Features - QOTW: Which CPU cooler do you use?

[CustardInc]

H80i, how would I rate it? LOUD AS ALL HELL seeing as corsair link is broken and won't recognise my cooler. For a cooler of that price I'd expect first class support, been waiting 2 days for a reply.

[Noxvayl]

I have a custom water cooling loop with an Alphacool NexXxos XP3 Lite water block on my CPU. I love it despite the troubles I've had over the last year getting it right.

Detailed spec can be found here: http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=275207

Keeps my CPU below 60°C no matter the application I throw at it and my GPU remains below 60°C as well. Stress tests take the temp higher in my quiet config, pushing the fans to their max RPM fixes that though. Just waiting for a new corsair link fan controller so I can get the system to be even more silent while still keeping everything below 60°C, but that might require a radiator upgrade as well so I'm not in a hurry to do that.

My HTPC is using an Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 cooler which I highly recommend for its performance and silence. Really good cooler for the price. I've installed the same one on a family computer and have the older Freezer 7 Pro on a different family machine so I've been very happy with Arctic Cooling products over the years. This reminds me, I have some upgrades to do on my HTPC.

[naturbo2000]

Corsair H40. Cheap and does good enough for my 4670k @ 4.2GHz. The biggest problem is airflow in my case.

[letsrace567]

I have an H80i as well, and I don't mind it. I don't particularly like it, but it's ok. It cools well enough, I have a 3570k @4.4GHz/1.22V and it tops out at 68 degrees C running Prime95.

I HATE how it spins the loud stock SP120 fans to max RPM on start-up though. I actually have my 2 front 3-pin fans running off the H80i, and they don't do that. I have the rad fans running off the MB CPU fan header with a PWM splitter to avoid announcing it to the world every time I hit the power button on my system.

I got the H80i because it was what I considered the best option at the time for my case, which doesn't support any kind of water cooling. I'm very interested in the Enthoo Pro though, so once I have that, I'll start considering legit water cooling more seriously. I'll probably have to wait until some time this winter for that though. I can't wait to get away from CorasirLink and it's awful, buggy, glitchy interface. I wish I knew how bad CorsairLink was before I got the cooler. I'm tired of fighting with it, and I do regret the purchase.

Would I recommend it? No, unless you get a killer deal on one. For the regular price, you could get an awesome air cooler, and for just a bit more, you could go to the H220 or Glacer 240l or some other expandable unit. In certain situations, it might make sense, but it misses the mark for me. It could be a lot better. In my mind, it just makes more sense to avoid "footitis" (boating term, where you want to step up to something just slightly better) and go all-out for exactly what you want. You'll have to save up, but I think it's a lot cheaper in the long run if the goal is to have all your components under water anyway.

[fasterdanabule]

Right now i have Coolermaster, hyper 212 plus on a i2500k; i´ve never imagined that a budget cooler could work so well in a medium overclocked scenario

[Jimaras Pap]

COOLERMASTER RR-TX3E-22PK-R1 HYPER TX3 EVO on a AMD FX 6300. Have never been over 40-50 degrees, although bit of noisy to achieve it.

[GuidoLS]

ZEROtherm BTF90 - the Butterfly. According to HWInfo, keeps my stock C2Q9550 at 32c at idle, and 48c as a high point. For all intents and purposes, it's solid copper, with a fairly large block, and according to NewEgg, 4400cm² of surface area. And after 7 years, it's still virtually silent (can't hear it over the 200mm case fan, which is fairly quiet as well). Only downside - when/if I ever upgrade to a more powerful, current cpu, I can't take this one with me... and, sadly, Zerotherm seems to have gone out of business.

[4zg4rt]

Corsair H80 on FX-8120

[ataru]

Got a Noctua, very quiet and performs excellently.

[Percy1983]

Deepcool Lucifer, amazing cooling and quiet and a massive bargain!

[AndyM2012]

Noctua NH-U9B SE2 with the ULNA on a stock-clocked i7 920. I had to go with a smallish cooler at the time as my previous case wouldn't take anything taller. I keep thinking about changing the fans for PWM ones, or the entire thing for an NH-U12S, as it is the least-quiet item(!) in my computer.

[stevie lee]

Xigmatek s1284 Achilles cooling a Phenom II X4 920.
memory was too tall for default orientation of the fan blowing upwards, so had to adapt it by attaching the intel bracket on upside down and cable tying through where the pushpins normally go. (pictures are in my sapphire 7770 review somewhere, cba linking again)

currently at 34 Celcius with ambient of 22 C

and its very quiet, barely hear it next to my desk

gets up to around 45C when gaming, no idea whether it gets louder or not, my B&W 601's drown out all other noise

[Spreadie]

Custom loop - CPU and GPU blocks, DDC and Res-top and a 240mm Monsta radiator.

I want to change my fans for some with improved static pressure though.

[bob3406]

Trusty Corsair H80... Been going for 3 years now! Might get a new one soon, in-case the pump dies

[donkiddik]

Still using my old Scythe Mine, came from Q6600, now on my 3570K with a Noctua NF-F12 PWM fan, never gets above 45C, when gaming. Nice and quiet too!

[zaph0d]

Custom loop, Swiftech pump, CPU & GPU blocks via y splitter, 240mm copper deep radiator (passive on top of case) 360mm copper deep radiator with a Noctua fans, only 1 in use atm as cpu & gpu generally under 40C under load, 2-bay resovoir. Using a mixture of Halfords Car Coolant Concentrate and tap-water in 1-4 ratio, works well and no chance of gunk buildup