CPU coolers - need advice

[groundhog@seti.usa]

The two systems that run most of my Boinc stuff both seem to run hot. One is a core 2 quad Q6600, socket LGA775. The other is an i7 2600K, socket LGA1155. I usually run them each at 75% cpu to keep the heat down, except during the Simap challenges. I don't really want to get into liquid cooling but would like something better than the stock Intel fans. Any recommendations for fans/heat sinks that aren't too expensive?

[John P. Myers]

What temps are they running at? That would give us an idea just how much extra cooling you need.

[Mike029]

The two systems that run most of my Boinc stuff both seem to run hot. One is a core 2 quad Q6600, socket LGA775. The other is an i7 2600K, socket LGA1155. I usually run them each at 75% cpu to keep the heat down, except during the Simap challenges. I don't really want to get into liquid cooling but would like something better than the stock Intel fans. Any recommendations for fans/heat sinks that aren't too expensive?

Not sure waht your budget is but I love the h100 for my 2600k. I'm running at 4429 per core at 38 degrees running Poem. I'll post my SIMAP/Collatz numbers in a day or so. No much higher tho.

[coronicus]

I had to do this with all 3 of my 775 core2duo these are short enough that they fit most cassings standing only about a half inch higher then most video cards. Also they come with a bracket to add a second fan if you need more cooling from it. they lowered my temp by over 10C over the stock intel heatsink even with a minor OC..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103064

As for the I7 you may want to go with something better..

edit... the nice thing is it will fit the i7 so you could try it out and if its not enough throw it on the quad and get something with more umph but for the price its dirt cheap. i found em on sale for $15 with a $5 rebate

[Al]

I have 2 of these. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200034) They are fairly low profile and have worked well on my q6600. I run mine 24/7 @ 100%

[groundhog@seti.usa]

What temps are they running at? That would give us an idea just how much extra cooling you need.

Probably both run over 150 F when at 100%. The ASUS utility on the quad will set off the alarm when at 100% but seems OK at 75%.

[Fire$torm]

I had to do this with all 3 of my 775 core2duo these are short enough that they fit most cassings standing only about a half inch higher then most video cards. Also they come with a bracket to add a second fan if you need more cooling from it. they lowered my temp by over 10C over the stock intel heatsink even with a minor OC..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103064

As for the I7 you may want to go with something better..

edit... the nice thing is it will fit the i7 so you could try it out and if its not enough throw it on the quad and get something with more umph but for the price its dirt cheap. i found em on sale for $15 with a $5 rebate

I think most of Cooler Master's Hyper series are good bets. I have two Hyper 212+ that work great. Note that you will need a case with good clearance for most any tower style cooler.


I have 2 of these. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200034) They are fairly low profile and have worked well on my q6600. I run mine 24/7 @ 100%

This style of cooler is great for systems without a lot of space especially in low profile cases.


One thing to remember about any air cooler. Make that two things. First, the larger the fan a cooler uses the less noise it probably makes. Second, with air cooling good air intake is a must. So if your case has only one intake fan then you really need to add at least a second. But stay away form cheap drive-bay mounted intake fan units. Most are a complete waste of money.

Edit: What make/model cases do you have?

[groundhog@seti.usa]

What make/model cases do you have?


The quad is in an Antec Sonata II and the i7 is in a Cooler Master HAF 922M. The Antec includes a plastic duct (removable) to route outside air from the back of the case to above the CPU fan.

[John P. Myers]

Probably both run over 150 F when at 100%. The ASUS utility on the quad will set off the alarm when at 100% but seems OK at 75%.

150F (65.5C) is really not that bad. It's kind of on the edge of looking for something better or leaving it alone. Personally i wouldn't worry about it and save the money. Also i don't know what your airflow situation is like, but maybe adding a cheap intake fan would do the trick.

And why alarm at 100%? Our CPUs are supposed to hit 100% :)

Edit: Also most importantly, make sure you suck the dust out of your heatsink. That can easily add 10C to your temps when left unchecked. I personally use the hose attachment on household vacuums. Dustbuster types don't have the suction power for some of that stubborn dust.

[zombie67]

Right. Worry about it if/when you start getting instability or errors in your task results. Until then, things are fine.

[groundhog@seti.usa]

OK, I recorded some temps after the Simap challenge started.

i7 processor at 75% (6 cores) 148 F, at 100 % (8 cores) 154 F

Q6600 at 75 % (3 cores) 157 F, at 100 % (4 cores) 162 F

I always thought they should stay in the 140s or less. These seem high to me. I'll probably go with one of the Cooler Master units. The Hyper 212 is $20 after rebate right now.

[Mike029]

OK, I recorded some temps after the Simap challenge started.

i7 processor at 75% (6 cores) 148 F, at 100 % (8 cores) 154 F

Q6600 at 75 % (3 cores) 157 F, at 100 % (4 cores) 162 F

I always thought they should stay in the 140s or less. These seem high to me. I'll probably go with one of the Cooler Master units. The Hyper 212 is $20 after rebate right now.

Great low priced cooler. As F$ said make sure you have the room in the case. :)

[Mad Matt]

150F (65.5C) is really not that bad. It's kind of on the edge of looking for something better or leaving it alone. Personally i wouldn't worry about it and save the money. Also i don't know what your airflow situation is like, but maybe adding a cheap intake fan would do the trick.

And why alarm at 100%? Our CPUs are supposed to hit 100% :)

Some alarm settings by board manufacturers are simply off the mark. I learned that early at RKN forum on my first Asus 775 board... I think especially the ASUS tools are really bad. On OC I start worrying if getting beyond 75°C (single core) although the i7s don't seem to bother getting into the 80s. But I don't like that on permanent use.

I think a good mid-prize cooler is the Alpenföhn Brocken. Some great high-ends (and high-price) are the Super-Mega, Genesis and Noctua NH-D14. But except for the Super-Mega all of them are hard to handle in a case and can pose problems on mounting/compatibility. But brilliant in cooling. :)

Oh, and I do love liquid metal pads. But the burn-in is a bit risky... ;)
And I like real temp (http://www.techpowerup.com/realtemp/) and TThrottle (http://efmer.eu/boinc/)for reading temps on DC. For reading more, HW Monitor (http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html) is great.

[John P. Myers]

OK, I recorded some temps after the Simap challenge started.

i7 processor at 75% (6 cores) 148 F, at 100 % (8 cores) 154 F

Q6600 at 75 % (3 cores) 157 F, at 100 % (4 cores) 162 F

I always thought they should stay in the 140s or less. These seem high to me. I'll probably go with one of the Cooler Master units. The Hyper 212 is $20 after rebate right now.

yeah your Q6600 is a bit too warm and it wouldn't hurt to shave a few degrees off the i7 either, especially if you decided to enter a PG LLR challenge. If your heatsinks are dust-free (seriously very super-important to check this first before you do anything else at all) and you have all the intake fans your case allows for, then it's time for a new heatsink, unfortunately. No need for me to suggest one as there are plenty of good suggestions in this thread already :)

[groundhog@seti.usa]

Thanks for the info, guys. I ordered one of the Hyper 212 fans for now (limit one rebate). I can get another later. I know it will fit with the i7 since the picture on the Cooler Master site of the fan installed is in the same case as I have. I'll try it on the quad first, however since it needs the most help. It looks like enough room there also.

Matt, thanks for the info about the other monitoring programs. I remember using one when I had a Pentium 4. I really don't trust the ones that come with the boards. I'll try a different one.

[Fire$torm]

Some alarm settings by board manufacturers are simply off the mark. I learned that early at RKN forum on my first Asus 775 board... I think especially the ASUS tools are really bad. On OC I start worrying if getting beyond 75°C (single core) although the i7s don't seem to bother getting into the 80s. But I don't like that on permanent use.

I think a good mid-prize cooler is the Alpenföhn Brocken. Some great high-ends (and high-price) are the Super-Mega, Genesis and Noctua NH-D14. But except for the Super-Mega all of them are hard to handle in a case and can pose problems on mounting/compatibility. But brilliant in cooling. :)

Oh, and I do love liquid metal pads. But the burn-in is a bit risky... ;)
And I like real temp (http://www.techpowerup.com/realtemp/) and TThrottle (http://efmer.eu/boinc/)for reading temps on DC. For reading more, HW Monitor (http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html) is great.

Those utils are good but how come nobody likes SpeedFan (Link (http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php))...??? I think its a great util.

[groundhog@seti.usa]

Got the Hyper 212 today, two day service from Newegg. :) I don't want to shut down either system to dink around with the fans until after the challenge. Guess I'll wait until Monday. Thanks for all the help and information.

[Duke of Buckingham]

tom's hardware study on cooling with Deepcool's Dracula And Arctic's Accelero Xtreme.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/dracula-7970-accelero-xtreme-7970-review,review-32538.html

[Mike029]

tom's hardware study on cooling with Deepcool's Dracula And Arctic's Accelero Xtreme.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/dracula-7970-accelero-xtreme-7970-review,review-32538.html

Who lives close enough to NY and has five hours to spare so if I buy the ARCTIC COOLING ACCEL-X-7970 they can install it for me? 8-x

[Fire$torm]

Who lives close enough to NY and has five hours to spare so if I buy the ARCTIC COOLING ACCEL-X-7970 they can install it for me? 8-x

Maybe take the family out for a Sunday drive, maybe get "lost" for a spell and find your way to my doorstep? And look the card and cooler just happen to be in your trunk!

[groundhog@seti.usa]

Just a little followup. I got a Cooler Master Hyper 212 for the i7 and a Cooler Master Hyper TX3 for the Q6600. The Q6600 went from around 160 F to around 130. The i7 is running around 120 from 150. Both when running 100% on Simap. Quite an improvement on both. Those are both big fans and coolers. :D Should have done this a long time ago.

[Mike029]

Just a little followup. I got a Cooler Master Hyper 212 for the i7 and a Cooler Master Hyper TX3 for the Q6600. The Q6600 went from around 160 F to around 130. The i7 is running around 120 from 150. Both when running 100% on Simap. Quite an improvement on both. Those are both big fans and coolers. :D Should have done this a long time ago.

, Add another fan for push/pull to knock off another 5 to 10 degrees.
. :D

[Duke of Buckingham]

I need one for me to diminish the 39 degrees Celsius (102 F) of Duke. Man this is really bad. What a fever and it is not Saturday yet...

[Fire$torm]

I need one for me to diminish the 39 degrees Celsius (102 F) of Duke. Man this is really bad. What a fever and it is not Saturday yet...

Not good. Hope you feel better soon.