Recommend a new cooler for an i7 860?

[gadgetdude]

Does anyone have a recommendation to replace the stock cooler on a i7 860 that I can replace without pulling the MB? Nothing too huge, just reliable and quiet.

Also - what are the temps I should be targeting to keep things in the safe zone with this CPU? With the stock cooler (not OCed yet) I'm in the upper 20s at idle and shoot up to mid 70s under load. I should be able to keep it in the 50s at load with a good cooler right? (assuming good case flow).

Thanks!

 

[kranky]

Does your case allow you to get to the back of the MB behind the CPU without removing the MB from the case? Some cases have a cutout in the MB tray behind the CPU. That would give you the ability to use a cooler that has a bracket behind the CPU without having to remove the MB.

 

[gadgetdude]

Does your case allow you to get to the back of the MB behind the CPU without removing the MB from the case?

No it doesn't - CM Elite 331.

I ran some more tests - idle stays ~27C and at load with Prime95 ~75C. I just suspected I pretty easily do better.

 

[corb01772]

You should reconsider excluding any cooler with a backplate. Removing the motherboard from your case isn't that big of a deal. Plus it's easier to install any cooler with the motherboard out of the case.

You will get the best performance from a 120mm tower cooler. I have a Xigmatek Dark Knight with the I5361 bracket kit to make it compatible with LGA 1156. My load temps are in the low 50s.

 

[Skott]

Wether removing the mobo is a problem or not depends on the case itself. I'm not familiar with the OP's case but if it is a big case where you can just unscrew it and lift it straight up without hitting anything then, no, it won't be too much of a hassle. Might need to unplug some things depending on how the wiring job is. If the case doesn't allow much room then it'll be a hassle for sure. I guess it comes down to how badly you want to put on a different hsf and how much of a hassle it could be and wether you want to deal with it or not.

There are many hsf to choose from but if you are not planning to overclock you don't need anything fancy or expensive. The idle temps sound fine as is but the load temps could use some reducing. Load temps below 60C is certainly more than possible depending on the case's cooling performance and the hsf in question.

 

[ehume]

Look at my sig. The Freezer 7 easily handles the stock CPU speed. It's not heavy or tall and installs with the MB in place. Also, it comes with pre-applied paste. I did no better with Gelid GC3 Extreme. It's a fine cooler, and has many reviews that say exactly that. And it's cheap. But I won't OC with it.

For OC'ing the best two appear to be the Megahalems Rev B and the Noctua D14. The latter is too heavy for me, so I bought a Megahalems. I'm about to move my MB to an NZXT Beta Evo (not quite the best purchase; the NZXT Gamma looks to be a better case). When I do, I'll install the Mega and start testing various fans.

I for one would not install a heavy cooler without a backbrace, and I put my money where my mouth is.

 

[gadgetdude]

Thanks for all the suggestions. After doing a bit more research I agree that being open to a backplate/bolt on solution gives me a lot more options. I was just being lazy after taking the time to do a much better job this time with my wire management etc. didn't want to have to redo all that.

Reading through reviews I decided to try a ZeroTherm Core 92. Although it uses the pushpin design many folks don't like, it got good reviews on cooling and was in stock at the local Microcenter for not much more than I could get it online w/ shipping.

Frankly it blew away my expectations - installed pretty easily and very nice results. At stock clock speeds it idles at 25 with the cpu fan running at ~1000rpm and under load with Prime95 tops out at 52 with the cpu fan rising to ~1700rpm. At those fan speeds the machine is REALLY quiet - the quietest and coolest air cooled setup I've ever put together. I'm using a CM Elite 331 case with a single 120mm exhaust fan that stays ~850rpm at idle and ~1000rpm under load.

Given all that headroom I certainly plan on OCing, just need to update myself a bit on the subject before exploring the possibilities (might add a 120mm intake fan when I start down that road).

Thanks

 

[Tech_savy]

Sorry late to the thread...........

Anyways you have solved the query........

Happy new year............

 

[zikronix]

he may have solved the query...but i need something as well...ill be getting the 690 II advanced here in about a week. I thought of water cooling but i dont game so there is no reason for me to go that extreme or spend that money...i would love the aquagate extreme to go with my cm case and would love a cm power supply to do the same but my supply is great and solid and i dont need to spend 2 bills on water when i dont need it.

So i need a good air cooler i do oc as i do do video editing. Same processor as the op.

suggestions? besides whats been suggested

 

[ehume]

I've been re-thinking coolers. With Ninja wire or just picture wire you can suspend a cooler from your case, so weight is no issue. If you're going to run your cooler with the air directed front to back, you could use a Kaze Maru 1900 RPM fan - it's awesome and not terribly noisy. Its sleeve bearing limits it to where the air is directed horizontally.

You could put a Gentle Typhoon 1850 as the intake fan, and another as an exhaust fan. The three-fan setup with fans that are quiet but put out more air than the Noctua stock fans would give you a cooler that would work quite well. Had I thought about it, that's what I would have done instead of getting the Mega.

 

[billyb0b]

corsair H50

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.p...sk=view&id=316&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=7

 

[zikronix]

what do you all think of the coolermaster v8 or the coolermaster n520

reviews look good

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Pro/mega

 

[zikronix]

except for the fact its 75.00 vs 50....anything in the 40-50.00 range you might recommend

 

[zikronix]

WOW....I just saw the v8 in the store that thing is ridicilious

 

[Nocturnal]

I just got the Thermalright Venomous X and feel its a great cooler. I paired it with a Delta 4000RPM fan

 

[zikronix]

i think im going to go with the h50 the reviews under load seem to beat the megahelms

 

[zikronix]

i got it!!!!!!!

Thermolab BADA or the h50 thats what its come down to