Need a cooler for a socket 939 chip

[sonambulo]

My stock cooler is dying.

I've done a fair bit of researching around but I'm coming up with inconsistent readings on noise levels of coolers. Searching around on Newegg is the worst offender in this regard. One person will say a cooler is whisper quiet and the next says it's deafening.

So the system is running at default speeds. No overclocking. I'm using an old Lian-Li pc-v1000b case so any of the monster coolers (V8, et al.) are going to be a very tight fit. I do get plenty of air throughout the case however I find that during the summer the ambient temperature of my room gets right up there (No AC) and my CPU kicks in. LOUD.

So I want something better. I've looked at the XIGMATEK Dark Knight s1283v and the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro in the stickied thread at the top of forum but I'm not convinced. Maybe I just need someone to push me over the edge?

The primary consideration is that the cooler is quiet. In a perfect world it would have no LED however if it has to have one I would prefer red to match all my other lights. Budget is 50 bucks but I'd be willing to go higher if someone made a convincing argument for it.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Zap]

If it will fit, a Scythe Ninja. If it won't fit, a Scythe Mini Ninja. I got my first Ninja for my overclocked dual-core socket 939 setup. Yes, I was overclocked (3800+ @2.4GHz) , and yes I ran it WITHOUT A FAN. I had a 120mm case fan running probably 800-1000RPM and it was enough to keep the CPU cool with just the heatsink on it.

I'm currently running the Mini Ninja in my HTPC keeping a stock-clocked 5600+ cooled without a fan.

 

[Paperdoc]

I've been happy with my Zalman cooler for an Athlon X2 in a Socket 939. But recently I put a unit from Noctua (Austrian) in a new machine - wasn't Socket 939, but I'm sure they have those cooler systems. Its big selling point (apart from doing a good cooling job) is special design to reduce noise generation, and I agree the one I installed is quite quiet.
Check this page and follow links to Noctua themselves for details.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...TCH&Description=NOCTUA

 

[Blain]

Here you go.
It's a huge bang for the cooling buck! :laugh:

 

[sonambulo]

Originally posted by: Zap
If it will fit, a Scythe Ninja. If it won't fit, a Scythe Mini Ninja. I got my first Ninja for my overclocked dual-core socket 939 setup. Yes, I was overclocked (3800+ @2.4GHz) , and yes I ran it WITHOUT A FAN. I had a 120mm case fan running probably 800-1000RPM and it was enough to keep the CPU cool with just the heatsink on it.

I'm currently running the Mini Ninja in my HTPC keeping a stock-clocked 5600+ cooled without a fan.

Yeah, I stumbled across a few reviewers running without a fan. Pretty goddamn amazing if you ask me. All things considered, the Mini Ninja is probably going to be the unit I go with. It's a great price, runs amazingly silent and is very very light. It's also compatible with my mobo.

A 120mm fan is clearly going to be the quietest solution but I just don't think I have the space.

Originally posted by: Paperdoc
I've been happy with my Zalman cooler for an Athlon X2 in a Socket 939. But recently I put a unit from Noctua (Austrian) in a new machine - wasn't Socket 939, but I'm sure they have those cooler systems. Its big selling point (apart from doing a good cooling job) is special design to reduce noise generation, and I agree the one I installed is quite quiet.
Check this page and follow links to Noctua themselves for details.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...TCH&Description=NOCTUA

Unfortunately I am using an ASRock mobo which doesn't use the standard K8 backplates. According to the Noctua web site this means I can't use their products. This is a drag considering how nice the products are. Great recc and I will consider Noctua for upcoming builds.

edit: Wow, I am a stu. The 'incompatibility' springs from the fact that I don't have a K8 backplate included with my mobo. If I buy one (it's like 4 bucks) then I can use a Noctua. Overall I think I like it a bit better than the Ninja, especially since the Ninja doesn't mount to a backplate and just clips on. Total weight would be about the same so the plate mounting makes me feel a touch more secure. After measuring my case I have about 6 3/4" of clearance so I may be able to squeeze this cooler in there. Overkill surely but it will be quiet.

Originally posted by: Blain
Here you go.
It's a huge bang for the cooling buck! :laugh:

This is a pretty cool product you've linked me to. However, I'm not really 100% on the plastic fan sheath. I just have a feeling that it will somehow get cracked or broken and be a pain in the ass to replace. It's a pretty cool design and I dig the round base.