Best Northbridge Cooler

[JBS]

I am trying to decide on a northbridge cooler (air cooling), but I am not sure which one to get. After reading reviews, I think I have narrowed it down to the Thermaltake Extreme Spirit II, or the Thermalright HR-05 SLI/IFX.

Which would be the better choice between these two, or is there something else better?

Also, would there be any installation/compatibility problems these coolers? I will be using a Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H motherboard, and most likely only using the integrated graphics (without using a dedicated video card). However, if I do use a video card, would there a problem using either of these coolers.

Thermaltake Extreme Spirit II: http://thermaltakeusa.com/prod.../cl-c0034/cl-c0034.asp

Thermalright HR-05 SLI/IFX: http://www.thermalright.com/ne...wxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H motherboard: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Pro...ductName=GA-MA78GM-S2H

 

[manimal]

I have an HR05SLIIFX on 2 boards. evga 680i and a IP35E. The 680i has a fan on because those things run hotter than Giselle at a lingerie show. The IP35E runs really cool-other than the pwms-and runs very well passively. If you have good airflow in your case you should be golden with that thing. I also have a ES2 sitting in abox waiting for a new build. Its known to be a bit loud if you have to have extreme silence.

 

[Tim]

My vote is for the hr-05lsi/ifx. I have one on my southbridge (680i MCP) and even without the fan it's keeping that hot beast at bay.

 

[DaQuteness]

HR-05 SLI/IFX also... I don't own one but a colleague has one on an eVga 780i and it actually loweres the case temp by ~2C when it has the cooler attached.

 

[superstition]

One option that may work is what I did. Since my Tuniq doesn't cool the chipset I rigged a 140mm Aerocool fan to blow onto the northbridge and under the Tuniq. A good passive sink on the northbridge coupled with a big quiet fan with airflow directed out the back seems more efficient to me.

 

[Zardnok]

I have used both the TR HR-05 and the HR-05sli in conjunction with a Panaflo 80mm L1 fan and both worked well. No clue on the TT piece, but that 40mm fan looks loud to me.

 

[Jakeisbest]

The 40mm fan which blows on to my northbridge recently went down. I have been looking to purchase a replacement for a while but I can't make up my mind.

Will just a heat sink with no fan work to cool the chip as effectively?

It would be positioned such that the air flow from my front 120mm fan should hit it.

 

[Rubycon]

Microcool Northpole Whisper

 

[Zap]

For the "best" I'd go with the Thermalright. I have the non-IFX version (70mm instead of 80mm) and I'm overclocking while still using it passively. Picture of one of them. AFAIK these units (especially the IFX) has the most fin surface area of any chipset cooler. Only way to get any better would be to mod a CPU heatsink like the Arctic Cooling Freezer onto the chipset.

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Microcool Northpole Whisper

40mm fan :thumbsdown: Sorry.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

I have the IFX version of the Thermalright with an 80mm Yate Loon low speed. Let me put over 380 on the HTT and 550Mhz on the integrated graphics core (from 280HTT and 450Mhz on the graphics core with the stock little dinky Biostart heatsink.)

I'll try to put up some pics this evening. It's an m-ATX board so fitting everything was a little "meh" but its all together and has been running 24/7 for nearly a year.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: JBS
...is there something else better?[/L]

If you got room for it, you might wanna check out...

The Swiftech MCX159-CU (OEM site)

Kinda kludgy looking, but it's a proven performer, e.g. ain't purdy, but it works!

The Real Thing - 5,200 rpm, 6.3 cfm, 18dBA (virtually noiseless - 2 wires, no rpm sensing)

If you want the ultimate...

Sunon KDE1204PKV1 MagLev/Vapo fan - 7,200 rpm, 8.9 cfm, 25.5dBA (noticeably noisier - 3 wires, rpm sensing)

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Jakeisbest
The 40mm fan which blows on to my northbridge recently went down. I have been looking to purchase a replacement for a while but I can't make up my mind.

Heh!

For performance: See the link(s) in the post above.

If you just want a stock replacement, it's hard to beat the Evercool VC-RE Twinkling VGA Cooler

Don't worry - it doesn't 'twinkle'...

 

[Jakeisbest]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Jakeisbest
The 40mm fan which blows on to my northbridge recently went down. I have been looking to purchase a replacement for a while but I can't make up my mind.

Heh!

For performance: See the link(s) in the post above.

If you just want a stock replacement, it's hard to beat the Evercool VC-RE Twinkling VGA Cooler

Don't worry - it doesn't 'twinkle'...

I am really not concerned with performance I am running an AMD X2 3800 and I have no intention of overclocking it. I am just sick of the noise from the fan. It was loud in the first place but now that one of the bearings is broken its terrible!

I am thinking of trying the Microcool Northpole Whisper that Ruby suggested. Unless some one can tell me that a passive cooling solution would work fine.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Jakeisbest
I am really not concerned with performance I am running an AMD X2 3800 and I have no intention of overclocking it. I am just sick of the noise from the fan. It was loud in the first place but now that one of the bearings is broken its terrible!

If the motherboard won't be overclocked and the case has reasonable ventilation, you should be able to use various passive chipset coolers such as the Zalman NB47J.

VinDSL, dunno about that... I have a hard time believing that a 5200RPM fan is noiseless. Even if it is quiet, if the pitch of the noise is high then it is more noticeable than a similar noise level larger fan with a lower RPM.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Zap

40mm fan :thumbsdown: Sorry.

Perhaps but the OP wanted to know the best and that's supposedly top dog. Heck it would make a great CPU cooler for lower power processors.

I'd much rather have that then the POS thermalright cooler DFI supplied for mine. A quick mod here and there allows it to work nicely with the TRUE but I'd still rather have the TRUE blowing front to back instead of bottom to top.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
I'd much rather have that then the POS thermalright cooler DFI supplied for mine.

Are you talking about this heatsink? AFAIK that's not made by Thermalright, but I could be wrong. If it is conflicting with the CPU heatsink, Thermalright makes the "SLI" version which offsets the heatsink from the base.

With my slightly smaller Scythe Ninja I was able to use the normal HR-05 just fine.

 

[Rubycon]

Yes that is the one and I'm told it's designed by TR. I'm not crazy about tall NB coolers that tend to get in the way of cpu coolers. It will be a moot point in the future anyhow...

 

[aigomorla]

LOL the best northbridge cooler,

DangerDen MPC Universal, or XSPC Chipset block.

LOL but these are water products. *running out the door really fast b4 zap chases me out with a his pocket cal.. err i mean lan rig.*

ROFL...


on a serious note, my vote goes with the Thermalright HR-05.

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: Rubycon
I'd much rather have that then the POS thermalright cooler DFI supplied for mine.

Are you talking about this heatsink? AFAIK that's not made by Thermalright, but I could be wrong. If it is conflicting with the CPU heatsink, Thermalright makes the "SLI" version which offsets the heatsink from the base.

With my slightly smaller Scythe Ninja I was able to use the normal HR-05 just fine.

EDIT: AHHH OMGWTFBBQ its sold for 49.99??? WTF are you guys thinkn newegg!?!?!?! [just a note, my MPC Universal didnt cost that much.]

Heres more pictures on that sink, it came stock with the DFI, however i use a DD MPC Universal. RAWR:
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0888.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0890.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0891.jpg

Thats the stock northbridge cooling on the DFI LT series. :X


DD MPC universal:
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0902.jpg


Anyhow:
http://www.jab-tech.com/Therma...HR-05-IFX-pr-3875.html

FTW! seriously, it doesnt get much better then that unless you jump to water.

Heres Vin's recomendation, and its a very good one also:
http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcchhefnot.html

And also under someone's recomendation i actually tried this guy. And its pretty darn good.
http://www.performance-pcs.com..._197&products_id=21137

Also those three stores are on my A+ list.

oh on another note, ruby actually said this one was "cute". ROFL.
http://www.jab-tech.com/Nexus-...-NHP-2200-pr-3779.html

So it could mean it has some potential. :T

 

[Rubycon]

You have to admit this one is cute!

http://www.jab-tech.com/Nexus-...-NHP-2200-pr-3779.html

 

[NicColt]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: Rubycon
I'd much rather have that then the POS thermalright cooler DFI supplied for mine.

Are you talking about this heatsink? AFAIK that's not made by Thermalright, but I could be wrong. If it is conflicting with the CPU heatsink, Thermalright makes the "SLI" version which offsets the heatsink from the base.

With my slightly smaller Scythe Ninja I was able to use the normal HR-05 just fine.

The DFI cooler is fine, I'm upto page 50 on the xtreme systems official thread about the X38 DFI board and the HR-05 and the DFI cooler are very similar.

I had to modify mine to fit with the Tuniq Tower but I'm getting very good temps under load with the NB at 1.3v. Better than that you have togo water.

 

[Rubycon]

The cooling performance is not the issue as much as its interference factor with larger coolers.

 

[NicColt]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
The cooling performance is not the issue as much as its interference factor with larger coolers.

Well you do have a point there, when re-putting my system together "yesterday" I had to saw off part of the cooler's T to make it fit with my Tuniq. Definitely a tight fit, but it did fit ok and the results on air are quite impressive if I may say so.

I even strung together a 90mm fan with zipties that blows directly on the that sink and the memory. Add all the other fans of the 900 and you have some serious air flow.

When the NB at 1.3v under load is cooler than the PWM area on air, it's most acceptable.

Also just to let you know that I did have the Enzotech SF-1 on my NB - Big Mistake. It's most suited for the SB where it sits now.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: NicColt

Originally posted by: Rubycon
The cooling performance is not the issue as much as its interference factor with larger coolers.

Well you do have a point there, when re-putting my system together "yesterday" I had to saw off part of the cooler's T to make it fit with my Tuniq. Definitely a tight fit, but it did fit ok and the results on air are quite impressive if I may say so.

I even strung together a 90mm fan with zipties that blows directly on the that sink and the memory. Add all the other fans of the 900 and you have some serious air flow.

When the NB at 1.3v under load is cooler than the PWM area on air, it's most acceptable.

Also just to let you know that I did have the Enzotech SF-1 on my NB - Big Mistake. It's most suited for the SB where it sits now.

LOL however Ruby, you, and i got ours for free with our board.

Would you pay 50 dollars for one over a HR-05ifx @ half the price?

 

[Rubycon]

Yes other DFI boards use the same cooler minus the heat pipe. So those would need to be modified. The T piece is intrusive. A properly designed heatpipe cooler should have minimal mass/fins in the base anyhow.

I'm not particularly concerned with cost IF functionality is firm. Paying dearly for something that has to be "hacked up" does not abide well for me or the owners and frankly makes me look like a buffoon.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Yes other DFI boards use the same cooler minus the heat pipe. So those would need to be modified. The T piece is intrusive. A properly designed heatpipe cooler should have minimal mass/fins in the base anyhow.

I'm not particularly concerned with cost IF functionality is firm. Paying dearly for something that has to be "hacked up" does not abide well for me or the owners and frankly makes me look like a buffoon.

ahahahahahahhaa...

i take that back.

Are you saying im a bafoon also for buying S604 sinks and having to chop them up to fit my sossoman setup?