Which cooler to get? Now that SK-7 is no longer under $20.

[Naruto]

I got an SK-7 for $17 a while back. Hands down best cooler for the performance and price. I need another one now and the SK-7 is phased out, and lower price on the internet is $20 + shipping of at least $6. I don't need a top of line cooler, just something close to the Sk-7 in performance. These are the options I came up with:

Thermalright AX-7 in the area of $18 + tax (But I should go with all copper design)
Thermaltake Silent Boost for $25 + tax (After I get Frys to 110% pm to SVC, which is in my area)

If you have any more good options, I would gladly hear them. It looks like the Silent Boost is my choice and comes with a decent panaflo fan.

 

[EeyoreX]

I don't know enough about the Thermaltake product to make a recommendation for or against. I do know that I love my AX-7.

\Dan

 

[GAZZA]

AX-7 $14

ThermalTake Volcano 7 $14

SLK-700 $20

ThermalTake Volcano 9 $18

 

[WobbleWobble]

I would say get the Silent Boost. Even though it is a Thermaltake product, they can't really do much to make it a bad product. It's heatsink design is similar to the Thermalright ones and the fan is a Panaflo.

So I think it's a good choice.

 

[Naruto]

I do notice that the silent boost's surface is not as good as the thermalright's products. And after seeing how related all these heatsinks are in design, I would say the best performer has the best contact surface (no microscopic gaps).

 

[WobbleWobble]

Isn't the uneveness of any heatsink supposed to be solved by the thermal compound?

The purpose of the thermal compound is to fill in the gaps. Even when it's perfectly shiny, it's not completely smooth. You can lap it of course...

The whole lapping thing, I'm still skeptical on people's supposed temperature drops. Those 1-2 degrees they get I think are just seating the heatsink better.

But those are just my 2 cents.

 

[McArra]

My Silent boost performance is just great, 32C idle for 2500XP@2800XP 1,75v, at least as good as SLK-800. Also using ducting mod ($3 in a local shop).

 

[huesmann]

Did they stop producing the SK-7?

 

[nycdude]

Most likely the sk-7 is discontinued.

I just got an email from SVC that has the slk-900a for $19.99 with a coupon code. (Not sure if I can post it here.)

... and I just bought an sk-7 too.

See Hot Deals for code.

 

[Finnkc]

I got a VOL 11

http://www.casecooler.com/thvo11.html

man the thing is a leaf blower ... my girlfriend can't do home work in my office because the bloody FAN is soooooo loud. I even got the duct mod, it helped a bit but still the thing is so noisy.

I like the HS but the FAN has to go... any suggestions?

 

[blade]

That SLK900A deal for 19.99 is extremely hard to beat, as kin mentioned. It's the best air cooling heatsink that is currently made for socket A.

Otherwise the silent boost is very decent and includes a quiet and well performing fan. The AX-7 would be good too and is still a very good value at 14.99. But at 19.99, the 900a is the one.

I like the HS but the FAN has to go... any suggestions?

I never could figure out why people like that smartfan II. It's still too annoying for me even on the lower speeds. Thermaltake should be releasing the fan from their Volcano 12 later this year. It can get loud, but not nearly as annoying as the smartfan 2. On lower speeds it's fairly quiet and still pushed a lot of air.

Otherwise I'd suggest a ys tech or mechatronics 80mm.

 

[Naruto]

Just got the SLK-900a when I saw it in the hot deals. For $30, I got an SLK900a, a svc 92 mm fan, and arctic ceramique paste. My rig has a fan controller, so I am able to set that 92mm fan to comfort levels.