Recommend me a cooler

[OmniOck]

After a week of searching, I finally found a Q9450. Now, before this, I had already an order placed with Micro Center, but they canceled it. In that order, was a OCZ Vendetta 2 cooler. Now, I have a chance to reconsider the cooler, since the order was canceled. Should I stick with the OCZ Vendetta 2, or could any of you recommend me something better. I plan to get at least a mid 3.0 OC, and I'm looking to keep everything under 60-ish degrees. In terms of sound, I'd of course rather have less than more, but under 45 dBa sounds reasonable to me.

 

[Zapper48]

Vendetta 2 is a fine cooler I use one :beer:

 

[VulcanX]

Hey i somehow disagree with that, and was looking into CPU cooling solutions, and came out that the ULTIMATE and not ALL that expensive turned out to be the Zalman CNP 9700 NT, thats firstly the best looking, works like a bomb, and works even better esp if you pushing it in the right direction ie. got the fan blowing towards the back (exhaust) fan
I would seriously take this into consideration, as my buddy got one and i saw first hand how it performs, and its dropped his temps MAJOR, but dont forget a decent thermal paste, keep thermal paste in mind
Thats my opinion, hope you make a good choice

 

[Zapper48]

Zalman 9700 Ultimate? Hardly. It used to be near the top for air cooling but not anymore.
A Thermaltake Big Typhoon would be better than the 9700.Tuniq is better also.My2c.

 

[webada]

Thermalright ultra120 extreme with Nexus 120mm or Noctua U12P to give you best noise/cooling combination.

 

[error8]

Either Thermalright ultra 120 extreme with whatever fan you think it fits you ( in terms of noise ) or Tuniq Tower. Both are high end coolers, the first tends to be better I guess, with a high rpm fan or two, in push-pull configuration ( very noisy though ).

 

[HossWTC]

I use a Xigmatek S1823 cooler on my Q6600. Highly recommended. I was using the stock cooler and at 2.8 G @ 1.3v it was cooking along at 70c running Prime95. Now with the S1283 and at 3.0, the max temp is 50c. I couldn't break 2.8 with the stock cooler.

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: webada
Thermalright ultra120 extreme with Nexus 120mm or Noctua U12P to give you best noise/cooling combination.

 

[Syzygies]

Originally posted by: Zapper48
Zalman 9700 Ultimate? Hardly.

Yup. I used the Zalman 9700 on my first build, the TRUE on my most recent. No comparison.

I'm intrigued by the Vendetta 2, but it can't take two fans push-pull. There's a lone comparison

Benchmark Reviews Best CPU Cooler Performance - Q1 2008

that lists it as best air cooler, the base of the TRUE in that lineup looked like hell, I'm waiting for verification.

Nevertheless, there are some similar bare pipe coolers that are right on the heels of the Vendetta 2, and can take two fans push-pull.

 

[SolMiester]

I would of thought a Q9450 @ 3.0Ghz wouldn't need such an heavy, big exotic cooler in order to run at a low temp. Why waste your money, all of those coolers require back plates also. How about a cheap AC Freezer 7 pro, looks good and throttle the fan down for low noise with acceptable temps.

 

[Syzygies]

Originally posted by: SolMiester
I would of thought a Q9450 @ 3.0Ghz wouldn't need such an heavy, big exotic cooler in order to run at a low temp. Why waste your money, all of those coolers require back plates also.

Any overclocked quad is going to throw a bunch of heat. However, the overclocking performance of the Freezer 7 is very close to the TRUE:

Arctic Cooling Duo: Alpine 7 & Freezer 7 Pro Attack Value

However, the Freezer 7 can't take two fans in push-pull. A second fan is not a lot to pay for some extra overclock. The OP said "at least a mid 3.0 OC", they'll stop on either heat or voltage. With a $300 processor, what's $20 here and there on cooling?

I'll admit that my dislike of Intel 775 push pins is irrational. They broke on me, and it must be their fault, I couldn't be a klutz, could I?

However, to engage in rational debate,

DFI X48 LT T2R: Floats like a Butterfly?

However, we would like to see the inclusion of a heatsink backplate on future DFI boards to ensure that the small Volterra MOSFETs do not lose contact with the heatsink when the motherboard bows under pressure from some of the higher torque mounting systems used on CPU coolers. As the Volterra MOSFETs are so small, any loss of contact between the FET and heatsink during a heavy transient load will result either in board shutdown or something catastrophic.

When I was learning to use clipless pedals on my mountain bike, I was afraid of "cowing" without getting my feet out. So every time I feared a situation, "Jeesh, this would be an awkward time to have to step out!" I made myself step out of my pedals.

I'm old enough to remember the hidden variable holding back widespread computer adoption: Some of my friends couldn't type.

The hidden variable in the Intel push-pin debate is a reluctance to take out the motherboard. I've met people who spend twelve hours a day in front of a grand piano. Isn't it embarrassing to shy away from something that's like five minutes of their dexterity output?

I don't take my motherboard out every time I think what a hassle it would be, but I do take it out whenever necessary. I like building, I need the practice, and it's nice not to have it cost $1000 every time I get some practice!

 

[SolMiester]

Good points Syzgies, for me its getting over the size and weight of these big coolers, a bit like your dislike of the push pin system I guess. I still dont think a 400OC is going to require exotic cooling, the stock HSF can do that anyway.....Their is no need for push pull cooling.

Besides, the Vendetta only got 20mhz faster!?

 

[RallyMaster]

Scythe Ninja. However, I hate the pushpins with the LGA775 config.

 

[Zapper48]

Iv'e used a Thermalright XP-120,a Thermaltake Big Typhoon,as well as a Thermaltake Silent Tower W/ push-pull 92mm fans. In my opinion the Vendetta 2 beats them all.
YMMV of course.

 

[Xed]

Vendetta 2, TRUE, xigmatek s1283, or the Noctua nh-u12p. I use the noctua in 2 of my builds, it has a great mounting system and is pretty easy to install (and cools well/quietly)