What's the best CPU HSF?

unkel

Need to get one for Abit AV8 3rd eye socket 939 / winchester Athlon 64 3000

Was very pleased with my Zalman 7000CU and inclined to go it's successor, the 7700CU, but have been out of touch a bit. What's the best out there? Performance is important, but quietness is even more important

Any advice much appreciated

neokenzo

I think Zalman is probably the most quiet one you can get. Personally I'd prefer XP-90 and get a good fan with controller. That way, you can turn down the fan speed when its not under load.

youcancallmeal

yea have pretty much the same set up meself but with a 3500 instead of 3000. Would i be safe going with the same kind of hsf, would the xp120 be to big?

unkel

neokenzo wrote:

I think Zalman is probably the most quiet one you can get. Personally I'd prefer XP-90 and get a good fan with controller. That way, you can turn down the fan speed when its not under load.

Thanks neokenzo for your advice. You can also adjust the fan speed of the Zalman

I've been a very happy Zalman user so far, but I dare anyone to come up with a superior solution

jozi

From reviews i read the x120 only cools a few degrees better than the xp90.
I have the xp90 and a 3200 and idle temp is around 30, 41 after 4 hrs or running prime so they cool pretty well.
Still want to get a 92mm fan for it, if it will even make a difference.

Jozi

aaf

I was thinking of getting the XP120 myself. XP90 sounds good but 92mm fans seem hard to get and even harder to get a quiet one. I was going to get 120mm Akasa fans for the XP120.

jozi

Hitide do 92mm fans.
I had a papst one and its quiet. Using a 80mm one now with a fan controler and its very quiet, high or low rpm doesnt seem to make much diference in temps at all.
On top of that is it worth spending the extra money on a heatsink that is less compatible with mobo's and uses a 120mm fan than one that cools just about as good and can take quiet fans to.

Jozi

neokenzo

XP-90 works well with fans that has at least 50CFM-60CFM if you want to fully utilise it.

aaf

So, what fan from the following choices would anyone recommend to go with the XP90:

Akasa 80mm (2nd fan on that page)
Vantec 92mm (3rd on that page)
Zalman 92mm (3rd on that page)

I'm gonna be getting a few bits from them and they have a good choice of fans and coolers.

Q. Will an 80mm do for the XP90?

P.S. Hope I'm not hijacking this thread. Hopefully, I'm developing the discussion to unkel's liking :rolleyes:

unkel

aaf wrote:

Hopefully, I'm developing the discussion to unkel's liking :rolleyes:

You are

Not sure what to get myself, so all the input is appreciated!

duridian

Any of the HSFs mentioned would be an excellent choice IMO. If you were going for the Zalman 7700Cu, ensure you have enough of space above the cpu socket/ below the PSU as I have the 7000Cu on a Socket A setup and there is very little clearance between the top of the HSF and the PSU in my Sonata. It may be different with the positioning on a socket 939 setup, but something to check out just in case. Nothing worse than getting a shiny new component and not being able to use it.
Incidentally Thermalright heatsinks with heatpipes do a great job as well, SP94 on my Prescott and it has never even passed 50 degrees under load(in a heated rooom) which is better than the stock Intel cooler can do in a cold room on idle

po0k

Xp-90c
Made from copper.
You'd be wise to check for clearance space around your cpu socket and especially near the back of the graphics card and the DIMM slots to make sure you can actually fit the HSF onto the cpu.

aaf

SyxPak wrote:

Xp-90c
Made from copper.
You'd be wise to check for clearance space around your cpu socket and especially near the back of the graphics card and the DIMM slots to make sure you can actually fit the HSF onto the cpu.

I should be ok with the DFI LanParty UT nF4 Ultra-D PCI-E board.

jozi

Xp90 fits a dfi nf4 board. It also clears the ram in module 2, not sure about 1 but i can check later if you want.
I also have 80mm fan on it, it seems to be doing a good job. I thin a 92mm will be better at lower fan speeds than a 80mm at lower fan speeds.

Jozi

EDIT: There's enough room under the heatsink to take out either of the 2 ram modules it covers.