Question What is the best budget CPU cooler for a SFF case?

[Hans Gruber]

I ordered a Dell for for the graphics card. I am going to sell the box. The width of the case says 6.8". I have a NIB 212 LED 120mm cooler but I think that will be too tall for the case. So a low profile 120mm or 92mm air cooler is probably what I will need. The 212 LED cooler says 6.5" but I measured slightly above 6.25". The CPU is an i5 10400, 6 core 12 threads. I think I want something decent for cooling.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I ran a search, because I was puzzled about your reference to an "NIB 212 LED 120mm cooler". The only thing I could find was the Coolermaster Hyper 212, variants and improvements. So what does "NIB" mean? I'm totally clueless.

 

[Hans Gruber]

I ran a search, because I was puzzled about your reference to an "NIB 212 LED 120mm cooler". The only thing I could find was the Coolermaster Hyper 212, variants and improvements. So what does "NIB" mean? I'm totally clueless.

That means New In Box 212 LED which is a cooler master 120mm air cooler.

 

[BoomerD]

That means New In Box 212 LED which is a cooler master 120mm air cooler.

he's old...those fancy new terms confuse him. Like Bonzai, I presume the 212 LED is the Coolermaster Hyper 212...or one of its variants.
Noctua offers a couple of coolers that should do the job...but budget they ain't.

NH-C14S

Successor to the award-winning NH-C14, the NH-C14S is an elite class top-flow CPU cooler that is extremely efficient, highly compatible and remarkably adjustable. Thanks to its deeper fin stack and the renowned NF-A14 PWM fan, the single fan NH-C14S provides similar quiet cooling performance to...

noctua.at

NH-U9S

Continuing the renowned legacy of Noctua’s award-winning NH-U9 series, the NH-U9S is a premium quality quiet CPU cooler in classic 9cm size. Its asymmetrical design with 5 heatpipes not only provides even better cooling performance than the previous generation but also improves compatibility...

noctua.at

 

[Hans Gruber]

The computer will not arrive for a 4 or 5 days. I am going to modify my 212 LED, all are 212+/EVO variants. Mine has an LED fan.

 

[aigomorla]

The cheapest heatsinks that are good and recommended by me personally:

IDCooling:

Amazon.com

Be Quiet Pure:

Amazon.com: be Quiet! BK008 Pure Rock Slim - CPU Cooler - 120W TDP- Intel 1150 / 1151/ 1155/ 1156 & AMD Socket AM2(+) / AM3(+) / AM4 / FM1 / FM2(+): Computers & Accessories

Buy be Quiet! BK008 Pure Rock Slim - CPU Cooler - 120W TDP- Intel 1150 / 1151/ 1155/ 1156 & AMD Socket AM2(+) / AM3(+) / AM4 / FM1 / FM2(+): CPU Cooling Fans - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Vetroo:

Amazon.com: Vetroo V5 White CPU Air Cooler w/ 5 Heat Pipes 120mm PWM Processor 150W TDP Fan Intel LGA 1200 115X / AMD Ryzen AM4 Universal Socket w/Addressable RGB Lights Sync: Industrial & Scientific

Buy Vetroo V5 White CPU Air Cooler w/ 5 Heat Pipes 120mm PWM Processor 150W TDP Fan Intel LGA 1200 115X / AMD Ryzen AM4 Universal Socket w/Addressable RGB Lights Sync: CPU Cooling Fans - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

If you want something low profile:

IDCooling:

Amazon.com: ID-COOLING IS-60 Low Profile CPU Cooler for Intel/AMD 55mm Height AM4 CPU Cooler 6 Heatpipes CPU Air Cooler 120mm PWM Fan: Computers & Accessories

Buy ID-COOLING IS-60 Low Profile CPU Cooler for Intel/AMD 55mm Height AM4 CPU Cooler 6 Heatpipes CPU Air Cooler 120mm PWM Fan: CPU Cooling Fans - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Vetroo:

Amazon.com: Vetroo L5 Black Low Profile CPU Air Cooler for AMD Ryzen AM4/Intel LGA1200 115X w/ 5 Heatpipes and 120mm Quiet PWM Fan: Computers & Accessories

Buy Vetroo L5 Black Low Profile CPU Air Cooler for AMD Ryzen AM4/Intel LGA1200 115X w/ 5 Heatpipes and 120mm Quiet PWM Fan: CPU Cooling Fans - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Thermalaright:

Amazon.com: Thermalright AXP-90I Low Profile CPU Cooler Intel 115X, 47mm Height, Quiet 90x90x15mm PWM Fan for Computer PC Case, Silent 4 Heatpipes CPU Air Cooler, Compatible with Intel 115X(Pure Copper): Industrial & Scientific

Buy Thermalright AXP-90I Low Profile CPU Cooler Intel 115X, 47mm Height, Quiet 90x90x15mm PWM Fan for Computer PC Case, Silent 4 Heatpipes CPU Air Cooler, Compatible with Intel 115X(Pure Copper): CPU Cooling Fans - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Phantek:

Amazon.com: Phanteks Slim Low-Profile Heatsinks, 120mm PWM CPU Cooling PH-TC12LS: Computers & Accessories

Buy Phanteks Slim Low-Profile Heatsinks, 120mm PWM CPU Cooling PH-TC12LS: Heatsinks - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[Hans Gruber]

The Ventroo 120mm barely fit into the Dell case. I have to work the case in a certain way and it slides right it. The tips of the heatpipes are resting on case panel. I am going to run some Prime 95 just to see what kind of temps that I get. These Dell's are assembly line garbage but they always boot up. You can't adjust the memory timings. I have a love hate relationship with Dell stuff. It's junk but it works. I can't imagine people buying the XPS stuff for gaming.

The 1660 super is now in my Ryzen 3600. The 970 will now collect dust. It still works but it has seen better days.

 

[Hans Gruber]

The Ventroo is a great cooler. Prime 95 after 30 minutes max temps. The high temps on Core #0 59C, Core #1 62C Core #2 62C, Core #3 64C, Core #4 60C Core #5 60C. Max speed on 10400 is 4Ghz all core. 4.3ghz on a single core. So 4ghz is what you would see.

Without a load this cooler idles @ 24-28C on the hot cores . Ambient air temp in air conditioned room 70F.

 

[aigomorla]

not bad for a cooler that costs almost the same price as just a notuca Fan would.

That is why ive been pushing those guys on builds with budget.
I like downfacing fans more for non overclocked systems. (Lower Profile) as they help keep the board and even the nVME cool as its sometimes located right below the CPU.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Why change the dell provided cooler if you are going to sell the box?

 

[Hans Gruber]

Why change the dell provided cooler if you are going to sell the box?

I have a few people I sell computers to. If something is not right with the computer. They complain or ask me to fix it. If I have the right components. I never hear about problems with a PC. A120mm cooler in a SFF box like this can cool the entire PC.

Right now I am just testing out the Dell. Updating the bios, reinstalling a clean install of Windows 10 and figuring out what ram sticks will run 2666mhz on this machine. You have to have ram with the right JEDEC embedded memory speed for it to run @ 2666mhz. There is no way to access memory speed settings or timings.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Deepcool 200: https://www.deepcool.com/product/cpucooler/2013-12/7_471.shtml

It doesn't get any cheaper than this, and it's 90% of the Pure Rock Slim.