Small, light, efficient CPU Cooler... ?

[ho72]

I have an X2 4400+ which idles at 43 and hits 59 under dual instances of Prime95. No overclocking, now or ever.

Is there an aftermarket cooler that is about the same size and weight as my stock AMD cooler that will outperform it by, oh, say 5 degrees or so? I think I could live with low to mid-50s load temps. Of course, low to mid 40s load temps would be wonderful, but I don't want some 2-3 pound, aircraft carrier-sized hunk of copper hanging off my motherboard.

[_Korruption_]

You're definitely going to want one of the Thermalright offerings (http://www.jab-tech.com/Thermalright-SI-120-pr-3076.html). They're featherweights compared to the much heavier competition, yet will hold their own. Sure its much larger than the stock thermal solution, but with size, you get efficiency. It is compatible with just about everything out there too.

You will need to purchase a seperate fan, but I see that as a good thing. It depends on your tolerance of noise, but you could get something like Yate Loon D12SL-12 (http://www.jab-tech.com/YATE-LOON-120mm-Case-Fan-D12SL-12-pr-3009.html) and be done with it. This fan is famous in the silent computing market for it's smooth sound and good behaviour when undervolting.

[xdkimx]

just about any of these would do http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Manufactory=1444&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&description=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&SubCategory=62&Submit=Property

for the best price/performance xp90 would do, u can do mild ocs (~1.4v) and would probably get u ~45c temps at ~24-27c room temp at stock ~41-43c (these are just my experiences with the proc + heatsink :p)

and also make sure u have good airflow in the case tho or this heatsink cant do its job right :p

[_Korruption_]

Newegg has really high Thermalright pricing.

[xdkimx]

^tru the xp90 there seems about $20 overpriced

[ho72]

Thanks for the replies. One other requirement: I don't want to have to remove the mobo to add/swap retention hardware or backplates. Does that disqualify any of the contenders?

[Bona Fide]

Thanks for the replies. One other requirement: I don't want to have to remove the mobo to add/swap retention hardware or backplates. Does that disqualify any of the contenders?

Most of them. But the XP-90 is definitely worth it. That thing is a wonder.

[ho72]

I'm thinking about going for the Zalman 9500. By the time I add a fan to the XP90, the weight will be about the same. The big plus is that I can (if I read the review correctly) attach it directly to my Athlon's HS retaining bracket without any mods. Is that correct?

Anyone have experience with this cooler?

[_Korruption_]

Correct. Just make sure to point the 9500 towards a rear case fan for best performance.

[c1001]

if your stock AMD cooler for the 4400+ has heatpipes, then save your money. It is already a pretty good cooler. You can find some good reviews on it:
http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=dcopteroncooling&page=3&cookie%5Ftest=1

[ho72]

I have the heatpipe version, but I am not impressed--see temps reported in first post. Temps are as reported by Everest and Speedfan

I have taken the HS off, applied new thermal compound and remounted it, and it made an improvement (~3C). I want something better.

[_Korruption_]

The Arctic Cooling Freezers offer good performance. They're tall solutions, but not necessarily heavy. At only 460g, they offer fantastic performance for the weight. Your CPU socket (K8E S2865, right?) is laid out optimally, so that the Freezer blows its hot air towards a rear case fan.

http://www.svc.com/acfz-64.html
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835185115