Attention Anandtech Overclocking Community!

[Icepick]

I'm in the market for a new heatsink and have been searching the web for reviews and users' personal experiences. Now I want to know what YOU use to cool your overclocked CPU. I'm interested in hearing from both AMD and Intel users.

Please state whether you feel the heatsink/fan combination is quiet. I know this is rather subjective but, am curious none the less.

The contenders are:

Stock Heatsink
Acrtic Cooling Freezer 7/64 Pro
Scythe Mine
Scythe Ninja
Scythe Infinity
Thermalright XP-90
Thermalright XP-120
Thermalright ultra-120
Thermalright si-120
Thermaltake Big Typhoon
Zalman CNPS-7700
Zalman CNPS-9500

Edit 10/19/06: Added Thermaltake Sonic Tower and Tuniq 120 by request.

If using something not listed above then post it!

 

[Duvie]

Problem is I have multiple computers therefore I use multiple heatsinks....I cannot vote twice but since my C2D is my main ocing box I listed it...i do own sevral XP-90's for my opteron chips...

 

[NoStateofMind]

Scythe Infinity = quiet as a church mouse

 

[Maximilian]

Stock 4 heatpipe opteron heatsink. Went from an SI-120 back to this.

Edit: I now remember why That SI-120 was a PITA to take off, the stock 4 heatpipe is so easy. One clip and your done, none of this... well whatever process i had to go through to get that 120 off, it usually involved a screwdriver and some forceful pushing towards the mobo, quite dangerous tbh. Stock seems quieter too, although thats entirely the fans doing.

 

[Icepick]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
Scythe Infinity = quiet as a church mouse

That's music to my ears. I'm strongly considering using this heatsink for my upcoming e6400 rig.

 

[Icepick]

Originally posted by: Duvie
Problem is I have multiple computers therefore I use multiple heatsinks....I cannot vote twice but since my C2D is my main ocing box I listed it...i do own sevral XP-90's for my opteron chips...

I'm using an XP-90 myself. It's a classic. That was the best heatsink I could get for the 3500+/MSI K8N NEO2 combo I built 2 years ago. The XP-120 performs better by a few degrees but, would not fit on my mobo.

 

[stevty2889]

Scythe Ninja on my C2D
Stock heatpiped AMD on my X2
Heatsink that comes with CT-479 for my Dothan
craptastic Stock Intel heatsink on midely overclocked pentium-d 920.

 

[InlineFive]

I vote for the XP-90, absolutely fantastic piece of metal.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Zalman CNPS-9500 and its very quite

 

[F1shF4t]

Thermaltake Sonic tower... might want to put that up on the list
Good heatsink especially when u got 2 fans pulling air through it.

 

[Skott]

Currently using a Zalman CNPS9500AT(non-LED)

Edit: Yes, its a very quiet rig I have. I have to put my ear up to the case to hear anything and even then its just a whisper.

 

[msi1337]

use the Zalman 9500 LED for my C2D 6400 running at 2.8ghz

use the Artic Cooling Freezer 64 pro for my FX-55 running stock

 

[Stumps]

ummm I don't use a heatsink on my CPU's, I use water blocks, you don't have any options on your poll for water cooling.

 

[CKXP]

Originally posted by: InlineFive
I vote for the XP-90, absolutely fantastic piece of metal.

second that :thumbsup:

 

[Regalk]

C2D - Big typhoon
OPty 144 @ 2730 - Stock with own fan (not stock)
A64 3000+ at 2600 - stock with own fan (not stock fan)
A64 3200+ - stock
and some other thermaltake Skt A(462) stuff - can' remember anymore too many

I do not think any of my systems are quiet - but they are bearable

 

[MDme]

XP-120

keeps my 130nm (newcastle) A64 OC'd to 2.4Ghz at 32C* (idle) and 59C** (full prime load) with the fans OFF.

* using CnQ running at 1 Ghz.
** running at 2.4Ghz

 

[igotid]

Originally posted by: CKXP

Originally posted by: InlineFive
I vote for the XP-90, absolutely fantastic piece of metal.

second that :thumbsup:

third that :thumbsup:

 

[n7]

TTBT.

It was pretty much the best air cooler out when i bought it, & the newer ones are only slightly better, so i see no reason to upgrade.

 

[Zap]

Have multiple computers so I voted for the one I'm actually using to type this...

Main system, Scythe Ninja passive (no fan on it) on an x2 3800+ @2.4GHz.

The other system I use a lot...

Gaming rig has an AMD quad heatpipe cooler from an x2 4600+/4800+, with a Thermaltake Starforce fan on it. CPU is an Opteron 144 @2.7GHz.

Finally my HTPC which sees a bit of use...

Zalman CNPS-7000AlCu with fan severely undervolted on a socket 754 Sempron 3300+ default clock.

 

[Canai]

Scythe Infinity. But I put a different fan on mine cause I don't care how loud my computer is haha.

edit: dur I cna splel

 

[Madellga]

I would like to vote on the Ultra 120 twice, as I have actually on both my rigs.

The SI-128 is a good cooler but I dumped it, as the clipping concept ala Intel was warping both my mobos.

I selected the Ultra 120 because it has a backplate and bolts with springs, which can be easily accessed with a philips screwdriver. You can select the airflow direction, sideways or upwards (at least on socket 775). Oh, and it has great performance also.
Using Enermax 120mm adjustable fans on it. Barely audible.

The downside is: it's a very high cooler and I can tell some cases might not accomodate it. Measure your avaialable height before buying it.

EDIT:
Temperature on the E6600 (Coretemp readings) under Orthos load using fan on silent speed: 58C
BIOS or Guru readings 7C cooler than Coretemp.

 

[lopri]

How come there is no Tuniq 120?

Opteron 146 @3.0GHz. Load temp never goes past 40C.

 

[DrMrLordX]

I dunno, is the Tuniq Tower back to being available? I know it wasn't even on the market for awhile due to production problems or something like that.

 

[dennilfloss]

SI-120.

 

[Prince13]

Thermaltake Big Typhoon