CPU Cooler for 1156?

[BoomerD]

I'm in the final planning stages for a new build and expect I'll need something better than stock for the CPU cooler.

CM HAF 932 case
ASUS p7p55D-E Pro board
Intel I5-760 processor

Either EVGA 460 Super clocked or XFX 5850...still not sure

I've never been comfortable hanging 8 pounds of copper and aluminum off the motherboard, and it seems like coolers just keep getting bigger and heavier, instead of getting more efficient.
Like most of us, I'd prefer a QUIET option...but I'll settle for one that's just not loud.

So far, I like:
(prices are from Amazon...Prime eligible)

Noctua NH-U12P SE2 ($75)
Corsair H50 ($75.50) and H70* (* at $100, this is over my budget)
CoolerMaster 212 Hyper Plus (26.77 + $11.00 for second fan = $38.76) It has decent (but not great) reviews...and it's also big, heavy, and may have fitment issues with memory and such.

I also like the looks and reviews of the Thermalright Silver Arrow, ($84) but I suspect I'll have issues with it actually fitting the board right, and it's also way spendy.

Are there any CPU coolers that aren't over $50, that actually work well, and aren't so big and heavy?
(I don't want to get into water cooling...too many headaches)

The Corsair H-50 (and 70) seem to be the ones with the fewest fitment issues, but still only get mediocre-to-decent reviews.

 

[futuristicmonkey]

Good call on replacing that stock cooler. I've got the same processor. Even while gaming, temps got up to about 50*C. Sure that's not _that_ hot but spending a few dollars on a cooler will probably extend the life of that awesome processor.

I've now got a Cooler Master V6 on my I5 760 at 4.0GHz. It gets to about 65*C under linpack stress testing. It costs around what that Noctua cooler will run for. At stock speeds I think it got up to about 46*C under linpack testing.

 

[Rifter]

You are going to need one of those coolers that are big heavy and may have fitment issues if you want to play with the big boys of air cooling(True, NH-D14, Silver arrow, Megahalem)

Its the price you have to pay. That said if you are not going for record overclocks and don't want to push the bleeding edge of performance the CM 212+ will work fine. H50 is another good choice and ive seen it on sale for $40, i got my H70 for my HTPC on sale for $65.

 

[BoomerD]

Unfortunately, I'm stuck with Amazon for my purchases. I have boucoup gift cards to use...and they're the only thing that's allowing me to do this build...
I LIKE what I'm reading about the Noctua NH-U12P SE2. I also like the NH-D14, but OMFG! 1240 grams? That's over 2.75 pounds hanging there!! (the NH-U12P SE2 is still over 2 pounds)

I'm still not totally sold on the Corsair hydro set-ups...Some reviews say they're very good, while others say just the opposite, and the Corsair forums are full of people having problems with them.

 

[Rifter]

Unfortunately, I'm stuck with Amazon for my purchases. I have boucoup gift cards to use...and they're the only thing that's allowing me to do this build...
I LIKE what I'm reading about the Noctua NH-U12P SE2. I also like the NH-D14, but OMFG! 1240 grams? That's over 2.75 pounds hanging there!! (the NH-U12P SE2 is still over 2 pounds)

I'm still not totally sold on the Corsair hydro set-ups...Some reviews say they're very good, while others say just the opposite, and the Corsair forums are full of people having problems with them.

Well for what its worth my NH-D14 has served me very well and its got one of the best/most solid backplates i have ever seen in my life. no board bend at all so dont worry about it bending the mobo as long as you dont have ram with tall heatsink you will be fine.

The corsair units are good for what they are, a cheap sealed water cooling solution. They dont beat the top tier air coolers but arnt any more expensive either. Im running a H70 on my HTPC with only one fan on the rad and its exhausting air against corsairs recommendation of setting it to intake. Its also the only fan in my HTPC other than the PSU and it keeps the CPU below 55c(Athlon II @ 4Ghz) so i would say the H50 and H70 get the job done.

 

[Childs]

I have the NH-U12P SE2 and it works pretty well. i7 950 @ 4Ghz 1.25v. Idle 35c, Load 55c. Fairly quiet, and I got it for $62 at svc.com. I was looking at others, but as strange as this sounds, the fact that it comes with 2 120mm fans and I didn't have to buy anything extra sold me.

 

[BoomerD]

Thanks guys. I went ahead and ordered the NH-U12P-SE2.

I'll be using Corsair's XMS RAm with standard heatsinks, so I SHOULD be OK for clearance. We'll see.

 

[Rifter]

Thanks guys. I went ahead and ordered the NH-U12P-SE2.

I'll be using Corsair's XMS RAm with standard heatsinks, so I SHOULD be OK for clearance. We'll see.

It will be fine, my NH-D14 clears my XMS ram so im sure the U12 will too.

 

[nyker96]

Apack Zerotherm ZT-10D is pretty up there, check it out.

 

[IGemini]

PCB is more sturdy than you think. I had a similar concern using my Infinity the first time (which weighs about as much as that Noctua with both fans). The weight isn't bad, though I have to worry about cutting myself on the fins when (un)installing it , I doubt you'll have a similar problem. Same with the RAM, my cooler is wider and even with the fan it's still accessible. Towers are the way to go with air cooling.

 

[IGemini]

PCB is more sturdy than you think. I had a similar concern using my Infinity the first time (which weighs about as much as that Noctua with both fans). The weight isn't bad, though I have to worry about cutting myself on the fins when (un)installing it , I doubt you'll have a similar problem. Same with the RAM, my cooler is wider and even with the fan it's still accessible. Towers are the way to go with air cooling, the surface area really helps.