What CPU cooler do you recommend?

[Gareth]

What CPU cooler do you recommend for an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 processor, I plan to overclock to about 3.80GHz with my next CPU. I only have 2 fans in my case, due to case limitations, that is a Zalman 80mm intake fan by the HDDs, and a Zalman 120mm exhaust fan in the usual place.

I am leaning towards a Zalman cooler, if anyone knows a good model.

[Jameson]

god damn finally a big overclock from you in the planning, why have you waited so long

don't forget about thermalright, they still make the best coolers.

[Gareth]

Indeed, I have waited years, not too sure why. I have always been scared to overclock, but then again, I have been running with 'stock' cooling till December of 07. After reading tonnes of reviews about how well this CPU overclocks, I want a piece of this action, and get one of the fastest PCs around =). I will have a look at some thermaltake coolers, post links to here, and will see if you recommend them or not.

[Wayne]

Is watercooling an option you could take?

[Deton]

make sure you have a board that can handle high FSB due to low multiplier chip. You need 475x8 = 3.8ghz, normal x38 and up boards do better with 45nm chips.

Ultra 120 is good cooler as well.

[Gareth]

Unfortunately, I do not have room for watercooling, and do not have the budget for it this year. Maybe next year though?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106102

How is this cooler?

475MHz is high, I guess this is dependent on my RAM now, it should be O.K though, but the only way to find out, is to do it

[kaganader]

I have an Artic cooling Freezer 7 Pro on my E8400 @ 3.8GHz, it idles at around 38C and under load it never breaks more then 50C. I got the temps using RealTemp. my computer is a major heat producer and im amazed that the temp is so low.

its dirt cheap heres a link to it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186134

[Gareth]

Ah, that is very cheap, and I love the fact that I don't have to change the motherboard retentions, which is a major plus. It looks very much like the fan I got now, but for LGA775. I have an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro. Would that freezer pro handle such an overclock of a Core 2 Quad Q9450?

[Jameson]

475MHz is high, I guess this is dependent on my RAM now, it should be O.K though, but the only way to find out, is to do it

just use dividers for the memory, but with 8gb you might find yourself tweaking for a while to get things rock solid.

[kaganader]

haha gareth that is because it is the same thing but made for intel processors lga775.
well the 45nm do create less heat so i would assume the temps would be just a little higher then my E8400 so you would prolly idle at 39-40 and under load b around 51-53 but thats just me guessing. it works wonders for me and for the price nothing beats price vs performance of this.
cept I would think a Zalman 9700 would beat this performance but you would pay around 50-70 for that one.

[Jameson]

Ah, that is very cheap, and I love the fact that I don't have to change the motherboard retentions, which is a major plus. It looks very much like the fan I got now, but for LGA775. I have an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro. Would that freezer pro handle such an overclock of a Core 2 Quad Q9450?

i wouldn't recommend that one. sure i love that cooler, i even owned one on my x6800 for a while after i left water, but it's not a good option for heavy overclocks, especially on a quad. you need to go for something like the ultra 120 extreme or similar.

the Noctua NH-U12P is meant to be really good.

[Deton]

You will be happy with the Ultra 120, it has a massive heatsink that you can attach 1 or 2 120mm fan to it, of couse it's depend on the orientation & clearance of the cooler.

[Gareth]

The Noctua NH-U12P is very ugly, but looks to be decent. Who makes the Ultra 120, I can't seem to find it on Newegg :$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106114

How is this cooler?

Edit: I found it
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835109125

So a 120mm fan can just go onto that?

[grumpydaddy]

I'm using the 120 extreme and although it's a big and heavy piece of kit it seems to get the job done and keep q6600 to 67deg C under load @ 3880, ambient 20deg C with a Big 150cfm fan. Be warned, you really MUST lap this one as the production method used seems to bow the mating surface thus reducing the contact area.

I'm sure one of the members knows how much heat your new processor will output vs how much mine does but in the mean time have a look at:

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.ph...=8757&page=115

starting at the business end of this review which I feel is flawed in that it doesn't really stress the heatsink with that proc
Even if you don't want to read the whole thing it may guide you to short listing before you research same elsewhere or among the members

Have fun

[Deton]

The Noctua NH-U12P is very ugly, but looks to be decent. Who makes the Ultra 120, I can't seem to find it on Newegg :$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106114

How is this cooler?

Edit: I found it
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835109125

So a 120mm fan can just go onto that?

Here is a review for the Ultra 120 Extreme , last page have the comparison chart vs to the other cooler. This is a good chart.

[grumpydaddy]

Another chart to help you shortlist:-

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.ph...1&limitstart=4