Best low-profile CPU cooler for overclocking

[Liberator21]

Yeah, I know this could have been in the Cases and Cooling Section, but it's also about overclocking CPU's!


These are the cases I've been looking at: Here and Here


I've always used the biggest, baddest coolers I could find. I really want one of these cases though, and have no idea on the types of coolers that could fit with that little clearance.

Thank

 

[myocardia]

The first link has a width of 8.25", so the biggest heatsink you'd want to put in it would probably be either a Tuniq Tower or a Scythe Ninja. The Thermalright Ultra 120 would probably fit, but it's 10mm higher, which is 4/10 of an inch, and although it doesn't sound like alot, whether it would fit or not all depends on how far that case's motherboard tray sticks out/how deep it is.

 

[DarkRogue]

There's always the Scythe Ninja Mini.. The regular Scythe Ninja is pretty beastly, it practically occupies the whole upper left corner of my P182.

 

[SOSTrooper]

I dont think the Scythe Mini Ninja will fit. It's 115mm in height, but the case is only 210mm in width; calculating in the motherboard + CPU and power supply, probably won't fit.

I have a ZALMAN CNPS8700 in my Silverstone SG03 mATX case. Since the Zalman fan is only 67mm tall, it fits perfectly in the Silverstone case which has a width of 200mm. So that'll give some nice headroom between the power supply in your LianLi cases. My stock E8400 idles at around 30C with the Zalman and full load at around 39C.

 

[imported_ST]

Look for these 2 classic hsf's: XP-120, SI-120...

 

[toadeater]

The depth of those cases is 490mm? So just look at the specs of the heatsink you're interested in. The Thermalright Ultra 120 is 590mm, it's not going to fit. The Tuniq and Ninja also won't fit. So you need either a 92mm cooler, or a top-down cooler that isn't too tall. Take a look at the Xigmatek SD964 if you want performance and the Scythe Andy Samurai Master if you want silence and fairly good performance.

 

[Sir Ali]

Zalman 9500?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: toadeater
The depth of those cases is 490mm? So just look at the specs of the heatsink you're interested in. The Thermalright Ultra 120 is 590mm, it's not going to fit. The Tuniq and Ninja also won't fit.

Were you drunk when you typed this? Which portion of a TR Ultra 120 is 23.25" long?

Originally posted by: SOSTrooper
I dont think the Scythe Mini Ninja will fit. It's 115mm in height, but the case is only 210mm in width; calculating in the motherboard + CPU and power supply, probably won't fit.

Since when did they start mounting power supplies beside the CPU socket? Mini Ninjas easily fit into desktop cases, like this one, and alot of people are using them in HTPC cases, which are ~2 inches shorter.



Liberator, a Scythe Ninja or a Tuniq Tower will fit easily in the case that's in your first link. My Antec case is only 1/8 of an inch wider, and I've got at least 1 inch of room between the top of my Scythe Ninja, and the side of my case.

 

[brencat]

What about the Thermalright Ultima-90? It's just a miniature version of the TR Ultra 120/E and performs very close to a Tuniq. Not the most cost efficient since you still need to buy a 92mm or 120mm fan but size wise and especially weight-wise (460g) I think it's worth considering:

TR Ultima 90

 

[ShockwaveVT]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: toadeater
The depth of those cases is 490mm? So just look at the specs of the heatsink you're interested in. The Thermalright Ultra 120 is 590mm, it's not going to fit. The Tuniq and Ninja also won't fit.

Were you drunk when you typed this? Which portion of a TR Ultra 120 is 23.25" long?

Originally posted by: SOSTrooper
I dont think the Scythe Mini Ninja will fit. It's 115mm in height, but the case is only 210mm in width; calculating in the motherboard + CPU and power supply, probably won't fit.

Since when did they start mounting power supplies beside the CPU socket? Mini Ninjas easily fit into desktop cases, like this one, and alot of people are using them in HTPC cases, which are ~2 inches shorter.

Liberator, a Scythe Ninja or a Tuniq Tower will fit easily in the case that's in your first link. My Antec case is only 1/8 of an inch wider, and I've got at least 1 inch of room between the top of my Scythe Ninja, and the side of my case.

Myocardia you should really examine the cases in question before posting. These cases are Mini Towers that mount the PSU beside the I/O plate, directly "beside" the CPU in order to reduce the overall height of the enclosure.

Perhaps these pictures of the PC-A59B can better illustrate the space restrictions that the OP is dealing with:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811112158
http://c1.neweggimages.com/New...mage/11-112-158-12.jpg
The other case mentioned by the OP, the PC-G50, has an identical arrangement for the PSU.

The PSU will take up about 3.5" of the cases's 8.2" width, leaving 4.7" for the side panels, motherboard tray & motherboard. So maybe 3-3.5 inches (76-89mm) of clearance for the HSF, depending on the width of those other parts... There is no way that a Tuniq Tower or Scythe Ninja will fit in either of the cases, (probably not even a Ninja Mini) hence the OP's inquiry regarding low profile HSFs.

 

[ShockwaveVT]

OP, in the future you should post in the correct forum, you'll get better answers.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: ShockwaveVT
The PSU will take up about 3.5" of the cases's 8.2" width, leaving 4.7" for the side panels, motherboard tray & motherboard. So maybe 3-3.5 inches (76-89mm) of clearance for the HSF, depending on the width of those other parts... There is no way that a Tuniq Tower or Scythe Ninja will fit in either of the cases, (probably not even a Ninja Mini) hence the OP's inquiry regarding low profile HSFs.

Ouch. In that case, he's going to have to use either the stock heatsink, or maybe one of those old Zalman "flower" HSF's that everyone was using back in the P4 Northwood days. Of course, he could do what I would do, if I were him, and buy an Antec Sonata III instead. It's only two inches taller, and it can fit any heatsink made, and even comes with a good power supply.

 

[Liberator21]

Thanks for all the replies, and yes next time I will ask this in the correct section (based on these answers LOL)

After further inspection, These Lian Li's are only 2 inches shorter than my still new-and-unused Antec NSK4480, So I'm going to stick with it.

The choices are just so limiting to save 2 inches.

Thanks!

 

[nyker96]

I'm pretty sure ACfreezer 7 pro will fit or Hyper TX 2. I have a small case used for server purpose. ACF 7 fits that one so I figure if the cases you want are somewhat small, they will go in no problem. Just don't get a Tuniq 120, I had to upgrade to a P182 to make it fit nicely. Some other large HSFs are even worse I heard. But ACF7 will probably do for ya or the copycat Hyper TX2.

P.S.: yes ACF7 do OC pretty okay, not as well as Tuniq but you are getting a ton for its tiny size, not to mention small weight. like 400g or under as I remember.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: nyker96
I'm pretty sure ACfreezer 7 pro will fit or Hyper TX 2.

Not a chance, man. The AC Freezer 7 is 126.5mm tall, which is 5". There's only ~4'' above the CPU, before you hit the PSU, which is directly over the CPU. (between the top of the CPU, and the side of the case). Those cases are obviously meant to be used with the stock heatsink.

 

[ShockwaveVT]

Originally posted by: Liberator21
Thanks for all the replies, and yes next time I will ask this in the correct section (based on these answers LOL)

After further inspection, These Lian Li's are only 2 inches shorter than my still new-and-unused Antec NSK4480, So I'm going to stick with it.

The choices are just so limiting to save 2 inches.

Thanks!

Thats cool man, the NSK4480 is a good case, no reason to let it go to waste

 

[ShockwaveVT]

Originally posted by: nyker96
I'm pretty sure ACfreezer 7 pro will fit or Hyper TX 2. I have a small case used for server purpose. ACF 7 fits that one so I figure if the cases you want are somewhat small, they will go in no problem. Just don't get a Tuniq 120, I had to upgrade to a P182 to make it fit nicely. Some other large HSFs are even worse I heard. But ACF7 will probably do for ya or the copycat Hyper TX2.

P.S.: yes ACF7 do OC pretty okay, not as well as Tuniq but you are getting a ton for its tiny size, not to mention small weight. like 400g or under as I remember.

Newegg lists the ACF7 as 520g (with fan I'd guess)