CNPS2X vs. Noctua L9i vs. Stock HSF

[Goobley]

Hey everyone,
I'm sorting out ways to quieten my system at the moment and I can't neglect the CPU cooler! I currently have an i3 4130 under the stock HSF on an Asus H81I-Plus, I'd like to get something a bit quieter though. There's not much space in my elite 120 and i can't afford to lose a RAM slot or the PCIe slot so I'm not conviced a CNPS8900 would work. I've only seen one review of the CNPS2X and it wasn't great, but I was quite surprised to see it shipping the beta steam machines on top of 84W processors, leading me to believe it should be ok. Anyone have experience of it?
One other option is obviously the l9i, it's a little more than I'd like to spend but I'm sure it'll work great if I have to.

Do you lot have any other preferred heatsinks that fit within the socket boundaries?
Cheers!

[pastymuncher]

After reading a couple of reviews on the Zalman CNPS2X it's not a heatsink that i would use. Yes it's quiet but it hasn't got enough cooling capacity. Can you fit the Coolermaster Gemini ll M4 in your build? It's cheaper than the Noctua but is quiet and has much better cooling the Zalman. Frostytech review here.

[AETAaAS]

The L9i performs better than the CNPS2X in both noise and cooling performance.
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/566...ew/index7.html
http://www.frostytech.com/articlevie...id=2728&page=3

Your mITX mobo and Elite 120 (~60mm height clearance) make me hesitant to recommend anything other than the L9i or the Thermalright AXP-100. Both are around £40.

Another cooler to consider if you are on a tighter budget is the Xigmatek Praeton LD963. Found one retailer through Google for £20.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XigmaTek-P...item2a2ca6f997

[Goobley]

I think I'm probably just best off sucking up and getting the noctua - I'm not convinced the M4 will fit, and getting the wrong cooler now will be money down the drain later if I then go and get one that does.
Thanks for your help

[satrow]

I have the L9i on an i3220 ASRock B75 ITX, HD 7850, Elite 120 (read: very awkward/impossible 'board to fit many 3rd party HSF's, it also fits easily on my equally difficult ASRock Z77 ITX) and it's great, cooling, low noise - highly recommended.