Best CPU Fan

[Darth Marsden]

Not to do with any specific game, but I feel it is related to games, so...

So it has come to my attention that my CPU fan isn't doing a good enough job (as mentioned in the Tomb Raider review thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.77391?page=2]) and needs replacing. So I turn to the technical experts here, what with all their experience et al, in asking what may be an obvious question - which one do I get?

I have an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4000+. Graphics card wise, I have an ATI Radeon X1950 Pro.

I'd appreciate your thoughts. And yes, I know I should have gotten an NVidea card. Meh.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019

nuff said.

 

[ThePlasmatizer]

nuff said.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

nuff said.

That doesn't generate wind, it takes wind and turns it into electricity. But I do get the point and it is funny :D

 

[Nimbus]

nuff said.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

nuff said.

It needs a heat sink so not nuff said.

 

[Nimbus]

nuff said.

It needs a heat sink so not nuff said.

Well obviously you would have to burn your computer in the permafrost . .
~

 

[crimson5pheonix]

Can we actually have some CPU fans now please?

 

[clarinetJWD]

This isn't the "Best Cooler EVARRRRRR" or anything, but it does a damn good job at less than half the cost of its competition. I use it on a C2D e8500, and even with the fan turned completely off, I never see 50C. I also have a smaller Masscool on my media PC, and does a great job as well.

Edit: It would help if I gave the link, eh?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150082&Tpk=masscool%2092mm

 

[Laughing Man]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019

I second that. It isn't the best cooler and it is more expensive but damn it looks good. It does cool a lot better than the Intel stock fan and it is a hell of a lot quieter so it's a win for me.

If however all you care about is best cooling for bet value then go with

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134 <3.

 

[searanox]

I really, really don't recommend the stuff by Arctic Cooling. It gets the job done, but it's not that much better than most stock equipment.
Last I checked (a few months ago) Thermalright Ultra-120 [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835109125] has been consistently proven to be the best CPU heatsink available as far as cooling goes, but since it doesn't come with a fan you'll need to use your own - I recommend a Sycthe 120mm, preferably the S-FLEX line [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185006]. The heatsink is a bit pricey, but it's worth it, especially because it's essentially noiseless if you get a good fan for it like the one I linked to. Just make sure you have the space for it in your computer, as it's quite big.

To be fair, I don't have that same heatsink, but rather, a Scythe ANDY Samurai Master. It's quite good, and fairly quiet, but I might replace it with my next computer if I can't get a proper mounting bracket for it.

 

[Darth Marsden]

Price isn't a massive issue, since it seems the most expensive one here wouldn't top £35. Preferably I'm after one that's quiet and keeps the CPU cool rather then one that looks good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150082&Tpk=masscool 92mm

Looks pretty good. Do I have a raise on this one?

 

[crimson5pheonix]

Look at the duorb. It's supposed to cool very well.

 

[Darth Marsden]

Care to link me one? This isn't really my area of expertise.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106114

Here ya go

 

[Darth Marsden]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106114

Here ya go

Ooo, there's two of them...

Thanks. Might have a winner here. Do you know how quiet it is?

 

[crimson5pheonix]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106114

Here ya go

Ooo, there's two of them...

Thanks. Might have a winner here.

Be careful, make sure you have enough room for it.

 

[Darth Marsden]

Quoted from the TR thead:

I do hope it's not the processor. I've a fan the size of my hand on it. I'll try SmartFan, see what that tells me.

 

[crimsondynamics]

Best for what?

Some of the best fans for displacing air are ludicrously loud. Are you willing to compromise sound for airflow?

I cannot stand it if my computer makes too much noise, so I would always look for silent operation, then airflow.

In any case, everyone's boat floats in a different way, but I would look here for some fans that strike a balance between airflow and silent operation:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article63-page2.html

You might also want to check out their reviews for heatsinks:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article30-page2.html

(note: change "page2" to "page1" in the links to view their testing methodology and rationale)

Keeping in mind this website focuses mainly on silent computing, the heatsinks are still among the top of their class - many of their top-rated heatsinks can run CPUs without any fans at all, so imagine the performance you can obtain if you paired up one of their recommended heatsinks with one of their recommended fans.

 

[Darth Marsden]

Like I say, I'm not an expert at these things - I was mostly just looking for a recommendation to buy. Having looked at it, I think I'm gonna go with this one [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106114]. My main concern is installing it - I'd prefer not to remove all of the bits of my PC to do it, but if needs must, then so be it.