Looking for a CPU cooler for i5-2500K

[sygyzy]

You don't need to have your heart set on the Hyper 212+. There are other suitable coolers. Pretty much any cooler that uses 3 or more heatpipes with a 92mm or larger fan and which has socket 1155 or 1156 mounts will be more than sufficient for medium overclocks of a 2500k. For instance, recently Amazon had the Corsair A50 for around $6 after rebate. That would have totally been sufficient.

I wish I knew about it when the rebate was still valid. Can you give me some other specific recommendations?

Edit: Ended up getting Cooler Master Hyper TX3

 

[Avalon]

How about the Scythe Ninja 3 or Mugen 3? I know the Megahelams and Noctuas are the big dogs now, but I've seen some really good reviews of the Scythe coolers that were fairly close.

 

[Zap]

I wish I knew about it when the rebate was still valid. Can you give me some other specific recommendations?

I already did.

"any cooler that uses 3 or more heatpipes with a 92mm or larger fan and which has socket 1155 or 1156 mounts"

After that, just choose the cheapest one, or the one in stock, or the one with the prettiest fan LEDs, or...

Edit: Ended up getting Cooler Master Hyper TX3

That will work. I actually have one on my old school Core i5 750 (case limits my size) and it works reasonably well.

 

[sygyzy]

I already did.

"any cooler that uses 3 or more heatpipes with a 92mm or larger fan and which has socket 1155 or 1156 mounts"

After that, just choose the cheapest one, or the one in stock, or the one with the prettiest fan LEDs, or...

I know you did and I suspected you would have this reaction to my follow up request for advice. I apologize for offending you. Unfortunately for me, I don't understand enough about HSF technology or the different bracket sizes. I read 1155 and 1156 are cross compatible. That I know. Then I read about some boards that have extra mount holes so other HSF's, from other architectures, are compatible too. Newegg has ~300 heatsinks and there's no way for me to sort by 3 heatpipes. Yes, I can sort by fan size but there's no way to say "at least 92mm" so if I click on 92mm, I am filtering out 95-140mm. I thought rather than go through them manually, it would be nice to cut the clutter to get some advice from someone who already has experience buying these.

 

[Zap]

Let me try another way...

It is almost impossible to buy a "wrong" CPU cooler, as long as it meets the requirements. Everything that everyone likes to recommend falls into one of these categories:

1) It is what they use. (This is why Apple users always love telling others what they use.)

2) It is what everyone else recommends. (This is why everyone recommends the Cooler Master Hyper 212+, because everyone else recommends it.)

3) It is the cheapest. (A buck saved is a buck earned. Not a "penny" saved these days, due to inflation.)

4) It is by their favorite brand. (Fanbois will be fanbois.).

You exercised some independent thought and got a TX3. Kudos.

 

[sticks435]

Yea, I fell for number 2 when I bought my parts, but then again, I'm going to shoot for 4.5 on air so I needed something a little beefier. Plus when I water cool the 212+ is going to replace my Freezer 7 pro on my OCed Q9550.