Nice-looking air cooling for 3770k

bobafetthotmail · 13 Dec 2012

I'm slowly assembling my new rig, and being a fan of open-case designs I'd like to have a cooler that has a twist and doesn't look like a building. (the "tower" kinds)

Still, I'd rather want it to be high end enough to allow a good overclocking on my 3770k (that won't get a lot past 4.8 GHz anyway, the farther the better) without costing hundreds of euros.

So far I found Zalman CNPS 9900 MAX, but it's oldish (albeit still easily found at 55 euro) and I don't know how well it will perform on an ivy bridge.

I'll keep looking out for cool ones, but I'm open to suggestions as well. Watercooling (at least the closed-loop ones I saw) is a bit too dull for my tastes.

Lady Fitzgerald · 13 Dec 2012

That cooler isn't compatible with LGA 1155 sockets which is what the 3770k chip needs. Try looking here for similar Zalman coolers. Be sure to check for if the fan has a four pin power lead or uses a separate speed controller instead. If you want the cooler fan to be controlled by the MOBO, you will need the four pin lead.

bobafetthotmail · 13 Dec 2012

socket 1156 and 1155 have the same CPU cooling mounting holes, if something can go on 1156 can go on 1155 as well. The one I linked is for 1156 as well so it will fit.

Newer ones like CNPS12x are available, but cost twice as much, and for an ivy bridge I don't see the point.

In most reviews the cooler I linked is cooling a i7 920 or similar (overclocked), which has a TDP of 130w, am I right to assume that it will run better on a 3770k whose TDP is 95w?

GeneO · 13 Dec 2012

Lots of unique ones towards the end of this thread (with images):

(New) High End CPU/VGA Coolers

Or:

Newegg.com - XIGMATEK Dark Knight II SD1283 Night Hawk Edition CPU Cooler with Stealth Aerospace Industry Thermal conductive ceramic coating ALL intel AMD IVY BRIDGE compatible

Newegg.com - Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BL 140mm UFB (Updraft Floating Balance) CPU Cooler

huge but quiet:

Thermalright Silver Arrow SB-E "Extreme" Dual Fan Universal CPU Cooler (Sockets 775 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / AM3+ / FM1) - FrozenCPU.com

bobafetthotmail · 14 Dec 2012

Some pretty cool stuff in there, I've seen a zalman water cooler that resembles the 9900. Too bad that it's not yet on sale.

kbrady1979 · 14 Dec 2012

As far as Air Coolers go, the Coolermaster Hyper 212 series are the best bang for the buck out there. The 212 Plus is around $20 and the 212 EVO is about $30. Either will cool the crap out of your CPU.

Coolermaster 212 Plus: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible with Intel 1366/1155/775 and AMD FM1/FM2/AM3+

linnemeyerhere · 14 Dec 2012

If you must go air and not the far cleaner sealed water solutions then really no conversation is complete without the Noctua air coolers.
Noctua.at - sound-optimised premium components "Designed in Austria"!

GeneO · 15 Dec 2012

kbrady1979 said:

As far as Air Coolers go, the Coolermaster Hyper 212 series are the best bang for the buck out there. The 212 Plus is around $20 and the 212 EVO is about $30. Either will cool the crap out of your CPU.

Coolermaster 212 Plus: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible with Intel 1366/1155/775 and AMD FM1/FM2/AM3+

Donn't think that will give acceptable temperature on a 3770k @ 4.8 GHz. And it is not very good looking

kbrady1979 · 15 Dec 2012

GeneO said:

kbrady1979 said:

As far as Air Coolers go, the Coolermaster Hyper 212 series are the best bang for the buck out there. The 212 Plus is around $20 and the 212 EVO is about $30. Either will cool the crap out of your CPU.

Coolermaster 212 Plus: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible with Intel 1366/1155/775 and AMD FM1/FM2/AM3+

Donn't think that will give acceptable temperature on a 3770k @ 4.8 GHz. And it is not very good looking

You'd be surprised how good that cooler will cool something.......if you want something that looks good and will cool a 3770K OC'd wide open, get a water cooler.

GeneO · 15 Dec 2012

kbrady1979 said:

GeneO said:

kbrady1979 said:

As far as Air Coolers go, the Coolermaster Hyper 212 series are the best bang for the buck out there. The 212 Plus is around $20 and the 212 EVO is about $30. Either will cool the crap out of your CPU.

Coolermaster 212 Plus: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible with Intel 1366/1155/775 and AMD FM1/FM2/AM3+

Donn't think that will give acceptable temperature on a 3770k @ 4.8 GHz. And it is not very good looking

You'd be surprised how good that cooler will cool something.......if you want something that looks good and will cool a 3770K OC'd wide open, get a water cooler.

No, I wouldn't be surprised, I have owned a 212+ (well I have it stuffed in the closet) and know its limits. Why would I want a water cooler when a good air cooler will do.