Introduction
One of the most overlooked components of any computer system
has to be the heatsink, this single device can make or break your computer. To the average user the thought of the thermal interface material drying out
over time is a subject most are not familiar with. As a matter of fact
most may not even be aware that a computer's temperature is something we should
pay special attention to. They are likely to know that the standard
heatsink installed on the computer they purchased from a click and order or
brick and mortar store is barely able to control the temperatures of today
high-speed processors. What one should think about when it comes time to
re-apply the thermal paste or a replace the thermal interface material is to
just go ahead and replace the heatsink with one that will do a proper job of
cooling the system. One of heatsinks that will do a great job cooling a hot
processor is the one we are reviewing today, the SilenX
IXC-120HA2 IXTREMA, so come on along as we review this heatsink and then go
on to compare it with some other heatsinks we have used in the past.
How it all began
It begun as a hobby; a group of engineering students in search
of silence. With computers running twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week,
the noise was more than a nuisance. It was an absolute burden. But this was 1995
and your average mainstream computer processor was barely consuming 20
watts...under full load. Silent computing was still in its infancy, but of
course, our guys were working to perfect it. What had originally begun as a
hobby...turned into an obsession.
Airflow was measured, temperature gradients studied, simulations and testing
ensued. The original designs were crude, but then again, even the greatest have
to begin somewhere. With electronics getting hotter and hotter with each
generation, someone had to step up to fight the noise. And that, we did. Our
products made way into recording studios and sound labs around the world. Then
came the inquiries from individuals wanting the same in their personal
computers. Well...our next decision put smiles on their faces.
The road from here
SilenX has been a privately-owned and operated
company based in southern California since 1995. There are several research and
design facilities in addition to our primary warehouse facility and our renowned
technical support and customer service center. Originally a high-end systems
integrator for silent computers, SilenX shifted its focus to manufacturing
silent PC components in 2002 and established factories in the United States,
China, and Taiwan.
Our retail products are distributed in numerous countries around the world. We
also have an OEM division that manufactures fans, thermal heatsink solutions and
power supplies for various applications in computing, consumer electronics and
other industrial uses. Our specialty is in low noise components as we have among
the lowest noise cooling equipment in the industry.
Numerous awards have been won by our products in the consumer computing world
for delivering a combination of the lowest noise levels without sacrificing high
performance. Reviewers from around the world have praised our products for being
on the forefront of the silent PC industry. Our commitment to the finest quality
makes SilenX products both reliable and competitive.
