I7 HSU Options

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Eluros

Member
Jul 7, 2008
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Hello, everyone,

I've decided to upgrade my stock heatsink for my i7 920, and have been researching options. I need something that is easily installable, isn't going to run too expensive, and isn't massive. I've been looking at the Akasa Nero, but have read pretty mixed reviews on it.

Thoughts? I'm having a hard time finding quality reviews/comparisons, so I appreciate any and all guidance you guys could give me.

Thanks!

EDIT: My motherboard is an EVGA X58.

Sounds like I won't be doing a Noctua, based off another poster's experience.

Edit 2: Research So Far
Asus Triton 81 (Deactivated on Newegg, is there a reason?)

ZEROtherm Core 92: Only $20 after rebate, terrible reviews, sounds like I may as well stick with stock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835887020

ZALMAN CNPS9900LED: $90-- very expensive-- but excellent reviews
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835118046

Vigor Monsoon: $55 plus shipping. Much more reasonably priced, very good reviews
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835702007

Nexus 7000 Low: Not on Newegg, but about $64 with shipping elsewhere. Seems like there's little info... bad thing if not many people want it?


Coolermaster V8: $70 plus shipping. Looks really nice.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835103055

All things considered, looks like my only two options are the Coolermaster V8 and the Vigor Monsoon, and I'm leaning towards the latter due to the price difference.
 
T

Tweakin

Platinum Member
Feb 7, 2000
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I would recommend the Noctura NH-U12P. Great Performance (top 3), easy installation and supurb mounting tension.
 
E

Eluros

Member
Jul 7, 2008
177
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I would recommend the Noctura NH-U12P. Great Performance (top 3), easy installation and supurb mounting tension.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting!
This is, I believe, what you're talking about...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835608007

I checked up on it, read some reviews... a few questions about it.

1. Sounds like it's pretty massive; people say it won't fit in a standard midsize case. Is that true? How much larger is it from the stock fan?

2. It has a backplate, right? Are those easy to install? It sounds like a lot of work to me, but I've never done it before...

Thanks again!
 
A

alcoholbob

Diamond Member
May 24, 2005
6,389
468
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I had trouble installing the Noctua. The instructions are terrible, and it's not particularly obvious how to hook the fan onto the heatsink--it also an incredibly ghetto clip on system. Depending on the motherboard, (I have the evga x58) you might not be able to install the 2nd fan, since it will be blocked by the PWM heatsink (and sometimes there's an additional chipset HS).

Other than the stock cooler I tried the Noctua, Vigor Monsoon, Nexus 7000 Low, and eventually settled on the Coolermaster V10. The Noctua was by FAR the hardest to install. The problem with the cooler is the mount that you use to lower the cooler onto the CPU. The metal was not manufactured properly on the one I bought and it would not touch the CPU no matter what.

The Noctua (like the others) require a backplate. A mounting screw needs to go through the cooler, the top mount, the motherboard, and the backplate. You can see the problem here. A single mm of overshoot and theres no way for the Noctua to make contact with the CPU since you can't exactly stretch a metal screw.

The other coolers didn't have this problem, since they didn't have this stupid mounting system to start with which opens itself to these kind of problems.
 
E

Eluros

Member
Jul 7, 2008
177
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Astrallite, phenomenally useful post; thanks so much!

By the way, I have an EVGA X58 motherboard, as well.

I had trouble installing the Noctua. The instructions are terrible, and it's not particularly obvious how to hook the fan onto the heatsink--it also an incredibly ghetto clip on system. Depending on the motherboard, (I have the evga x58) you might not be able to install the 2nd fan, since it will be blocked by the PWM heatsink (and sometimes there's an additional chipset HS).
Click to expand...

I certainly won't be purchasing that heatsink, then; thanks!

Sounds like my options are limited to the Vigor Monsoon, Nexus 7000 Low, and the Coolermaster V10, correct? Anyone have comments on any of those? Or more to know?

Thanks so much!
 
A

alcoholbob

Diamond Member
May 24, 2005
6,389
468
126
Uh, there are other coolers lol, actually there's probably a dozen for the i7. The Nexus 7000 I tried to use as a quiet cooler but the problem was, it was marginally better than the stock cooler, and as you can see, it's pretty much just a 120mm fan and nothing else, that's the last thing I would recommend.

There's the V8, which is far more affordable than the V10.

There's still:

Asus Triton 81
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme 1366 RT
ZEROtherm Core 92
ZALMAN CNPS9900LED
 
A

alcoholbob

Diamond Member
May 24, 2005
6,389
468
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Hmm the Thermalright is just a heatsink, sorry, you'll need to buy your own fans for that one.
 
E

Eluros

Member
Jul 7, 2008
177
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Alrighty, so options on the table:

Asus Triton 81 (Deactivated on Newegg, is there a reason?)

ZEROtherm Core 92: Only $20 after rebate, terrible reviews, sounds like I may as well stick with stock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835887020

ZALMAN CNPS9900LED: $90-- very expensive-- but excellent reviews
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835118046

Vigor Monsoon: $55 plus shipping. Much more reasonably priced, very good reviews
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835702007

Nexus 7000 Low: Not on Newegg, but about $64 with shipping elsewhere. Seems like there's little info... bad thing if not many people want it?


Coolermaster V8: $70 plus shipping. Looks really nice.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835103055

All things considered, looks like my only two options are the Coolermaster V8 and the Vigor Monsoon, and I'm leaning towards the latter due to the price difference.

Thoughts? Am I missing any major contenders?

Thanks as always!
 
E

Eluros

Member
Jul 7, 2008
177
0
0
So, actually, after doing some research and reading some reviews, sounds like an Asus Triton 81 would be the perfect fit for my needs.

Not too difficult to install (default retention system), good cooling, not too tall.

Newegg may not have it, but I can take my chances at other sites.

Thoughts before the final purchase?
 
ahenkel

ahenkel

Diamond Member
Jan 11, 2009
5,357
3
81
You know i'd look at the sunbeam core contact HDT. its easy to install and cools great
 
LokutusofBorg

LokutusofBorg

Golden Member
Mar 20, 2001
1,065
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76
Just installed a Xigmatek 1283 and it wasn't too hard to install (requires a separate purchase for the 1366 mounting bracket, which is $10 more, but it's only $36 for the main cooler, so not a big deal at all). I have it in an Antec 300 case, and I'm sitting here running Prime95 and my stock 920 is hovering around 60C on all cores (64 is max it's hit).

It is a bit on the big side, but it fits easily in my case, and I'm really pleased with it.
 
cusideabelincoln

cusideabelincoln

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2008
3,275
46
91
frostytech.com has quite a few good reviews and compares a lot of heatsinks at once.

Along with the coolers you mentioned, you should also consider the two mentioned above: Sunbeam Core Contact Freezer and Xigmatek HDT-S1283 (also: Dark Knight version).

And here are a few more coolers you should look at as well:
Xigmatek HDT-S1284EE (1366 bracket sold separately)
Cooler Master Hyper N520
Cooler Master Hyper Z600 (1366 bracket sold separately)
 
aigomorla

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
21,078
3,579
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This belongs in my section.

And the best air sink for that is a TRUE. If your rear exhaust is 120mm exhaust, you can fit a true inside your case.

http://www.jab-tech.com/Therma...e-1366-RT-pr-4332.html

Do a little reading, and learn how to lap the base on your TRUE.
If you do that mod, i dont think any air sink still has a chance of catching up to a TRUE.

Well, not unless you want to go bigger.

Coolermaster V8 is also a pretty badass sink.

the other sinks you chose are garbage. Expecially that zalman.

Dont get Zalman.... There just overpriced blingy ricer sinks.
 
Red Irish

Red Irish

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Mar 6, 2009
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@ OP: if size is a problem, I would recommend the Zalman 9500 LED. I have it fitted in my Silverstone LC17. Idling low 40's, low/mid 50's under load and quiet providing you fit some form of rheostat. Obviously overclocking is extremely limited under these circumstances and other posters have drawn attention to more efficient cooling options, but as you have stressed the importance of size I thought I'd chime in. As aigomorla has said, if you the True fits, I'd go for that.
 
Elganja

Elganja

Platinum Member
May 21, 2007
2,143
24
81
I have a TRUE ultra and a x58 board. No issues with fitment boardwise, can't speak for your case (pictures of fitement on hardware cancucks)

If you are lazy like me, you can have somone else lap your heatsink before they send it to you (19 bucks to get it lapped here)

My temperatures speak for themself as you can see in my sig (can provide proof if need be)... My TRUE is lapped however, and I used an extra washer on each screw to get more spring pressure. My TRUE is setup to push towards the top of my case where I have a huge exhuast fan (antec 900 case).
 
Red Irish

Red Irish

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Mar 6, 2009
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Originally posted by: Astrallite
http://www.sysopt.com/img/2008/01/ces_2008/cm_v12.jpg

When this comes out I think its gonna be the king = Coolermaster V12

It looks like they just glued two heatsinks together.

Of course, I have a strong suspicion that it won't fit on a reference i7 board given the pwm heatsink.
Click to expand...

On a side note, what the hell is the deal with the greenery surrounding the cooler in the linked photo? What's next, tomatoes and potatoes on the packaging of the next Nvidia release?
 
Rubycon

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
485
126
Originally posted by: Red Irish
Originally posted by: Astrallite
http://www.sysopt.com/img/2008/01/ces_2008/cm_v12.jpg

When this comes out I think its gonna be the king = Coolermaster V12

It looks like they just glued two heatsinks together.

Of course, I have a strong suspicion that it won't fit on a reference i7 board given the pwm heatsink.
Click to expand...

On a side note, what the hell is the deal with the greenery surrounding the cooler in the linked photo? What's next, tomatoes and potatoes on the packaging of the next Nvidia release?
Click to expand...

The Vegans (not zombies) are going to take over! :laugh:

You can only get so many heat pipes in close contact with the CPU socket area and build them only so tall..
 
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