Whats a Good Aftermarket CPU cooler (AIR)

TheRealist · 15 Jun 2013 at 15:25

Could anyone recommend me a good CPU cooler (preferably under £45). I have an i5 3570k and i want to overclock it to 4.5GHz. Would this cooler here be good for it: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-013-XG
Or are there any other good ones?

Thanks.

Avenged7Fold · 15 Jun 2013 at 15:56

What case do you have?

Raikiri · 15 Jun 2013 at 16:50

I'm a big fan of the Thermalright coolers such as this: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-102-TR&groupid=701&catid=2330

TheRealist · 15 Jun 2013 at 18:38

I have a galaxy 3 pc case.

TheRealist · 15 Jun 2013 at 19:03

What about this fan: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-004-BQ&groupid=701&catid=2330

MatsyLR · 15 Jun 2013 at 19:23

CM Hyper 212+

No reason to get anything more expensive unless you want one of the fancy ones for the looks/better temps

:(Rhodri:) · 15 Jun 2013 at 19:40

I'm using the Phanteks PH-TCP14PE here: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-009-PT&groupid=701&catid=2330&subcat=2348

It keeps my 950 at 4ghz at around 60 under load and about 40 idle, it's also quite quiet so very happy with it so far.

Edit: sorry skim-read the OP and missed the price bracket, there are smaller Phanktek's as well, but I'd echo the Thermalright recommendation at that price point, as I've had good results with them in the past.

shadow_boxer · 15 Jun 2013 at 19:45

Have a look at the Thermalright True Spirit 140 or the Cooler Master Hyper 612S. Both are around the £35 mark. For better performance you need to step up to the Phanteks or Silver Arrow which cost quite a bit more. Check they fit your case as they are pretty big.

doyll · 15 Jun 2013 at 20:06

I know your case is 20cm wide but can find no CPU clearance spec.

Could you tell us what the CPU to side cover clearance is? That will make it much easier to say what coolers will fit.

smilertoo · 15 Jun 2013 at 20:26

The phantek works well with its 140mm fans but it needs a lot of room.

TheRealist · 15 Jun 2013 at 20:36

doyll said:
I know your case is 20cm wide but can find no CPU clearance spec.

Could you tell us what the CPU to side cover clearance is? That will make it much easier to say what coolers will fit.

I think its around 16cm.

TheRealist · 15 Jun 2013 at 20:38

Also, what about the BeQuiet Dark Rock 2?

Raikiri · 15 Jun 2013 at 22:40

Theyre quite good, but I still think the Thermalright Macho I linked offers the best price/performance. I've had my 2500k at 4.8Ghz and around 65c load on the smaller/worse Thermalright MUX 120.

Personally I would look at changing cases if I were you, as well as the cooler. The one you have now is a very basic older design using mostly 80mm fans and simply isn't suited to newer components. If it's the one I think it is anyway.

YOUR BASKET
1 x NZXT Source 210 Elite Midi Tower Case - White £39.95
1 x Thermalright Macho 120 CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
Total : £69.94 (includes shipping : FREE).

doyll · 16 Jun 2013 at 08:06

TheRealist said:
I think its around 16cm.

"I think it's around 16cm" doesn't mean much. There are many coolers 160-165mm.. and I think they might fit.

TheRealist · 16 Jun 2013 at 12:35

Guys, I went for the Noctua NH-U9B SE2. They are good brand and i have heard this cooler is very good, also it is smaller than other coolers so i though it would be more practical for me. Did i make the right choice, you think i could OC the 3570k @4.5GHz with good temps?

greenbrucelee · 16 Jun 2013 at 13:26

never seen reviews on that one, I have the noctua nh-d14 and its one of the best air coolers on the market.

olivier renault · 17 Jun 2013 at 09:44

TheRealist said:
Also, what about the BeQuiet Dark Rock 2?

Good quality, with emphasis on silence rather than performance.

As for the NH-U9B SE2, I suspect its limit would be around 4.2, 4.4GHz on those Haswell chips. It's about mid-range performance, bit like the BeQuiet cooler.

Dillinja · 17 Jun 2013 at 10:54

DARK ROCK PRO 2

My vote is for the " Be Quiet " "Dark Rock Pro 2"...Simply because I have just installed 1 in this new machine and not only is it a hell of a air cooler ( 4.5 @ 1.220v 2 hrs aida 64 max temp 70 ) it looks sooooo hench I don't even wunna be in the same room as it alone

...nah seriously it does look very nice inside a HAF-X on sabertooth z77 which brings me on to the other point which is what case u use...this is certainly not the smallest of coolers so do your maths and find dimentions before u buy ( case and cooler ) oh and ram because with this cooler its pretty much standard height ram or smaller, I went for LP Ram so it didn't matter what I went for in the end ....

hope this helps or at least adds to your confusion

Ian Evey · 17 Jun 2013 at 16:03

i have the same cpu and have had a xigmatek aegir for 2 months now and i can not fault it for £35

When you install your cooler set your cpu to 4.2ghz and see what the temps are. To compare Mine at 4.2ghz is 60c with 1.2v using prime , and at 4.5ghz at 1.25 its 65c max temp.

Hope your chosen cooler does its job.