modern Intel retail CPU fans

[xboxist]

I need a generalization here: if you don't plan on OC'ing ever, are the provided coolers perfectly fine? Or do they still suck?

Don't want to mess around with an aftermarket cooler if I don't need to.

 

[Hey Zeus]

If you don't plan on OCing the stock fan is fine but trust me.. You WILL be tempted to try.

I can hit 4Ghz with the stock intel heatsink on my Clarkdale

 

[Kenmitch]

Most of the intel stock fans suck unless you have a case with very good airflow.

I'd suggest looking for one of the budget aftermarket coolers even if you don't plan on overclocking your chip. Even a $20 cooler will out perform the stock one most of the time as long as you shop wisely.

 

[Jeeebus]

Even a $20 cooler will out perform the stock one most of the time as long as you shop wisely.

That's not the point, though. Yes, most of us are enthusiasts and we probably all recognize that if you buy a better cooler than the stock heatsink, it will "outperform" the stock heatsink in terms of keeping your CPU a bit cooler.

That said, look at it this way: Intel sells a hell of a lot of CPUs in any given year - the vast majority of those are going in pre-built machines like Dells/HPs or in user-built machines with no aftermarket cooler. If the stock cooler was not sufficient, we'd likely be hearing a bit more about people's computers melting or bursting into flames.

 

[toyota]

That's not the point, though. Yes, most of us are enthusiasts and we probably all recognize that if you buy a better cooler than the stock heatsink, it will "outperform" the stock heatsink in terms of keeping your CPU a bit cooler.

That said, look at it this way: Intel sells a hell of a lot of CPUs in any given year - the vast majority of those are going in pre-built machines like Dells/HPs or in user-built machines with no aftermarket cooler. If the stock cooler was not sufficient, we'd likely be hearing a bit more about people's computers melting or bursting into flames.

well most HP and Dells I have seen in the past were not using the stock coolers.

 

[Jd007]

If no OC (or even mild OC) then the stock cooler is perfectly fine. This goes for both Intel and AMD stock coolers. There's a reason they are bundled with boxed chips - they've been tested to be adequate.

 

[Kenmitch]

If no OC (or even mild OC) then the stock cooler is perfectly fine. This goes for both Intel and AMD stock coolers. There's a reason they are bundled with boxed chips - they've been tested to be adequate.

Like I said if you got good airflow it'll work....May not be optimal but it'll work.

Throw the said stock heatsink in a cheap case with crappy airflow and encode some video for awhile and see what happens to the temps

 

[xboxist]

Thanks guys.

Yeah, I'm a gamer, but certainly not an enthusiast. Gonna be building a rather simple i5-750 system in a few weeks and if the stock cooler is adequate, that's more than fine for someone like me. I've built 3 systems for myself in the past, about every 4-5 years or so. And if I don't have to mess with installing some fancy heatsink and using thermal grease, then it's one less thing that I can mess up.

 

[toyota]

Thanks guys.

Yeah, I'm a gamer, but certainly not an enthusiast. Gonna be building a rather simple i5-750 system in a few weeks and if the stock cooler is adequate, that's more than fine for someone like me. I've built 3 systems for myself in the past, about every 4-5 years or so. And if I don't have to mess with installing some fancy heatsink and using thermal grease, then it's one less thing that I can mess up.

an Arctic Freezer 7 Pro rev 2 would be perfect for you. rev 2 just means thats it made for the newer sockets where the orginal was for sockets like 775. it pops in just like a stock cooler and has good thermal grease already applied. it will make big difference in temps and also allow you to oc if ever you decide to do so.

I have one(rev 1) myself and it does a great job of cooling. even at 3.8 my cpu doesnt go over 46-48C while gaming. a stock cooler would have me over 70C in the same scenario.

 

[Arkaign]

If you do anything with your system outside of typical desktop usage (web/word/email), then yeah, I'd recommend a better cooler. Intel coolers are merely adequate. Pretty much any decent tower heatpipe cooler w/80mm (or larger) fan will drop temps dramatically. Also aftermarket ones are available without that horrible push-pin mounting garbage.

 

[Zap]

Most of the intel stock fans suck unless you have a case with very good airflow.

Stock HSFs work just fine for keeping a stock-clocked CPU in operational parameters, even in cases with less than optimal airflow.

Does it "suck" that the CPU might be running at 80ºC under load using a stock HSF when it could easily be running at 50ºC using a good aftermarket HSF? Sure, but does it matter? The CPU will happily run at stock speeds at those temperatures for many, many years.

The other thing is that if the case airflow truely sucks, then even an aftermarket HSF would suffer because the CPU temperature can only be as good as the internal temperature of the chassis.

 

[Tsavo]

The OEM heatshink that my Core i5 750 is the same size as the OEM unit that came with my Celeron E3200. The only difference is the copper slug in the i5 unit versus the all aluminum sink for the Celeron. I swapped them and I still consider the copper cored unit to be vaguely adequate for use on the Celeron...I can't imagine using it on the Core i5.

Stock units will work just fine, otherwise Intel wouldn't have used them, but the unit for the i5 is really pushing it. Layer that on top of the ULTRA HORRIBLE push pin fastening method and methinks you'll be happier with something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...03065&Tpk=212p

 

[xboxist]

an Arctic Freezer 7 Pro rev 2 would be perfect for you. rev 2 just means thats it made for the newer sockets where the orginal was for sockets like 775. it pops in just like a stock cooler and has good thermal grease already applied. it will make big difference in temps and also allow you to oc if ever you decide to do so.

I have one(rev 1) myself and it does a great job of cooling. even at 3.8 my cpu doesnt go over 46-48C while gaming. a stock cooler would have me over 70C in the same scenario.

Ah, see... this just shows my ignorance. For some reason I didn't even consider that aftermarket coolers would have their own thermal pad pre-applied. That's kind of handy. I will certainly look into this cooler. Thanks much.

 

[Zap]

Stock units will work just fine, otherwise Intel wouldn't have used them, but the unit for the i5 is really pushing it. Layer that on top of the ULTRA HORRIBLE push pin fastening method

The i5 retail unit works fine. I've got two of them. If not overclocked, CPUs do not magically perform "better" in any way at lower temperatures, or "worse" in any way at higher temperatures as long as the thermal threshold isn't exceeded.

Push pins also work just fine. The only "horrible" push pins I've ever encountered was on a used Thermaltake Big Typhoon VX. I've never encountered bad Intel push pins when they were new out of the box. I've also reused them before and one of my test heatsinks was reused at least 25-30+ times with no problems.

If you expect to just slap the heatsink on the CPU and mash down the pins, yes you will encounter problems and will think the design horrible. If the pins have been used previously, you need to rotate the pins to the locking position and make sure that the part which expands is pinched back together. For actually installation you will need to line up the pins and then wiggle them while pushing them down so that the expanding part inserts into the motherboard hole BEFORE the pin itself pushes in. After that, just push in alternating pins and you're done. It's also easier before the motherboard is mounted into the case.

 

[tweakboy]

Yes, if you are not OCing and doing stock clock speeds the HSF that comes with it will do just fine. Just make sure to put a bit of thermal paste and make sure you install the heatsink fan correctly and its tightly against the CPU and your set. No need to spend extra money youll be fine.

Now if you want to OC that is different story youll need custom parts... gl

 

[Markfw]

Personally, I think they crap, even at stock. Noisey, and they run hotter than I like. Even at stock, they can overheat if it gets hot out, and you don't have great ventilation in the room, they can easily exceed the thermal max.

Example, I friend took a machine I built and put it essentially on a closed cabinet. No AC, and it got up to 80f and the box overheated and locked up.

 

[Demo24]

Personally, I think they crap, even at stock. Noisey, and they run hotter than I like. Even at stock, they can overheat if it gets hot out, and you don't have great ventilation in the room, they can easily exceed the thermal max.

Example, I friend took a machine I built and put it essentially on a closed cabinet. No AC, and it got up to 80f and the box overheated and locked up.

What did you expect to happen when you shut it in with it's own heat? The whole point is to take in cool(ish) air and expel the heat. Not continuously cycle hot air around like a heater.

 

[Tsavo]

The i5 retail unit works fine. I've got two of them. If not overclocked, CPUs do not magically perform "better" in any way at lower temperatures, or "worse" in any way at higher temperatures as long as the thermal threshold isn't exceeded.

Please show me where I said that CPU's magically perform better at lower temperatures.

???

 

[StrangerGuy]

Even if you don't OC, do yourself a favor and get an cheap aftermarket with screws + backplate mounting, like:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835150082

Because, no amount of words can describe the suckitude of poor cooling and the unreliable push pins of the Intel stock HSF.

 

[alyarb]

coolermaster tx3 is still $15 with free shipping. that is the perfect stock replacement heatsink.

it sucks intel insists on the push pins. AMD's latch system is so much better.

 

[Markfw]

What did you expect to happen when you shut it in with it's own heat? The whole point is to take in cool(ish) air and expel the heat. Not continuously cycle hot air around like a heater.

ahhh I didn't do anything. My point was, PEOPLE do whatever they want, so its better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Enigmatic]

If the stock coolers weren't adequate, I'm sure intel would not have included it. It's designed to keep the CPU within operational temperatures. Not ideal temperatures maybe, but within safe operational limits.

Nonetheless, I find it interesting how OEM manufacturers like Dell do ditch the stock coolers...