INTRODUCTION

   The CPU cooling market never sleeps and so if we were to sit down and crunch the numbers chances are we'd count just as many coolers (if not more) each year as gaming peripherals. Now as most of you know high-end CPU air coolers have reached a point where on one hand they can compete with AIO liquid CPU coolers but on the other they have no more room for improvement (at least not unless something new comes along like liquid metal which has been used a few times in the past). Because of that with the exception of just a handful of manufacturers who have remained "loyal" to CPU air coolers most have switched to AIO models and although that was the obvious move still in the long run that may leave people with not enough space inside their towers (or not a budget high enough) to install one such solution without many choices. Thermalright may move to the design and production of AIO models eventually but for now they are still loyal to CPU air coolers and today we're testing the latest Macho 120 SBM.

 Thermalright is an elite design house that manufactures cooling products for computer components for the best quality and performance your money can buy. In 2002, AMD released its first generation Thunderbird CPU and since then we have been there every step of the way to counter high voltage and high heat with innovative design and highly acclaimed cooling solutions not only for AMD but for Intel as well. One of early well known solutions was the SK-6. With many positive and rave reviews under its belt Thermalright bolted to the top as the heat sink manufacturer mostly preferred by Overclockers and enthusiasts around the World. To this day, innovation never left our vocabulary as we keep coming up with leading edge designs staying ahead of the competition.

   The Macho line of CPU coolers must be one of the longest ones in history since so far Thermalright has released a grand total of 14 models (Macho/Macho Rev.A/Macho Rev.A (BW)/Macho Rev.B/Macho 90/Macho 120/Macho 120 Rev.A/Macho Black/Macho SE/Macho PCGH/Macho X2/Macho Zero/Macho Direct/Le Grand Macho) in it with the latest Macho 120 SBM being number 15. With already 14 models in the Macho line one would think that Thermalright has covered every consumer out there but they obviously don't seem to think that so the Macho 120 SBM is placed right after the Macho 90 in terms of size (slightly thinner yet wider compared to the original Macho 120 Rev.A model) and is aimed primarily towards users with small ATX/Micro-ATX cases. A 130mm low-noise PWM fan (TY-TR127 model) completes the package and as with most Macho models (if allowed by the case itself) it can be used in push & pull configuration with another fan. Let’s see what you can expect from the latest member in the Macho family of CPU coolers by Thermalright.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

Once again Thermalright has used a green and white box that has a large product picture at the front above their logo.

The product features are printed on the left side of the box.

At the rear of the box Thermalright has placed the product specifications in English, German and French.

The heatsink and the fan are both placed inside 6 thin foam spacers while the rest of the bundle is placed inside a second cardboard box.

Once again Thermalright offers one of the richest bundles we've ever seen with a CPU cooler so along with the Macho 120 SBM heatsink and fan you are also getting a long Philips screwdriver (for some strange reason we forgot to place it in the picture), installation instructions, two pairs of fan mounts, small pouch with thermal conductive material inside, backplate and all the pieces needed to mount the cooler onto Intel LGA 775/1150/1151/1155/1156/1366/2011/2011-3 and AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/FM1/FM2/FM2+ compatible mainboards.

THE MACHO 120 SBM

The Macho 120 SBM keeps the same length we've seen with several other Macho models (130mm) but it's slightly shorter (150.15mm), thinner (86mm) and weighs considerably less (560g without the fan).

Just like with previous Macho models the top fin is painted black to improve the overall feeling of the heatsink.

The heatsink of the Macho 120 SBM features a total of 31 aluminum fins.

Part of the fins is bend inwards to keep air from leaking to the sides.

Just like most Macho coolers the five 6mm nickel plated copper heatpipes are placed in such a way (offset) to allow for zero clearance issues with memory modules and mainboard components.

The pure copper nickel plated base has the same mirror-like finish we've learned to always expect from a Thermalright CPU cooler.

One TR-TY127 130mm PWM fan capable of speeds up to 1300RPM and airflow levels up to 55.81CFM with just 33.dBA of noise is bundled with the Macho 120 SBM.

With the fan mounted the Macho 120 SMB measures 111mm in width and weighs 690g.

TEST BED

TESTING METHODOLOGY

   We always take things quite seriously when it comes to work so just like with the previous LGA1366 database we will not be testing each CPU Cooler on its own and with different ambient temperature levels and thus we can actually have yet another valid CPU Cooler database. Testing a CPU Cooler automatically means that you need to know where it stands against the immediate competition and to accomplish that we have spent both money and time through the years, something that we plan to continue to do so in order to get the most accurate results for the end consumers who read these lines. Every CPU cooler in this database is tested with the bundled 140mm/120mm/92mm/80mm fans while working at both idle speed and 100% of their speeds for all the temperature tests. CPU Coolers that do not come bundled with a fan/s are measured using a Noctua fan (size dependent on the model) to test for the temperature tests but due to the lack of a stock fan dBA level tests are obviously skipped. Single (120/140mm) watercooling solutions are tested with the radiator mounted at the rear of our test rig while dual/triple/quad (240/260/280/360/420/480/560mm) solutions with the radiator mounted at the top. For the dBA tests every cooler in the database was measured both while on idle mode or with the fan controller in the minimum setting and while on extreme load or with the fan controller all the way to the highest possible setting (PWM fans do that on their own without our intervention). Every single test takes place in a temperature controlled room of 23 degrees Celsius Ambient Temp with the help of two AC units placed diagonally inside the room. The Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste is used with every CPU Cooler in our latest LGA2011 database (although initially this was not the plan we had to change things to get the most accurate results). Finally it's very important to point out that just because a CPU Cooler is better than another when tested with our test rig that does not necessarily mean that the same performance differences will apply 100% for other CPU models and in other situations (such as different ambient temps and system configurations).

     To successfully record the load temperatures we use the latest OCCT application for around 6-10 minutes to push the processor to its limits and after that is done and the temperatures are recorded we wait for about 10-20 minutes for the CPU to cool down and record the idle temperatures. This is done to allow time for the thermal conductive material to achieve the optimal performance level. Same procedure is then repeated with the Passmark BurnIn Test as a failsafe just in case the OCCT results are wrong. This procedure takes a lot more time than the usual peltier/thermometer tests but this way not only can we deliver real world results to our readers based on real CPUs but we can also triple check the results using a variety of programs. Last but not least the temperatures were recorded using both the latest versions of AIDA64 and RealTemp while the noise level tests are performed using a high precision ExTech HD600 Decibel Meter placed about 10-15cm above the CPU Cooler. Still although the same testing procedure applies to all units do take into consideration that unlike the official numbers which are measured in special noise isolated labs with just the fans here we also have both the rest of the cooler and the rest of the system (although all system fans are turned off when recording noise levels).

TEST RESULTS

CONCLUSION

   When you have 15 models (16 with the upcoming Le Grand Macho RT) in the same line of CPU coolers it’s hard for any of them to really shine and that’s the only slight “problem” with the Macho 120 SBM. Well not really a problem actually but when you have the passive Le Grand Macho perform even better with a 140mm fan duct and the Macho Rev.B/Zero models which again offer better cooling efficiency it’s hard for the Macho 120 SBM to stand out in terms of performance. On the other hand however the Macho 120 SBM is smaller compared to the models we mentioned and although the difference is not massive still it should be able to fit in cases were the others simply can’t. Quality is as usual excellent (just like we’ve come to expect by Thermalright) and when it comes to noise levels the TR-TY127 fan is simply put inaudible (check our charts for that).

   Currently the Macho 120 SBM CPU cooler by Thermalright retails for 42.99Euros inside the EU from PC-Cooling.de (unfortunately we couldn’t locate it inside the USA at this time) a price tag which we feel is ok for a Thermalright product. Overall my vote still goes to the Le Grand Macho since it doesn’t cost much more and is completely passive but if your case can’t accommodate it the Macho 120 SBM could be the right one for the job and since it’s a solid and excellent quality product with very good cooling efficiency (for its size always) it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Excellent Build Quality
- Very Good Performance
- Almost Inaudible
- Size
- Zero Clearance Issues
- Bundle
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Current Availability