Heatsink recommendations for C2D build?

[T101]

I have just finished building my C2D system and now I am going to build one for a friend. He is going to carry around the computer every other weekend or so to play LAN games, se that has to be taken into account (not the weight but the effect it might have on the socket). Would love to get some heatpipe contraption with a 120mm fan, to allow silent but efficient cooling.

So, do you have any recommendations?

I have looked so far at Scythe Ninja and Thermaltake Sonic Tower (the latter I use myself, but for the Abit AW9D Max mobo it requires a slight modification to fit).

 

[MTDEW]

The ZALMAN CNPS9500 LED worked pretty well for me on my e6600.

Im now using a e6300 and a Scythe SCINF-1000 but its definately not LAN friendly.

 

[CurseTheSky]

I just put up a decent list here. It's the second post. Take a look.

 

[brock01]

dont get the cnps9500led if you plan on ocing

 

[Aberforth]

I find my heatsink better than ZALMAN CNPS9500 or any other air coolers out there. The only problem with my heatsink is that it is *BIG* and *HEAVY* and hard to install. When i say big- it is very big.

http://hardware.gamershell.com/articles/thermaltake_blue_orb_ii_review/
http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Specific.aspx?ArticleId=15383

 

[orion23]

If you want the best, there is only one

TUNIQ TOWER 120.

And if you are overclocking, stay away from the 9500 LED.

PEOPLE, The 9500 LED is a very old cooler (by now), if anything, get the newer 9700 LED, but the TT 120 is still better!

 

[n7]

http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&number=1&artpage=2179&articID=519

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: n7
http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&number=1&artpage=2179&articID=519

The Coolermaster Hyper TX did really well in that review, I was surprised. It's light weight, performed in the top 5, and was quieter than most of its closest rivals, plus isn't very heavy at all. I like. Only costs $25 + ship at eWiz + Mwave.

Nice link.
:thumbsup:

 

[T101]

Ok. Thank you for your recommendations. I will look into all of these. To see which is the best fit for his case and need. He wont be overclocking.

 

[tcG]

If he isn't overclocking there is absolutely no need to get anything other than the stock Intel cooler...

 

[T101]

My own tests with the stock heatsink suggest there is a good idea. Even with good airflow through the case, it idled at 58-59C and ran at 70+ during load. I even removed rechecked it many times. Replacing the heatpad with Arctic silver. But in the end the heatsink was insufficient for any work that loaded the CPU 100% for more than a day or so straight. Might be that I just had bad luck with it, but after some days, I exchanged it for a Thermaltake Sonic Tower - which does a much better work.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: brock01
dont get the cnps9500led if you plan on ocing

Why? It's better than stock and my 9500 delivers pretty good temps. I got it because my stock HSF performed poorly. AFAIK the diff between 9500 and 9700/Tuniq etc isn't that large. I mainly got the 9500 because I prefer Zalman but I think the Tuniq is cheaper at most places.

 

[orion23]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: brock01
dont get the cnps9500led if you plan on ocing

Why? It's better than stock and my 9500 delivers pretty good temps. I got it because my stock HSF performed poorly. AFAIK the diff between 9500 and 9700/Tuniq etc isn't that large. I mainly got the 9500 because I prefer Zalman but I think the Tuniq is cheaper at most places.

No point in paying more when you can do better with less money.

Tuniq Tower 120 is way better than a 9500 LED, I've owned both so I know this for a fact!

 

[BladeVenom]

If he's not going to overclock and he's carrying it around often stick with the stock heatsink.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Originally posted by: T101
My own tests with the stock heatsink suggest there is a good idea. Even with good airflow through the case, it idled at 58-59C and ran at 70+ during load. I even removed rechecked it many times. Replacing the heatpad with Arctic silver. But in the end the heatsink was insufficient for any work that loaded the CPU 100% for more than a day or so straight. Might be that I just had bad luck with it, but after some days, I exchanged it for a Thermaltake Sonic Tower - which does a much better work.

Ambient temp? I'm using the stock Intel HSF with AS2 in a CM Praetorian equipped with Panaflo low speeds. ~20C room temp, get 45C idle (BIOS), 65C (core temp) after dual priming for about a 1/2 hour.

Could be your case? My brother is getting similar results as you even with all fans blasting in a Lian Li PC60.
Both of us are running E6400s @ 3.3GHz, 1.343Vcore on Gigabyte DS3s with X1900XTs.

 

[T101]

ambient temperature was ~20C. And it is no problem with the case. The airflow is optimal.
It was no problems with the transfer either of heat, because the heatsink got schorching hot (showing that the heat was transfered to it), and the fan ran at maximum speed, trying to cool it down. But while this was sufficient for a couple of hours. The temperature keept climbing as it was impossible for the HSF to get rid of all the heat (slow incremental climb that got uncomfortable after a couple of days constant use). Exchanging the heatsink solved this issue.
Note; I measured temperature with Core Temp, not the utility that came with my mobo. That utility measures the diode below the CPU socket, not the diode inside the CPU, and never shows temperatures above 43C. I am inclined to belive Core Temp rather than the uGuru utility.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Aah, yeah that's a little high. I'm getting 52C sitting at the desktop with CoreTemp.
For the life of me, I don't understand why I can't get my bro's temps to match my own. His CoreTemp reading just keeps climbing like yours (I stopped dual priming once it hit 76C).

 

[T101]

Perhaps different steppings behave different when it comes to heat? mine is an L632A900 (Stepping 6 according to CPU-Z).