new system, no overclock, need 3rd party CPU cooler?

[CapaJC]

(edit) now trying to find out if installing a stock CPU cooler is a "point of no return"...

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Hey all,
I've read lots of great CPU cooler reviews here in the past couple hours, but haven't seen this particular question addressed. I'm really interested in your opinions.

I'm building a (mostly) new system, and I'm trying to decide if I even need a 3rd party CPU cooler. I _do not_ plan to overclock this system.

Antec Sonata case with pre-cut soundproofing foam
Athlon 64 X2 4200+
Seasonic S12 500w PSU
eVGA geForce 7900GT
3 SATA hard drives
2 optical drives
Audigy 2
4 sticks memory

If I can save $30 at this point, I certainly need to. Do you think this will definitely need a non-stock CPU cooler? Or not?

Thanks!

--James in S.D.

 

[furballi]

No need to spend more $ if you don't overclock. Adding foam will reduce noise by a small amount, but will degrade the cooling efficiency of the system. The biggest source of noise will be those tiny fans used on the MB and video card.

 

[WobbleWobble]

If you want a quieter system, then it might be worth while to invest in an aftermarket cooler.

 

[suszterpatt]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
If you want a quieter system, then it might be worth while to invest in an aftermarket cooler.

Yes, the increased performance allows you to use a slower, more silent fan. Using stock cooling is perfectly safe though, no need to shell out the extra $$$ if you can put up with the noise.

 

[CapaJC]

Okay, thanks all...that's what I wanted to know

--James in S.D.

 

[CapaJC]

One more thing: is this a one-time decision? I mean, if I try the stock cooler, and it's too loud, is there any way to get it off later? If I remember correctly, my previous stock coolers have used some pretty strong glue to attach to their CPUs. At least, that's the impression I got at the time...

--James in S.D.

 

[suszterpatt]

No, the thermal interface should never be that sticky. I believe AMD uses thermal pads for all their CPU's, right? Just make sure to heat it up with a blowdryer or some such before you take it off. Even if worst comes to worst, people have stories about their CPU's working flawlessly after they've been ripped out of the socket by the heatsink and their pins straightened out.

 

[pkrush]

My CPU popped out with the stock heatsink when I took it off to install my XP120, even though I used a hairdryer to heat it up first. (I didn't bend any pins, and it still works fine.) If you're planning on using the stock cooler, I'd clean the original thermal pad off first and use some Arctic Silver paste.

 

[Zap]

I think the lower end AMD CPUs come with thermal pads (waxy stuff) but the higher end ones have a thin layer of compound. If a pad, then clean it off and use compound. If the compound, just use it as is.