Best CPU Cooler for 1155 (i5-2500k)

[Necrosaro420]

Plan on doing some overclocking but not much. Whats the best CPU cooler to buy for the i5-2500k? A heatsink or one of the self contained liquid cpu coolers? Any models/brands?

 

[ensign_lee]

Best Cost / Performance ratio has to be the 212. Just make sure that will actually FIT inside your case. I missed by 5 mm... :'(

I like the H50 for good, cheap, effective watercooling as well.

 

[Diogenes2]

212 here..COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus

( Wrong forum .. )

 

[deimos3428]

Can't go wrong with a 212+. (If for some reason it's not your cup of tea, you're out the least amount of $.)

 

[Farmer]

This is sufficient for 5GHz? 2 fans? Why do people even buy the $80+ Noctua, etc?

 

[Diogenes2]

Not that many people hitting 5g without 1.5 + volts..
Air probably not the best option at that point..

The 212 keeps me below 80c running 4.9g @ 1.44 v ..

Why do people even buy the $80+ Noctua, etc?

I have no idea.. Seems like a waste to me..

 

[Necrosaro420]

Ill go up to $75 or so on a cooler thats not a problem. Would any of the liquid cooling do well on these? The ones that are self contained or whatever without the entire liquid cooling setup? Something similiar to this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835227006

 

[DrBoss]

if you can fit it (height) the thermalright archon is solid, albeit a bit expensive.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2010/12/08/thermalright_archon_cpu_air_cooler_review/

 

[ElFenix]

the mugen 2 is a better heatsink with a much better fan (quieter) for only a few dollars more. on sale at directron for $34 right now.

 

[Farmer]

If you can get up to 4.9 on a $30 cooler and essentially be voltage limited, why would you spend more? You can't get a higher overclock, you're voltage limited not heat limited. You would need a better motherboard before you need a beefier cooler?

Tell me I'm interpreting this wrong. I'm thinking of moving to SB/2500K and am surveying the OC cooler/mobo cost/benefit.

 

[deimos3428]

Ill go up to $75 or so on a cooler thats not a problem. Would any of the liquid cooling do well on these? The ones that are self contained or whatever without the entire liquid cooling setup? Something similiar to this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835227006

Nothing wrong with those, and the cooling is comparable. Personally, I switched from a Corsair H50 to the Hyper 212+ due to the pump being noisy on my H50*, but I'd buy a similar system in the future because of the small motherboard footprint. (Anything much larger than the 212+ would be an annoyance to work around.)

*Others have claimed the H50 pump is silent, so either mine is defective or I have a vastly different definition of silent. I couldn't be arsed to do an RMA for an otherwise operational unit when there was a cheap replacement option available.

 

[RussianSensation]

The best Air Cooler is the Thermalright Archon. It will even outperform the Corsair H70.

But to air cool a 2500k, all you need is a $27 CM Hyper 212+.

 

[Necrosaro420]

How is the noise level on the CM Hyper 212?

 

[ensign_lee]

How is the noise level on the CM Hyper 212?

Almost non-existent. Almost certainly less than your case fans. I leave my comp on 24/6 (1 day of rest usually) for folding, seti@home, etc. in my room and I can sleep in the same room with it.

 

[deimos3428]

How is the noise level on the CM Hyper 212?

The included fan is "ok" on full, and "good" if you drop the RPMs. (I had better fans on hand already, so I'm not using it.)

 

[gevorg]

Best price/performance if silence is important:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835185142

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

What happened to the Noctua NH-D14 and stuff? That works for LGA 1155 too.... and was the top cooler for a long time along with Megahalems

 

[mnewsham]

What happened to the Noctua NH-D14 and stuff? That works for LGA 1155 too.... and was the top cooler for a long time along with Megahalems

It's a hell of a cooler but way over kill for the i5-2500k

 

[BlackBabyJesus]

Is the 212+ really so much better than Intel's stock cooler?

 

[toyota]

Is the 212+ really so much better than Intel's stock cooler?

its not even close

 

[Subwayeatbig]

is the hyper 212+ alot better than a coolermaster n520?

 

[Diogenes2]

I don't think it's a lot better, if any.. I just picked up one of those on sale - going to try it when I change out motherboard with fixed chip-set ..
Should know in a day or two.

I really like the low profile.. Not as tall as the 212 ..

 

[Svartalfar]

Hey, New to this site, and also just bought a new computer, i5 2500k, corsair 600T graphite case, with the Corsair a50 for cooling, using the asus maximus gene-z motherboard....i notice that the a50 is already blocking a ram slot, and i plan to have a 590GTX in there (no video card atm, using onboard) but the a50 seems to be crowding the slot, was wondering if anyone knows if this is a good enough cooler to overclock to 4.7 or so, my metal plate on the actual mobo with the asus and republic of gamers logo seems to get very hot...aside from that everything seems fine, is this normal?? anyone know if my gtx 590 will actually fit into the closest slot next to the heatsink? any reccomendations that are possibly smaller in size but equal in power? much appreciated.

 

[pantsaregood]

My 212+ has me running at 60C full load at 4.5 GHz/1.35v. My 2500K may be capable of 5.0 GHz or so, but I've opted not to push it because there's no general consensus on a "safe" voltage for Sandy Bridge as of now.

 

[MadScientist]

I had been using a 212+ for 2 builds until RS pointed me to the Corsair A70, another HDT cooler. It's not the best 1155 cooler, but may be the best bang for your buck.

It comes with 2 fans and can be had for $27.01 AR shipped. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181011&Tpk=corsair%20a70

Unlike the 212+ it has a sturdy mounting system, a flatter base, and 8mm heat pipes.

My temps were ~3-4C cooler than with the 212+.

On the down side, it is wide and may not work with high profile ram heat spreaders.