About to buy a new cpu cooler and was wondering if there is anything better than the cooler master 212 evo in the $30-50 range. also thermal paste confuses the hell out of me so any ideas on what kind i should get?
cpu cooler question
- Thread starter blueomicron
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Bigcracker
Space Marshal
I use this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181030&cm_re=CORSAIR_Hydro_Series-_-35-181-030-_-Product
It keeps my cpu very cool even when I OC and have had no problems what so ever with it. Thermal paste already comes on it. Installation might be a little tricky if you never did liquid before but should only take 30mins.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181030&cm_re=CORSAIR_Hydro_Series-_-35-181-030-_-Product
It keeps my cpu very cool even when I OC and have had no problems what so ever with it. Thermal paste already comes on it. Installation might be a little tricky if you never did liquid before but should only take 30mins.
I've never tried any air coolers other than the hyper 212 evo, its one of the best on the market at its price range, plus it comes with a PWM fan, and the ability to snap on a second fan for a push-pull setup. However, if you want quieter or a second fan for the cooler: COUGAR CF-V12HPB Vortex Hydro-Dynamic-Bearing (Fluid) 300,000 Hours 12CM Silent Cooling Fan with Pulse Width Modulation; comes in both black or orange. This is a GREAT fan. Definitely give it a look.
However as far a thermal paste, you need a few things if your not starting with a whole new cpu and fan. Here is what you need:
Now, any brand should work, but I highly recommend the Arctic Silver lineup see here: http://www.arcticsilver.com/#
If you want to buy arctic silver see http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA9VM3KG7044&cm_re=Arctic+Silver-_-09Z-01VZ-00002-_-Product and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=Arctic+Silver-_-35-100-007-_-Product
(Granted i've got the $16 OEM tube of the paste, but i will probably never use it all. I have 3 towers that get regularly upgraded, and im only 1/8 into that tube, and i've had it for about 6 years).
However as far a thermal paste, you need a few things if your not starting with a whole new cpu and fan. Here is what you need:
Now, any brand should work, but I highly recommend the Arctic Silver lineup see here: http://www.arcticsilver.com/#
- Thermal Compound Remover (Removes any thermal paste from previous cooler)
- Thermal Surface Purifier (Cleans the surface and removes small hard to see impurities and skin oils)
- Thermal Compound (The compound that fills in the surface scratchs on the metal of the cpu)
If you want to buy arctic silver see http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA9VM3KG7044&cm_re=Arctic+Silver-_-09Z-01VZ-00002-_-Product and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=Arctic+Silver-_-35-100-007-_-Product
(Granted i've got the $16 OEM tube of the paste, but i will probably never use it all. I have 3 towers that get regularly upgraded, and im only 1/8 into that tube, and i've had it for about 6 years).
Thats not a bad cooler, but i didn't say anything because its liquid, plus its over $50 and the OP said his price range was 30 to 50.
Also, you make a good point, i dont think the 212 comes with paste, but its been a while since i bought one, started building my own liquid loops a couple years ago, and switched to liquid before that. Always check the heatsink for a silver/gray spot, if it doesnt have one you need paste, if it does, DO NOT Use the thermal paste, you'll end up with too much, and CPU Temps will read higher than normal.
i use a simple alcohol swab pad when i need to clean thermal paste (the kind you find in first aid kit) a coton ball with some rubbing alcohol would also do been doing that for years on too many computer to count never had a single issue
That does work, i dont do it, but then again i had the money to spend so i went all out, got a good deal on an OEM bundle of Artic Silver's stuff (everything from Silver 5 to Ceramic 2, plus the cleaners), loved it, still have the originals that i bought because they get used infrequently. However, i dont recommend cottonballs, as they can leave small fibers behind on the CPU and cause issues later on. but Rubbing alcohol on any lint free fabric should work great.
also, another note on why to use at the very least the purifier: thermal surface purifiers also inhibit flash corrosion on copper or aluminum and insures a purified surface for a new application of thermal compound.
I concur.
One important thing to remember is make the layer THIN. Putting on the heatsink compound thick will also cause overheat issues.
I used to think this too, it is the conventional wisdom after all. A little while back Linus Tech Tips did a video to cover this and the conclusion they came to was a lot does not effect performance. The main problem with putting too much paste on is it getting pushed out and around the sides of the CPU, this can cause it to short pins if you have something that conducts.
All of that being said, use some common sense and don't try to ice the CPU like a birthday cake. I start a quarter of the way from one edge and put a line of paste going to about a quarter of the way from the opposite side. Hold the tube at a 45 degree angle and apply enough pressure to put out a solid line. As for type of paste to use, Arctic Silver 5, can be had for around $6 on Amazon.
Ninja Edit: Here's the video for those interested.
Personally, I always suggest NT-H1 Thermal Paste. I always use a coffee filter wrapped around a couple of finger, place a dab on the Cooler Block and rub it in. The theory behind this is working it into the cooling block fills any potential microcrevices on the copper surface. (This isn't as big of a deal anymore - back in the day, machining could be pretty atrocious on aftermarket coolers).
Aside from that - what everyone else says. I always do the "X" pattern application personally. Hasn't failed me yet!
Aside from that - what everyone else says. I always do the "X" pattern application personally. Hasn't failed me yet!
Just looking at the fans in order of rating the Hyper 212 EVO gets so much love. As you can see the top end noise level when the fan is ramped up to full speed is higher than the others but they are also a little more expensive. You'd also have to check out individual reviews to see if their cooling performance was sacrificed for the quieter noise levels :)
Conclusion, its a solid pick I think. But the noctua do have a reputation for being super cool and quiet at the same time; you'll just end up paying a little more for a noctua.
Conclusion, its a solid pick I think. But the noctua do have a reputation for being super cool and quiet at the same time; you'll just end up paying a little more for a noctua.
Did you ever go so far as to polish the cooling block on the older coolers? Spending a day rubbing copper on super fine sandpaper just to get rid of the tiny imperfections so you could get just a little more out of it, things are so much easier now.
I did, yeah. My dad had an old glass-grinding kit that I used on my very-first custom build. It was serious business.
supitza
Vault Dweller
Wow. :|
I bought a 212x, wiped the old thermal paste off with a clean cloth and put on a new thermal paste that came stock with the 212x cooler.
Didn't realize it can get more complicated than that. :)
This is a TEST cooling solution. Good catch :)
Linus did a oil cooled build on his channel
Huegpaynis
Space Marshal
Just do all of your maintenance at the top of your adult sized slip-n-slide. 2 birds with 1 stone and what not.
It sorta depends on what CPU and Case you have, but I think the Arctic A11 (AMD) or i11 (Intel) is a solid choice.
In my favorite shop it costs just 19,99€ and has a higher cooling performance than the Hyper 212 Evo.
Also, Arctic's thermal paste is (imo) the only way to go.
I had several Arctic CPU and GPU Coolers and they got even the worst offenders cooled down (HD4870x2, AMD Phenom II X6 1100) properly, despite my case being anything but ideal.
In my favorite shop it costs just 19,99€ and has a higher cooling performance than the Hyper 212 Evo.
Also, Arctic's thermal paste is (imo) the only way to go.
I had several Arctic CPU and GPU Coolers and they got even the worst offenders cooled down (HD4870x2, AMD Phenom II X6 1100) properly, despite my case being anything but ideal.