Best Air CPU Cooler now?

[Astrof]

Is it true?
I heard the xigmatech cooler is now the best? What is the new "Best" Cooler and if needed what fan should I (also) get with it?
Link to xigmatech cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835233003

 

[DerwenArtos12]

The xigmatech is great but, It won't keep up with a TRUE with the proper fan. The only downside to the TRUE is that the base has to be lapped.

 

[Nathelion]

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12
The xigmatech is great but, It won't keep up with a TRUE with the proper fan. The only downside to the TRUE is that the base has to be lapped.

I'm curious, does that hold for the ultima-90 as well?

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: Nathelion

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12
The xigmatech is great but, It won't keep up with a TRUE with the proper fan. The only downside to the TRUE is that the base has to be lapped.

I'm curious, does that hold for the ultima-90 as well?

It certainly wouldn't hurt to lap an ultima-90 but, thus far it hasn't been show to be a necessity like with the TRUE.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: Astrof
Is it true?
I heard the xigmatech cooler is now the best? What is the new "Best" Cooler and if needed what fan should I (also) get with it?
Link to xigmatech cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835233003

What kinda chip you gonna put your cooler on & what kinda overclocking you planning on doing?
I just ordered me the Xigmatech & a tube of MX-2 since Newegg said they'd pick up the shipping costs...$30 & change for both of them.
If you're not going to do any serious overclocking, get the Xigmatech for 1/3 of the cost (when you figure in you'll need a fan for the TRUE).
Yeah, the TRUE is the best, but like DerwenArtos said, you gotta couple it w/the right fan, so there's probably another $10-15 (figuring in shipping?), the another $4-6 for wet/dry sandpaper & however much you thing an hour or two of your time's worth to lap that puppy!

 

[Astrof]

I have a q6600 and probably wont OC much. Also, doesnt lapping void warranty? so if something drasticaly goes wrong and the cooler fails (even if its not due to the lapping) my proc cud get damaged but will not be covered under warranty?

So the xigmatech comes with a fan, is it possible to put another fan and if yes is it worth it?

 

[n7]

With a lapped TRUE (if it's not flat) & with the same fans, the TRUE is better.

The Xigmatek is a great deal, but push pins mounting system?! Push pins on that beast?
That's beyond a nightmare.

 

[tuksonrider]

The guys over at frostytech did show that the Xigmatek did prove better. Most other sites show that the Xigmatek is second place to the TRUE. And as mentioned, more money, fan, and lapping, for an improvement within 1C .. I can't help but recommend the Xigmatek over the TRUE.

Price/performance ratio, you can't beat the Xigmatek for $27. The fan is actually really decent and PWM controlled. Unless you really want a >100CFM fan, there's no reason to upgrade.

I do recommend the TR 775 Bolt-Thru mounting kit for $5. The Xigmatek is LIGHTER than you'd expect (~600g including fan), but it's a hassle dealing with the pushpins.
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/lgbowiscsp.html

The Xigmatek comes with a generic silicon based TIM, but I'd recommend a different one.

 

[grumpydaddy]

First, Hi, new british member here

I am a 1month noob running asus maximus formula and q6600.
I'm still fine tuning @ 3.6 (8*450) using the Xigmatech with its stock fan and getting cores of around 67deg max.

??? Does changing the fan make a lot of difference???
if so... on the subject of biggest/baddest/best... have any of you guys used fans from Delta specifically:
GFB1212VHW
TFB1212GHE
both rated at around 220 cfm and LOUD

 

[Nathelion]

Changing fans is mostly only done to get less noise.

 

[poohbear]

Originally posted by: Tullphan

If you're not going to do any serious overclocking, get the Xigmatech for 1/3 of the cost (when you figure in you'll need a fan for the TRUE).
Yeah, the TRUE is the best, but like DerwenArtos said, you gotta couple it w/the right fan, so there's probably another $10-15 (figuring in shipping?), the another $4-6 for wet/dry sandpaper & however much you thing an hour or two of your time's worth to lap that puppy!

lol so what do you mean by serious? most of us wanna push our cpu as far as it can go w/ reasonable voltages, but if the xigmatech cooler is only 1c hotter than the TRUE, how can that possibly effect the overclock?

 

[Quiksilver]

Originally posted by: grumpydaddy
??? Does changing the fan make a lot of difference???
if so... on the subject of biggest/baddest/best... have any of you guys used fans from Delta specifically:
GFB1212VHW
TFB1212GHE
both rated at around 220 cfm and LOUD

Changing the fans in some cases can indeed yield improvements but sometimes can hurt them as well.

Also at some point the only limitation would be how efficient the heatsink can dissipate heat so even if you were to get either one of those fans from delta the likelihood of either one of those fans performing any bit better if at all than say a 100 CFM fan will not be worth the amount of noise you would have to deal with.

If anything I would look at Scythe's Slipstream(25mm thick) or Ultra Kaze(38Mm thick) lines of fans.

Edit:
At 220CFM, I'd be guessing these fans are about what 60dB? I think you need a reality check, here's 3x 120 CFM fans:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X45UoDccO_4

Now imagine, 2 of those fans in 1 package... you basically have a room of annoying noise.

Edit 2:
What the hell? Are you even looking at the sizes of these fans?

This one is 76mm thick
GFB1212VHW

Which won't even work on a heatsink without custom brackets...

 

[RallyMaster]

Uh...just get a Scythe Ninja and run it passive dude.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: poohbear

Originally posted by: Tullphan

If you're not going to do any serious overclocking, get the Xigmatech for 1/3 of the cost (when you figure in you'll need a fan for the TRUE).
Yeah, the TRUE is the best, but like DerwenArtos said, you gotta couple it w/the right fan, so there's probably another $10-15 (figuring in shipping?), the another $4-6 for wet/dry sandpaper & however much you thing an hour or two of your time's worth to lap that puppy!

lol so what do you mean by serious? most of us wanna push our cpu as far as it can go w/ reasonable voltages, but if the xigmatech cooler is only 1c hotter than the TRUE, how can that possibly effect the overclock?

I guess I meant "serious" meaning greater than 50-60% overclock (if that chip would do that). I still think the TRUE w/the proper fan will spank anything short of H2O. But like I said earlier, if the OP is going to run it stock or slightly higher, he might as well save himself ~$40 or more.

Post #21, by poohball, tells about a free bolt-on kit from Xigmatech for those concerned w/the pushpins.

 

[Astrof]

Wow free bolt on kit too pretty neat. I'll probably get the xigmatech. Thank you everyone for your input!

 

[JEDIYoda]

Wow-- you all have got to be kidding me....roght???

Correect me if what I am going to say is wrong--please!

There is and never was a BEST heatsink!!

I realize that a certain heatsink in almost every test has been saids to be the BEST!

But that is really not true!

At best testing sites such as JonnyGURU.com....SPCR...Madshrimp...etc
What these sites offer is an invaluable reference point to make a decision on a heatsink.

To claim from one computer user to the next that there is 1 BEST heatsink is not accurate.

I rememeber when the Scythe Ninja heald that distinction among reputable testing sites.
I also rememebr the people who were moaning and groaning that the new temps with the Ninja were exactly the same as there old aftermarket heatsink.

Most teir 1 heatsinks are at best different from 1 to 5 degrees celcius.
The top teir 1 heatsink you wont see but maybe 1-3 degrees of difference!

Depending on other variables such as airflow.....fan used......CPU.....2 or 4 cores etc...you cana ctually have a teir 1 heatsink that yyou don`t like and feel is wasted money!

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Wow-- you all have got to be kidding me....roght???

Correect me if what I am going to say is wrong--please!

There is and never was a BEST heatsink!!

I realize that a certain heatsink in almost every test has been saids to be the BEST!

But that is really not true!

At best testing sites such as JonnyGURU.com....SPCR...Madshrimp...etc
What these sites offer is an invaluable reference point to make a decision on a heatsink.

To claim from one computer user to the next that there is 1 BEST heatsink is not accurate.

I rememeber when the Scythe Ninja heald that distinction among reputable testing sites.
I also rememebr the people who were moaning and groaning that the new temps with the Ninja were exactly the same as there old aftermarket heatsink.

Most teir 1 heatsinks are at best different from 1 to 5 degrees celcius.
The top teir 1 heatsink you wont see but maybe 1-3 degrees of difference!

Depending on other variables such as airflow.....fan used......CPU.....2 or 4 cores etc...you cana ctually have a teir 1 heatsink that yyou don`t like and feel is wasted money!

You bring this up everytime someone asks this question. There one heatsink that given the proper airflow cools better than all the rest. Given that the #1 job of a heatsink is to cool the processor down, that makes it the best because it does that one job the best. Sure if you want something silent there are better options but, he didn't ask what heatsink is the quetest, he asked what is best so we responded. Instead of mocking everyone who has posted in a thread like this before you, why don't you try and actually add to the thread by suggeting something?

 

[poohbear]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Wow-- you all have got to be kidding me....roght???

Correect me if what I am going to say is wrong--please!

There is and never was a BEST heatsink!!

I realize that a certain heatsink in almost every test has been saids to be the BEST!

But that is really not true!

At best testing sites such as JonnyGURU.com....SPCR...Madshrimp...etc
What these sites offer is an invaluable reference point to make a decision on a heatsink.

To claim from one computer user to the next that there is 1 BEST heatsink is not accurate.

I rememeber when the Scythe Ninja heald that distinction among reputable testing sites.
I also rememebr the people who were moaning and groaning that the new temps with the Ninja were exactly the same as there old aftermarket heatsink.

Most teir 1 heatsinks are at best different from 1 to 5 degrees celcius.
The top teir 1 heatsink you wont see but maybe 1-3 degrees of difference!

Depending on other variables such as airflow.....fan used......CPU.....2 or 4 cores etc...you cana ctually have a teir 1 heatsink that yyou don`t like and feel is wasted money!

Im not sure what u're getting at exactly. if all the variables are the same, meaning case, room temp, and testing methodology used, then you can definetly measure the best heatsink under those variables which would ultimately mean it's the best heatsink period. Sure we all have different variables with our own systems at home, but once determining the heatsink that performed the best in the test sites configuration, there's no reason it wouldnt perform the best in another person's configuration, regardless of the different variables. the heatsink would have "external validity" in science speak because it was tested as such.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: poohbear

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Wow-- you all have got to be kidding me....roght???

Correect me if what I am going to say is wrong--please!

There is and never was a BEST heatsink!!

I realize that a certain heatsink in almost every test has been saids to be the BEST!

But that is really not true!

At best testing sites such as JonnyGURU.com....SPCR...Madshrimp...etc
What these sites offer is an invaluable reference point to make a decision on a heatsink.

To claim from one computer user to the next that there is 1 BEST heatsink is not accurate.

I rememeber when the Scythe Ninja heald that distinction among reputable testing sites.
I also rememebr the people who were moaning and groaning that the new temps with the Ninja were exactly the same as there old aftermarket heatsink.

Most teir 1 heatsinks are at best different from 1 to 5 degrees celcius.
The top teir 1 heatsink you wont see but maybe 1-3 degrees of difference!

Depending on other variables such as airflow.....fan used......CPU.....2 or 4 cores etc...you cana ctually have a teir 1 heatsink that yyou don`t like and feel is wasted money!

Im not sure what u're getting at exactly. if all the variables are the same, meaning case, room temp, and testing methodology used, then you can definetly measure the best heatsink under those variables which would ultimately mean it's the best heatsink period. Sure we all have different variables with our own systems at home, but once determining the heatsink that performed the best in the test sites configuration, there's no reason it wouldnt perform the best in another person's configuration, regardless of the different variables. the heatsink would have "external validity" in science speak because it was tested as such.

I've had this discussion with him before and the variable he is refering to are people who want a silent heatsink instead of the one that cools the absolute best, as well as people in smaller cases who can't fit the heatsinks that perform the best. While he has a valid point, I think that it's completely useless in a thread like this where the question being asked is essentially "what heatsink has the greatest cooling capacity" versus the multitude of factors that are not even being discussed here for a lack of validity.

 

[zorrt]

I think the "Best" cooler is the ultima 90

Anyways, from what I gather the TR 120 is one of the highest performing heatsinks. I'd prefer that over the Xigmatech (even though I've never seen it before this thread) simply because of the mounting mechanism. I prefer the bolt down kit that comes with the TR. But the TR 120 performs best with high airflow so something like the nexus fans won't help it reach its potential. I would like to think the Yate Loon fans would though.

If you prefer low airflow, the Scythe ninja has been reviewed to perform better than the TR 120.

So really it depends on if you want noise or near silence. I'm using the Ultima 90 (performs almost the same as the TR 120) with a Yate loon medium speed spinning at just under 1000 rpm. Its relatively quiet and performs great. I went with the Ultima 90 because its lighter than the TR 120 and I don't think these Intel chips really need the extra performance of the TR 120 unless your overclock like mad.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: poohbear

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Wow-- you all have got to be kidding me....roght???

Correect me if what I am going to say is wrong--please!

There is and never was a BEST heatsink!!

I realize that a certain heatsink in almost every test has been saids to be the BEST!

But that is really not true!

At best testing sites such as JonnyGURU.com....SPCR...Madshrimp...etc
What these sites offer is an invaluable reference point to make a decision on a heatsink.

To claim from one computer user to the next that there is 1 BEST heatsink is not accurate.

I rememeber when the Scythe Ninja heald that distinction among reputable testing sites.
I also rememebr the people who were moaning and groaning that the new temps with the Ninja were exactly the same as there old aftermarket heatsink.

Most teir 1 heatsinks are at best different from 1 to 5 degrees celcius.
The top teir 1 heatsink you wont see but maybe 1-3 degrees of difference!

Depending on other variables such as airflow.....fan used......CPU.....2 or 4 cores etc...you cana ctually have a teir 1 heatsink that yyou don`t like and feel is wasted money!

Im not sure what u're getting at exactly. if all the variables are the same, meaning case, room temp, and testing methodology used, then you can definetly measure the best heatsink under those variables which would ultimately mean it's the best heatsink period. Sure we all have different variables with our own systems at home, but once determining the heatsink that performed the best in the test sites configuration, there's no reason it wouldnt perform the best in another person's configuration, regardless of the different variables. the heatsink would have "external validity" in science speak because it was tested as such.

I've had this discussion with him before and the variable he is refering to are people who want a silent heatsink instead of the one that cools the absolute best, as well as people in smaller cases who can't fit the heatsinks that perform the best. While he has a valid point, I think that it's completely useless in a thread like this where the question being asked is essentially "what heatsink has the greatest cooling capacity" versus the multitude of factors that are not even being discussed here for a lack of validity.

That`s a nice way to say that you have no clue........

Lack of validity means what exactly...

That you can for 100% sure say which is thew BEST heat sink....sorry...you can`t!!

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: zorrt
I think the "Best" cooler is the ultima 90

Anyways, from what I gather the TR 120 is one of the highest performing heatsinks. I'd prefer that over the Xigmatech (even though I've never seen it before this thread) simply because of the mounting mechanism. I prefer the bolt down kit that comes with the TR. But the TR 120 performs best with high airflow so something like the nexus fans won't help it reach its potential. I would like to think the Yate Loon fans would though.

If you prefer low airflow, the Scythe ninja has been reviewed to perform better than the TR 120.

So really it depends on if you want noise or near silence. I'm using the Ultima 90 (performs almost the same as the TR 120) with a Yate loon medium speed spinning at just under 1000 rpm. Its relatively quiet and performs great. I went with the Ultima 90 because its lighter than the TR 120 and I don't think these Intel chips really need the extra performance of the TR 120 unless your overclock like mad.

The ultima 90 is realisitaclly the best comprimising heatsink on the market. It's performance is top notch and it's pretty compact. The Xigmatek HDT-1283(either version) performs right on par if not a little better than the Ultima 90 from reviews so far but, it is notably taller. The mouting system is a kind of moot point because anything can be converted to bolt-though with a $6 kit from thermalright. Xigmatek also has some 92mm heatsinks that are on par, size wise with the Ultima 90, the newest of which has four exposed heatpipes and is called the HDT-9264, only problem I have with it is that it uses four 6mm heatpes whereas the HDT-9283 uses 3, 8mm heatpipes which, IMHO would be more thermally efficient and the 4 - 6mm heatpipes.

 

[zorrt]

Yea almost always the "Best" really depends on the individual circumstances such as budget, preference for weight + mounting etc. However I believe if a user comes asking for the "Best" in such a vague form, then it is right to assume that all they care about it one heatsink that has been compared with a number of others and bests them regardless of numbers, price, mounting, sound etc.

From what I've read most people complain bout the ninja and its performance to their old cooler which many have nailed down to the crap mounting kit. However once they installed the TR bolt on kit the temps dropped.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: poohbear

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Wow-- you all have got to be kidding me....roght???

Correect me if what I am going to say is wrong--please!

There is and never was a BEST heatsink!!

I realize that a certain heatsink in almost every test has been saids to be the BEST!

But that is really not true!

At best testing sites such as JonnyGURU.com....SPCR...Madshrimp...etc
What these sites offer is an invaluable reference point to make a decision on a heatsink.

To claim from one computer user to the next that there is 1 BEST heatsink is not accurate.

I rememeber when the Scythe Ninja heald that distinction among reputable testing sites.
I also rememebr the people who were moaning and groaning that the new temps with the Ninja were exactly the same as there old aftermarket heatsink.

Most teir 1 heatsinks are at best different from 1 to 5 degrees celcius.
The top teir 1 heatsink you wont see but maybe 1-3 degrees of difference!

Depending on other variables such as airflow.....fan used......CPU.....2 or 4 cores etc...you cana ctually have a teir 1 heatsink that yyou don`t like and feel is wasted money!

Im not sure what u're getting at exactly. if all the variables are the same, meaning case, room temp, and testing methodology used, then you can definetly measure the best heatsink under those variables which would ultimately mean it's the best heatsink period. Sure we all have different variables with our own systems at home, but once determining the heatsink that performed the best in the test sites configuration, there's no reason it wouldnt perform the best in another person's configuration, regardless of the different variables. the heatsink would have "external validity" in science speak because it was tested as such.

I've had this discussion with him before and the variable he is refering to are people who want a silent heatsink instead of the one that cools the absolute best, as well as people in smaller cases who can't fit the heatsinks that perform the best. While he has a valid point, I think that it's completely useless in a thread like this where the question being asked is essentially "what heatsink has the greatest cooling capacity" versus the multitude of factors that are not even being discussed here for a lack of validity.

That`s a nice way to say that you have no clue........

Lack of validity means what exactly...

That you can for 100% sure say which is thew BEST heat sink....sorry...you can`t!!

Actually we can, we just need to know the variables before making a claim

Its pretty simple, quit being counter productive just because whatever heatsink you have might not be the absolute best, that doesn't make you less of a person.

Besides, it isn't even like any of us are even trying to claim there is only one ultimate solution, there are many very good solutions and we're all pretty much saying they'll more than do the job. However if you can nail down some variables it does become a lot easier to pick out an ideal 'best' heatsink for that specific situation.

 

[twistedlogic]

Originally posted by: tuksonrider
Price/performance ratio, you can't beat the Xigmatek for $27.

I think newegg has been reading this forum, . I noticed this morning that the price has went up to $37. At first I thought I had read it wrong yesterday.