A Good i7 CPU cooler?

[siravarice]

Going for a big build next year and really don't want to be working with water because of the problems it poses. The difference is also not that great unless you have a really good water cooling setup. So any suggestions?

It has to fit a Gigabyte GA-EX58

 

[monkey7]

Noctua U12P (out of the back of my head) socket 1366. Got it on my gigabyte UD5

Should also have a review of it somewhere in the member reviews section, but it doesn't have any temperature comparisons.

 

[Ghosthud1]

Noctua U12P (out of the back of my head) socket 1366. Got it on my gigabyte UD5

Should also have a review of it somewhere in the member reviews section, but it doesn't have any temperature comparisons.

defo a +1

quiet, big and great performance! nothing better i dont think

also there are huge gains in watercooling.....

idle temps yeah can be the same as high end air, but load temps watercooling crushes air.

 

[siravarice]

Was looking at the V8, but Noctua is apparently better, Noctua it is!

 

[Youngie1337]

This review covered the Noctua, I have 1 and can vouch for it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/tjharlow#p/u/4/lWxaCyUwEgo

 

[siravarice]

Ok so the Noctua looks really good, but the Northbridge on the Gigabyte Extreme looks pretty huge too, would it fit? The video showed them not being able to get to second clip on for the fans, although whether I run both fans or just one would be decided when I tested it.

 

[AMDFTW]

prolemtech meghalms,thermolab barham,TRUE

 

[killablade]

Prolimatech megahalems / mega shadow all the way.

 

[AMDFTW]

megashadow is far to expensive for just a black coating

 

[killablade]

Well it depends... i got mine 10% off so at that store it cost roughly the same as the megahalems rev. b

 

[siravarice]

That thing is a beast!

 

[killablade]

yeah it's like the best air cooler on the market

 

[uchihas]

I would choose as best Prolimatech Megahalem + 2 Nidec Gentle Typhoon fans at 1450 or 1150RPM, then Noctua NH-U12P SE2. I see NH-D14 too expensive for it's performance.

 

[killablade]

If you are looking for the best price/performance ratio then I would go with the Scythe Mugen 2, but if you care about looks aswell, don't get the mugen 2 as it's big fat and ugly lol

 

[wafelijs]

Another vote for the Scythe Mugen 2, looks are nothing special, but the value is great and its big.

 

[Runebeard]

I was gonna recommend the Zalman CNPS9700 as it's amazing for its price (£30 from ebuyer) and I thought the Noctua was quite a bit more expensive (£55+ plus from what I can find) plus the Zalman looks way nicer than a horrible cream and brown block, but the Noctua does techincally have arguably some of the best air cooling around.

So yeah if you can afford it and don't mind the colour scheme I'd say Noctua (comes with 1366 support), but if you're on a tighter budget and looks count go for the Zalman (it will need a 1366 clip btw but that costs less than £2)

Hope that helps