Best Cooling option for P4 2.4A Prescott CPU

[jbrock31]

Ive heard the prescotts run hot. Besides water cooling what is the maximum cooling option for this setup, hs/fan wise. Thanks for the input.:beer:

 

[SneakyStuff]

Those babys are supposed to be superb overclockers, here's a link to a really nice hsf combo, and it's quiet. Zalman

 

[Peter D]

The best air cooling you're going to get for a Prescott is probably an SP-94 with a 92mm Tornado fan

 

[RussianSensation]

Well in this Review the 2.4A was taken to almost 3.3ghz on a stock cooler so a Zalman would definately be enough. Of course if you want to take it as high as you can Thermalright SP-94 will offer better performance but at higher noise levels. You probably won't be able to reach past 3.6ghz without watercooling or other means though. Of course the A processor is missing Hyper-Threading and with a multiplier of 18, you'll only reach 800FSB of the normal C processor at 18x200 = 3600ghz which is tough on air cooling. So a 2.8C@3.5 will run at 250FSB or 1000FSB effective and have Hyper-threading so your CPu won't be as fast due to these factors as a similarly clocked Northwood core. But for the price, I really think it's a great deal.

If you didn't buy the processor though you should still consider a 2.8C at $164. It costs $34 more than a 2.4A Prescott, but then you could overclock it to 3.5ghz and Zalman cooler will suffice. They are both great so let us know how you do.

 

[bdunosk]

Prometia phase-change cooling?

You should let us know if you plan on overclocking... and realize that a lot is going to depend on how well-ventilated your case is. The best your CPU's HSF can hope for is the ambient temperature inside your case.

I was very happy with Zalman's CNPS7000A-AlCu (or something like that) with my overclocked 2.4C, it was quiet and maintained very respectable temperatures.