What CPU cooler to buy for replacing my Intel stock cooler?

[erik8thw]

Here're my specs:

CPU: i5-3470
Mobo: GA-H77M-D3H
Case: CM K280, 1 exhaust fan

When I put over 100 FPS in a game, my Intel stock cooler starts to make noise. Which one to buy? Cryorig M9i or C7? Or other CPU coolers maybe.

 

[Kavinqt]

Hyper 212 evo, Best bang for your buck I would say. It will suffice perfectly for your CPU.

Also it doesn't make a noise because your FPS is above 100, It's because the fan is running at a higher RPM because it's getting hotter.

I overall LOVE Cryorig coolers, But in this case you won't need one its way to overkill.

 

[azaran]

Either will have enough to cool you, but of those I'd go with the M9i. The C7 is really more aimed at low profile builds. The M9i will have lower fan noise than the C7.

 

[azaran]

The Evo and the M9i perform pretty similarly. I'd still say go with the Cryorig if nothing else cuz its also roughly $10 cheaper than the Evo. Plus, and I'm biased here, I think the mounting system on the M9i is much better than the Evo.

 

[erik8thw]

Either will have enough to cool you, but of those I'd go with the M9i. The C7 is really more aimed at low profile builds. The M9i will have lower fan noise than the C7.

My case doesn't have top vent. Is M9i enough to elimnate the heat through exhaust fan?

 

[azaran]

Yeah it should be fine. Just aim the fan so it blow towards the exhaust in the rear of the case and you'll be fine. Tho I'd recommend getting a front intake fan as well.

 

[erik8thw]

Either will have enough to cool you, but of those I'd go with the M9i. The C7 is really more aimed at low profile builds. The M9i will have lower fan noise than the C7.

I noticed Cryorig H7 has 10-25 dBA from its official page. What is the range of dBA mean?

 

[azaran]

dBA (decibels) is the sound level. Lower = less noise, higher = more noise. Since the fan is a variable speed fan, it means it'll make between 10-25dBA of noise while in use depending on how fast it has to spin to cool. There is more involved in understanding dBA but that's the short of it.

The H7 is a very good cooler, but honestly its overkill for your setup. However it will make less noise than the M9i.

 

[erik8thw]

dBA (decibels) is the sound level. Lower = less noise, higher = more noise. Since the fan is a variable speed fan, it means it'll make between 10-25dBA of noise while in use depending on how fast it has to spin to cool. There is more involved in understanding dBA but that's the short of it.

The H7 is a very good cooler, but honestly its overkill for your setup. However it will make less noise than the M9i.

I noticed the noise level just showing 26.4 dBA without any range at M9i official page. Does that mean the noise level is 26.4 dBA at idle too?

 

[azaran]

The fan is a variable speed fan, 600 ~ 2200 RPM, so it will make less noise at 600RPM than at 2200RPM. Reviews of the unit show it gets down to around 24dBA at low speeds, and seems to top out at 41dBA at full speed. Keep in mind, any dBA rating a manufacture gives to its products will usually not reflect real life scenarios, so take any noise rating with a grain of salt. To give you some comparison, the Intel stock cooler seems to range 50-65 dBA in these same reviews.

 

[erik8thw]

The fan is a variable speed fan, 600 ~ 2200 RPM, so it will make less noise at 600RPM than at 2200RPM. Reviews of the unit show it gets down to around 24dBA at low speeds, and seems to top out at 41dBA at full speed. Keep in mind, any dBA rating a manufacture gives to its products will usually not reflect real life scenarios, so take any noise rating with a grain of salt. To give you some comparison, the Intel stock cooler seems to range 50-65 dBA in these same reviews.

I noticed my CPU temp can go up to 70c when playing Rise of the Tomb Raider and my Intel stock cooler started to make noise. Why is it like this?

 

[azaran]

Not really surprising, you're working the CPU which is going to create more heat. The cooler has to increase fan speed to accommodate and cool the CPU.. The stock intel cooler is generally not very good, especially in the first few generations of the i series cpus, so temps like 70c is not uncommon. You CPU wont start throttling to protect itself untill 105c, so 70 isn't bad if its when you're doing something intensive like gaming. If you're idling at 70 there's a problem.

 

[erik8thw]

Not really surprising, you're working the CPU which is going to create more heat. The cooler has to increase fan speed to accommodate and cool the CPU.. The stock intel cooler is generally not very good, especially in the first few generations of the i series cpus, so temps like 70c is not uncommon. You CPU wont start throttling to protect itself untill 105c, so 70 isn't bad if its when you're doing something intensive like gaming. If you're idling at 70 there's a problem.

Can help me to choose between these 2 CPU coolers only? Cryorig M9i or Noctua L9i?

 

[azaran]

Not really surprising, you're working the CPU which is going to create more heat. The cooler has to increase fan speed to accommodate and cool the CPU.. The stock intel cooler is generally not very good, especially in the first few generations of the i series cpus, so temps like 70c is not uncommon. You CPU wont start throttling to protect itself untill 105c, so 70 isn't bad if its when you're doing something intensive like gaming. If you're idling at 70 there's a problem.

Can help me to choose between these 2 CPU coolers only? Cryorig M9i or Noctua L9i?

Just posted to your other question on those coolers. Of those two, go with the Cryorig M9i, provided you're not using a super low profile case. In which case you'd want the Cryorig C7. The L9i is a pretty low performance cooler, and is sometimes beaten out by the stock Intel cooler.

 

[madmatt30]

Is the deepcool gammaxx 300 available to you ??

Great budget cooler , will keep an i5 around 50c even under an heavy load.

 

[erik8thw]

Is the deepcool gammaxx 300 available to you ??

Great budget cooler , will keep an i5 around 50c even under an heavy load.

Is it really better than M9i?

 

[azaran]

Is the deepcool gammaxx 300 available to you ??

Great budget cooler , will keep an i5 around 50c even under an heavy load.

Any idea how it stacks up to the M9i? I can't find a TDP on the Deepcool, but price wise they seem to be identical. And depending on the case the OP is using, the pushpin mount, while not the best, may be easier than ripping the motherboard out to mount a new cooler.

 

[madmatt30]

Its cheaper, it cools as well , it has Pre applied paste , it uses the stock intel mounting so takes about a minute to fit.

Very very good choice for a stock locked i5 CPU.

I use it myself on a 3470 & temps are below 55c under Intel burn test, recommended it to another member for a oc 3570k @4ghz & he got temps the same.

Its a very very good budget cooler.

 

[azaran]

Looks like the Deepcool is quieter than the M9i as well. The only thing I dislike right off on it is the mounting system. I've seen so many fouled up push pin installs due to cracked pins, or the user not pushing them in all the way. The M9i mounting system is a much better system and doesn't over lap the RAM slots, but properly installed I'd put money on the Deepcool cooling a bit better.

 

[erik8thw]

Its cheaper, it cools as well , it has Pre applied paste , it uses the stock intel mounting so takes about a minute to fit.

Very very good choice for a stock locked i5 CPU.

I use it myself on a 3470 & temps are below 55c under Intel burn test, recommended it to another member for a oc 3570k @4ghz & he got temps the same.

Its a very very good budget cooler.

Is it easy to be installed on my motherboard compared to M9i? It seems its noise level is lower than the M9i one. Is it quieter than M9i?

 

[azaran]

The Deepcool uses the same push pin system as you Intel stock cooler. So install will be simpler than the M9i. Also the fan is larger than the M9i with a lower noise rating, so it should be quieter.

 

[erik8thw]

The Deepcool uses the same push pin system as you Intel stock cooler. So install will be simpler than the M9i. Also the fan is larger than the M9i with a lower noise rating, so it should be quieter.

Do I need to remove my motherboard if I want to install M9i? I can see that my casing has a hole for my motherboard back panel. Can I just install M9i on my motherboard back panel through the hole of my casing?

 

[azaran]

You're case looks like you should be able mount the M9i with out having to take your motherboard out. I'd pull the panels off and check that there is enough room behind the CPU area and it lines up right.

 

[madmatt30]

Adamant the gammaxx will perform better mate.
Give me an hour , & Ill post a screen grab showing temps under prime & burn test.

 

[erik8thw]

Adamant the gammaxx will perform better mate.
Give me an hour , & Ill post a screen grab showing temps under prime & burn test.

Do you hear any weird noise at idle and gaming from it?