Question Whats the best cooler for the Q9550

[LuKaWin10]

Hi, what is the best cooler for the Q9550? I want a cooler that can cool the Q9550 with no issues at all, and I am planning to overclock it to 3.6 GHz and higher!

Specs:

Case: DELUX ATX Mid-tower BMW style case

CPU: Q9550 clocked @ 3.6 GHz (wanna go higher) (Planning to get a Xeon E5450)

RAM: G.SKILL 800 MHz CL5, 5-5-5-15 1.8 to 1.9 V 4 GB (gonna get the other 4 soon)

GPU: GT 730

Motherboard: P35-DS3 rev 2.1

Cooler: AIGO ICE200PRO 95W tdp cooler (it does okay but I want a better cooler)

PSU: MSI MAG A650BN

 

[Mahzin]

low-profile cooler to not crash your motherboard, I recommend Noctua or CoolerMaster; even aluminium core is great, because my H115 by CoolerMaster (LGA 1155) has aluminium, is low profile & my CPU was hit 78ºC directly about 20 minutes of prime95 test. Without stress 34~45. Prefer always low-profile for coolers/GPUs, they'll not harm your system & with nice analysis/checking what will possibly purchase you'll have something top-notch, even spending an affordable price.

But please, coolers 95w or beyond & check the FAN, not only about rpm, but also CFM, noise, style.

 

[LuKaWin10]

low-profile cooler to not crash your motherboard, I recommend Noctua or CoolerMaster; even aluminium core is great, because my H115 by CoolerMaster (LGA 1155) has aluminium, is low profile & my CPU was hit 78ºC directly about 20 minutes of prime95 test. Without stress 34~45. Prefer always low-profile for coolers/GPUs, they'll not harm your system & with nice analysis/checking what will possibly purchase you'll have something top-notch, even spending an affordable price.

But please, coolers 95w or beyond & check the FAN, not only about rpm, but also CFM, noise, style.

Do you have any suggestions as I can fit big profile coolers and not low profile ones?

 

[Mahzin]

Do you have any suggestions as I can fit big profile coolers and not low profile ones?

No, but later I might do researches to help you if wish. Detail: put a good thermal grease, not thermal pad & avoid liquid metal, should be ceramic or silver thermal grease, but silver is better. I purchased one here from a local brand and it's marvelous. You apply & spread with a spreader making everything filled, but not exaggerating.

About more efficiency (regarding cooling): purchase a fan controller, with at least 8x spaces, then you fill then with nice CFM fans & +- rpm; you generate low-noise adjusting the knobs accordingly about the best performance not being noisy too, then you apply fans about: the side >>>>>> and the back <<<<<< (air out); up you bring fans down and right side you add one fan directioned to the motherboard about lower rpm.

My Sata 3 SSD is 20ºC maximum, low value = 17ºC, and I have only one Cooler Master 2300rpm (80mm) directioned to the motherboard & the regular cooler (CPU) with a nice FAN. I imagine with more fans & better management. Detail: I believe that hardware will be bad not about overheating, but underheating, then be careful, but 10ºC might be okay, you have to check.

 

[LuKaWin10]

No, but later I might do researches to help you if wish. Detail: put a good thermal grease, not thermal pad & avoid liquid metal, should be ceramic or silver thermal grease, but silver is better. I purchased one here from a local brand and it's marvelous. You apply & spread with a spreader making everything filled, but not exaggerating.

About more efficiency (regarding cooling): purchase a fan controller, with at least 8x spaces, then you fill then with nice CFM fans & +- rpm; you generate low-noise adjusting the knobs accordingly about the best performance not being noisy too, then you apply fans about: the side >>>>>> and the back <<<<<< (air out); up you bring fans down and right side you add one fan directioned to the motherboard about lower rpm.

My Sata 3 SSD is 20ºC maximum, low value = 17ºC, and I have only one Cooler Master 2300rpm (80mm) directioned to the motherboard & the regular cooler (CPU) with a nice FAN. I imagine with more fans & better management. Detail: I believe that hardware will be bad not about overheating, but underheating, then be careful, but 10ºC might be okay, you have to check.

Great thanks, I have Arctic MX-4 paste

 

[Misgar]

Do you have any suggestions as I can fit big profile coolers and not low profile ones?

The main problem is finding a manufacturer of large coolers that still fit LGA 775.

Noctua do an LGA 775/1366 bracket which they claim fits any of their modern coolers.
https://noctua.at/en/nm-i3-mounting-kit

If you want a big (expensive) air cooler try the old (cheaper) NH-D15:
https://noctua.at/en/nh-d15

The NH-D15 should cope with a heavily overclocked Q9550.
https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_2/Intel-Core 2 Quad Q9550 EU80569PJ073N (BX80569Q9550).html

 

[LuKaWin10]

Or maybe the AIGO ICE400SE? This one here:
I just found this on AliExpress:
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EH4fOdR


This one is for 160W TDP and it has 4 heat pipes!

The main problem is finding a manufacturer of large coolers that still fit LGA 775.

Noctua do an LGA 775/1366 bracket which they claim fits any of their modern coolers.
https://noctua.at/en/nm-i3-mounting-kit

If you want a big (expensive) air cooler try the old (cheaper) NH-D15:
https://noctua.at/en/nh-d15

The NH-D15 should cope with a heavily overclocked Q9550.
https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_2/Intel-Core 2 Quad Q9550 EU80569PJ073N (BX80569Q9550).html

 

[Misgar]

This one is for 160W TDP and it has 4 heat pipes!

Or maybe the AIGO ICE400SE? This one here:
I just found this on AliExpress:

No it doesn't, it only has 2 heatpipes!!!! Look more carefully.

It also has pretty Rainbow Lights (according to the description). What more could you possibly desire?

At only £2.74 (under $4), I nearly fell off my chair in a fit of helpless giggles. It's really is that bad.

A single 90mm fan and a horribly lightweight construction is not going to cool 160W. The Noctua is a huge chunk of metal with two BIG 150mm fans.

By all means purchase this tiny heatsink, plus a hot glue gun to stick it to the motherboard.

Did you notice the AliExpress fan doesn't mention LGA 775 mounting? That's why you'll need a hot glue gun to install it (joke).

 

[faalin]

Cheap but should get the job done

Cooler Master Hyper H412R $22.99
or
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo $55.00