GUIDE: Air-cooling for CPUs, GPUs, and just about everyone of you

I just upgraded my 3200+ to a FX-55 reciently and i'm running the same cooling setup, XP-90 + Panaflo 92mm L1B (which i think is a great combo), and my temps are way higher now. 43*c (14.5x200 @ 1.45v).

Is this normal for an FX? I might try to reseat it, i use ASC and i usually just put a dab in the middle and let the weight/pressure spread it out but i might go back and try to spread it on myself. Also what would offer a better and equally quite solution? I was thinking one of thoes sythe ninjas/infinities or a zalman 9700, but i'd liek to keep costs down... i need to buy text books

Thanks
 
The Ninja would be quieter than the XP90 while performing better. A nice little side effect from using a 120mm fan.
 
I have xp 120 is a great perfomance never pass over 40C load, my new evga incoming but i dont know if are compatible. any sugestion
 
I have xp 120 is a great perfomance never pass over 40C load, my new evga incoming but i dont know if are compatible. any sugestion

If it turns out they aren't compatible you can go with an SI-120 which is very similar except it has almost no compatibility issues.
 
I have my AMD 64 3200+ @ 2.45 GHz with a Thermalright XP-120 and a Nexus Real Silent 120mm Fan. I max at 47*C folding - That's pretty good for a silent PC.
 
If it turns out they aren't compatible you can go with an SI-120 which is very similar except it has almost no compatibility issues.

ok thx, yes is compatible with evga, you need have the adaptador 775 and put some paper into backplate and some components behind the mobo.

for now I dont have much happy because cant lower the temp on 6600 when overclock, I have some friends with 6600 Air and can oc to 3600 and fullload temp is lower 55C, in my case I got 3600 and got 15xxx point on 3dmark06 but the temp are over 70C. Incoming my artic cooling frezer pro I hope better my temps. any sugestions???
 
What would be good HSF for SFF case (SilverStone Sugo)? I'm considering Zalman CNPS8000 but SilverStone Nitrogon SST-NT06 lite looks interesting too because it's silent. I might do some OC too.
 


LGA775 (Pentium 4)

Scythe Ninja -- A giant heatsink originally meant for passive operation, but can accomodate a 120mm fan, which makes it a very potent choice for low-noise, low-temperature cooling. It features a whopping 12 heatpipes moving heat from the copper base up to the thin aluminum fins. Pair this up with a low-speed 120mm fan, and you'll have fantastic cooling, perhaps even better than the Thermalright offerings. This heatsink seems to work well in the P180 case, with some people using the top vent as an intake and the rear vent as an exhaust. Only downside is that the whole assembly is pretty big.


This needs to be removed. The mounting clips suck, and something that doesnt work well out of the box cant be recommended IMO. Atleast put a little note in there.
 
:( then why is it a recommended heatsink? I wasted my money.

Because it is better than the stock A64 cooler and at the time, was one of the best coolers you could buy (esp if you couldn't fit Zalman's or Thermalright's 120mm cooler).


Here are a couple of graphics from reviews at the time.

chart.jpg

g4.jpg


Are there better 20-30 dollar coolers? I couldn't say, but my XP-90 has served me well for 2+ years. The only reason I'm thinking of replacing it is because I'm having trouble using an after market northbridge cooler on my DS3

Regardless, if you go here, you'll find links to lots of HSF reviews.
 
Is there any way that this can be updated to support a more current list of coolers??

There are a ton of better cooling solutions (particularly for the LGA775's) that should replace nearly everything on the list.
The only one that may still belong is the Zalman CNPS9500, but even that has a better version available.

Specifically, models like these:

Thermalright Ultra-120
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme
Tuniq Tower
Zalman CNPS9700
EnzoTech Ultra-X
Noctua NH-U12
Apack Zerotherms

Thanks.
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Hi everyone! :)

Just ordered X2 5600 processor and now i am wondering for good silent fan for it.
Anyone have any good recommendations?
 
Hi everyone! :)

Just ordered X2 5600 processor and now i am wondering for good silent fan for it.
Anyone have any good recommendations?

I would recommend a Scythe S-FLEX or a Noctua. I run a high speed S-FLEX on my SI-120, and it can be undervolted silently, or cranked up to 12V and keep an overclocked and loaded processor chill.
 
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I like the Tuniq Tower...but it's just too big...

I don't like the looks of the fan hangin' on the Thermalright 120...plus it's huge also.

I know these are probably the top dogs and I'm still open to anything, but I am leaning on the Zalman9700, Thermaltake V1, or the EnzoTech Ultra-X (dig the incld. AS5).

Any feedback on these three in an Antec900 case/EVGA 680i Board?

TYIA

(Antec900, EVGA 680i, 8800GTX, E6600, HX620)
 
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I like the Tuniq Tower...but it's just too big...

I don't like the looks of the fan hangin' on the Thermalright 120...plus it's huge also.

I know these are probably the top dogs and I'm still open to anything, but I am leaning on the Zalman9700, Thermaltake V1, or the EnzoTech Ultra-X (dig the incld. AS5).

Any feedback on these three in an Antec900 case/EVGA 680i Board?

TYIA

(Antec900, EVGA 680i, 8800GTX, E6600, HX620)

The Enzotech gets outstanding reviews and has the added benefit of cooling the components around the CPU - it's just pricey.
(It would have been my #1 pick for my replacement, but the cost was prohibitive for my budget)
The 9700 is quite big as well if size is critical and the main reason you're passing on the Tuniq and the Ultra-120.

The Ultra-120 was too big for my eVGA 680i board in the case I have at the moment, so I had to sell it to some lucky guy locally.
I replaced it with a Scythe Mine Rev. B which is a perfect fit and similar in size to an Ultra-90.

I don't have any experience with the V-1, so I can't comment on it.
 
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What scares me more than physical size and makes me unsure about all these monstrous HS/Fans is their weight.

I haven't seen many posts regarding mobo bowing/breaking...but would presume that to be a valid issue.

Someone just mention that the Ultra-X weighs a TON also....dang.


Do people who use these beasts lie their boxes horizontal?
 
I've just recently taken delivery of the above config from AVADirect and can confirm it works fine. Amusingly the guys at AVADirect left the insulation block stuck in the ultra-x so when I got it I basically had an anti-heat sink. :rolleyes: And if you're familiar with the ultra-x design you'll quickly realize how hard it would be to see a foam block wedged into it, it's basically impossible to see, even up close, I only figured it out after attempting to O/C it further than the paltry 5% AVADirect overclocks and hitting crazy high temps I knew something was wrong and started a really close up inspection of the heat sink and discovered the block. Net-net, I took off the ultra-x, removed the insulation block, re-seated the ultra-x and started getting the temps everyone in reviews has raved about with it.

There's no problem fitting it in the Antec 900 case, and there's no issue with caps or anything else rubbing on the 680i MB. It's really quite easy to install. Course I didn't put the backplate on, the AVADirect guys got that part right. :p

Ambient in the room I'm in is 25-26C, using the ultra-x I'm seeing idle temps of 29C, and ortho load temps at 3.4 of right at 48-50C. Those are readings using TAT btw.

Oh, as for size and weight, the design and attachment process really makes that no big deal. I didn't tighten things up so much that the MB was at any risk, the heat sink design makes it so it doesn't stick up nearly as much as say the tuniq does, and with the system sitting upright I've had no issues with it whatsoever, now that it's properly installed.

Thumbs up on all three products from me (antec 900, evga 680i MB, enzotech ultra-x HS)
 
My ultra 120 Xtreme is resting on the internal fan controller in my case atm or will if it moves, so won't go far so no worries...;)
 
Can anyone recommend a good active heatsink for a socket am2? Been out of the game for a while, and am not up on whats new and good.

Thanks.
 
Can anyone recommend a good active heatsink for a socket am2? Been out of the game for a while, and am not up on whats new and good.

Thanks.

Cheapest bang for the buck on your CPU would be the Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro.

When it's on sale, you can find them online for about $22-$25 and they rate extremely well vs. the rest of the competition for 1/2 or even sometimes 1/3 of the money.

Here's a great price at eWiz for $18.50, but shipping might kill it, depending on where you live.
If you can get a free shipping coupon code, this deal would be outstanding.

eWiz AC Freezer 64
 
What scares me more than physical size and makes me unsure about all these monstrous HS/Fans is their weight. I haven't seen many posts regarding mobo bowing/breaking...but would presume that to be a valid issue.

Someone just mention that the Ultra-X weighs a TON also....dang. Do people who use these beasts lie their boxes horizontal?

I'm pretty sure most still set their boxes vertically, and the weight isn't a major concern unless you move your box often or kick it around a lot... But it's still a bit of a concern I guess.

That's one of the reasons why I went with an XP-90 rather than an XP-120 when I built my current rig, and I have my eye on the new Ultima-90I rather than the Ultra-120 Extreme for my new rig. Performance seems to be within 1-3 degrees of it's big brother (much like the XP-90 vs 120)... Yet it weighs like 450g instead of nearly 800g like the 120 does iirc, and it's smaller obviously (and I can use the 92mm fan(s) I have already!).

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be out yet... :(
 
Like i said on a previous post, my Ultra is resting on the fan control, (edge i mean of it) but it was fairly firm anyhow so unless you have a flimsy motherboard i wouldn't worry TOO much imho. But better to get what makes you comfortable tho.
 
Possibly a silly question... but I will be upgrading my 80mm fan on my Thermaltake Volcano to a 120mm fan using an adapter. Should the fan be blowing air towards the CPU, or taking air away?
 
Possibly a silly question... but I will be upgrading my 80mm fan on my Thermaltake Volcano to a 120mm fan using an adapter. Should the fan be blowing air towards the CPU, or taking air away?

Towards
 
WOW, very cool guide but it has left me a little more confused than what I was before because of all the different solutions. I know my way around computers (installing software and a few bits of stock hardware) but I am oh so GREEN when it comes to Overclocking or Cooling is not even funny.

As of late I have taken the time to read about overclocking my rig by bits but I have gotten to the point where playing a few minutes will take my cpu from 44~46 to 62~65 and well, I know this is not good.

Even though I am on a budget, I will like to buy what's best for my rig and what's going to give me the best performance, I really don't care about noise because my pc will be off at night... I only use it for browsing the internet, gaming for a couple of hours and read some e-mails.

I am liking the Artic cooling but need the guidance because I don't want to buy all the things I think I need (CPU cooler, GPU coolers & Chipset cooler) and then not be able to use them because they either don't work together, are not compatible or don't fit my case, more so when I am going to be trying to O/C both my cards and CPU

Here's my rig:

Ultra Aluminus Case
Intel E6300 (Stock at the moment but will try to O/c at 3.0Ghz)
OCZ SLI 1066mhz 2GB Memory
(2) BFG 7800 GTX video cards (Stock but will like to O/C)
Audigy Sound card
Seagate 400GB Sata 7200.10 16mb cache HDD
(2) 120mm LED fans


Thanks folks
 
After battling heat problems for some time, I decided to replace my case with a new Cooler Master RC690, installed a Cooler Master Gemini II heatsink on my dated CPU and also installed a new Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 on my XFX 7900 GS Extreme. Now, these are big heatsinks, but I dont have any fitment problems in my case, and I still have room to add another Video card and S1 cooler in SLI.

My CPU temps, previously, had been idling at around 42-43 C, and would climb to almost 60C with the stock AMD sink. The 7900GS is a hot one, and would idle at 55-56C and would climb to almost 80 after gaming for an hour.

With the case, Gemini II and accelero S1, my cpu now idles at 29-31C and has never climbed to over 41C. The 7900GS now idles at 43C and has never gotten over 50C under load. I usually log these temps while playing Crysis, or some other demanding game for an hour.

I had hoped that the 7900GS would idle a little lower than 43C with the new Accelero S1, but what amazes me is that it has never climbed more than 7C under heavy load. What an improvement. In addition, I do NOT have a fan installed on the S1, it is completely fanless, but the new RC690 Case has tons of airflow. The Gemini II has also had similar effects on the cpu temps, the cpu just doesnt climb by more than 10C under heavy loads. Im sold on these products, plus the computer is very quiet.
 
hey guys how well does a second fan cool the ultra 120 extreme ? Is it worth adding a second one ?
 
^ Not worth adding a second one.


People are mentioning weight concerns, and it's certainly a valid concern. The easiest way to fix this problem is to use some sort of brace. This can be in the form of a piece of wire attached to the top of the case and tied onto the heatsink, or a metal bracket attached to the bottom of the case, with the heatsink resting on it. Both will take all the weight off the mobo if done right.
 
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