CPU Cooler Advice

hawker1986 · 2 May 2025 at 08:16

Hi guys,

Ive currently got an old Corsair AOI ?H40??? Its probably 10 years old or more but had been running well. Recently I think its starting to struggle and could probably do with replacement.

Ive got a Silverstone Fortress FT02 so I cant go for a big AIO cooler as ive only got a single 120mm fan to exhaust from with it having 3x 180 fans along the bottom of the case.

Currently running 10600k and 7800XT and I am keen to try and keep the system as quiet as possible.

Question is do I go with an air cooler or another AIO? I think probably the air cooling route will be best as having the exhaust fan without the rad strapped to it may let the heat out of the case better. Next question is which cooler as you can tell I am out of the loop on this having used this for so long. Read good things about the Thermalright Peerless Assassin but also Noctua NH-U12A.

Would welcome any advice

Thanks in advance.

Makhaira · 2 May 2025 at 08:20

Either cooler is great, like you I'd go air rather than AIO.

Glanza · 2 May 2025 at 08:27

Air cooler for that chip especially if your limited to 120MM AIO.

mickyflinn · 2 May 2025 at 09:20

The Peerless assassin can be had for £20 , grab one.

hawker1986 · 2 May 2025 at 15:05

Done!

doyll · 5 May 2025 at 18:55

what mickyflinn said
Thermalright coolers are 1/4-1/2 as much as others with similar cooling, and they are good quality too. Really can't beat their performance and value.

hawker1986 · 15 May 2025 at 05:44

Thanks for the advice everyone, very impressed with the thermalright. Got it running min fan speed so it’s quieter than the old AIO and load temps are down almost 30oC . Needed changing!

Fluffybob · 15 May 2025 at 09:15

I was so surprised when I switched my nephew from an AIO to the Peerless assassin, it's incredible, and the price is the big winner ! !

hawker1986 · 15 May 2025 at 13:57

Fluffybob said:
I was so surprised when I switched my nephew from an AIO to the Peerless assassin, it's incredible, and the price is the big winner ! !

Definitely, difficult to know how the competition are selling any at 4x the price for no extra performance

krooton · 21 May 2025 at 08:31

Odd, I just the other day switched out my server heatsink (generic AMD wraith stealth that was idling a 3600 at 60º) for a PA 120 that I got for £25.

Whilst the temps did MASSIVELY improve to 30ºC idle (though I am sure the pre-applied thermal paste of the stealth was the main culprit), the fans were awful. A really noticeable mid-high frequency hum/whir that would drive me insane as the server is on 24/7 under my desk.

So I had to drop another £12 for 2 Arctic P12s and replaced the fans. Temps are still great, but now it is inaudible above my default room noise.