Stock cooler for Core 2 Duo's?

[Atty]

I'm going to be putting together my Core 2 build within the week (as soon as newegg gets my P5W in stock) and I'm wondering is the stock cooler for the Core 2's any good?

I need to save money so I was thinking, should I just stick with the stock cooler for the Core 2? I don't plan on over clocking (atleast straight away, when I do I'll get a new HSF) so is the Stock HSF any good? Will it work?


Edit: I should also add I don't care about noise.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: iAtticus
I don't plan on over clocking... so is the Stock HSF any good? Will it work?

Yep! It'll work fine... However, the boxed fan is sort of a klunk, so I wouldn't call it 'good'!

I saw them somewhere on the web, while I was surfing around, for like $16, if that tells you anything...

 

[Atty]

Well I just don't want my processor to damage my processor. If it will work fine and not over heat then I'll go ahead and use stock.

I just want to make sure it will work fine.

 

[VinDSL]

Yeah, Anand actually did a little overclocking with the stock cooler, but it didn't work too good!

Source

We had another Core 2 Extreme X6800 that we tried overclocking with a stock Intel HSF. The results were not as impressive as with the Tuniq cooler, with 3.4GHz being the most stable we could get it.

I'm sure it'll be fine if you don't O/C...

 

[Burner27]

If Intel includes it with their processors, you should be good provided you don't OC. Be warned though, it gets a wee bit loud at full load.

 

[Atty]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Does anyone have the stock on theirs now? If so can you tell me your temps? Any other information about it?

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Burner27
If Intel includes it with their processors, you should be good provided you don't OC. Be warned though, it gets a wee bit loud at full load.

Um...

While that was true in the past -- for instance, the boxed fan that came with my Northwood sounded like a leaf blower -- I *think* they've 'fixed' that on the new HSFs. However, from what I've read, that's why they only work so-so.

My stock HSF ran at 4000-4200 RPM most of the time. I haven't got the specs in front of me, but I *think* the new HSFs top out at 2400 RPM. I read a thread, a week or so ago, where they guy was complaining about the stock HSF running so slow, that it would actually stop at times. Soooo....

 

[Atty]

So are you saying that the stock HSF for C2D's is trash? Or what?

 

[imported_fallen]

The Stock HSF is not "GOOD" by any stretch of the immagination, but it is perfectly safe for your CPU Especially if you don't plan to overclock.

1. It will be louder than some of the recent aftermarket HSF units, but I doubt most people would notice the difference in actual use.

2. It will be a few degrees warmer than a good aftermarket solution, but perfectly within spec for your chip, or intel never would have shipped it with your CPU.

3. It will save you $16 to $70 dollars if you dont plan on overclocking.

I personally went with the Zalman 9500 & have no complaints. It was worth the extra $$ for the option of extra cooling power for OC'ing later.

 

[SparkyJJO]

If the stock cooler can't cool the chip it comes with then why the heck would it be included in the first place? It'll be fine if you don't OC. Might want to change it later when you have money due to noise reasons, in my experience stock coolers are generally not very quiet.

 

[Atty]

Well as I said I don't care about the noise.

I'll probably get a new HSF around Christmas when I get some extra cash and want to OC.

Thanks for the responses guys.

 

[Skott]

I read one review where they OCed a E6400 from 2.13 to 2.5 and they reccomended not going higher than that with the stock cooler. So for light OCing its safe (read 'light') I think. Dunno about the noise. I heard they are better than all previous Intel retail hsf. I'm using a CNPS 95500 AT on my rig. If you plan to do any OCing you'd best play it safe and get a good aftermarket hsf cooler.

 

[AlternateTheory]

I've recently gotten a core2duo (see my sig for sys details).

I'm running the stock cooler, I've also got it underclocked using the Q-Fan feature of the mobo. I think it runs at about 2000rpm normally?? but mine is running at about 1300rpm.

It is pretty quiet at that speed, and my temps as reported from the Probe utility that came with the mobo. doesn't seem to go over 50.

I haven't done a huge burn in test, but I have played Oblivion for several hours on the system to get those readings (I had the probe tool running on my second display).

Note I haven't done any OC, I have a large 12cm fan in the bottom of my psu, I have also been careful about cable lay out, and also have three case fans to make sure the airflow in the system is ok.... Oh and we are only just coming out of winter here.

(Although I have been wondering about an after market cooler to see if I can make things even quieter??)