Conclusions
The HR-03 VGA cooler delivers outstanding performance when used with a fan and can still provide very good cooling when used without a fan in pseudo-passive mode. The HR-03 should really appeal to anyone looking for a quiet cooling solution. The overall construction and build quality of the HR-03 is excellent. And the ability to mount the HR-03 heatsink on either side of the video card provides a lot of flexibility and helps make the best use of available space.
I especially like the pseudo-passive configuration. Positioning the HR-03 heatsink in the airflow path of a nearby CPU cooler or existing case fan allows it to perform extremely well without requiring an additional fan.
Strengths:
- Outstanding cooling performance
- Very good build quality
- Easy installation with two flexible mounting options
- Silent operation when used in passive mode without a fan
- Very quiet when used with a low speed fan
- Designed to directly mount an optional 92mm fan
Weaknesses:
- Relatively large size may be an issue in some installations
- Limited compatibility (check Thermalright’s website for updates)
The Thermalright HR-03 is an excellent cooling solution for today’s hot GPUs and features outstanding thermal performance, flexible mounting options, and the ability to run in passive mode without adding fan noise.
The Thermalright HR-03 VGA cooler is currently available with a typical street price of $44.99. You can find it at Newegg.com now for $49.99 I would like to thank our friends at Thermalright for sending us their new HR-03 heatsink to review — thanks!
And if you have any questions or comments about the article, or would like to see what others have to say about the HR-03 VGA cooler, just click into this thread in our forums to join in the discussion!
