Best/most suitable cpu fan for my i7 920

bobert50 · 25 Jan 2011 at 00:31

I'm struggling with the huge amounts of info out there regarding the best choice but from my limited reading i'm thinking the noctua (but kinda expensive but if it is really the best...) or maybe the H50/70.

Basically i have my i7 920 @ 4.2ghz. I've never messed with prime but ive never had it crash in any game in the entire time of owning, and it tends to reach about 70c max on games on my Akasa Nero AK-967 which i bought when buying the cpu over a year ago and realise its probably a bit dated now.

The reason for the change now is because ive recently started compiling maps and i dont want to drop my clock but i've already had to lose hyperthreading as when compiling maps my temp is up at about 88c and as high as 92c at times :eek:

Which one would you guys in the know recommend ? I'm basically after one that'd significantly lower my temps and allow me to get hyperthreading back on for compiling maps and not be "too" intrusive from a noise pov either (i'd prefer not to hear it over my case fans on low on my antec 1200).

Suggestions please! any bargains? i don't mind forking out for the noctua if it really is the best bet by far. I'd also have a slight preference towards ones which were fairly easy to fit and not a total faff! theres nothing worse! again not essential but in an ideal world...

bifday2k · 25 Jan 2011 at 08:51

Cogage Arrow, Thermalright Silver Arrow, DH-14, Megahalms, Thermalright VX, Thermalright Archon all better then a H50/70.

The only time i would consider ah H50/70 is if you are using high heatsink memory, as some of those above coolers may interfer then, but if using normal heatsink memory then it will be fine.

bobert50 · 25 Jan 2011 at 09:38

Thanks for the reply

researching now. Which ones are arguably best performance/price value ?

NathWraith · 25 Jan 2011 at 10:47

As mentioned above the Prolimatech Megahalems is an excellent cooler. Doesn't come with a fan so you will have to buy one seperatly. Does come with 2 fans clips however, so you can attach 2 fans for push/pull config.

MooMoo444 · 26 Jan 2011 at 13:02

At 4.22 with a push pull megahalem, I only top out at 77-80 while running burntest, so I wouldnt hit anywhere near that in other tasks likely.

It's definitely worth the money, I have two Akasa Vipers on mine

Xelene · 26 Jan 2011 at 19:28

bobert50 said:
Which one would you guys in the know recommend ? I'm basically after one that'd significantly lower my temps and allow me to get hyperthreading back on for compiling maps and not be "too" intrusive from a noise pov either (i'd prefer not to hear it over my case fans on low on my antec 1200).

I seem to recall HT adds around 15% performance depending on workload, if that's the case then dialling the clock back a bit would make some sense. A 3.6-7GHz i7 with HT should have similar performance to a 4.2GHz without... (at least in multithreaded apps)

Essexraptor · 26 Jan 2011 at 20:33

All 3 of the twin rad air coolers and from experience better in a Antec 1200 than H50 no matter what fans I put on it or configuration etc

Cogage Arrow, Thermalright Silver Arrow, DH-14

will just fit in your Antec 1200 but I recommend that you fit the fans etc before putting back into your case. Downside is getting the MB securing screws back in is a git of a job along the top left hand corner/center top positions.
PWM splitter for the cooler fans comes with the D14 but not the Arrow.
Arrow is a fiddly cooler to fit and I had a swearing session for a while, especially with the pressure adjustment with a naff supplied spanner and working between the rads.
Plus point is that the suplied fans are quieter than Antec 1200/DF85 fans on low setting

megahalem

old in air cooling terms but still a very hard cooler to beat and well proven on i7 920 setups

As suggested above enable HT and knock it back to 3.8Ghz and you loose nowt performance wise

setter · 26 Jan 2011 at 20:56

Got a megahelim here, good cooler, but it wasnt any better than the ancient TRUE black that i had previously.

C64 · 27 Jan 2011 at 14:06

What sort of heatsinks does your ram have ? how tall

I wouldn't look at anything other than the following

Noctua D14
Silver arrow
Archon

Why settle for second best for £10-£20-£30 less.
Top end air cooler will last you ages and hold it's value extremely well if you ever decide to sell it on.

I'd be all over the archon for £46 just not sure if it fits in that antec 1200 needs 170mm from the cpu socket to the side panel.
If not enough room then the silver arrow but check that ram etc.

w3bbo · 27 Jan 2011 at 15:08

Gone from High end watercooling to a Super Mega. Not that impressed as expected as my temps have gone from 4.5 - 70c to 4.2 85c

. I do however need to remount and have a play around as I was using some old paste. It is a nice cooler though must admit with a very good mounting mechanism.

setter · 27 Jan 2011 at 17:42

Got the super mega as well, temps are pretty good at 4ghz, bit expensive though and quite close to my ram. Quite like the look of the Archon as its a lot slimmer than the mega.

Skellig · 27 Jan 2011 at 18:04

C64 said:
What sort of heatsinks does your ram have ? how tall

I wouldn't look at anything other than the following

Noctua D14
Silver arrow
Archon

Why settle for second best for £10-£20-£30 less.
Top end air cooler will last you ages and hold it's value extremely well if you ever decide to sell it on.

I'd be all over the archon for £46 just not sure if it fits in that antec 1200 needs 170mm from the cpu socket to the side panel.
If not enough room then the silver arrow but check that ram etc.

Ditto.
Top end cpu with high over clock should require a top end cpu cooler...

though I'm not really one to talk. Got a D14 on my old E8500

(the gal's at 4.02 and after a few over heat with stock cooler I thought she deserved the very best! Glad too. Never would have hit 4 if I didn't)