The Thermalright XP-90 continues to impress months after its release. It
goes to show that aluminum cooling solutions are very much alive and well. This
is great news to those of us that aren't too keen on mounting a 700+ gram
copper monster compared to this relative featherweight at only 360g.
Also impressive is that you really need not be too picky about what kind of
fan you mount on the the XP-90. Any fan approaching 40CFM should yield good
results while higher CFM rated fans will likely only bring modest results. Of
course, a Tornado 92x38mm @ 119CFM screamer will net you some even cooler
temperatures. Since we're already under 40°C in most every case, though,
the added cooling will probably only be sought out by the most avid air-cooled
overclockers.
Maybe you're not concerned about overclocking. Quiet, (but still impressive)
cooling may be most important to you. If so, the Thermalright XP-90 is a very
good choice in that respect as well.
PROS
Excellent cooling
Can be paired with a quieter fan and still obtain good cooling
Benefits with various fans
Light for it's size in volume
Very thin fins paired with heat pipes
Easy installation
Fan retention wires allow for easy fan changes
Wide range of motherboard compatibility
CONS
Must take care with thin fins as they bend easily
A bit pricier than some but you get what you pay for
CrazyPC.com has the XP-90 listed for $39.99. They're currently offering UPS
Ground shipping for only $3 as well. Other well-known sites have the XP-90
listed for over $50 or have twice the shipping costs.
