Best low profile cooler < $50

[tviceman]

I need opinions! I am building a gaming HTPC with the Silverstone Sugo sg05bb-450 case and I want to make sure it has both QUIET and adequate cooling. I have no prior experience with low profile coolers or HTPC setups, hence the reason I am asking for opinions.

I am currently looking at this one, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835185097 but again I really have no idea if this is the best thing I can get for around or under $50.

 

[Zap]

Scythe Shuriken, Big Shuriken and Kozuti.

What CPU? Overclocking? I have a Core i3 550 in an SG05 case using the stock Intel cooler and it works just fine.

 

[bart1975]

I managed to squeeze in a vortex plus in my SG05.

 

[996GT2]

Have you considered going with a Corsair H60? That will perform on the same level as a good tower-style heatsink and the actual waterblock part of it is very low-profile, so it will fit without any problems. The radiator just needs one 120mm fan hole to mount. It also won't mess with your power supply's airflow like a down-blowing heatsink would.

Here is a Corsair H70 mounted inside an SG05. The H60 has a lower profile waterblock and radiator, so it will save even more space and still perform close to the H70.

If you must use air cooling, the Thermalright AXP-140 is another good choice that will clear your case with a low profile fan.
http://www.thermalright.com/new_a_page/product_page/cpu/axp140/product_cpu_axp140.html

 

[fuzzymath10]

I use a shuriken on a Q8200 and a big shuriken on an i5 2400. Both do a very good job especially undervolted (I top out at stock clocks at low 50s in core temp with slow fan speeds). If you're overclocking I have some doubts unless you're ok with the quiet slipstream fans speeding up a bit. BTW these fans are sleeve bearing so you won't want to run them flat.

 

[tviceman]

Scythe Shuriken, Big Shuriken and Kozuti.

What CPU? Overclocking? I have a Core i3 550 in an SG05 case using the stock Intel cooler and it works just fine.

I have a core i5 2500 and will also have a galaxy gtx560ti (not an external exhaust GPU). When you say works just fine, can you comment on noise levels? I'm not overclocking; I just want the build to be as quiet as possible given the hardware I am using.

 

[Zap]

When you say works just fine, can you comment on noise levels?

I have a fan profile (Smart Fan/Q-Fan/whatever) enabled in BIOS. The stock SG05 120mm intake fan is running at full speed (guessing 1200RPM?). Graphics card in it is a GTS 250 with blower. System has a 3.5" 7200RPM HDD and 2.5" 5400RPM HDD, plus of course the PSU fan. The stock CPU fan with the fan profile enabled is completely inaudible over the rest of the system.

 

[tviceman]

I have a fan profile (Smart Fan/Q-Fan/whatever) enabled in BIOS. The stock SG05 120mm intake fan is running at full speed (guessing 1200RPM?). Graphics card in it is a GTS 250 with blower. System has a 3.5" 7200RPM HDD and 2.5" 5400RPM HDD, plus of course the PSU fan. The stock CPU fan with the fan profile enabled is completely inaudible over the rest of the system.

Thanks for the info! Hmmm.... I wonder if not having a blower type fan/shroud on my GPU will make much of a difference with the cpu heat.