CPU cooler advice please

[DAve]

Hi,

I've been looking to quieten my CPU cooler, the one I have at the moment (stock cooler -Athlon 64 socket 754) is adaquate, but a bit noisy. The priority is getting a nice, quiet but still really capable cooler for the cpu.

I've had my eye on the Artic cooler Freezer 64 pro (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_This_Week_Only_25.html#aFG_2d000_ 2dAR) but don't know if it's any good. It's on special this week too - almost irresistable. £14 + postage

Are there any other coolers that anyone in the society is using? Would appreciate some advice.

Cheers,
DAve

[Exuus]

I'm quite fond of my Zalman aka "Jet Engine" It's £32 at overclockers, though I seem to remember getting my one on special offer at the time.

It's very quiet if you turn the fan down, still very quiet going at full power plus it knocked almost ten degrees off my CPU temperature.

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/950/zalmancnps95006no.jpg

[DAve]

Sod it, I've just ordered it there. Boring Tuesday afternoons are dangerous.

Overclockers wanted £9 for P&P so I ended up going to http://www.shinyhardware.co.uk/ who did it for cheaper and only £5 P&P. Damn, I'm cheap.

[Sid]

The ThermalRight XP-120 and SI-120 are the best performing heatsinks around, at the moment. Combine them with a nice quiet 120mm fan and it'll outperform and be quieter than any Zalman etc.

[YegaDoyai]

I hate to admit it (cause I love the Zalman) but sid is right, however the bling factor of my 7700Cu more than makes up for the performance differential. Especialy as I run a super cool 62W sempron :)

[DAve]

The ThermalRight XP-120 and SI-120 are the best performing heatsinks around
Yeah, but they're £35. Ouch.

I'll have to put them in the next PC I build. The one where I have some spare cash :)

[Strings]

The ThermalRight XP-120 and SI-120 are the best performing heatsinks around, at the moment. Combine them with a nice quiet 120mm fan and it'll outperform and be quieter than any Zalman etc.

Couldn't agree more, though I can't really vouch for the SI-120s. Wouldn't give up or trade my XP-120 for anything... except maybe a better Thermalright if they release one ;)

[YegaDoyai]

Dave, really, you should set a good example, £35 is quite a lot for something that will ensure the smooth running of your current and next computer, ensuring that it and auxiluray components are kept cool while also ensuring that the noise produced is at a minimum? Sure, keeping the components cool will only make them last longer and generaly speaking work better. But you have better things to do than save up a little and ensure that you have a decent cooler, right?

WRONG!!!!!!!

Maybe a touch harsh but don't listen to the bad man kiddies £35 is NOT alot of money and should definately be budgeted in your build.

Btw, my zalman cost me just a little under £20. :) Eclipsecomputers.co.uk

[DAve]

Maybe a touch harsh but don't listen to the bad man kiddies £35 is NOT alot of money and should definately be budgeted in your build.
I remember when the CPU coolers cost £5 and they could be run passively, or if you really needed the extra degC, a 40 mm fan did the trick. About the same time that I saved up for 3 whole months to get a graphics card worth £50.

Dave's vision goes hazy...

£20 I can just about justify for a cooler, £35+ I can't. Well, at least until I get a decent job :)

[Ru]

Yo, no link, but my artic cooler (at the time anyway) was cheaper, cooler and quieter than any zalman, so fuck the blingin looking. you cant even see inside yega's case.