I am trying to choose a HSF for my first build ever. Here are the relevant specs:
Antec 902
core i7 920
EVGA X58 SLI
Here are my requirements for the cooler:
1. I want something that mounts very securely to the motherboard - I have read some HSF reviews (such as the TRUE 120) claiming that the mounting mechanism isn't very secure
2. I want something fairly quiet - I might be doing some mild/moderate overclocking, but I don't want to sacrifice much noise for extra cooling performance
3. I don't want something that needs to be lapped to work correctly - again, I have heard that the surface of the TRUE 120 needs to be lapped for ideal performance, but the surface of the Megahalem doesn't.
I have done my own research, much of which was taken from this Q1 2009 1366 HSF roundup:
link
and have come up with a preliminary list of HSFs that might fit my requirements:
1. Prolimatech Megahalem (with a fan of comparable RPM as that used in the HardOCP review of the HSF, such as the Scythe S-Flex SFF21E (1200 RPM)) - this seems to be the king of core i7 coolers right now.
2. Noctua NH-U12P - this one received a favorable review here, but according to the benchmarkreviews link above, it was bested by my next choice (which costs half as much).
3. Xigmatek Dark Knight - in the benchmark reviews above, this one beat the Noctua NH-U12P and costs much less. How is the mounting mechanism on this one?
Would one of the above 3 choices work? Is the Noctua worth the premium over the Dark Knight? Is there some other excellent choice I am missing that meets my criteria? Is my research about the TRUE 120 correct?
Antec 902
core i7 920
EVGA X58 SLI
Here are my requirements for the cooler:
1. I want something that mounts very securely to the motherboard - I have read some HSF reviews (such as the TRUE 120) claiming that the mounting mechanism isn't very secure
2. I want something fairly quiet - I might be doing some mild/moderate overclocking, but I don't want to sacrifice much noise for extra cooling performance
3. I don't want something that needs to be lapped to work correctly - again, I have heard that the surface of the TRUE 120 needs to be lapped for ideal performance, but the surface of the Megahalem doesn't.
I have done my own research, much of which was taken from this Q1 2009 1366 HSF roundup:
link
and have come up with a preliminary list of HSFs that might fit my requirements:
1. Prolimatech Megahalem (with a fan of comparable RPM as that used in the HardOCP review of the HSF, such as the Scythe S-Flex SFF21E (1200 RPM)) - this seems to be the king of core i7 coolers right now.
2. Noctua NH-U12P - this one received a favorable review here, but according to the benchmarkreviews link above, it was bested by my next choice (which costs half as much).
3. Xigmatek Dark Knight - in the benchmark reviews above, this one beat the Noctua NH-U12P and costs much less. How is the mounting mechanism on this one?
Would one of the above 3 choices work? Is the Noctua worth the premium over the Dark Knight? Is there some other excellent choice I am missing that meets my criteria? Is my research about the TRUE 120 correct?
