The absolute best air CPU cooler under $100?

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UnretroGamer

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Dec 23, 2009
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Hey there, I just got a new i7 build for xmas:

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Two
PSU: Diablotek 650W PSU
Motherboard: ASRock X58 Extreme
CPU: i7 920 (D0)
CPU Cooler: Arctic Freezer Pro 7 Rev.B
RAM: 3x2GB Triple Channel G.Skill 1600MHz DDR3
Video Card(s): 8600GTS-512MB (Pending my Radeon HD 5770)

I'm afraid I didn't do enough research on my CPU Cooler (Arctic Freezer Pro 7 Rev.B) and My CPU reaches 80C after only 5-10mins of Prime95.

I reseated it three times with AS5 and gut the same temps give or take 5C (yeah huge).

I am looking now for the best air CPU Cooler that money can buy. I have a couple in mind but don't mind any recommendations. This Arctic Freezer Pro sucks. I have been looking around on the internet for benchmarks of CPU Coolers but can't find any usable information. If anyone can find tests including all of these Coolers I'd be very grateful. I want to have some hardcore evidence of which cools the best.

-Xigmatek S1283
-Prolimatech Megahalems
-Thermalright TRUE Copper
-Arctic Freezer Pro 7 Rev.B

I would like to know which one is best and hopefully some proof and comparisons. I'm looking to OC my 920 D0 to 4GHz but with 80C in 10mins of Prime95 on STOCK. No way in hell.

I'm also looking at the Corsair H50. This is the only water cooling I will consider. So, I just need the BEST cooling out of: any AIR cooler, or the H50. whichever cools the most.

I currently live in Puerto Rico and have no air-conditioning (30C ambient probably) but I am actually in the process of moving to an air-conditioned house (20C) right now, hopefully my temps will drop but I doubt they will drop enough for some OC headroom. So please tell me which is the best CPU cooler money can buy and proof. Thank you for any help! ^.^

To find out the best air CPU cooler ----------------------------------C-L-I-C-K---B-E-L-O-W-------------------------------------
The best air CPU cooler on the market as of December 30th, 2009, is Noctua's NH-D14 air CPU Cooler.
To find out the best air CPU cooler ----------------------------------C-L-I-C-K---A-B-O-V-E--------------------------------------
 
Solution
mikey5802
Try this article for size...

http://www.frostytech.com/

P.S. Arctic Silver needs about a 200 hour cure period, but even so 80-C is tooo hotttt!!!
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I have it on auto because I don't know much about voltages at this point. When I get my computer back (because as I said I am in the process of moving and it's in box) I will probably go through the process of putting it manual and going from 0.95V up, until it gets stable.
 
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thanks, i know its great, and I AM swaying more towards it. but i want some proof/evidence to compare to the others, i want to make sure i get the best. theres no room to change my mind later 😛
 
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Here's 3 sites that came to the same conclusion:

http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm#INTELHEATSINK
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_Heatsinks
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=371&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=15

Prolimatech Megahalems (the revision B comes with two fan clips). There's also a Megashadow version which I have. Has black nickel finish but not like you can actually tell once installed....doesn't cool any better....just looks nicer in the box :)

I used IC Diamond karat 7 Thermal Compound and twin Enermax Magma fans all purchased from FrozenCPU.com
 
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Hey just wondering now, what is the temperature difference from "just applied" to "fully cured" to "all dried up" for Arctic Silver 5 if you know?

example answer:

With an Zalman Watchamacallit 3000 CPU Cooler I got 66C (Prime95 after 1hr) when I had first applied it. the coolest I ever got was around 55C (Prime95 after 1hr), and after like a year an a half it got real hot like 76C (Prime95 after 1hr) so I reapplied it. All these temperatures were without reseating it.

Hopefully you get what I mean... :)
 
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I can't say with absolute certainty....I just know that I've read that AS5 needs about a 200 hour cure period for it to fuction at it's greatest capability. I also read somewhere that AS5 needed to replaced every so often as well, but I don't remember where. Search Frostytech for thermal paste reviews or google it. I know I've read them in the past and those articles infuenced my decision to go with OCZ Freeze. There was also an article in PC magazine about a Dow Corning thermal paste that was supposed very efficient as well. I could never find the stuff, but there were plenty of scientific articles found in google about it.
 
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NO one can tell you the ABSOLUTE best, too many variables to consider like case air flow, Tim application, fans used, etc.

One person may swear by one as being the best and someone else will say it just so-so.

The Megahalems, True, Venomous-X will all be capable of the OC you are looking for.
 
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Through further research I have found the Noctua NH-D14 to be THE BEST air CPU cooler on the market. All the benchmarks I've seen include it versus the Prolimatech Megahalems, the previous champ of this frosty battle. Not visa versa, as benchmarks with the Prolimatech Megahalems do not include the NH-D14. The NH-D14 is newer, more advanced, and as seen through many reviews, benchmarks, and awards I have seen. It is the ABSOLUTE best.

Here is the review from a reputable source that really sealed the deal for me.

And if you didn't bother reading:

The best air CPU cooler on the market is Noctua's NH-D14.

Now the only thing now is: is it worth the extra $20 over the Prolimatech Megahalems Rev.B? I think so, even a degree of temperature is vital to a great overclock. It also comes with Noctua's prized fans (The NF-P14 and NF-P12) which although ugly, are high-performance, ultra silent fans. Anyways, nothing a little spray paint can't fix?
 
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For the question I am asking yes there can be. I am looking for "the best air CPU cooler".

So this means a device that under the same conditions, will drop a CPU's temperature to the lowest degree through the absorption and dissipation of heat by air.

I came to this conclusion, and there can only be ONE device which is BEST at cooling be it by 10 degrees or even a fraction of a degree. The best at cooling is the best at cooling. I was not asking for quietest, or least power consuming, best looking or lightest. Not your favorite, the best.

Noctua's NH-D14 brought the temperatures of the SAME CPU, in the SAME CASE, on the SAME motherboard, with SAME ambient temperatures to the lowest, making it the best "cooler."
 
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I know they're all overkill, but I wanted to answer the Title Topic for people who want to know the definite answer anyways.

I'm going to get the Prolimatech Megahalems anyways to save me some money, and since it's smaller it will be easier to work with, and plus I love the transformers logo. 😛

The NH-D14 is still the best cooler though because it can drop the temperatures lower than the Megahalems.
 
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I found the answer here. After the break in period the temperature will be 2C-5C lower than when freshly applied. As seen here on the bottom of page 2.
 
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Yes, because it is the same thing as the Prolimatech Megahalems except it is plated in a thin layer of dark nickel. This does not improve cooling, it is purely for aesthetics. The Mega Shadow is merely an aesthetic upgrade from the Megahalems, and it comes with an extra clip for a push/pull setup, which comes in the Megahalems Rev.B package. The push/pull setup still would not drop the temperatures far enough to triumph the NH-D14.
 
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