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Is the Stock Heatsink on All Wolfdale's Trash?

A

artemicion

Golden Member
Building an HTPC. Not gonna play any graphics-intensive games on it so I'm definitely putting the primary premium on cheap, and a secondary premium on quiet.

It's gonna be an intel system (using the Gigabyte mobo with the GeForce 9400 IGP, in case you're curious). Was initially gonna go with an e5200 but the reviews on newegg said that the stock heatsink on it is trash. So I figured, if I'm gonna have to dish out another $20, maybe I should consider a more expensive CPU that comes with better cooling.

So I guess my question is, do all Wolfdale CPUs come with the same heatsink? The most expensive processor I was considering was the e8400 (I think, my access to newegg is blocked at work - it's the one that costs ~$160).
 
A friend build a new 45nm quad-core system for someone recently, and he told me that the stock heatsink that was included with the quad-core was the same one that was included with his E5200!
 
Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
A friend build a new 45nm quad-core system for someone recently, and he told me that the stock heatsink that was included with the quad-core was the same one that was included with his E5200!
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The ones shipping with Q9550's are Celeronesqe indeed. :Q
 
Question why are you going to buy an E8400 when it is overpriced now that AMD's Triple core's are $20 lower and have one extra core. And some can be unlocked to Quads?
 
Originally posted by: blackpanther26
Question why are you going to buy an E8400 when it is overpriced now that AMD's Triple core's are $20 lower and have one extra core. And some can be unlocked to Quads?
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Question: why do techies phrase comments as questions when they're really making a statement?

Haha, j/k. Thanks for the input - I've drifted away from the tech industry so I'm not really up to date. I decided on the parts based on the specs of an HTPC rig I saw awhile ago, so haven't really done much independent research. I guess I should look into other options.
 
Its good (good enough for Intel to offer a 3 year warranty on the cpu it comes with), quiet and will be suitable for mild/moderate overclocking
 
Originally posted by: blackpanther26
Question why are you going to buy an E8400 when it is overpriced now that AMD's Triple core's are $20 lower and have one extra core. And some can be unlocked to Quads?
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Just because AMD has a triple core doesn't necessarily mean that it'll perform better than a E8400. I'll let the pros explain in detail since I dunno how to explain it.

@OP. Yes they're trash if you plan on overclocking or run a quad core. Try to keep your temps under 60C in dual core and 65C in quad cores.
 
Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
If not OCing, yeah, the stock HSF should be fine.
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you can overclock with the stock HSF

You won't hit the highest frequencies or get the lowest temps but you can definitely overclock with it
 
They're all trash. I've got the E8500 and Q9550 and they both came with the el-cheapo all aluminum HSF. The E6XXX series came with nice HSF that allow easy 1333-->>1600 FSB o/c's on the penryn's as the 45nm run alot cooler. Those were not only bigger, but also came with nice big copper slugs to absorb more heat from the core. They're also quiet for stock HSF with smart fan monitoring.
 
Going dual should run cooler than tri-or quad. HTPC needs to be cool and quiet, its enough to run 1080p.

Get aftermarket cooling if only to reduce noise.
 
Originally posted by: blackpanther26
Question why are you going to buy an E8400 when it is overpriced now that AMD's Triple core's are $20 lower and have one extra core. And some can be unlocked to Quads?
Click to expand...

Although it has been reported that triple cores have been unlocked to quads there is no guarantee that the one you buy will also unlock.
 
just my .02, but i would recommend just getting yourself an aftermarket HS with an e5200 and calling it a day. on an HTPC the stock cooler is going to be to loud for comfort (in my opinion), and there are plenty of cheap coolers that use 120MM fans that will cool your CPU great at low RPMs
 
I got the "half-height" aluminum HSF with a retail E5200. More than fine at stock, but couldn't hold a candle to the copper Intel HSF from an old E6600.
 
Boy, I wish the CPUs would run hotter so we could get better heatsinks...that's part of the cost savings of new steppings and die-shrinks. If Intel/AMD can save cash on the included retail HSF package, thats money in their pocket.
 
Originally posted by: faxon
just my .02, but i would recommend just getting yourself an aftermarket HS with an e5200 and calling it a day. on an HTPC the stock cooler is going to be to loud for comfort (in my opinion), and there are plenty of cheap coolers that use 120MM fans that will cool your CPU great at low RPMs
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I agree with the aftermarket solution, if only to avoid those damn pushpins. Seriously...wtf Intel.
 
Originally posted by: ch33zw1z
I agree with the aftermarket solution, if only to avoid those damn pushpins. Seriously...wtf Intel.
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Err... HSFs like the Freezer 7 Pro also have pushpins 😛
 
you can get a nice HSF onsale for cheap like the zerotherm FZ120 i got last year at egg for $15AR. pretty nice, works faily well. but if your case is small there's a ton of 92mm HSFs for cheap, I also has a hyperTX by coolermaster I believe that was like under 10 bucks AR. either way i highly recommend aftermarket hsf, the standard intel stuff is just for running stock and no oc at all. sometimes even that is not cool enough at load. my standard hsf from e7200 is still in the box. bought a vendetta 2 for that one.
 
Problem is the aftermarket HSF can rival the cost of the CPU, especially when dealing with the E5200.
 
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