2500k Heatsink

[chili dude96]

Hey so I just got a coupon from newegg for 15% off all CPU heatsinks thats expires on the 4th. For awhile I've been thinking about getting a heatsink for my 2500k that I bought about 2 years ago, but I have a few questions.

This would definitely be a christmas present for me. But the question is do you think I should buy the heatsink now for 15% off or wait for christmas when newegg runs a lot of sales?

As for the actual heatsink, I'm open to the options. I would be willing to spring for something expensive like the H100 or NH-D14 if its worth the money, but not if it isn't significantly better than the others. I am definitely looking into overclocking in the future, so I would also be curious as to how much I can OC with various heatsinks. I would love to overclock the 2500k to 5 ghz if it is possible, but this would be my first time overclocking.

Also, I would like it to be relatively quiet. I hate a noisy computer.

My case is a thermaltake element G

 

[lchrisk]

Get this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Cheap, yet very good CPU fan. It allows you to over clock well too, while staying at relatively low temperatures. Best price : performance.

I would get this if I were you, and maybe down the line as you said in sprint, get the H100

 

[chili dude96]

Get this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Cheap, yet very good CPU fan. It allows you to over clock well too, while staying at relatively low temperatures. Best price : performance.

I would get this if I were you, and maybe down the line as you said in sprint, get the H100

I don't want to buy one now and buy another later. The computer is already two years old. I'm looking for specific advice on coolers because many sites have benchmarks that contradict the other sites. Plus, I can't make heads or tails out of tomshardware's 2011 chart. I can understand the 2010, but the 2011 is messed up.

I've also heard the air cooling is better than the water cooling.

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

I've also heard the air cooling is better than the water cooling.

Not better (especially not better than a real WC loop), just cheaper for the same performance as closed loop water.

Check out the Phanteks PH-TC14PE It's the king of the hill for air coolers, at the moment and basically goes toe to toe with a H100.

 

[chili dude96]

Not better (especially not better than a real WC loop), just cheaper for the same performance as closed loop water.

Check out the Phanteks PH-TC14PE It's the king of the hill for air coolers, at the moment and basically goes toe to toe with a H100.

Thats the priciest of all.

So I have one idea. I was looking at this chart, and it was saying the corsair A70 is on par with the NH-D14. http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1389/6/
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/LGA-2011-i7-3960X-Air-Overclocking,3130-17.html This chart also agrees.
The only issue is that it seems to be discontinued. Which is a real bummer. 6 months ago when I was looking the A70 was only $25, and with performance of the higher end models, it was a steal. I was thinking about getting it and perhaps pairing it up with quieter fans, but its only available now from frozen cpu for $50, so by the time I buy nice fans I'm in the price range of the noctura. 🙁

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

Yeah, the Phanteks isn't cheap, but it's still $24 cheaper than the H100 with which it competes.

The NH-D14/A70 doesn't quite compete with the H100, so it would stand to reason that they're cheaper than the Phanteks.

My recommendation is to get a 212 Evo or get a NH-D14/Phanteks. Not much point in going in between them.

 

[bigcyco1]

Thats the priciest of all.

So I have one idea. I was looking at this chart, and it was saying the corsair A70 is on par with the NH-D14. http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1389/6/
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/LGA-2011-i7-3960X-Air-Overclocking,3130-17.html This chart also agrees.
The only issue is that it seems to be discontinued. Which is a real bummer. 6 months ago when I was looking the A70 was only $25, and with performance of the higher end models, it was a steal. I was thinking about getting it and perhaps pairing it up with quieter fans, but its only available now from frozen cpu for $50, so by the time I buy nice fans I'm in the price range of the noctura. 🙁

they are nuts the NH-D14 eats the corsair A70 for breakfast!

 

[chili dude96]

.

My recommendation is to get a 212 Evo or get a NH-D14/Phanteks. Not much point in going in between them.

How come?

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

How come?

Because the 212 Evo performs so damn well for its price that there's really no point in getting anything better, unless you go straight to the top.

$25-$35 more than the 212 Evo only gets you 2-4C better performance. Going straight to the top actually makes sense because those are actually worth the extra cost.

 

[chili dude96]

I've heard that the H80 is pretty close to the h100. Also, yesterday newegg had a $15 rebate on the h100 that it now has ended.

So is the phantak better than the h80?

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

So is the phantak better than the h80?

Slightly better, yes.

 

[chili dude96]

So if I'm going for a 5ghz overclock, the H80 or the phantech would work? I should also note I have a friend with a noctura NH-D14 on a 2500k with a 5ghz overclock, so maybe the noctura is the best because its the cheapest.

Also, tomshardware ranked the noctura better tahn the phantech. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/LGA-2011-i7-3960X-Air-Overclocking,3130-17.html

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

So if I'm going for a 5ghz overclock, the H80 or the phantech would work? I should also note I have a friend with a noctura NH-D14 on a 2500k with a 5ghz overclock, so maybe the noctura is the best because its the cheapest.

Well, 5Ghz isn't easy, in the first place, but assuming you can get there without a crap ton of voltage, you should be ok with any of those 3. If your chip is voltage hungry, you'll have a very hard time.

For a 5Ghz 24/7 OC, even on a great chip, I strongly recommend a real WC loop, though. I don't care what your friend did, or what you've seen other people do, if they run a 5Ghz+ OC 24/7 and don't use a real WC loop, they're taking unnecessary chances.

 

[bigcyco1]

5Ghz you need something like this http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&ved=0CE8QFjAK&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.svc.com%2Fr750rs360.html&ei=Yl6QUN3cC-XOigLUpIHQAQ&usg=AFQjCNFIjL21KevmdXvQE-0RmSdwPFHlig&sig2=9bDAnsMjNf_-nFmO2zysZQ&cad=rja

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

Also, tomshardware ranked the noctura better tahn the phantech. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/LGA-2011-i7-3960X-Air-Overclocking,3130-17.html

Have a look at this. The Phanteks is much better here (especially the load tests). http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/phanteks_ph_tc14pe/4.htm

 

[chili dude96]

Well, 5Ghz isn't easy, in the first place, but assuming you can get there without a crap ton of voltage, you should be ok with any of those 3. If your chip is voltage hungry, you'll have a very hard time.

For a 5Ghz 24/7 OC, even on a great chip, I strongly recommend a real WC loop, though. I don't care what your friend did, or what you've seen other people do, if they run a 5Ghz+ OC 24/7 and don't use a real WC loop, they're taking unnecessary chances.

So how far should I push it? On a side note, here are my system specs. I should be able to have enough voltage, that psu is pretty overkill for my parts right?
2500k
8gb g skill ripjaws x ram
xfx raedon hd 6870
MSI|P67A-GD55 P67 LGA1155
corsair 750hx
500gb western digital hard drive (blue)
thermaltake element g case

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

I'd say 4.5-4.8 is good for a 24/7 OC on air or closed loop water.

And don't worry about the PSU. That won't have any bearing on how far you can go. That's dependent on the CPU and motherboard.

 

[chili dude96]

I'd say 4.5-4.8 is good for a 24/7 OC on air or closed loop water.

And don't worry about the PSU. That won't have any bearing on how far you can go. That's dependent on the CPU and motherboard.

That chart you sent me makes the $90 heatsinks look ridiculous. I mean, that evo is a competitor for them!

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

That chart you sent me makes the $90 heatsinks look ridiculous. I mean, that evo is a competitor for them!

And most other charts I've seen agree. That's why the 212 Evo is so well respected. Add a second fan to it and it gains on them by a couple more degrees.

That's also why I say it doesn't make any sense to go above it unless you get the best.

 

[chili dude96]

And most other charts I've seen agree. That's why the 212 Evo is so well respected. Add a second fan to it and it gains on them by a couple more degrees.

That's also why I say it doesn't make any sense to go above it unless you get the best.

With the evo you can get 4.5ghz. So with the best you can maybe get 4.8ghz?

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

With the evo you can get 4.5ghz. So with the best you can maybe get 4.8ghz?

Because of my motherboard (4+2 VRM section), I can only go up to around 4.7 without going over 72C because of the extra voltage I need, but I just stick to 4.5 because I don't need it to be any faster. I'll push it later, if I need to, but I don't even need 4.5 right now, I just OC because I can, lol.

But yes, with the best, you can safely get to 4.8-5.0. It's just that a real WC loop should be used, if you really want to stay with a 5.0 24/7 OC.

 

[chili dude96]

How loud is the evo? I really hate loud heatsinks.

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

It's not insanely loud, but it's not ultra quiet, either. It's about average.

It's not the loudest thing in my case, though. That distinction goes to my GPU. Even at 50% it's louder than both fans on my Evo at 100%.

 

[chili dude96]

It's not insanely loud, but it's not ultra quiet, either. It's about average.

It's not the loudest thing in my case, though. That distinction goes to my GPU. Even at 50% it's louder than both fans on my Evo at 100%.

Wow. I think i might get it. Look how high hardware secrets ranks it. http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-EVO-CPU-Cooler-Review/1407/6

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

Yep, and like I said, add an extra fan like I did and it's about 2C cooler. Not a huge difference, but something to think about anyway.