I need your CPU cooler and PSU adapter opinions

[acole1]

I recently upgraded to a Q9550 E0, GA-EP45-UD3R, and 2x2GB G.SKILL PI.

I was casually playing around with the Gigabyte OCing tool, and it fairly easily got up to 3.8GHz, but under load, it would throttle. So, since I know I can do some nice OCes with the setup, I have been wanting to get a real cooler.

Here are some I have been considering:
Termalright IFX-14 ~$75
Noctua NH-U12P ~$60
Tuniq T-120 ~$45
Sunbeam CR-CCTF (AKA "Core-Contact Freezer")... It is FrosyTech's #1 performance pick. ~$30

I have an Antec 900, so I think I will have enough room for all of these coolers. It basically boils down to price to performance.


Also, if I do upgrade, since my PSU is at the bottom of my case, my P4-12V 4pin barely reaches up to the 12v plug on the Gigabyte board. Would it be best to just get an extender, or would it be even better to get a 4 to 8pin converter (which will extend and convert)?

Thanks for your input!

 

[Zepper]

Depends on what your mobo needs and if there is room around the 4-pin connector on the mobo. At those prices, and if I didn't already have either, I'd probably get both.

.bh.

 

[acole1]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Depends on what your mobo needs and if there is room around the 4-pin connector on the mobo. At those prices, and if I didn't already have either, I'd probably get both.

.bh.

Sorry... the mobo has an 8pin connector, and there is plenty room around it. (Link to mobo pic)

Whether or not the motherboard *needs* it, I don't know. I assume the use of 8pins for the 12v is primarily for CPU stability in high voltages and OCing, and from my limited tests, the board seems perfectly stable while using only 4 of the 8 pins. I was wondering if someone on here had a strong opinion one way or the other.

 

[geokilla]

I say get the OCZ Vendetta 2. You may want to get a backplate if you don't want to deal with pushpins.

 

[Zepper]

Well, the 8 pins are to spread the total current among more wires so each one isn't loaded as heavily. So it depends on what CPU you are using whether you need the 8 wires (actually the 4 x 12V wires) or not. And if you are using a 4 to 8 adapter, you may be adding to the problem as you've added one more weak spot (connection) in high current lines and shifted the weak spot up the road. I'd cut and splice some extra wire into your current connectors' leads to make them reach or get a PSU with a true 8-pin connector on it. Ideally, you'd want all four 12V wires coming straight from the PSU (IOW a PSU with a true 8-wire connector). Most CPUs these days are requiring far less current. You just have to know what your CPU's potential draw is and do whichever is best for the load. Two 12V (four pins) wires should be good for 120Watts to the CPU and 4 (8-pins) should be good for twice that.

.bh.

 

[acole1]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Well, the 8 pins are to spread the total current among more wires so each one isn't loaded as heavily. So it depends on what CPU you are using whether you need the 8 wires (actually the 4 x 12V wires) or not. And if you are using a 4 to 8 adapter, you may be adding to the problem as you've added one more weak spot (connection) in high current lines and shifted the weak spot up the road. I'd cut and splice some extra wire into your current connectors' leads to make them reach or get a PSU with a true 8-pin connector on it. Ideally, you'd want all four 12V wires coming straight from the PSU (IOW a PSU with a true 8-wire connector). Most CPUs these days are requiring far less current. You just have to know what your CPU's potential draw is and do whichever is best for the load. Two 12V (four pins) wires should be good for 120Watts to the CPU and 4 (8-pins) should be good for twice that.

.bh.

From what your saying, it would be better to just get the extension and not the adapter. I am thinking that if I do have problems in the future with not getting enough power to the CPU I can always get one of these adapters.

 

[yh125d]

I enter for consideration the Xigmatek S1283 (Frostytech's #2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835233003

I'd have to recommend against the Thermalright, Noctua, and Tuniq coolers. Not because of bad performance, more so because I don't see the point in a heavier, larger, more expensive cooler vs. a newer, lighter, smaller, cheaper, better performing tower ala Sunbeam/Zigmatek

 

[Zepper]

Well, either adapter adds the extra connection. I said above that I'd cut and splice the wires, but if you don't want to do that, I'd say the 4-wire extension is good enough. Check the connections for signs of overheating (connector shell will darken and/or melt) for a while.
. I'd only do that peripheral to 4pin if I was sure that your 8-pin mobo connector would accept two identical 4-pin ones... And that's really only giving you ONE more line as there is only one 12V line to peripheral connectors, but at least that could spread the load a bit.

.bh.

 

[acole1]

Originally posted by: yh125d
I enter for consideration the Xigmatek S1283 (Frostytech's #2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835233003

I'd have to recommend against the Thermalright, Noctua, and Tuniq coolers. Not because of bad performance, more so because I don't see the point in a heavier, larger, more expensive cooler vs. a newer, lighter, smaller, cheaper, better performing tower ala Sunbeam/Zigmatek

The comparatively easy mounting on that Xigmatek is a big bonus IMO... thanks for making that suggestion!