Please help me chosing a CPU-cooler for my AMD Phenom X4 9750

[DA_Maz]

Summer has arrived once again and after 4 years I decided to get rid of my stock/boxed cooler and fan as they drive me crazy when ambient temperatures go up to 35°C. The last years a proper dust cleaning got the Fan back to a respectable noise, but this time it hasn't helped anything.

My system:

CPU: My AMD CPU eats 125W and AMD claims his max temp. is 61°C (http://products.amd.com/pages/DesktopCPUDetail.aspx?id=397) it came with a heatsink without any heatpipes and had a 70mm fan that has a CFM of 42,2 (model number DE07015B120)

Mainboard: M3N78-EMH HDMI (http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2Plus/M3N78EMH_HDMI/)

my case: midi ATX http://www.sharkoon.com/?q=en/node/1010


my research:

First I just wanted to buy a new fan, then I saw that there aren't any worthwhile fans at 70mm size and decided to buy a new cooler.

So I wanted to spend about 10-15$ on a new CPU cooler when I noticed that I had to spend at least 20$ for getting something moderatly good.


After much research and finding out that 50% of the good CPU coolers aren't sold anywhere near me I arrived at a decission between those 4 coolers:

Arcitic cooling Freezer 13 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186039)

Alpenfohn Sella (found only in german http://www.alpenfoehn.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=172:sella&catid=53&Itemid=44&lang=en)

Xigmatek Loki (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233081&Tpk=Loki)

Cooler Master Hyper TX3 Evo
(non evo version http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103064)

all those coolers cost about the same amount of money where I live.


my problems:

1.) I want a moderatly silent cooler at least in idle mode. Of course I would prefer a somewhat silent operation with a CPU load of ~50-70%, but I would take a little bit more noise at load, if it meant less noise at idle.

I read many tests that leave me in confusion. Some say Xigmatek Loki and Alpenfohn Sella can handle a somewhat loaded 125W CPU without the need to accelerate their fan up to its maximum rpm therefore being very silent even at somewhat cpu-intensive tasks. While I would welcome that I don't know if that's plausible

2.) Although there seem to exist more fans at 92mm than on 70mm all those coolers can't use the 120mm fans which seem to have the biggest variation and potential to be silent in case of the fan dying down/becoming unbearable loud and needing replacement. Are the 92mm fan bearing heatsinks worth their money or am I destined to be dissapointed by the 92mm fans and go for a cooler that can handle a 120mm fan (bear in mind I'm accustomed to the AMD boxed 70mm fan)?

3.) Although I have an average big case I fear that maybe some of those coolers don't fit into my tower.

Which CPU cooler should I get (you are welcome to recommand other cpu coolers just bear in mind I maybe can't buy them... the Deepcool brand is one of them)

thx for your help and time-investement

 

[C12Friedman]

I'm gonna take you just outside of your budget, to the CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
It can sometimes (along with the hyper 212+) can be found on sale or with rebates that bring the price into your range - it is undoubtably the best "bang for buck" air cooler out there right now (especially if in push/pull configuration). It does sport 120mm fan though so if size is a consideration...

 

[DA_Maz]

I'm gonna take you just outside of your budget, to the CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
It can sometimes (along with the hyper 212+) can be found on sale or with rebates that bring the price into your range - it is undoubtably the best "bang for buck" air cooler out there right now (especially if in push/pull configuration). It does sport 120mm fan though so if size is a consideration...

thx for your answer

I looked into this cooler but it's not only a little bit outside my pricerange. Unfortunatly this cooler is nearly twice as expensive as the other options I listed where I live.

 

[C12Friedman]

I just spent a little time here and the Xigmatek Loki looks pretty good -
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2592
page four has the AMD temp comparisons (noise too)

 

[DA_Maz]

thx for your quick reply

I read this review, but I don't really get if they simulate the heat of an idle 125W CPU or a loaded one. Not even their explanation really cleared it for me ( http://www.frostytech.com/testmethod_mk2.cfm )

This is important because if the Xigmatek Loki manages to cool a CPU at full load down to 22.2°C above ambient temperature with his 33dbA 1200prm rate, I can be sure that it never has to get in the 52dbA speed-mode as long as I only put low to moderate load on the CPU, even in the summer.

This would be the ideal situation, the question remains if I can expect it to be like that.

 

[C12Friedman]

The methodology used by Frostytech is sound. A heat plate (which is calibrated) is used which generates 125W (fully loaded, max wattage of AMD processors - they also test at 85W and 150W for Intel socket 775 CPU's). The use of a heat plate is standard for testing HSF's since poorly designed ones can prove deadly to CPU's (which gets expensive after the testers replace a few).
Realistically, I think you can expect simular results (within a few degrees)

 

[rwayne]

I personally like the one from Arctic Cooling.

The EVO has one of the best price to performance ratios however working with them (and other 120mm fan coolers) I found them to be a bit large for my tastes. It reduces the room you have to work with and the weight does place some stress on the motherboard.

I think the 92mm fan on the Arctic Cooling models are just the perfect size and weight.

Below is a picture of mine.

It cools well but the EVO beats it. Both are practically silent.