Help me get a new CPU Heatsink+Fan

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-04-30 01:53am

I'm not sure if I'll be buying from Fry's but anyway,

Yes, I know how to dress ridiculously long links

From that list, which should I get?

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-04-30 11:33am

real men use water coolants. if you can afford it that is.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-04-30 11:36am

This one

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-04-30 07:53pm

What's the second best?

Post by **Dalton** » 2004-04-30 09:31pm

phongn wrote:This one

My friend has that monster. You actually have to brace the thing because it's so heavy.

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2004-04-30 09:41pm

Darth_Zod wrote:real men use water coolants. if you can afford it that is.

Water cooling is unnecessary and extravagant. The only reason you'd water cooling is: Your computer is in a region that gets excessively hot or you’re over clocking your computer. And, if I might comment, over clocking is an enthusiasts hobby which does very little to actually improve your computer’s performance, if anything it shortens its lifespan at the cost of an unnoticeable number of frames per second or loading time. I’ve done it, it was fun, but it’s really just an excuse to tinker with your hardware. All you need is a heat sink with a fan on top and a pair of fans in the case to keep the air moving, air in, air out, that is the key.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-04-30 09:55pm

Dalton wrote:
phongn wrote:This one
My friend has that monster. You actually have to brace the thing because it's so heavy.

An unforseen complication. I wonder what I should use to "brace" the thing.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-04-30 11:09pm

Dalton wrote:
phongn wrote:This one
My friend has that monster. You actually have to brace the thing because it's so heavy.

You do? I thought the age of needing bolts was long gone ...

There should be other Zalmans that don't require as strong mounting, but they won't perform near as well.

As for why I recommended it -- it isn't the best cooler. However, it is relatively quiet while still providing good cooling.

Post by **Dalton** » 2004-04-30 11:34pm

Shinova wrote:An unforseen complication. I wonder what I should use to "brace" the thing.

phongn wrote:You do? I thought the age of needing bolts was long gone ...

AFAIK, and according to my friend, you have to actually put a screw through it, the motherboard and screw it into the case to make sure it doesn't crack the socket...

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-04-30 11:51pm

InnocentBystander wrote:
Darth_Zod wrote:real men use water coolants. if you can afford it that is.
Water cooling is unnecessary and extravagant. The only reason you'd water cooling is: Your computer is in a region that gets excessively hot or you’re over clocking your computer. And, if I might comment, over clocking is an enthusiasts hobby which does very little to actually improve your computer’s performance, if anything it shortens its lifespan at the cost of an unnoticeable number of frames per second or loading time. I’ve done it, it was fun, but it’s really just an excuse to tinker with your hardware. All you need is a heat sink with a fan on top and a pair of fans in the case to keep the air moving, air in, air out, that is the key.

Isn't it quieter though?

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2004-05-01 12:13am

Pu-239 wrote:Isn't it quieter though?

In some cases, yes. However, it all depends on the pump and how many fans you have on your radiator.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-05-01 12:14am

Yes. Watercooling is typically very quiet.

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2004-05-01 03:22am

Pu-239 wrote:
InnocentBystander wrote:
Darth_Zod wrote:real men use water coolants. if you can afford it that is.
Water cooling is unnecessary and extravagant. The only reason you'd water cooling is: Your computer is in a region that gets excessively hot or you’re over clocking your computer. And, if I might comment, over clocking is an enthusiasts hobby which does very little to actually improve your computer’s performance, if anything it shortens its lifespan at the cost of an unnoticeable number of frames per second or loading time. I’ve done it, it was fun, but it’s really just an excuse to tinker with your hardware. All you need is a heat sink with a fan on top and a pair of fans in the case to keep the air moving, air in, air out, that is the key.
Isn't it quieter though?

Does noise matter that much to you? Your using the computer to play games mostly, you wouldn't hear it. Besides, you get used to whatever sounds your computer makes after a while. My old computer had a DVD-ROM drive back when they were new; I went to use it the other day, the drive was really very nosiy; but I didn't notice back when I used it everyday, you just live with it.
Besides, as you don't buy those cheap $5 fans I doubt there would be a sound issue.
Also, don't you have to refill the water every now and then?

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-05-01 01:56pm

InnocentBystander wrote:
Pu-239 wrote:
InnocentBystander wrote: Water cooling is unnecessary and extravagant. The only reason you'd water cooling is: Your computer is in a region that gets excessively hot or you’re over clocking your computer. And, if I might comment, over clocking is an enthusiasts hobby which does very little to actually improve your computer’s performance, if anything it shortens its lifespan at the cost of an unnoticeable number of frames per second or loading time. I’ve done it, it was fun, but it’s really just an excuse to tinker with your hardware. All you need is a heat sink with a fan on top and a pair of fans in the case to keep the air moving, air in, air out, that is the key.
Isn't it quieter though?
Does noise matter that much to you? Your using the computer to play games mostly, you wouldn't hear it. Besides, you get used to whatever sounds your computer makes after a while. My old computer had a DVD-ROM drive back when they were new; I went to use it the other day, the drive was really very nosiy; but I didn't notice back when I used it everyday, you just live with it.
Besides, as you don't buy those cheap $5 fans I doubt there would be a sound issue.
Also, don't you have to refill the water every now and then?

Actually, I don't use water cooling. I have a Pentium II 450 w/ passive cooling

.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-05-01 10:40pm

I ended up grabbing the Zalman cooler that's part aluminum, part copper instead of the all-copper one. More or less same great and quiet performance, none of the excessive weight.

It's working great now. Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-05-01 11:01pm

Shinova wrote:I ended up grabbing the Zalman cooler that's part aluminum, part copper instead of the all-copper one. More or less same great and quiet performance, none of the excessive weight.

It's working great now. Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Gah, I forgot about that. The AlCu version actually has superior cooling performance over the pure-Cu one and is lighter to boot.