CPU heatsinks

[Azio]

I recently upgraded from my old 3200+ to an X2 4200+, and also had to upgrade the power supply. As I expected, I'm now running into heat issues. I used to be able to run my videocard fan in quiet mode, but games are crashing after about 30 minutes of gameplay unless I put it in loud mode because the CPU is raising the ambient temperature inside the computer just enough to push the videocard over the edge. I don't want this. I prefer a quiet PC.

 

So that has me shopping for a better CPU heatsink. I'm in the market for a quieter, higher-performance sink than the stock one. I looked into the gigantic units like the XP-90 and Zalman CNPS9000, but I'd rather have one with a low profile that won't block any slots on my Ultra-D. I also do a lot of lan gaming so I don't want to run the risks associated with moving a PC around with a 750g heatsink attached.

 

I've narrowed my search down to 3 heatsinks: the Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro, the Thermaltake Big Typhoon, and the Zalman CNPS800. Anyone know which one of these is best? Anything else I should be looking at?

[Sorrento]

I don't know those, maybe someone else can coment on their performance... but I can recomend the Thermalright ones:

 

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/soccpucool.html

[SeanDude05]

Thermalright's XP-120 or XP-90 non copper version, or the Big Typhoon.

[davidhammock200]

I don't know those, maybe someone else can coment on their performance... but I can recomend the Thermalright ones:

 

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/soccpucool.html

I agree!

 

XP-90 standard This works GREAT & is only $21!

SI-97A

XP-120

SI-120

SI-128 This is about as good as non-chilled air-cooling can get!

 

Dave

[mrzeld]

I agree!

 

XP-90 standard This works GREAT & is only $21!

SI-97A

XP-120

SI-120

SI-128 This is about as good as non-chilled air-cooling can get!

 

Dave

out of these, i would only consider the xp-90 "low profile" as Azio requested. the others are pretty tall coolers and would put strain on the motherboard when being carried to a LAN party.

 

Azio,

the freezer 64 cooler is not "low profile" either. it weighs 528g whereas the CNPS-9500 weighs 530g and is not "low profile". the big typhoon is definitely not "low profile" and weighs in at a whopping 813g. out of your original choices, i would go with the cnps-8000 (this is a very good review and shows the 8000 trailing not far behind the other big coolers mentioned above). but i would choose the cnps-9500 over that anyday if i could.

[Azio]

out of these, i would only consider the xp-90 "low profile" as Azio requested. the others are pretty tall coolers and would put strain on the motherboard when being carried to a LAN party.

 

Azio,

the freezer 64 cooler is not "low profile" either. it weighs 528g whereas the CNPS-9500 weighs 530g and is not "low profile". the big typhoon is definitely not "low profile" and weighs in at a whopping 813g. out of your original choices, i would go with the cnps-8000 (this is a very good review and shows the 8000 trailing not far behind the other big coolers mentioned above). but i would choose the cnps-9500 over that anyday if i could.

Yikes. I read a really crappy review for the 8000 somewhere so it's kind of put me off it. I'll look around some more.

 

Does the 9500 block any slots? I saw the actual unit at a store somewhere and I don't think I'll have problems with height clearance.

[red930]

I used to be able to run my videocard fan in quiet mode, but games are crashing after about 30 minutes of gameplay unless I put it in loud mode because the CPU is raising the ambient temperature inside the computer just enough to push the videocard over the edge.

 

Upgrading your computer heatsink won't actually help your graphics card from overheating. Think of it this way, you're removing more heat from your CPU...and where does it go? Into your case.

 

So...you can do one of two things:

1. Improve airflow in your case (that's always good)

2. Upgrade your graphics card's cooling solution

[3. Get the CPU heatsink just to keep your CPU cooler because it'll increase the life]

[Azio]

Upgrading your computer heatsink won't actually help your graphics card from overheating. Think of it this way, you're removing more heat from your CPU...and where does it go? Into your case.

 

So...you can do one of two things:

1. Improve airflow in your case (that's always good)

2. Upgrade your graphics card's cooling solution

[3. Get the CPU heatsink just to keep your CPU cooler because it'll increase the life]

I figure if I get a heatsink that blows the hot air from the CPU directly back, it will improve things considerably. The case is designed such that the CPU is right next to the main exhaust, but AMD designed the stock cooler such that the hot air is blown perpendicular to the airflow of the case, towards the RAM and the bottom of the videocard.

 

You are right though about that airflow thing. My cables are all pretty well organized, but the 120mm Cooler Master in the back isn't very impressive. I'll try just getting a better exhaust fan for now.

[mrzeld]

crazy nate is correct, now that i re-read your original post. a better CPU cooler will just put more hot air into your case. you need to work on your case ventilation. if there is anyway to put more/larger exhaust fans in the back of the case, do that. even if there is room but not a way to mount them, that is what a dremel and zip ties are for. i had an old case that i wanted to re-use, it had a single 80mm exhaust fan in the back. i got out the dremel and cut out a hole big enough for a 120mm fan. and used zip ties to hold the fan in place. works great and is quiet! (although i could understand you not wanting to take a dremel to your Lian-Li case )

[Azio]

I'm gonna pick up an Arctic Cooling Fan 12 on the way home, unless you guys know of something better. The fan I have now only moves 40cfm so this one should be a decent improvement, and it's only 10 bucks so if it doesn't fix the problem it won't hurt much.

[mrzeld]

i have always been partial to the Thermaltake Smart Case Fans. at their minimum speed they are very quiet and move quite a bit of air. at their maximum, they are loud and move a whole lot of air. but the nice thing is that you can adjust that speed yourself b/c they come with a rheostat. you can also use the thermal sensor to adjust the speed. very versital fans.

 

if not that fan, i would suggest buying a fan controller. then you can get a fan that is louder than you normally get, and use the fan controller to slow it down and make it quieter. even a simple little Zalman Fan Mate 2 works very effectively.

 

the artic cooling fan is a good fan from what i have read. but that still might not be enough air movement. but you can always try and try again. also remember that that fan is an exhaust only fan. unless your case is set up to allow an exhause type mounting on the front of the case, you cant use those fans for intake fans. (i am not sure how the intake fans mount on your lian-li case). getting cool air into the case is just as important as getting the hot air out. so don't skimp on the intake fan either.

[mrzeld]

if you have some money left over, it is always a good idea to replace the HSF on the GPU anyways. on my previous x800xl, i used a ZALMAN VF700-CU with great results compared to the stock cooler. and then for a little more, there is the excellent ZALMAN VF900–CU.