Need help with picky HSF requirements

[Sp00nMan]

Greetings,

I'm pulling my hair out trying to find the best cooling option for my new system. Everytime I think I've found the best option, it's either impossible to find (a la TRUE), or it has some quirk that won't work for me. Here's my relevent MB/Case stats

GA-p35-ds4 rev2.0
Antec p182
Intel q6600 - g0 slacr


While I have it overclocked to 3.0ghz (333x9) using the stock Intel HSF, I'd rather get a better aftermarket one so maybe I could push it to 3.2ghz.
Here are my concerns though:

-It has to fit my case (obviously)
-I want it to be very quiet (noise > temp reduction)
-I hate the pushpin system, so I want it to have a mounting bracket type
-Weight concerns me as well (I don't want to have a 938g HSF in a vertical p182 tower)
-I prefer a HSF that has the fan on the side blowing air to the back of my case
-I prefer an automatic PMW(sp?) fan controller than one of those ugly manual ones - so I might need a 4-pin connector (or maybe the MB does the voltage reg control itself?)

I've looked over tons of HSF's to no avail (Scythe Infinity - too heavy, Zerotherm Nirvana - noisy/manual fan controller, T.R.U.E. - impossible to find, Artic Freezer Pro 7 - push pin, etc)


Is there any happy place that I can rest my weary head on and find the perfect HSF that meets the above requirements? Your expert knowledge is appreciated!

 

[imported_Scoop]

If noise is you're main concern, check out www.silentpcreview.com

More specifically their recommended heatsinks http://www.silentpcreview.com/article30-page1.html

You don't usually need a PWM fan for the CPU, you can probably set a 3-pin fan in the CPU fan slot to work as you like in the bios. Not certain though, check the manual for confirmation.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

SilentPCReview is a good start, but you needn't just pick a reviewer's choice for a silent system.

Of course, silence is in the ear of the beholder.

I'd recommend second-best of the TR line: The Ultima 90.

At idle, you should get sufficient airflow by controlling the fan -- hopefully through the motherboard -- at 2,000 rpm for a 92mm fan.

You should be able to find a quiet 92mm fan with a PWM-type plug -- start at Sidewinder Computers -- but that's not the only place I'd shop. Decent price, tho, and a good assortment of fan options.

They have, for instance, this: RexFlo PWM 92mm

Because of the limited models still on the market, I personally won't limit myself to the 4-pin PWM plug. Some Gigabyte motherboards offer the option to control fans in more than one mode (including "PWM" mode).

They also seem to have the Ultima 90 in stock for about $47. You can also try Heatsink Factory and SVC -- the prices are similar across the board.

The Ultima 90 is the little brother of the TR Ultra-120-Extreme, which I believe you mentioned. It weighs less. It can use a 92mm fan OR a 120mm fan, but you can get a 92mm fan that is fairly quiet at its top-end, and you'd only need to run the fan between 1,600 and 2,800 rpm, I think, to squeeze the lower thermal resistance out of that cooler.

The Ultima weighs in at around 460 grams. Even the beefiest 120x38mm fan would add only 200+ grams to that, so the weight would likely be under 700 grams. With a 92mm fan, I don't think the weight would go over 550 grams, if that.

I just recently purchased some hi-speed Delta 92x25mm fans for use with this type of cooler:

Delta super high-output 92mm

The reason I buy these Deltas derives from an absolute assumption that they will be automatically controlled through the motherboard or some other device -- thermally controlled. With other Deltas, I've had the experience that much of the high-end noise is air turbulence, but in the low to mid-range speed in rpms, they can be pretty quiet. The beefier motors on these high-CFM fans generally helps in that regard.

Panaflo makes at least three models of 92x25mm fan, and even the H1 -- high-output -- is pretty quiet: it just offers a wider speed range than the L1 and M1 models.

You might continue a deeper search for fans that work with PWM and the four-pin connector. RexFlo seems to be the brand I've found in stock at several places, but things change daily, weekly . . . . monthly.