I am looking to buy this for my expert + 7900GT, I know it should be fine from what I have read in this thread but once I read this http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=530&p=2 things are conflicting. Can you confirm that I can go ahead and buy this?

Thats just beause it says so on the thermalright website but if you would have read though this thread properly you will see numerous pic's of it on experts and other dfi boards, otherwise why would this thread exist on [highlight]DFI[/highlight] street......

Yes, I have read this post and looked at the images...

But you must understand that when you read from a respected review site stating zero compatibility with my exact board you have to question this before you go out and spend the money on it and then later regret it

ok fair enough but if you have seen pictorial evidence that something will work then it kinda screams to me that it will, plus this site is far better for for an unbiased opinion on a new product.
Like I said above all they have done is looked at the thermalright website (They said thats what they did) and decided not to bother trying it in their Expert motherboard.

However you have raised a brilliant point, why does it say on the thermalright website that it will not work with any dfi 939 motherboard?
when it so clearly will

Precisely the reason why I asked the question, perhaps thermalright should be directed towards this thread so they can fix this.

That isn't the Thermalright website, first of all. Second of all, we've already empirically proven that it'll work, and quite easily at that, so I can only extrappolate that the guy at the website either doesn't like DFI or is drunk.

check the thermalright website - go to www.thermalright.com - chipset coolers - hr-05 - compatibility, then it lists all the dfi nf4 boards ands says not compatable.
infact heres a screeny.



Now print out them words and give em a good chew

i dont know what everyone is talking about - i just went to the Thermalright site and it lists the boards as OK ?

actually most of the DFI boards are listed as OK - ??

unless they updated recently - i seen it about 2 days ago and DFI listed as OK -

are you sure you got the right site ? and not Thermaltake instead of Thermalright ?

that happens alot - i always get confused between the two

It appears now that the SLI version is marked as OK and the normal as Not compatible

I'll add another to the list of HR-05 pics on a DFI eXpert. Fits like a charm, and works wonders on the temps. Also, having my radiator fans tilted up (on that big blue handmade fan shroud) helps alot... the heatsink winds up getting alot of the air off of them.

nice will post mine as soon as i get my comp to uni and the hr-05 fitted

WOW, does anyone read or do research anymore?

The regular HR-05 won't fit on most DFI boards because its completely vertical and its blocking a pci/pci-e slot. The new one is the HR-05 SLI, which will fit all DFI boards because its heatpipes are at a right anglish like the Jing-Ting.

The one reviewed at Legion Hardware is the HR-05. This thread is about the SLI.

HR-05 = No Fit (except expert/venus)
HR-05 SLi = Fit (except expert/venus)

Dang... read the thread brother (assuming a guy... sorry if you're not). The pic i posted just a few posts up is a HR-05. Not the SLI version. Not really sure how it could block a PCI or PCI-e slot, but I trust you. I must have just mounted it the right way.

My bad, thats why i said MOST. And it looked like you tilted yours, if you look at this guys thread on an Ultra-D:

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54061

the top pci-e slot is blocked by the HR-05. Again, the thread says HR-05 Sli not the regular version. That one was discussed awhile ago. Searching owns.

Anyway, if you can get a SLi version, thats the one I would get. Im actually waiting to get mine soon from svc.com when they get another promotion going on besides the Cooler Master

Yeah, you are right. Expert boards are laid out different, and that's why the original HR-05 fits better. But, the new HR-05-SLI could be a problem, as has been stated earlier, on the Expert and Venus. Oh, I only turned it to expose a bit more of the fin area to the airflow from my radiator fan. It made a small difference... about 5-6 degrees F. But as far as fit on the eXpert and Venus boards with 2 video cards (no 2 slot coolers), the original HR-05 is the way to go.

Also, I wanted to add that the base finish on the HR-05 sucked (maybe the SLI version is better?). It was flat where it counted... especially since the chipset is bare and doesn't have a large amount of surface area. I could definitely see where a good lap job could shave another degree or two off the temps, though. But the base is chrome plated (likely plated as a whole assembled unit), which probably is inconsequential to performance, but isn't the expected config with a bare copper baseplate. Ok so maybe that is nit-picking.... here's some thumbs of what mine looked like before and after:

First is the before.... don't mind the lines on the paper, I drew them by hand just for contrast, not flatness testing:

Then an after shot to see the difference with most of the chrome gone and the very rough finish cleaned up:

yes we were talking specifically about the hr-05 as we have expert boards.......
I still think that an ammendment should be made on thermalright's website as it clearly fit's the expert and venus .

The HR-05 is the one to get for the Expert LPs because it will fit in between the video cards. The SLI version will not work in the Expert boards with two long video cards.

I fixed it after a fast trip with google and searching.

That sounds right but would you still be able to mount an extra 80mm to the HR-05 and make it fit?

What about non-SLI setups on the expert?, ironically the SLI version looks like it would fit better on single card configs.

Yes there's really no way to do an SLI version on an Expert with long cards, as seen in this thread. As for mounting the fan to a non-SLI between two cards, I'm not so sure about that. If it's a skiny fan you might be able to, but I didn't look for that when I saw the pics.

Yes I figured that, but what about a single card system, ie. just one 7900GT...

Which would have the best fit in your opinion if you added a fan onto it with the expert board?

Yeah you could probably mount an 80x15mm, but the fan would sit right down on top of the bottom video card (using HR-05 and Expert as example). That means that the fan would not have anywhere to get air from... which would kinda defeat the purpose of having the fan. On the bright side, even without a dedicated fan, the cooler is great and will keep the temps at at least as cool as the stock cooler... without that loud little fan. Right now, I am encoding some videos, and the chipset is running at 91F without it's very own fan. But, the 120's on my rad do hit it pretty good.... so I guess you have to take that into account.


As far as one video card, they should both be okay. I'd say to stick to the original HR-05, just incase you decide down the road that you do want to use SLI. But that would be completely up to you,of course. The great thing about these coolers, it that you can rotate them a lot to miss almost any obstacle, or in my case, try to catch a little more wind from the surrounding fans.

I am definetely out to buy one of these, the DFI stock fan just isn't cutting it even with AS5 applied on it, I just need to know which version I should get for my particular single card config.

That's what I meant... long cards



I don't have either the HR-05 nor the HR-05-SLI, and I don't have an Expert board either, so I'm just going by what I know of the rough dimensions and what I've seen in pics, but if you mount the fan under the cooler it should work either way. With the SLI there will be a little more room in between the cooler and the top video card which can improve airflow and decrease noise. Trouble is I don't know how close that will get to the top normal PCI card.

I guess my question would be, do you ever plan on having SLI? If there's any chance you will, get the straight non-SLI version. Otherwise you could get either one.

Also if you're in SLI, you can create airflow in between the two cards by mounting the fan perpendicular to them.

Not really, as my next upgrade would be a single DX10 card (2nd gen)

Then you can probably get either one. I don't know if the SLI version will give you any advantages though other than it being further away from the card. The non-SLI version will be somehwat close which may add a little more noise from the fan and impede airflow, but in all honesty I think the difference will be negligable. In fact I think the air blowing on the card will make more of a positive difference in GPU temps than anything else.

Have you considered the VC-RE at all? It is also a fine unit from what I've heard.

That is another option, although there is only one store in Australia selling these, have people found these cooler than the the HR-05 (with fan or without)?

I don't want to have to add a fan on to the HR-05 but I may have to because my chipset temp is killing the rest of my system (heat wise).

The HR-05 stocks in many stores in Australia so that's good, and I like the look of the HR-05 (with a fan on this could also cool surrounding componenets)

Really the hottest part of my system is the chipset.

I'm not sure how it compares heat-wise to the VC-RE. I don't know if anyone's tested them side-by-side and which one is better may depend on your system. I can only imagine it does better than the VC-RE because there's so much more surface area.

Anyway, my suggestion is the non-SLI version. And again, keep in mind I don't own either model nor the Expert. The only problem I can see happening is if the cooler on the video card is too thick, but I haven't heard of that being a problem. I don't think you'll need a fan but if you do you'll be able to install one I'm sure.

Excellent, I'm looking forward to getting one of these and hopefully this should make my chipset temps improve greatly. I'm considering sticking a small heatsink onto my PWM/IC, can anyone see this lowering even marginally the temps of the PWM/IC? (Something like this http://www.pccasegear.com/prod359.htm or this http://www.skycomp.com.au/product_info.php...20bd42c2c54c5bf )

was gonna get the evercool. think im gonna go get me one of these bad boys instead. i doubt ill see much of a temp drop as my chipset is 38idle and 43load already. but its the lack of noise im thinking about

Try it, it can't hurt. I'd try and look for something with taller fins though if you can.

a question to UK potential buyers...
what is the maximum you would be prepaired to pay for one of these?
I could order 4 at £18 each + postage how many takers?

ill search about a bit and get back to you

I am looking forward to buying this cooler a lot, I hope it helps temps out!

If I were to put, say, an Areca ARC-1220 in one of the two x16 slots, along with my ATI X850, would it still fit?

Card here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16816131004

Thanks guys

My cooler is here:) I just have to find time to install :-/ Should I post pics on EXPERT with 7900GT?

Please do, this is exactly the config I am going to be using so it would be nice to have a look at this specific combination

Well, I have ordered the SLI version as the store I was buying off has no ETA for the normal ones and it looks like it will fit with single no problems (and I was buying something else which I could only get from that store), if anyone's interested I'll post a pic once setup with the expert + 7900GT

OK, just finished installing the HR-05 on eXpert with 7900 GT KO. Somehow, my digicam has dissapeared..... >:-|

Anyway, it actually fits just fine, And looks pretty good too. You have to put it on daigonally to avoid the power cable from the back of the GPU, but its not a real issue, nor an overly tight squeeze. Please don't bag on my temps, believe me, I know:

Was 57*C Idle
Now 48-49*C

Was 60*C Load
Now 50*C

SO there is significant improvement, and the silence was worth every dollar, even if it hadnt changed the temps.

Charles, no worries my man, it'll work wonders. My advice:
* Cover the semiconductors surrounding the chipset with some e-tape.
* Don't use the foam pad thingy
* Ceramique crap (what it comes with) doesnt draw heat as well, but is safer. You choose between it and AS5. I chose the latter.
* Use the shorter of the two semi-linear brackets. It's the one that fits.
* Grease the chipset only, not the hs.

That's it, good luck man. Again, those are onyl for eXpert installation. Prob diff on other mobos. Job takes about 10 miniutes total time.

Ive got the HR-05 on an Infinity 975XG butted against an SI-120. I managed to get an 80mm fan tied onto the bottom, with decent clearance of my 7900GT KO SC... its about 3/4 an inch. Dropped my ID temps about 8C and load 13C. Very nice cooler, not too expensive either.

Yea the price definitely drew me to this puppy. Absolutely in love with the ........ sssshhhhhhhhhhh............ silence.......

Good to hear, your was temps are similar to my current temps for chipset atm, although mine go higher under load, and it's getting worse here (heading into summer)...

I was actually supposed to recieve this cooler today but I guess I will be waiting till next week.

Just installed the HR-05 SLI with some AS5 and looking good so far, temps have gone down between 8-10C and it should get cooler as the AS5 settles.

am installing as we speak!!!!!!!

well that was pretty hassle free (more than 10 mins though as whole computer does have to come out of the case)

idle temps are around 30 and at load its about 42 but i havent got the full build finished yet need to get all then case fans back in the fan controller etc.

This is great! My temps are down so much and now my PC is virtually silent (I can turn my rpm down on all my fans), idle was 48C, atm it is 34C! and the fans have been turned down!

Yea mobo did have to come part way out, enough to remove old fan. Still took ten minutes only.

dammit, just read through this entire thread... and its just confirmed it, i'm not going to able to set up my HR-05 Sli the way I wanted to :sad:

I bought it originally for my last mobo which was an abit fatal1ty, which had the NB half way underneath the back end of the vga, so the best option was to purchase the sli version of this cooler.... however, on transit, I came across a great deal on a NF4 UT sli-DR and I went ahead. Now I realise DFI where smart enough NOT to put the northbridge in the path of any of the PCIx slots, it is now in the middle. I wanted to face the NB HS towards the HDD cage, and afai could tell it would work. Now I realise from this thread that I hadn't factored the PCIx power cable, which ruins that whole idea :mad:

Don't really want to return and don't really want to use it... i guess ill try to install and post a pic. I'll be installing it with a eVGA 7900GT 512mb, I also have a few PCI cards to go in so i'll see how it fairs with those.

Has anyone tried it on an Infinity 975 X/G yet? I'd like to see the numbers on that.

I'm interested in getting one but my vendor of choice (Newegg) seems to be all out at the moment.

Anyone used HR-05 SLI successfully with a NF4 SLI-D board and a 8800GTS ?

Hi guys and respect to you all,

This chipset cooling toy is great for all DFI owners. To bad it came out so late.

I have installed it today on my LP nF4 Ultra-D on a 45 degree angle, and I has unhappy initially because it was very loosely attached to the mobo and the temps was high: 49C on idle / 55C on load (23C in the room, AS5).

So I have replaced the two white plastic clips with something stronger I have found around, as you can see in this pic.
Now it sits very tight and the temps are great: 34C on idle / 38C on load. Not bad

Also this way I can remove or rotate it without removing the mobo (I hate to take off the mobo !!).

Can't it be installed the way that the radiator is over the SATA ports?It kinda locks your Molex Power jack.Thats how I considered on installing mine once I buy it.