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cheapest cooler for i5 3570k @ 4.5?

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Draktazze

Junior Member
Hi guys,

I've an Antec 900 case, which is easily the best ventilated case I've ever had.

I'm buying a new i5 3570k which I'd like to have stable at 4.5. The Noctua NH-D14 would be my default choice, but I've heard it won't fit in the 900. I really don't have the money to get a new processor, aftermarket cooler and case.

If someone could make one or two suggestions, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!
 
How big is the 900, mine fits fine in a Fractal case about the size of the Antec 300. There isn't a ton of clearance but who cares. I thought the 900 is even bigger than the 300.
 
Example one two three.

Anything equal to, or better than the Zalman CNPS9900Max, $40 to $60... 4.5GHz, 1.270v, 22C ambient:

LinX: 103 C
P95 Sm FFT: 90C
P95 Lg FFT: 82C

3D Rendering using all 4 cores: about 75C
Gaming: about 65C.

Idle, about 30C (at fixed voltage, about 26C with offset)

That's about all I can directly recommend.
 
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Depends on the chip as well. Some chips need higher voltage than others to reach 4.5, these of course will get hotter.
 
Another vote for the Hyper 212 EVO. I'm running my 3570k at 4.5Ghz. My Prime95 temps after 4 hours hit max of 73C with a 24C case ambient.
 
zalman 9900 max, 3570k @4.6 ghz prime95 load is 66C, idle 20-25C, gaming max around 58C

awesome cooler, and you can usually find them on sale at ncix
 
dqniel said:
What voltage does it run at under load?
Click to expand...

Currently running my 3570k at 4.43GHz. spent 2 hours lapping, and prep on a
Hyper212 plus, push/pull, using Arctic Silver 5. Case is a HAF, with 7 fans. Highest core temp was 68c after Linpack benching. voltage was 1.232
 
Vectronic said:
I think we're alone in our appreciation of the 9900, but keep fightin the good fight. lol
Click to expand...

dragantoe said:
LOL it seems like no one knows what it is
Click to expand...

I with you guys on the 9900!

It is by far the best air cooler on the market. I had my i5-3570k at 4.6GHz and it kept it solid at 71C running Prime95. When playing BF3 for an hour it doesn't break 60C. I'm back at stock clock speeds now, mainly because I don't need to extra boost and to gain a little more shelf life out of my CPU. After a few years I will overclock it again and maybe even push it higher to 4.8GHz.
 
coffeejunkee said:
To each his own, but it seems to me like a noisy one, and not very cheap either. And what to do when the fan starts failing?

I'm a big fan of the Thermalright Macho myself: http://www.amazon.com/Macho-BW-Suppo...keywords=macho. I don't think any cooler can beat this on price/perf/noise.
Click to expand...

The 9900 can be had for $40-$50 if you search around. The retail is $80 but I've seen many place sell them for half. There isn't a need to worry its fan going out any more than the fan on your graphics card, it's pointless as long as you keep your computer clean (especially if you get it for $50 or less). As for noise the CNPS9900 is a very quite cooler and can be dumbed down even more with the PWM control that is provided and still provide excellent cooling.

I have a CNPS9900MAX-B still working right now on an AM3 and it's been running for 4+ years. I just installed a CNPS9900MAX-R on my 1155 Ivy Bridge computer.
 
Sure, you can easily dismiss a fan breaking down, but fact is it can and does happen. And if it does it's just much more convenient if you can replace it yourself easily. Or maybe you want to switch to a higher rpm fan for more cooling, or a lower rpm fan for less noise. Or add another for push/pull. All things you can't do with the Zalman. And no, a 1700rpm fan is not very quiet.

But let me take on these Noctua guys instead. Probly going to hurt some toes but whatever. Despite all their Austrian scientists I haven't actually seen them come up with much original stuff. NH-U12: TRUE clone. NH-D14: IFX clone. NH-C14: AXP-140 clone. And sure, you can slap a bunch of fancy looking diagrams and graphs on your fans, but it doesn't make them any better. Not saying they're bad but for the money they're asking I expect them to dominate every test. And I just don't see that happen, there is usually something better for low noise like Noiseblocker and there's usually something better for high airflow like Corsair SP-120. Not to mention we are now in the year 2013 but most of their coolers still come with 3-pin fans. If your motherboard can only control pwm fans you'll have to add another 1-2 fans to their already pretty high price.
 
If you have a leftover TRUE from an older socket 775 build, you can just buy a $12 or less adapter for socket 1155/1156.

Or you can just get the cheaper Hyper 212+ and zip tue a second 120mm fan for a push/pull configuration if you have a spare one lying around.
 
runzwithsizorz said:
Currently running my 3570k at 4.43GHz. spent 2 hours lapping, and prep on a
Hyper212 plus, push/pull, using Arctic Silver 5. Case is a HAF, with 7 fans. Highest core temp was 68c after Linpack benching. voltage was 1.232
Click to expand...

Thank you for your info. I run that exact same voltage (after minor droop) on my 3570k when benching at 4.5Ghz.
 
dqniel said:
What voltage does it run at under load?
Click to expand...

CPU-Z showed it hovering around 1.212 sometime jumping a little higher. I don't remember how much though as my final screenshot at the end of the stress test showed 1.212V before stopping the workers.
 
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