Thermalright Macho Rev.B Review 21

Thermalright Macho Rev.B Review

(21 Comments) »

Conclusion

  • The Thermalright Macho HR-02 Rev. B can be found at retail for €47.99 / $54.99
  • Good performance
  • Almost completely silent
  • Very easy to install
  • Above average clearance
  • Exceptional build quality
  • Option to mount second fan
  • Good Value
  • Memory clearance could be better
  • Encroaches on the first expansion slot
  • One year warranty
  • No extra fan clips
Thermalright has a solid offering in the Macho Rev.B as its good performance at stock rivaled the far larger and more expensive Noctua NH-D15, and it did so while being quieter, which is no small feat. With the CPU overclocked, Thermalright's offering does fall back under extreme loads, but still performs admirably. The fact that the cooler is almost completely silent makes it likely near impossible to hear over other components in the system. It doesn't hurt that it is very easy to install either, making it a great choice for first-time builders. Clearance for memory is acceptable as three out of four DIMM slots are easily accessible and RAM of any height can be used. The last slot is up for debate—it will be a close call that depends upon which memory kit is used. As expected of a Thermalright cooler, build quality is impressive, with the heatsink and fan both being of excellent quality. Furthermore, if users want some extra cooling performance, the Mach Rev.B has the ability to hold a second fan. Thermalright has a solid offering here that is of really good value for those looking for a mid-range heatsink.

A few issues do crop up: First, memory clearance could be better. The offset design helps, but does not guarantee complete clearance on all four DIMM slots, and the cooler also encroaches on the motherboard's first expansion slot. The one year warranty is also a bit of a downer considering the high quality of the product itself. Finally, while the lack of extra fan clips seems understandable, it would have been a nice touch. Thermalright did after all include a nice magnetic screwdriver, so why skimp by not including a couple fan clips?

Thermalright's Macho Rev.B is, ultimately, a solid mid-range cooler. My biggest gripe with the design is that although it is offset, memory clearance is not perfect. The Macho Rev.B would become a killer product should Thermalright offset its cooler a tiny bit more in the future for spot-on memory clearance, all while offering a slight offset for that first expansion slot. Yet I can't help but recommend the Macho Rev.B for its solid performance and quiet operation.

With exceptional build quality, ultra low noise levels, and solid performance, the Thermalright Macho Rev.B is of damn good value considering all it offers.
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Apr 26th, 2024 14:52 EDT change timezone

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