What Cooler Should I Get???

[Cadetdanny]

I'm building my first system designed mostly for gaming.

I'm interested in overclocking my processor, etc., and need help figuring out what fan/heatsink I should use to get the job done. I want something that will obviously keep my temp around 40C while running games. I don't expect a full load on the system being that it's quad core, but I want to be prepared.

I'm a novice in this field, but it appears that many of the fans out there don't connect to AM3's. I've seen AM2's and various other connectors, but nothing with AM3 on them. Am I overlooking something?

I saw a suggestion on another forum about a fan that is getting great reviews although it's a little big (from what I read it will just barely fit into my case). The fan is...

XIGMATEK HDT-RS1283 120mm CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233012

... but again, I don't know if it will work with my system.

Any help would be GREAT!

Here's my potential system build:

Case
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

PSU
Antec EA-750 750W ATX12V version 2.3 SLI Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371026

Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128378

Processor
AMD Phenom II X4 810 2.6GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 4MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103650

Memory
OCZ ReaperX HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227275

Hard Drive
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

DVD ROM
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R .. BLAH BLAH BLAH .. SATA 22X DVD Burner - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

Operating System
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116493

 

[irkjab]

Well, if size is an issue, the Sunbeam Core Contact Freezer 92mm is only $20 after rebate, and comes with high quality thermal paste. Should be an excellent cooler, too.

Also, unless you can think of a good reason to get vista ultimate, save yourself $80 and go with home premium. You honestly get hardly anything for the extra cost with ultimate.

 

[Cadetdanny]

Well, if size is an issue, the Sunbeam Core Contact Freezer 92mm is only $20 after rebate, and comes with high quality thermal paste. Should be an excellent cooler, too.

Also, unless you can think of a good reason to get vista ultimate, save yourself $80 and go with home premium. You honestly get hardly anything for the extra cost with ultimate.

I don't think size is going to be a big issue. I think the antec 900 will have enough room for most fans, it's just that from what I read, the fan I linked just barely fits because of its unique size.

My main question is the connection. So many fans have so many different types of connections. How do I know what is and is not compatible with mine?

In response to the OP - I agree, I actually don't need most, if not all, of the extra features that come with ultimate. However, I do want Vista 64bit. Premium is for $100, and the processor is $175. But the processor actually has a combo deal with Vista Ultimate 64bit for $275. (It does not have a combo deal with Vista Premium 64bit, only Vista Premium 32bit).

So I basically get to upgrade from a Vista Premium 64bit to a Vista Ultimate 64bit for free. Which isn't half bad.

 

[g3force]

My main question is the connection. So many fans have so many different types of connections. How do I know what is and is not compatible with mine?

I don't know what your trying to say here. Are you asking whether the CPU fan/case fans will be compatible with your mobo? The case fans connect to directly to the PSU via 4 pin molex connectors, and the CPU fan connects to a 3/4 pin connector directly on the motherboard.

PS: I wouldn't personally recommend the Sunbeam cooler mainly due to the fact that it uses these annoying (for me) metal tabs to secure it to the motherboard, plus the fact that mine came with this really loud and annoying fan.

 

[Cadetdanny]

I don't know what your trying to say here. Are you asking whether the CPU fan/case fans will be compatible with your mobo? The case fans connect to directly to the PSU via 4 pin molex connectors, and the CPU fan connects to a 3/4 pin connector directly on the motherboard.

My question is how do I know if a CPU fan is compatible with my motherboard?

For example, the fan I linked, XIGMATEK HDT-RS1283 120mm CPU Cooler - Retail ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233012 ) shows the following information on the specifications tab:

Compatibility:
All Intel Socket 775 CPU
Core 2 Extreme / Quad / Duo
Pentium Extreme Edition / D
Celeron D
All AMD Socket AM2 / 754 / 939 / 940 CPU
Athlon 64 / FX / X2 / Opteron / Sempron

My motherboard is an AM3. Will this fan work with my setup? Again, I apologize if this is a stupid question. I'm much of a novice when it comes to overclocking and heatsinks, fans, etc. This is the first time I've ever thought about one let alone inquired about one.

How do I know what fans are and are not compatible with certain setups?

 

[g3force]

My question is how do I know if a CPU fan is compatible with my motherboard?

For example, the fan I linked, XIGMATEK HDT-RS1283 120mm CPU Cooler - Retail ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233012 ) shows the following information on the specifications tab:

Compatibility:
All Intel Socket 775 CPU
Core 2 Extreme / Quad / Duo
Pentium Extreme Edition / D
Celeron D
All AMD Socket AM2 / 754 / 939 / 940 CPU
Athlon 64 / FX / X2 / Opteron / Sempron

My motherboard is an AM3. Will this fan work with my setup? Again, I apologize if this is a stupid question. I'm much of a novice when it comes to overclocking and heatsinks, fans, etc. This is the first time I've ever thought about one let alone inquired about one.

How do I know what fans are and are not compatible with certain setups?

I honestly have no idea, though I assume it is compatible considering a good portion of the reviewers used AM2/AM2+ motherboards.

 

[Cadetdanny]

I'll just open a new thread with that specific question.