CPU coolers

  • Thread starter Thread starter mada
  • Start date Start date
M

mada

New member
Hi,

I'm ready to purchase a new heatsink and fan to replace my loud Thermaltake Volcano 5. I've been looking at the Zalman CNPS3100-Plus Flower Cooler

http://www.quietpc.ca/cpucoolingother.html
(1/4 of the way down the page)

I was all set to order it and then I found this one
Thermaltake Silent Boost

http://www.bigfootcomputers.com/Mer...een=PROD&Product_Code=1477HSTT&Category_Code=

Can anyone give me some advise one way or the other? Both seem to be getting good reviews. The Zalman has been around longer, so I'm confident that it would work fine for me, but if the Thermaltake will work better then I might go for that one.

I'm open to other suggestions if you have experience with a quiet CPU heatsink/fan.

Thanks,

Adam
 
FWIW, I use a Zalman cooler (the 7000 AlCu which is further down that page). Not only is it the coolest looking product I have ever seen, but it is extremely quiet (I have it set to half speed, about 2000 RPM), and keeps my P4 2.8Ghz (overclocked to 3.2 GHz) running at 31 degrees C. In the Athlon family it's only for Hammer CPUs, I don't know if you have that. If the other coolers Zalman makes are at this level, I'd think you can't go wrong.
 
I've used thermaltake products and currently use the Zalman Flower Cooler (can't remember the model #, all copper), on an AMD XP 2000. It's quiet, works well. The thermaltake products I've used have been way louder than their claims. I haven't tried *this* particuliar one, but I'd go with Zalman.
 
Emeric said:
I haven't tried *this* particuliar one, but I'd go with Zalman.
Click to expand...

I think I agree. The Zalman has a proven track record. I'll make sure to let everyone know how it works out. Anything is better than what I have now.
 
Zalman CNPS7000Cu (not the AlCu), period. I've built over a dozen computers with it, and it is fantastic.
 
The all copper version (Cu) is more than 200 grams over Intel's spec for weight for a CPU cooler (~770 grams, max weight is 450g). It does cool better than the aluminum/copper mix (AlCu), but it also invalidates your warranty. The aluminum/copper mix is more than adequate for cooling anything short of extreme overclocking.
 
Perhaps therein lies the issue. I always try to eek out every last drop of performance and therefore always use the best equipment available.

Of course, I use a Prometeia primarily for that reason.

Besides which, have you EVER heard of an Intel CPU breaking under the pressure of a heatsink? Now those AMD cores are a different animal (though I've never broken one)...
 
I'll second (third, fourth) the Zalman 7000. This is the quietest HSF i've ever.. uhhh.. not heard. :)

Super heavy, tho'. And big! Do some research to make sure your mobo can acomodate it.


tj
 
Good point Teej, I keep forgetting it's huge! This goes for both the 7000Cu and 7000AlCu (they're the same dimensions).
 
OK. So then tell me; Intel says that anything over 450 grams invalidates their warranty. But almost everything on there that has been recommended here weighs more than that. So what do you suggest if you don't want to invalidate the warranty but keep your processor cool. I've been avoiding this issue because it seems to be more confusing than anything else about building a system.

BTW, what else would invalidate the warranty of a processor?
 
I've been using a Zalmon flower heatsink for a couple of years. Easiestly the coolest thing I've ever stuck into a computer.

I've got one of the original 3100cu or something like that, with the big "fan" of fins sticking upwards. I had to replace the fan, and positioning the arm can be a pain, but I think the fan and arm of of higher quality these days than when I got mine.

I has a mishap with a tbird 1 ghz way back and ended up with it locked at 1.3 ghz and 1.85 volts, running in a mid tower case. The Zalmon pulled it off (barely). My XP seems quite happy with the Zalmon but my mobo didn't come with temp monitoring software so I don't know what it running at, I think the low 50s (remember it's a mid tower case).

Great heatsink, love it.
 
"BTW, what else would invalidate the warranty of a processor?"

Overclocking does, lots of things technically do. I wouldn't be very worried about the weight of the heatsinks unless you move your system around a LOT and aren't very careful with it. I, in all the systems I've built using Intel chips, (literally hundreds, probably over 1000) have never seen one break due to the weight of the cooler (this goes for heatsinks as well as some fairly heavy and strange watercooling equipment).

It's a non-issue unless some company comes out with some heatsink that's like 4 pounds or something ridiculous.

Trust me, if the heatsink breaks your Intel CPU you've done something so terrible to the computer that you deserve it to be broken! ;) (not that I wish that upon anyone, busted systems suck)
 
I too have the Zalman Al/Cu and it does a great job and is super quiet. I'll just second the size issue though - It barely fit into my case. I actually had to bend the fins on one side to clear the power supply chassis.
 
I wouldn't worry about it breaking the processor, but it can easily put enough strain on the motherboard to break it. Especially if you're going to be moving the system around a fair bit. I was almost tempted to go back to the Intel-provided CPU cooler because I drag my system around a lot, and even the aluminum/copper cooler is beefy (445 g, 5 grams under the limit). I run the system overclocked from 2.8 to 3.2 (I've run it as high as 3.5) and it's never broken a sweat (never above 40 degrees C).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top