Thermalright refreshes the Macho cooler series with a Maxx model
Thermalright has released a new Macho cooler, which has seen the most significant changes in fin geometry between generations. It is still a wide single tower cooler, but the intention seems to have been to increase the efficiency of the design. In other words, to make more sensible use of the available material from which the cooler is made. Macho Maxx does have a lower heatsink weight than its predecessor (Macho rev. B), but it will probably not be weaker.
Large fin area, but only in one unit – this has long characterized Thermalright Macho coolers. Nothing changes this time either. Although the latest Maxx model is 5mm narrower than the Macho rev. C, with 124 mm in width it significantly outgrows even Thermalright’s twin-tower coolers with a single fan. The Macho Maxx also has only one fan, and clearly outweighs such heatsinks as theSilver Soul 135. The absorption area is thus decent, even though the passive part of the Macho Maxx compared to the Macho rev. C is 85 g lighter (635 g) according to the specifications. However, this does not necessarily mean that it will have a lower cooling capacity – it can easily exceed its predecessor’s 240 W.
The difference in weight is mainly due to the removal of the fin area from the rear, where only a negligible heat exchange happens. It’s not so much that the Macho Maxx heatsink is that half a centimetre narrower (compared to the Macho rev. C), but more importantly it has a more pronounced rib cut-out at the rear than ever before. This is also a place that has always been significantly distant from a heatpipe, and while this material certainly didn’t detract from cooling performance, its presence could have been quite questionable. More attractive than leaving it there was probably the prospect of lower weight and admittedly some of that manufacturing cost savings.
Apart from the outer contour of the fins, there is one notable change to their surface. The fins on Macho coolers have always been perforated, but now there are fewer larger perforations instead of more smaller ones. What effect this has on efficiency, however, is no longer specified by Thermalright.
The Macho Maxx is the same height as its predecessor (158 mm) but should have a hair (0.1 mm) smaller gap (3 mm) between the fins, which of course is only cosmetic and probably won’t have a measurable effect on anything. The number of fins is the same (31) and their thickness (0.4 mm) is unchanged. At least according to what the official parameters state. The base is copper, nickel-plated, with a full block. It is additionally turned towards the DIMM slots, so that the fan does not collide even with tall memory modules – thus the heatsink is angled towards the I/O panel of the motherboard.
The 140 mm fan with 1500 rpm is also faster than before. The specified airflow (132,18 m3/h) of the TL-D14, compared to the TY-14U (Macho rev. C), is just 5,7 % higher, but static pressure (2,09 mm H2O) is 25,4 % higher. The fan on the Macho Maxx will probably be significantly noisier, though. If what Thermalright says is true, it might be quite significant – by 4.6 dBA. The bearings used are fluid bearings.
The support of sockets is quite wide and in addition to the current mainstream AMD AM4 and Intel LGA 1700 platforms, the cooler can also be mounted on Intel LGA 115x/1200, 2011(-3) or 2066. Price and availability in stores isn’t specified by Thermalright.
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš