CPU Cooler/Heatsink?

[Revolution09]

Hey,
I hardly know anything about CPU coolers/heatsinks, but I'd like to learn! I was looking through the reviews sticky, but it doesn't help me much because there's so many, and I don't know which ones would work with my computer. I have an AMD Dual Core 4200+ and and Asus A8N-VM CSM mobo (I don't know if the mobo has anything to do with it...)
What heatsinks would you reccomend that would work with my computer? And also I was wondering, exactly how much tempurature difference would I have (from using an after market heatsink, versus the stock heatsink I have now)

Thanks for any help you can give 🙂

 

[RallyMaster]

Not very much difference in temps considering that your stock cooler is the 4 heat-pipe one. It is a great performer that ties the Thermalright XP-90. I would not change that unless you want to mount a 120mm fan on it with a fan adapter.

 

[krotchy]

My recomendations based on suggestions I see consistently:

Zalman CNPS9500 (I currently use, expensive but excellent cooling and style)
Scythe Mine/Ninja (Both are large, Mine is great with a fan, Ninja can be passive with good airflow in a case)
Artic Cooling Freezer Pro (Cheapest of the bunch, but still very good)
Thermalright XP/SI-120 (Great all around)

Again I have only used the Zalman, but the rest I hear suggested fairly often. All depends on what you are looking for. I suggest skimming reviews of this bunch in the heatsink thread to narrow it down to what fits you best. As far as temperature improvements go, you never can predict for sure. The amd 4 heatpipe cooler is very good, but any of the above coolers can give you performance increases. Anyone one cooler might lower temps only 2C or as much as 8-10C, its kind of a crapshoot. Just make sure you follow installation instructions and dont use too much thermal paste. The thinner the better.

 

[Revolution09]

Thanks for the replies 🙂 I'll look up some reviews on the ones you suggested, krotchy.
And rallymaster- if you don't think adding a heatsink will actually make my computer cooler, is there something else I could possibly add? The tempuratures I'm getting right now are fairly decent for the parts I have, but I'd like my rig to put out hardly any heat, if that's possible... in the summer my room really heats up alot from it.

 

[996GT2]

If you do indeed have the AMD quad heatsipe heatsink, then there is no need to get a new one. What I would do is look at your fans and airflow. You might want to dust out your case and install some fans with higher airflow. Also you might want to look into aftermarket cooling for your graphics card and chipset as well, to further cool your PC. However, I see that what you want to do is cool down your room. In that case, cooling your PC won't help because the hot air will just be exhausted into your room. Try to locate your PC near an AC vent if possible to the exhaust is cooled quickly.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: Revolution09
Thanks for the replies 🙂 I'll look up some reviews on the ones you suggested, krotchy.
And rallymaster- if you don't think adding a heatsink will actually make my computer cooler, is there something else I could possibly add? The tempuratures I'm getting right now are fairly decent for the parts I have, but I'd like my rig to put out hardly any heat, if that's possible... in the summer my room really heats up alot from it.

If your looking to lower room temperatures, a new heatsink will make 0 difference, or make things worse. All a heatsink does is transfer heat to the environment from a processor or other component. In this case, the environment = your room, and a better heatsink = fast heat transfer to your room. Your best option is to find a way to exhaust the hot air from your computer out a window or something.

 

[Revolution09]

ok, I think I'm starting to understand 😛 So really, all the heatsink does is cool down the physical CPU, but in turn disperses the heat elsewhere? So there really is no way to change the amount of heat my computer puts out?

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Originally posted by: Revolution09
ok, I think I'm starting to understand 😛 So really, all the heatsink does is cool down the physical CPU, but in turn disperses the heat elsewhere? So there really is no way to change the amount of heat my computer puts out?

Any attempt to cool the system (or any system in any sense of the word) will produce more heat somewhere else; otherwise, you'd be breaking some laws of physics. As an example, refrigerators actually produce more heat than they cool. It's just the hot part is in the back and the cool part is inside.

That said it's still very important you get the heat away from the computer.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Revolution09
ok, I think I'm starting to understand 😛 So really, all the heatsink does is cool down the physical CPU, but in turn disperses the heat elsewhere? So there really is no way to change the amount of heat my computer puts out?

There is. Underclock and/or undervolt everything, get a more efficient PSU, etc.

 

[Revolution09]

Originally posted by: Howard
There is. Underclock and/or undervolt everything, get a more efficient PSU, etc.

how would I go about undervolting parts of my computer? and I've been looking into a new PSU- would a 380 watt Seasonic S12 be very efficient?

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: krotchy
All a heatsink does is transfer heat to the environment from a processor or other component. In this case, the environment = your room, and a better heatsink = fast heat transfer to your room. Your best option is to find a way to exhaust the hot air from your computer out a window or something.

OMG!!! You read my mind...

I saw a picture, the other day, of someone that did just that! Sounds ghetto as hell, but he did it right!