Included Accessories
As expected, Phanteks includes everything you need to use the PH-TC12DX cooler in any AMD or Intel-based system, including fans, mounting hardware, power cables, and thermal compound.
Phanteks includes an illustrated fold-out paper manual detailing installation instructions for all supported socket types. The instructions are organized into sections by socket type with numbered steps making them easy to follow.
For cooler mounting, Phanteks includes multiple kits supporting a variety of AMD and Intel sockets. The Intel kit contains top brackets, a back plate, and hardware for supporting the LGA775, LGA115X, LGA1366, and LGA2011 sockets. Note that for socket LGA2011, the dual ended screw uprights screw directly into the board mount instead of using the included back plate. The AMD kit includes the top brackets and mounting hardware only, using the standard AMD back plate for mounting the top brackets.
For the included Intel mounting brackets and back plate, there are three different hole configurations to support three different socket types. The outer hole is for LGA1366 sockets, the middle for LGA115X sockets, and the inner hole for LGA775 sockets. Make sure when mounting the top plates to orient them so that the holes form a V shape pointing towards the socket center. Otherwise, the cooler screws will not sit correctly into the socket mounting plates.
To assemble the mount for an LGA115X socket as shown, you simply thread the upright through the correct hole in the back plate and through the board mounting holes, thread though a plastic spacer, and fix the top mounting bracket to the post with a thumb-nut using the correct hole in the top bracket. The beauty in this design lies in its simplicity – if you use the wrong holes, the mount will not assemble correctly. If you find that you have to begin forcing the mount in place, CHECK THE HOLES as you could damage the mount or your motherboard in the process. The cooler sits directly on top of the CPU brackets, fixed in place by screwing in the hold downs to the bracket screws in to the center of each mounting bracket. For the LGA2011 socket assembly, you use the dual-ended uprights screwed directly into the socket mount plate included on the motherboard and attach the top bracket to them with the thumb-nuts.
The Intel mounting bracket takes up a minimal amount of space as shown on the pictured Z87-based motherboard. The mounting brackets sit parallel to the socket and support multiple orientations. By designing the mounting bracket in this fashion, Phanteks allows for mounting of the cooling in the standard front to back orientation, as well as a side to side orientation (where the cooler faces the PCI-Express bus and the cooler top panel).
Packaged in with the cooler and mounting hardware, Phanteks includes four fan brackets and eight fan bracket pins, a dual-ended fan power cable, two low power fan power cables, fan screws, and a tube of Phanteks PH-NDC thermal paste. The included fan cables can be plugged directly into 4-pin motherboard fan headers. Notice that Phanteks covered the fan cable in a white, dense weave plastic sleeving with matching white heat shrink to give it a sleek and professional styling.
The fan brackets are held to the fan via plastic push pins that go in the four corners of the fan back. The pins push through the fan face so that the body sits along the inside of the fan. The U at each end of the fan brackets fit through the holes in the push pins, holding the fan mounting brackets in place. The brackets then fit into the radiator body to securely hold the fans in place.
Phanteks includes two of their PH-F120HP PWM 120mm fans, sitting in the front and back of the cooler's radiator. While the fans are not silent when running full speed, they are barely noticeable over the video card's cooler. The fans are rated to run at 1800 RPM maximum speed, with an air pressure rating of up to 68.5 CFM (Cubic Feet of air per Minute). The fans are designed with nine blades with with raised fins along the trailing edge to direct air flow towards the center area. Phanteks dubbed this directional technology MVB (Maelstrom Vortex Booster).
I own the PH-TC14PE and it’s
I own the PH-TC14PE and it’s the first air cooler I bought in a long time that impressed me. Moving from an AIO Asetek unit it was night and day, both temps and noise. The best part of their products is they all feel and look like solid pieces of hardware. At the time if this was available I would’ve probably gone with this one. Still I can’t complain it pushes my 2600K to 4.5GHz on stock voltage.
One question on sound part.
One question on sound part. Since this fans are PWM why is sound level same for idle and load .
It should of ramped down for idle unless you set it up in bios to run 100% ?
But that would not be fair as it seems corsair 100i does use lower idle speeds .
testing was done with fans at
testing was done with fans at full speed only…