CPU Cooler upgrade

it1uk

it1uk

it1uk

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Joined
18 Apr 2011
Posts
483
Location
Uckfield
I wonder if any of you guys can help me choose an new cpu cooler.

Im running an i7 860 @ 3.8GHz with a Titan Fenrir cooler and my temps are getting a little high due to the weather, its also getting pretty noisey to. Have tried changing the fan on the cooler but still no joy.

I was looking at replacing it with a Corsair H100 but after hearing about the issues they are having i think i will stick to air cooling.

Ive got a Cooler Master HAF-X case so size isnt to much of an issue but i do have some Crucial Ballistix Tactical tracer ram so its a little higher than normal ram.

What cooler would you recommend for around the £50 mark?

Thanks.
 
Your Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer is 35.6mm tall so will fit under most all coolers.
http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Ballistix-Performance-Memory/RAM-Module-Size/td-p/95721

Alpenfohn Matterhorn is very good for £29.99
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-037-AL&groupid=701&catid=2330&subcat=2337

Review
http://www.rwlabs.com/article.php?cat=&id=364&pagenumber=6

One of the best coolers at a very good price is Silver Arrow SB-E Extreme £53.99. I know it's a little more than your budget but..
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-099-TR

SA SB-E cooler is 154mm wide and 165mm tall. Top of CPU is 7-8mm above motherboard so total motherboard to top of cooler is 172-173mm.

With TY-14x series fans the fan is not as wide as cooler and will mount flush with top of cooler.. assuming RAM is low enough.

The TY-143 fans are not a problem with noise because you can set their speed with PWM control on motherboard. Mine run 28c @ 700rpm idle and 50c @ 950-1000rpm max load

Your top (7th from bottom) PCI slot is blocked. You need 78mm from PCI slot to middle of CPU for GPU to clear cooler.

Also measure and see what your side cover to RAM clearance is. You will need 140mm for fan to fit over RAM. Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer is 35.6mm tall. You will need 35.6mm (RAM)+ 2mm slot + 140mm (fan) = 177.6mm from motherboard to side cover.

Silver%20Arrow%20SB-E.png
 
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Thanks for your help, was thinking about the silver arrow sb. Shame OCUK don't have any stock at the moment.

Will check the measurements to see if it fits.
 
Many people have working H80/H100 CLC, but many have had issues with these coolers too. I think these refurbished are returned / caught before selling coolers with problems... and 90 day warranty is not long enough for me. CPUs forum thread about these refurbs has 2 received.. both with problems. One was leaking when opened and other has fan issues..

If it looks too good to be true it usually is. ;)
 
I have a Xigmatek Dark Knight SD-1283 Night Hawk Edition CPU Cooler, 1 in stock and good value at £34.99.

Reviews well for the price and looks cool in black with a white LED fan. I have it on an i5 but am considering using for a i7-3770k I have but have not installed yet.

I'm considering the Megahalem but am still checking if it will fit and with a fan is looking more like £60. One of the kings of air cooling though.
 
Just done some measurements and it should fit in fine. Just need them to come into stock now. Is it worth going for one of the other silver arrows with the slower fans?
 
I suggest calling OcUK and see when they will be back in stock.

All are same up to 1300rpm. Extreme with TY-143s is little better with their 2500rpm / 130cfm airflow.

My reasoning for SA SB-E Extreme is it's cheaper than SA SB-E (TY-150 bigger middle fan) & SA SB-E SE (TY-147 same size as TY-143) and the extra speed of Ty-143 at 2500rpm screaming is fun to show off. Great for the ego. :D They do give more cooling so possibly more overclock.. but do you need it? The SA SB-E / SA SB-E SE are among the best coolers.. and all of them are within a couple of degrees of each other.. SA SB-E Extreme is probably the best cooling with stock fans.. because they are 130cfm / 2500rpm.

Vortez review has SA SB-E Extreme 1.5c cooler than H100
http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/thermalright_silver_arrow_sb_e_extreme_review,9.html

PC-Cooling review has SA SB-E Extreme 7c cooler than H100 and SA SB-E 1c warmer than H100.

I believe the reason is Vortez is testing in case and PC-Cooling is open bench. Case is recirculating hot exhaust air into cool intake making cooler intake air several degrees hotter than room.
i7 3820 @4.75GHz
Temperature is delta.

H100 . . . . . . . . 41c 2500rpm. . . . . . . . 55dBA 2
SA SB-E . . . . . . 42c 1100rpm & 1300rpm 38dBA TY-150 & TY-141
SA SB-E Extreme 34c 2500rpm. . . . . . . . 56dBA 2x TY-143
Click to expand...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6xrsuPwDbo
jump in to 3:40 for results
 
Thanks for your help Doyll. Have ordered the SA SB-E for the moment. saves me having to play around with the fan speeds.

Will let you know how it goes when i get it.
 
Got the cooler fitted now, very nice bit of kit.

It has dropped my load temps by about 14 degrees and thats with the fans set to silent on the pwm control and thats in this heat! My cpu is cooler now than it was in the winter with the old cooler.

Thanks for your help in choosing it, very happy with it apart from it now being on a today only sale!!! Always the way! lol
 
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