Cooling the XP1700+

[JonathanTheRed]

Okay, here's my situation.

I'm building a new system around the Athlon XP 1700+. I do not intend to overclock this system. Since I've ordered an OEM proc, I'll need a chip cooler to go with it.

My mobo is the Shuttle AK31, and it does have mounting holes for a cooler in the board as well as what looks like decent clearance around the processor. My criteria for a cooler are:

• Cheap
• Quiet
• Adequate cooling... again, not overclocked, but probably still pretty hot anyway.
• Safety... that is, low-risk installation

Some more info: this is going in a cheapass fairly cramped case, which has room for a 60mm exhaust fan on the back and an 80mm intake fan on the front. The case itself is going to be going in another box (for more details on that, click here) which will limit the airflow around it.

I've purchased a Volcano 7, but I think I'm going to return it, since it seems like it only meets criterion #3 of the four listed above. It's got that simple single clip to hold it on... I hate those. I'm always sweating when I'm applying heavy downward pressure on a screwdriver millimeters above my motherboard.

Any advice would be most welcome. Thanks.

 

[SWScorch]

a Thermalright AX-7 with a Panaflo L1H 80mm fan. Its like 30 bucks fr the HS itself, another 5-10 for the fan. It uses all three cleats on the socket, and should perform well. With a Panaflo fan it will be nice and quiet.

 

[JonathanTheRed]

Is it really necessary to spend that much? The Volcano 7 was like 20 bucks, and that was at retail. Again, I'm not looking to run the FSB at 200MHz and hack the multiplier to 90, I just want to run it in its stock configuration and get a cooler that will keep it from melting.

I was considering the SVC GC68. It's got the same lame clip as the Volcano 7, but it's substantially quieter and cheaper, and SVC claims it's good up to the XP 1800+. Any comments?

 

[mechBgon]

If you want a 3-prong clip, that really narrows things down. How about this one: http://www.plycon.com/taicgk.htm It doesn't have the copper bottom, but it's under $20 before shipping.

I have one of those slimline Delta 21cfm fans on my Alpha PEP66, and it's not a howler but it's not super-quiet either. If you think a constant whirrrr is going to bother you, buy the right thing the first time and get the AX-7 or another heatsink that takes a low-rpm 80mm fan... not for the extra cooling, but because 80mm fans can run quieter at the necessary airflow.

 

[SWScorch]

the GC-68 is also very good. If not for the clipping mechanism I would have suggested that. But if all you're worried about is if you're going to crack your core, then just be careful and dont worry. Just dont push too hard, keep the HS parallel with the core, and you wont have any problems. The GC-68 should be fine.

 

[ricerx]

<< Is it really necessary to spend that much? The Volcano 7 was like 20 bucks, and that was at retail. Again, I'm not looking to run the FSB at 200MHz and hack the multiplier to 90, I just want to run it in its stock configuration and get a cooler that will keep it from melting. >>



i just picked up an athlon1700+ with a fic an11 for 169 at frys. the cpu was oem also so i picked up a volcano 6cu w/ 4550 rpm (not the 7000 rpm, 6cu+) fan and it runs fine. with a moderate load of surfing and running programs, my cpu temp goes to about 47-49C and at idle it's about 44-46. my computer's been on for about 3 hours now of continued use and the cpu is currently at 46C and mb is at 39C.

so i guess my answer would be no you don't have to spend that much on a hs. btw this hs was only $12 at frys.

 

[BobSnob]

Beautiful job!

 

[JonathanTheRed]

Bob, if the "beautiful job" is referring to my arcade cab... thanks It's been a ton of fun to build, and I almost regret that it's nearly complete. Gonna have to find a new project to work on.

SWScorch, mechBgon and ricerx, thanks for the help. I've decided I'll just keep the Volcano 7... what the heck, not worth the hassle of returning it to save a few bucks, and the mobo is going to be horizontal anyway so at least that heavy heatsink isn't going to be pulling laterally on the proc. I just hate attaching those clips. I wish it had a lever-style clip like I've seen other heatsinks have... seems like the only way to attach these cheap-o clips is to press really hard with a screwdriver and try to loop the hook over the socket cleat, praying that you don't slip and crack your mobo.