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Best Air Cooler For Different Price Points Thread

18K views 52 replies 27 participants last post by  theamdman 
#1 ·
Since whenever i am in the Air Cooling forum, all i see are what is the best cooler/heatsink threads. To stop the same answers from being answered 20 times per day, i decided to make a thread to show others what are the best heatsinks in different price points.

For the Dimensions, pretend that you are looking at the specified cooler head-on with the base plate on the floor as in the Noctua NH-D14 picture. The Height is from the bottom of the base to the top of the heatpipes, the Width is from left to right and the Depth is from front to back.
$81-$100
All CPU Coolers in this section are the top of the line Air Coolers and are all within 1-2C of each other. So pick whichever one you like based on price, fans, style, looks or colour(Phanteks)
Noctua NH-D14
225
Height: 160 mm
Width: 140 mm
Depth: 130 mm/158 mm(With Fan)
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=34&lng=en
Thermalright Silver Arrow
225
Height: 167 mm
Width: 147 mm
Depth: 123 mm
http://www.thermalright.com/products/index.php?act=data&cat_id=11&id=96
Thermalright Archon
225
Height: 172 mm
Width: 155 mm
Depth: 53 mm
http://www.thermalright.com/products/index.php?act=data&cat_id=11&id=172
Phanteks PH-TC14PE (Blue, Red, Orange, White)
225
Height: 163 mm/171 mm(With Fan)
Width: 140 mm
Depth: 134 mm/159 mm(With Fan)
http://www.phanteks.com/index.php?p=products_2&cate=1
$71-$80
Prolimatech Genesis
225
Height: 166 mm
Width: 146 mm
Depth: 216.5 mm
http://www.prolimatech.com/en/products/detail.asp?id=801&page=1
Note: The Prolimatech Genesis also does not include any fans but does include 2 sets of fan clips, so you need to buy two 120mm or two 140mm fans separately.
$61-$70
Prolimatech Megahalems Rev C
225
Height: 159 mm
Width: 130 mm
Depth: 74 mm
http://www.prolimatech.com/en/products/detail.asp?id=887&page=1
Note: IIRC the Megahalems does not include fans, so if you buy 2 fans you are around the price of the coolers above
Thermalright Venomous-X
225
Height: 161 mm
Width: 127 mm
Depth: 63 mm
http://www.thermalright.com/products/index.php?act=data&cat_id=11&id=84
NOTE: The Venomous X just comes with the heatsink only while the Venomous X-RT includes a fan and one of those fancy fan clips, and the Venomous X Silent Edition includes two fans and two fan clips, so if you seem all three for the same price, get the RT or Silent Edition that includes fans and clips.
$51-$60
NZXT Havik 140
225
Height: 160 mm/166 mm(With Fan)
Width: 135 mm/140 mm(With Fan)
Depth: 60 mm/120 mm(With Fan)
http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/cpu_cooler/havik_140
Thermaltake Frio
225
Height: 165 mm
Width: 139 mm
Depth: 73 mm
http://thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?S=1319&ID=1956#Tab0
NOTE: While the Frio scores good in many tests and close to the Havik 140, just note that the fans run at 2,500RPM and so the cooler itself is very noisy compared to the Havik 140 and other coolers.
$41-$50
Scythe Ninja 3
225
Height: 160 mm
Width: 120 mm
Depth: 120 mm
http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/cpu/053/scnj3000-detail.html
Scythe MUGEN 3
225
Height: 158 mm
Width: 108 mm
Depth: 130 mm
http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/cpu/118/images/ScytheUSA-ProductsCPUCoolerMUGEN3.html
$31-$40
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO
225
Height: 159 mm
Width: 116 mm
Depth: 51 mm
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=3053
Thermalright TRUE Spirit 140
225
Height: 170 mm
Width: 155 mm
Depth: 53 mm
http://thermalright.com/products/index.php?act=data&cat_id=27&id=182
$30 And Under
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212+
225
Height: 158.5 mm
Width: 120 mm
Depth: 51 mm
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=2&product_id=2923
 
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#2 ·
#3 ·
In the $60-$75 range, I think the NZXT Havik needs to be thrown into the mix. It works well, is quiet, and comes with two 140mm fans out of the box. The Thermalright TRUE Spirit 120 NEEDS to be in the $20-$30 range. It is at least as good as the 212
 
#6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by AMD4ME View Post

This info. is already available at serveral websites with full reviews and objective, scientific test data on cooling performance and fan noise. Check the relevant Intel or AMD section as the heat spreader area of the CPU effects cooling performance.
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm#INTELHEATSINK
The point was that since so many people ask the same question for the same coolers basically, it would be just better to have a generic thread that keeps people from asking the same question on coolers.

This thread was desperately needed, now excuse me while I try to snag a SA.
smile.gif
 
#20 ·
Tt Frio gets good marks.

That new Zalman xx12xx (whatever the letters are) also gets good marks.

But please, don't bring up FrostyTech again. It just creeps me out.
 
#21 ·
After ALOT of research into cpu cooling solutions i decided on air cooling and purchased the Thernalright Venomous x rt at Canada Computers for $59.88 plus taxes. In my research this cooler matched or beat most of the top air coolers, including the new HR-02 Macho, and matched or beat some low to mid range water coolers at a much better price. I am running this cooler with the 1 included fan, top and rear exhaust fans (stock with case), front intake fan (stock with case), and an aftermarket side intake fan all running at default (low) speed.

Temperatures after running Prime 95 for 1 hour are around 56C*-59C* on each core, never going above 60C*. In OCCT LInpack test max temps were 53C*, 54C*,50C*,and 54C* for each core. I am running i5 2500K at 4.3 Mhz on Asus P8Z68 V-Pro Gen3. I am very impressed by this cooler and wonder why more people are not bragging on it.

*** It also comes with hardware to install on socket 775 and amd.
 
#25 ·
NZXT Havik is a great option.The size is perfect,as the front fan clears the first RAM slot on my 880G ASRock board.The oversized fans are a bonus too since airflow is created under the heatsink as well for cool running VRM's,very important.Available for $59 right now.
 
#26 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redwoodz View Post

NZXT Havik is a great option.The size is perfect,as the front fan clears the first RAM slot on my 880G ASRock board.The oversized fans are a bonus too since airflow is created under the heatsink as well for cool running VRM's,very important.Available for $59 right now.
I am not here getting their attention.. Anyway..

Yes i agree with that, its amazing low temp. its outperformed the TT frio cooler. but I am very disappoint with it that blocked two slots of heatsink fin rams. I dislike to take two memory rams away and waste my spent money on the four aluminum heatskin fin RAMS for about $130. see below:

400

Unfortunately I returned it to store for now..
frown.gif
However I will repurchase the HAVIK 140 when get another upgradable GB of Memory RAM events in future.
 
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