Cooler Master TX3i CPU Cooler Review

Introduction

Picking the right cooler for your system can be a daunting task as there are virtually endless amounts of solutions out there. Every size, shape, colour, fan configuration and beyond that you can think of. It becomes more demanding when it comes to smaller system builds, where space is at a premium and budget is tight, especially if you’re running your system under load and the stock CPU cooler just isn’t up to the job; if your chip even came with one to begin with.

• 3 direct contact heat pipes with a base that is engineered to minimize CPU contact gaps – providing excellent heat conduction.
• Option for adding 2nd fan with quick-snap fan brackets to increase cooling performance.
• All-in-one mounting solution supporting Intel® LGA 1150 / 1151 / 1155 / 1156 / 775
• A mere 17 dBA (minimum speed) is accomplished by utilizing a silent 92mm PWM fan with a wide RPM range.

“The Hyper TX series has evolved along with the requirements of mainstream CPUs. The launch of Hyper TX3i marks another milestone with Cooler Master’s Improved Direct Contact technology, further improving cooling performance.” – Cooler Master

Taking inspiration from previous TX3 models, the TX3i is expected to be one of Cooler Masters most affordable and capable (relative to price) coolers to date. With a triple heatpipe design, low-noise 92mm fan, and support for all major Intel sockets, as well as a super compact form factor that should mean zero conflicts with memory modules, expansion cards or the vast majority of chassis designs.

The three heat pipes measure in at 6mm and make direct contact with the CPU, it’s a cheap way of doing things, but so long as it work, that’s not a problem. The fan if a 4-pin WPM model and can spin between 800RPM and 2200RPM, so it should be pretty quiet at idle, but may be a little noisy when pushed, but we’ll find out soon enough.

The packaging is pretty straight forward, with a clear image of the cooler and fan design, as well as a quick rundown of the main specifications.

Around the back and side, the full specifications, as well as dimensions of the cooler.

In the box, you’ll find the cooler (obviously), the usual documentation, a tube of thermal paste, screws, 3M pads, and extra fan clips to mount a second fan (not included).