CPU cooler upgrade

LEK-89

LEK-89

LEK-89

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Joined
11 Oct 2008
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2,240
Location
Leicester
Hi all,

I've been using my Dark Rock Advanced cooler on my current rig now since I first put it all together just over a year ago. However, I'm currently in the process of switching motherboards and thinking that it may also be a good time to upgrade the cooler. Could anyone recommend me a good cooler for under the £50 mark? I've really liked the Dark Rock Advanced and I know that it has since been surpassed by the 2nd generation Dark Rock coolers if I am not mistaken?

Anyway, I'm just after a cooler which is highly regarded and is also really quiet. I've also been looking at water coolers a little bit too & I like the look of the Antec Kuhler 620, how well do these perform?

Thanks all - Liam
 
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I had a feeling that the monster that is known as the Noctua would be one of the candidates mentioned lol :) It does seem to live up to it's reputation though going by all of the reviews. I've been doing a bit of research into the Phanteks cooler too and will make a decision shortly.

The water cooling setup's mentioned are out of my budget unfortunately but thanks anyway!

Liam
 
At full load the highest temps I have seen are 72c, but that was with a 4.3Ghz overclock while running Prime overnight. At the stock speeds it usually averages around 60c, idle is 29c.

Liam
 
Unless it's noisy or you just want a change, I say stick with it and spend the money on something else :)

Those temps are ok. Not awesome, but perfectly acceptable.
Are you looking to push the oc much further?
 
I'm still perfectly happy with the cooler to be honest. I'm not looking to OC further as such with my 2500K as I know I probably won't be able to progress further than 4.4Ghz stable as it isn't one of these superstar CPU's which can OC well at low voltages.

The main reason for the change is because I'm currently in the middle of a motherboard upgrade and I noticed while mounting the cooler onto a new board yesterday (which is going back) that the screws are starting to get worn with the amount of tough tightning up and I fear that when it comes to mounting it up again with my other new board on the way, the screws will just about be too worn/sheared to do up properly, the Dark Rock isn't the most straight forward of coolers to fit as well.

Liam
 
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LEK-89 said:
I'm still perfectly happy with the cooler to be honest. I'm not looking to OC further as such with my 2500K as I know I probably won't be able to progress further than 4.4Ghz stable as it isn't one of these superstar CPU's which can OC well at low voltages.

The main reason for the change is because I'm currently in the middle of a motherboard upgrade and I noticed while mounting the cooler onto a new board yesterday (which is going back) that the screws are starting to get worn with the amount of tough tightning up and I fear that when it comes to mounting it up again with my other new board on the way, the screws will just about be too worn/sheared to do up properly. I think if Be Quiet do sell them as accessories then I will invest in some.

Liam
Click to expand...

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/alpenfoehn_k2_cpu_cooler_revisited,10.html

This should help you to make the decision! ;)
You can allways buy new screws. BeQuite is quality and the look is one of my favorite! ;)
 
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A itty bitty dab of oil on treads makes unbelievable difference in how easy mounting screws will tighten. ;) Dip tip of a pin in super fine oil then touched to first thread. ;)
 
Hey dude,

I'm rocking the Antec Khuler H20 920 but i ditched the stock fans in favour of 2x Akasa Silent Vipers.

Avg noise level is 14db.
Current temps (not really doing much, just a few ftp transfers)
CPU 34 °C
Core #1 35 °C
Core #2 36 °C
Core #3 41 °C
Core #4 35 °C

Max temps in OCCT small test and the fans ramped up to max
avg 80°C

hth
 
Admiral Huddy said:
I just put this in my sons PC

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-098-TR

Cools his OCd Q6600 on load around about the 50oc mark @ 3.6Ghz to give you an idea. A snip for under £25. Quiet too :)
Click to expand...

Aye. My choice in the cheap cooler category.

The DarkRock Pro 2 / Phantek / SilverArrow / K2 Mount Doom / NH-D14 brigade are good coolers, but expensive and massive. Or if you have case clearance, a TrueSpirit 140. Everything else would be a sideways upgrade.
 
LEK-89 said:
Hi all,

I've been using my Dark Rock Advanced cooler on my current rig now since I first put it all together just over a year ago. However, I'm currently in the process of switching motherboards and thinking that it may also be a good time to upgrade the cooler. Could anyone recommend me a good cooler for under the £50 mark? I've really liked the Dark Rock Advanced and I know that it has since been surpassed by the 2nd generation Dark Rock coolers if I am not mistaken?

Anyway, I'm just after a cooler which is highly regarded and is also really quiet. I've also been looking at water coolers a little bit too & I like the look of the Antec Kuhler 620, how well do these perform?

Thanks all - Liam
Click to expand...


http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...id=678&subcat=

or

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...id=678&subcat=

IMHO any choice of the above at around £40 is a ‘no brianer bargain.’ I have a very similar set up to yours with temps peaking at 69 degrees on two cores, average throughout the stress test was 61.75 degrees idle is at 28 degrees, The NH-D14 is OK for a 24/7 overclock at 4.8GHz, now running since Christmas 2010.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
AsRock Z68 Ex4 G3, [email protected], Ballistic Tracers 16GB,
5850 1GB(CFX), CM90 II Advanced, Crucial M4 256GB, 4 HDDs,
NH-D14, XFX 850W BE, Xonar Essence STX, BlackGold HD DVB.
 
Sorry dude. They were there at the time of writing my thread. I guess the deal was too good to last. I was also contemplating taking the 2011 Noctua, as an upgrade.

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AsRock Z68 Ex4 G3, [email protected], Ballistic Tracers 16GB,
5850 1GB(CFX), CM90 II Advanced, Crucial M4 256GB, 4 HDDs,
NH-D14, XFX 850W BE, Xonar Essence STX, BlackGold HD DVB.
 
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