coolers.

I pressed the return button but I'll keep the PA120 around for a few days. In about a week I will have my rig back out on the bench and will have both U12A Chromax and PA120 head to head on the 5800X3D, with A12x25s and T30s. Perhaps it'll get a chance at redemption if it manages to positively destroy the U12A like Hardware Canucks is implying.
Well, THG did review the PA120 SE, and they were pretty happy with it.;)

On my part, I just wanna try out a cheaper but good air cooler after years of being in the 360mm AIO fold.
 
The PA120 SE, amongst other recently launched TR products, are pointless for us UK buyers. They're either never in stock or never made it to the shores of England (for months-on). I was sold on the white variant both for performance and aesthetics... would have tied in nicely with my B&W build. Seen it one too many times now and its lost some of that early appeal.
 
Are they usually sold in the U.S.? Looks like one of the gents from Canada, loves them! (The Peerless Assassins)
 
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