Cooler for E6600?

[Atty]

My mobo and proc died recently and are in the process of an RMA, ever since I purchased my system back in '06 I've been unhappy with my CNPS9500 cooling, and so now that I've got to remove everything and rebuilt I've decided to finally get a new CPU HSF. I just don't know whats good anymore....

I've got a Thermaltake Armor with the 25cm fan side panel, so I can't have anything huge, but I want something effective. Any suggestions?

 

[Tullphan]

Define "huge".
I'm pretty happy with my Xigmatech HDT-S1283.
It performs as good (if not better) than my Tuniq Tower. It fits fine in my P180B.
They (Xigmatech) make smaller HSF's, but not as effective as this one.

 

[Atty]

That might be just pushing it for installation with my side panel.

Also, looking for something with less comments saying, "nightmare to install." The CNPS was a bitch enough.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: iAtticus

I've got a Thermaltake Armor with the 25cm fan side panel, so I can't have anything huge, but I want something effective. Any suggestions?

uhhh... thats a big case with lots of clearance.

I dont see how any sink would possibly not fit on it. Id say go all out and bang up a TRUE and lap it. Or the Ximatec one is pretty cool from what im reading. Dont have one personally so i cant speak up for it. I have a TRUE tho.

TRUE = Thermalright Ultra120 Extreme.

It needs a good lap job tho. A forewarning.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: iAtticus

Also, looking for something with less comments saying, "nightmare to install." The CNPS was a bitch enough.

I read those comments as well. At first I was having a difficult time until I read those wonderful things called "directions". Once I figured out how it worked, installation couldn't have been easier.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

The xigmatek is really by far and away the best value on the market. And if you're not happy with the installation method you can always just pick up a thermalright 775 bolt thru kit for about $6 where ever you pick your xigmatek and it's still a great value.

 

[thegisguy]

From what I have read you can request a free bolt thru kit for the Ximatec from them. There is a thread on that someplace around here. I'll try to dig it up and link it.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: thegisguy
From what I have read you can request a free bolt thru kit for the Ximatec from them. There is a thread on that someplace around here. I'll try to dig it up and link it.

I do remember seeing it now that you mention it. If do get it could you take a picture of the contents of their kit for us?

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: thegisguy
From what I have read you can request a free bolt thru kit for the Ximatec from them. There is a thread on that someplace around here. I'll try to dig it up and link it.

Yeah...I made a post in this thread about it.
I was stating that I read here (post #21 by "poohball") where he contacted them & was told to send in his invoice & bar code off the package & they'd send him the bolt on kit when it arrives.

 

[Atty]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: iAtticus

I've got a Thermaltake Armor with the 25cm fan side panel, so I can't have anything huge, but I want something effective. Any suggestions?

uhhh... thats a big case with lots of clearance.

Yes, it is, but the side panel featuring a 25cm fan on it takes away from that clearance. When I first was shopping for a CPU Cooler and claimed I had this case, a lot of people told me that their TT Armor couldn't fit something as big as the TRUE, because the cooler interfered with the fan.

 

[DSF]

I've been quiet pleased with my BTF90, which is smaller than a lot of the other tower heatsinks. (Although it's not small.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835887002

Comes with a backplate and screws, no need to mess with the pushpins or order a separate kit.

 

[Atty]

Are the push pins really that bad on the xigmatek? I really hate back plates, hell, I really hate installing HSF's period, probably why I spent so long with the CNPS lol.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: iAtticus
Are the push pins really that bad on the xigmatek? I really hate back plates, hell, I really hate installing HSF's period, probably why I spent so long with the CNPS lol.

At first, I thought they were. Then I stepped back, took a breath, analyzed things & then installed it without a hitch. Extremely easy.

 

[Atty]

Also, what is a good thermal paste to use?

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: Tullphan

Originally posted by: iAtticus
Are the push pins really that bad on the xigmatek? I really hate back plates, hell, I really hate installing HSF's period, probably why I spent so long with the CNPS lol.

At first, I thought they were. Then I stepped back, took a breath, analyzed things & then installed it without a hitch. Extremely easy.

As tullphan said, for installation purposes no, they're not hard to install. In the long term though, I will not ever rely solely on some plastic pins to hold up many hundreds of grams in my computer. Also, even on the short term, if you're going to be moving your computer around a lot and/or going to lanparties with it then the stress on those pins is going to be amplified many times over. It's partially just a comfort and at free, it's cheap insurance.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: iAtticus
Also, what is a good thermal paste to use?

Get some TX-2, MX-2, or AS Ceramique...all easy to apply...all priced reasonably.

 

[Sutareteiru]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835154001


has served very well as a heatsink on my q6600 keeps it cool and quiet.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: Sutareteiru
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835154001


has served very well as a heatsink on my q6600 keeps it cool and quiet.

I had that cooler as well. Lapped it & got a little bit better fan. Temps were no better than the Xigmatek I currently am using.
I still say for the money the Xigmatek can't be beat. Add to the fact that Xigmatek customer service will send a free bolt-thru kit for those not comfortable w/the push pins is a bonus.

 

[Atty]

I think I am going to go with the XIGAMTEK. Although does anyone have any problem with it? Like the TRUE, does it need to be lapped or otherwise worked on for good results? Any information before ordering?

I'll be ordering it next week probably, after my RMA's go through.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Originally posted by: iAtticus
Are the push pins really that bad on the xigmatek? I really hate back plates, hell, I really hate installing HSF's period, probably why I spent so long with the CNPS lol.

The push pins aren't "bad" per say, but I can tell you that SilentPC review did a recent review of the new Scythe Anniversary Copper Ninja, and took a look at the Ninja Plus RevB and their original Ninja. The Original Ninja used a backplate/bolt thru system, the RevB uses the standard push pins, and the Copper uses a bolt-thru as well. In testing they had lots of strange issues with the RevB (very poor performance). And decided to try and use a Thermaltake both-thru kit on it instead of the push pins. It dropped the temps 10C!!!!

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: iAtticus
I think I am going to go with the XIGAMTEK. Although does anyone have any problem with it? Like the TRUE, does it need to be lapped or otherwise worked on for good results? Any information before ordering?

I'll be ordering it next week probably, after my RMA's go through.

I didn't lap mine...kinda paranoid to since i'm not 100% sure of the wall thickness of the heatpipes (which are directly against the cpu). The finish is above average, anyhow.
I just got done reassembling mine...changed the fan direction to blow out the rear instead of the top. There may be a -1c difference. I also used the last of my IC7. Personally, I think that stuff's overrated.

 

[Atty]

Can you dual mount fans? One intake on one side and one exhaust on the other? How many other ways can you place the fans on it?

Thanks for all your help guys!

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: iAtticus
Can you dual mount fans? One intake on one side and one exhaust on the other? How many other ways can you place the fans on it?

Thanks for all your help guys!

I don't hae one in my hands ATM but, if I recall the fan is only mountable on one side unless you want to use a custom retention method(read: zipties) for the secondary fan. The fan provided is actually pretty good and an upgrade isn't necessarily necessary. There is a thread over on xtremesystems.org in which a guy tested one with a pair of 120x38mm deltas and the advantage was about 4C over the stock fan on full with a dual core, would have been 5-6C on a quad but, given the sound level comparison it's not really worth it at all.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: iAtticus
Can you dual mount fans? One intake on one side and one exhaust on the other? How many other ways can you place the fans on it?

Thanks for all your help guys!

I don't hae one in my hands ATM but, if I recall the fan is only mountable on one side unless you want to use a custom retention method(read: zipties) for the secondary fan. The fan provided is actually pretty good and an upgrade isn't necessarily necessary. There is a thread over on xtremesystems.org in which a guy tested one with a pair of 120x38mm deltas and the advantage was about 4C over the stock fan on full with a dual core, would have been 5-6C on a quad but, given the sound level comparison it's not really worth it at all.

DerwenArtos12 is correct. The heatsink has like "grooves" for the rubber insulators to fit into on one side of the heatsink as seen here.
I guess if one wished to use the push/pull idea, one could run zip ties through the fins...I don't know.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: Tullphan

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: iAtticus
Can you dual mount fans? One intake on one side and one exhaust on the other? How many other ways can you place the fans on it?

Thanks for all your help guys!

I don't hae one in my hands ATM but, if I recall the fan is only mountable on one side unless you want to use a custom retention method(read: zipties) for the secondary fan. The fan provided is actually pretty good and an upgrade isn't necessarily necessary. There is a thread over on xtremesystems.org in which a guy tested one with a pair of 120x38mm deltas and the advantage was about 4C over the stock fan on full with a dual core, would have been 5-6C on a quad but, given the sound level comparison it's not really worth it at all.

DerwenArtos12 is correct. The heatsink has like "grooves" for the rubber insulators to fit into on one side of the heatsink as seen here.
I guess if one wished to use the push/pull idea, one could run zip ties through the fins...I don't know.

IMHO, again I don't have one on hand to try it with but, from what I can see it would be best to install the first fan then use zipties from the secondary fan over to the primary to hold it in place. That would require flipping the stock fan and aligning the heatsink to that the primary fan was towards your exhaust, the opposite of the standard alignment.