recomendation on cpu coolers for X2 3800+

[dziuggy]

hey just looking for an oppinion here. i bought asus star ice cpu cooler. and installed it on my amd 64 x2 3800 (asrock dual sata mb). the heat sink does not cover entire cpu for some reason then center using provided hardware. around 2-3mm of cpu is exposed from one side. (where heat sink steps up)

any one who owns this cooler please step in with your experience

thanks

 

[tekzilla41]

I cant speak on that exact hsf, but my arctic cooling freezer 64 pro leaves about 1-2mm of the cpu exposed on both sides.

 

[Tates]

2-3mm of cpu is exposed from one side

That shouldn't impede performance. The area above the cpu core is covered and that is what matters.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i have owned it, broke it during installation, tried my best to fix but didn't it just wouldn't stay on. the cooler is the loudest thing i've ever heard and the weight on the top of the cooler is horrible. for $40 get a scythe ninja, it is the complete opposite, pretty easy to install, quiet, keeps cpu cool.
asus star ice is a bad cooler imo sorry i couldn't directly answer your question tho

 

[Unkno]

according to a review.....the only reason why the asus star ice cools so well is because of the fan..........REALLY REALLY REALLY loud

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Originally posted by: dziuggy
hey just looking for an oppinion here. i bought asus star ice cpu cooler. and installed it on my amd 64 x2 3800 (asrock dual sata mb). the heat sink does not cover entire cpu for some reason then center using provided hardware. around 2-3mm of cpu is exposed from one side. (where heat sink steps up)

You may be disappointed with the replies. I almost bought one just because of its odd appearance when it looked like it might go cheaply on eBay, but the seller wanted $15 shipping, so even if no one else bid (no one did, including me), the total of $16 seemed too much (starting bid was $0.99).

Thermalktake sells one called the "Beetle" which is slightly uglier, and probably slightly larger. As I recall from one installed in a floor demo machine, it's rather noisy.

If you have a windowed enclosure and want something that looks interesting to be seen in that window, consider the Gigabyte "G-Power", which has a heat pipe setup, a 120 mm fan on top, and beautiful bright blue LEDs. The Blue Orb also looks good through a window, but it costs a bit. Not quite the huge MSRP of the Zalman it is a copy of, but not cheap.

The G-Power also has a standard mounting bracket. Most of the Scythe heat sinks (for which you have a couple of suggestions in the thread) have a real crappy and awkward mounting system. I don't think that the stock speed X2 3800 is that bad about getting very hot, therefore I'm curious why you decided that such a large HSF seemed needed, if it was not for what it looked like.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

dont waste you money on these crap coolers, get a scythe like the big boys =P

 

[leegroves86]

hey man
I owned a star ice at one time and I was NOT impressed. I had it on a 3000 venice and it covered ALL the cpu. Seriously, sell it man. I was fooled, just like you, into thinking it was good. It isnt'. Dang its loud too! I think there are some great coolers out there that are actually quite, ice star isn't one of them.

 

[RallyMaster]

should've gotten a Freezer 64 Pro

 

[dziuggy]

well a quick update, after reding this and more info online i ended up puting stock cooler back on. i will look into new one soon as i plan to OC the system. the good news is that i got it setup up and runing finaly today. keep recomendations coming, and include your cpu temps if available


btw i am runing asrock dual sata and amd 64 x2 3800+ (toledo)

 

[Zap]

dziuggy, if you stick to default voltages, you can just use your stock cooler unless you are going for looks or silence.

Originally posted by: Kiwi
The Blue Orb also looks good through a window, but it costs a bit. Not quite the huge MSRP of the Zalman it is a copy of, but not cheap.

Most of the Scythe heat sinks (for which you have a couple of suggestions in the thread) have a real crappy and awkward mounting system.

The Blue Orb is not a copy. Thermaltake was first to (mass) market with a round heatsink with embedded fan like that, with their original Golden Orb for socket 370 (now resurrected as Golden Orb II).

My Scythe heatsinks have been pretty easy to work with. I have a Katana and Ninja. The Ninja installs like a socket 478 heatsink, so it came with a plastic bracket to replace the plastic bracket on the motherboard. Just unscrew the two screws holding on the original plastic and replace it with the one provided, then the Ninja just clips right in. The Katana has to be "assembled" by adding the proper extensions to the base. This consists of using a pair of screws to screw on a large metal plate, one on each side, and then another pair of screws to screw on the little piece that connects it to the motherboard, also one on each side. That can be prepared outside the case. Next step is to unscrew the two screws that hold on the original plastic fan mount and then just screw down the Katana heatsink in its place. Easy.