What CPU cooler to use for OC'ing a Q6600?

[bovinda]

I'm sure it's been asked, but don't have the time to search in detail for good answers. I need a aftermarket CPU cooler for a Q6600. I would like to do some OC'ing, but I want it to be as quiet as possible.

I also want to make sure it will fit and will be easy to place! Of all the things I have anxiety about in building a computer, I'm most anxious about correctly placing an aftermarket CPU fan. I keep having nightmares I'm going to spread the thermal paste in a big gob over the mobo, shorting it before it ever has a chance to post.

This will be in a P182 case, using an Abit IP35 Pro mobo. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated! I'm ordering parts tonight and this weekend. Thanks guys.

 

[techgamer]

tuniq tower = cooler than a polar bear's toenail

 

[Quiksilver]

Well, their are really two coolers you really want to look at. Tuniq Tower and Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme. The TRU12-E doesn't come with a fan so you will have your choice with how quiet you want it to be. The tuniq comes with a fan and I am not sure how loud it is but it too is easily replaceable.

Of course their are other coolers on the market but those two are the best of the best coolers around.

 

[bovinda]

It does seem like these are the names I've heard again and again. What would be a good, quiet fan for use with the TRU12-E?

Perhaps as importantly, is it easy to install, and would it fit on my mobo and in my case?

Same questions in regards to the Tuniq.

EDIT: and maybe a stupid question--I do need to apply thermal paste with either of these fans, right? What's a good paste to use...and where can I find instructions on how to apply it without f'ing everything up?

 

[JSK07]

You will get alot of responses recommending either the Ultra-120 or the Tuniq tower. Personally I went with the Tuniq because of price. The Ultra-120 is more expensive and does not include a fan so you have to buy that separately. When I priced the Ultra-120 it was $65 and then another $5 for a fan. I got the Tuniq for $45 with free shipping and it includes a fan.

I installed the backing plate, then installed the motherboard and then the cooler. It was a pain because you can see in this picture how little room there is on the back of the P182 case. I cut my hand up pretty good on the cooler fins trying to tighten the back 2 thumb screws. If I were to do it again I would install the cooler before mounting the motherboard into the case.

http://img122.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img4989tk1.jpg


Tuniq supplied their brand of thermal paste but I chose to pickup a $5 tube of Arctic Silver 5 from Newegg. I put 2 thin lines of thermal paste on the CPU. Looked like an equal sign.

 

[Quiksilver]

You installed the tuniq and backplate while in the case??!?! What the... it's much easier to do it outside of the case.

 

[MarcVenice]

No need to get AS5, the TX2 thermal grease supplied with the Tuniq Tower is pretty darn good stuff. Personaly I'd go with the Tuniq, since it performs 'nearly' the same as the Thermalright, for a lot less money.

 

[bovinda]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm going to compare these two and pick one up.

So...hate to beat a dead horse, but one last time, how difficult are these to install compared to the stock heatsink? JSK07's story emphasizes the importance of installing before putting the mobo in...but how difficult is it really?

There's no drilling or forcing, right? I won't get gobs of thermal paste all over the place? Or burn out my CPU b/c I didn't use enough? The only CPU fan I've ever put on was a stock AMD 3200+, and that had a pre-placed thermal patch.

 

[JSK07]

QuicksilverX1, no I installed the backing plate prior to installing the motherboard. I was at least smart enough to do that right. LOL What I did was mount the HSF while the board was already secured in the case. Looking back I should have installed everything before mounting the motherboard.

Bovinda, the Tuniq really is an easy install. Flip the motherboard over, peel the adhesive cover and stick the backing plate onto the motherboard making sure to line up the 4 holes on the motherboard with the 4 holes on the backing plate. Once secure you flip it back over and install your CPU. Once secured you can apply your thermal paste. You don't want too much. Definately not enough to ooze out the edges and onto the motherboard.

Once you have that ready it's just a matter of mounting the Tuniq tower. There is an H shaped bracket that has 4 holes. These lineup with the motherboard. Once you put that bracket on the copper part of the HSF it's just a matter of taking the 4 thumb screws and securing the H bracket to the backing plate on the back motherboard. In all honesty this is probably a 5 minute job with the motherboard out of the case.

 

[glmino]

Hi,
I have the Tunic Tower, and give it an 8 out of 10 for difficulty installing.
My mobo has a northbridge cooler that made the job harder to do.
A good tip for applying het sink paste is to get just enough on the proc to
cover it very very thinly.
I use one of those keychain cards like you get at Petsmart and other places
and use it to spread the paste evenly.
Good luck!

 

[EvixKeth]

For the thermal compound, I would recommend Arctic Silver 5.

I've heard great things about both those coolers, but I actually went with a ThermalRight IFX-14, so there's another one to look at. Expensive, and no included fan, so weigh the pros and cons accordingly. Also, it's big! If you want it, make sure you have plenty of room.

http://i81.photobucket.com/alb...ro%20Hour/912c33c4.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/alb...ro%20Hour/bbb33f28.jpg

The Thermalright site has the measurements in a PDF for the cooler. It's a damn good cooler, though. I've got my Q6600 to 3.60 GHz stable, and I'm idling right around 36 degrees Celsius.

Of course, some people aren't as "hardcore" about their cooling, as one friend of mine put it. He's got a Thermaltake V1 on his Q6600, and he's quite content with it.

So, now you have 4 choices.

 

[MadScientist]

Originally posted by: JSK07
Tuniq supplied their brand of thermal paste but I chose to pickup a $5 tube of Arctic Silver 5 from Newegg. I put 2 thin lines of thermal paste on the CPU. Looked like an equal sign.

For a quad Artic Silver's instructions for appling AS5 uses only 1 thin line of paste.