Decisions, decisions...

[wyrd]

Hi,

So, I've got a Thermalright Archon (with 1 stock fan) at the moment, cooling a 2500k, and I'm a little underwhelmed.

The CPU is currently overclocked to 4.6GHz and hitting 79 degrees in IBT with a 1.36 vcore (1.34v in cpuz). During Prime it's obviously cooler but during my overclocking antics I have found that I need to run both as one will often pass whilst the other fails. I would like to push the chip further but the potential heat is worrying.

I have been considering getting another Thermalright fan for push/pull or maybe buying a Corsair H80 (probably with 2 Ap-14 fans). Would either option provide much of an improvement?

I have suggested the above because my other options appear to be limited:

I have nowhere to mount a H100.
Proper watercooling scares me. I am very clumsy and something WILL go wrong! Also, the cost is prohibitive.
The size of the Archon is annoying me a little, so anything bigger like the Silver Arrow or NH-D14 wouldn't be welcome.

Are there any alternatives I have overlooked?

Cheers for reading

 

[Purgatory]

H80 performed worse for me and was hell of a lot noiser too. I sent the H80 back and got the Archon which is a much better cooler and quieter too. Make sure to use the centre screw to add more pressure and use a good thermal paste. I have mine setup with 2 x 120 apache viper fans and best cooler I have used in ages.

These are the fans I use

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-059-AK&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=4

I was thinking of changing them for the 140mm versions of the fans, just because they are more quiet and push more air but reality is they never kick in to anything that I can hear over the rest of the system.


Picture of it in my case.

Things I would do is try reseating the cpu and make sure when doing that to unscrew the centre screw so it just stays on and not pressing down. Then apply a 5.5mm blob of thermal paste in the dead centre of the cpu and then mount the cooler, let the cooler spread the thermal paste, don't use lines and spreading by hand methods they only add air bubbles I find. After doing that make sure to tighten the centre pressure screw too as hard as you feel it can take and run the system for a day and then retighten the centre screw again, you will find it allows you a bit more movement once the thermal paste has had time to heat up and spread evenly.



Check this review here

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2010/12/08/thermalright_archon_cpu_air_cooler_review/

 

[wyrd]

Hmm, I have reseated it once already as cores 1, 2 and 3 were 9 degrees hotter than core 0 during load. It made no difference though so I assume that's just how the chip is.

I've always used the small dot method for thermal paste (currently using the Chill Factor III that came with it) but I only use about 2 or 3mm. I find that any more results in it just being pushed over the edge of the CPU's heatspreader.

With regards to the pressure screw; are you sure it's safe to tighten it to that extent? I seem to recall reading that excessive force can damage the socket, so I only gave it a very small twist...

How worse was the H80 you tried? I have seen many people complaining about the noise so if I did go that route I would certainly replace the fans - with either the Gentle Typhoons I mentioned or possibly the Vipers. Have you used your Archon with just 1 fan? If so, was there any difference in temps?

Cheers, Jon

 

[Purgatory]

Yes I tried 1 fan at 1st and then the 2nd one I found the 2nd fan reduced the temps a further 3-5c. I tightened mine to the point it felt stiff by hand and then added half a twist more with the tool that came with it, it's not fully tightened to the point the screw gets stopped by the cooler. A day later I gave it another quarter twist to take out any play that may have happened during the thermal paste settling down. Just tighten it with the tool and if you feel it is getting very hard to twist it with your index finger I would stop and check for play in the cooler, see if it wobbles if it feels solid then don't add more pressure. Yes be careful too when doing that the pressure can damage the socket if not careful but I have not heard of anyone breaking a socket with this cooler yet, but better to play safe then be sorry and end up with a bad socket. I think the socket with the cpu placed in it correctly can take a lot of pressure anyway, it's the bed of nails thing if you know what I mean.

You have 3 cores reading about same temp so take it as core 4 is slightly off with it's sensor, don't worry too much about that, if you had removed the cooler before and the paste was evenly spread its just the sensor then or the heatsink on the cpu is a little off which happens, but I doubt it's that.


The temps on the H80 were no better then the ZALMAN CNPS 9700 NT cooler I had before, it may have been 1-3c better that's about it but was a lot more noisy the H80 and the fans are terrible that come with it and it made funny fish tank noises too, guessing the pump or the unit was not filled correctly, or just how they are. Others have complained of the noise these coolers make. The archon is great really just get 2 fans on it and seat it right and it is a top air cooler and beats even the silly corsair fish bowls.