What are the best C2Q air coolers right now?

Alexrose1uk

Alexrose1uk

Alexrose1uk

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I've heard of the Tuniq Tower (meant to be a bitch to fit, and require a very open mobo/case), and the Freezer 7 Pro, however Im well aware there are many other types such as scythe, zalman etc, that I really don't know too much about.

I dont really want to spend a bomb on additional cooling, but since thinking carefully about the higher fsb on the upcoming Penryn chips, and how that would limit overclocking, I'm starting to consider buying a GO Q6600 again.

If I do, I'd like to hit 3.2GHz, preferably 3.6Ghz, but Im well aware that for most chips, thats going to be pushing temp boundaries (70+ degrees under load) with a stock cooler.

Because of this Im thinking a nice cooler might be a decent investment, but tbh, I havent really followed cooling since I got my X2 about 2 years ago.

I've already picked up the Jeantech Luna case (because I like the black/blue colouring) which has a 22cm fan on the side, so should be able to sort out some airflow over my cpu cooler, especially if I get one with an additional fan if on top.

Any recommendations? :)
 
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Alexrose1uk said:
I've heard of the Tuniq Tower (meant to be a bitch to fit, and require a very open mobo/case), and the Freezer 7 Pro, however Im well aware there are many other types such as scythe, zalman etc, that I really don't know too much about.

I dont really want to spend a bomb on additional cooling, but since thinking carefully about the higher fsb on the upcoming Penryn chips, and how that would limit overclocking, I'm starting to consider buying a GO Q6600 again.

If I do, I'd like to hit 3.2GHz, preferably 3.6Ghz, but Im well aware that for most chips, thats going to be pushing temp boundaries (70+ degrees under load) with a stock cooler.

Because of this Im thinking a nice cooler might be a decent investment, but tbh, I havent really followed cooling since I got my X2 about 2 years ago.

I've already picked up the Jeantech Luna case (because I like the black/blue colouring) which has a 22cm fan on the side, so should be able to sort out some over my cpu cooler if I get one with an additional fan if needed.

Any recommendations? :)
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I've gone for this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-003-OC&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=

Getting some great reviews out there for a mid-range cooler.
Haven't fitted it yet (just arrived 20 mins ago lol), but first impressions are good. Very well packaged, looks superb, will let you know how I get on with it!

Oh yeh, no need to take your mobo out and fit backplates etc. Standard Intel fitting.
 
Ditto Thermalright Ultra 120

frostytech .com/top5heatsinks.cfm

look there they test all the Heatsinks
 
KelticDaz said:
Very well packaged, looks superb, will let you know how I get on with it!

Oh yeh, no need to take your mobo out and fit backplates etc. Standard Intel fitting.
Click to expand...

I'd be very interested to hear how it goes :)

@People advocating thermalright, do they too use the standard intel fitting, and do you need to attach a 120mm fan to them, or are they great coolers without the need for a fan?

Additionally, whats the difference between the Ultra 120A and Ultra 120 Extreme (besides £15)

PS. Thanks for the links to the heatsink review sites, always nice to have additional info at your fingertips :)
 
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I got a Freezer 7 Pro last week and can't recommend it enough, It's cheap too. I'm currently running at 3.2GHz with idle temps at 36C and Loads at 57C. Can't fault it at all.
 
Alexrose1uk said:
I'd be very interested to hear how it goes :)

@People advocating thermalright, do they too use the standard intel fitting, and do you need to attach a 120mm fan to them, or are they great coolers without the need for a fan?
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Nope, the bigger HSF's like the TT120's, require backplates to be fitted. So you have to have the mobo out to fit them. And yes, unless specified they come with a fan (like the popular Tuniq Tower), you gotta buy a fan.
 
I read loads of reviews on CPU coolers before settling on a Tuniq Tower 120 with LED fan. Cooling wise it's excellent but it is tricky to fit especially the first time. The best way to fit it I've heard of is to fit the CPU and cooler to the mobo before you install in the case - not ideal if you want to swap CPU regularly but ok otherwise imho.

It's worth noting that the Tuniq Tower is more expensive than some other coolers, e.g. Freezer 7 Pro, and the fan controller is a bit fiddly to fit and not ideal at the back of the case in a PCI slot. The Tuniq supplied fan is also quite loud at full speed (2500 rpm I think) so I've bought a Scythe S-Flex 1600rpm fan to replace it, but will be using the Tuniq Fan elsewhere in my case which works fine.
 
Alexrose1uk said:
I'd be very interested to hear how it goes :)
Click to expand...

Went very well. OCZ Vendetta a doodle to fit as it uses the standard Intel fittings (with the usual caveats for that method...horrible system!)

Using Orthos, has dropped my load temps by around 10C from 68C to 58C (with room heater full on as its now 0C outside!). And that's with the fan speed set at 1400RPM (i.e. inaudible). Very pleased with it, can recommend it as a mid-range cooler wholeheartedly. Now I no longer get that horrid Intel standard HSF drone as it speeds up!
 
Ultra 120 Extreme is well worth every penny :) Nice and easy to fit once you have the motherboard out of the case...

Currently my G0 Q6600 is running @ 3.745ghz and Prime95 full load temps are at: 62/62/56/56... only fitted saturday so hopefully will drop a little more once the termal paste beds in...

Only slight point to make on the Ultra 120 is that to get the best performance out of it you will need to lap it, some dont have the flatest or well finished bases... but once lapped they are excellent
 
I had the Ultra 120 Extreme but couldn't bring myself to start all that lapping due to temp so I went for the TT120 and it keeps my C2D nice and cool straight from the box!
 
lapping the Ultra-120 was a lot easier than I thought it would be took maybe an 1 - 1 1/2 hours... got a lapping kit to do it and am well impressed with the results... if you have some free time would highly recommend doing it :)
 
apparently there suppose to be concaved them heatsinks
And one person lapped it and didn't make 1 degree difference...??
 
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