Recommend me a small CPU cooler

[SiM]

I need something small to fit in this mATX HTPC case. The mini ninja is the obvious choice, but since I won't be overclocking much, it might be a bit OTT. So what are the cheaper alternatives? Or should I just go for the mini ninja?

This will be used to cool a E2200 which I will overclock slightly (minimum needed to get smooth 1080p playback).

Thanks

[Ommid]

How much clearance have you got? Can you run it fan free? Zalman do a couple but as you know they wont be cheap lol

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

[SiM]

That Zalman is only a couple of quid cheaper... I would rather go for the mini ninja... I don't think these small coolers will work well fan free - unless undervolted and underclocked which I won't be doing.

Not sure how much clearance I have... I haven't got the board yet! (Its on the way, in the post at the moment).

Looks like I will have to go for the mini ninja... I heard that the fan that comes with it is not very good... anyone suggest a quiet alternative. It can take 92mm or 80mm fans.

[Ommid]

That Zalman is only a couple of quid cheaper... I would rather go for the mini ninja... I don't think these small coolers will work well fan free - unless undervolted and underclocked which I won't be doing.

Not sure how much clearance I have... I haven't got the board yet! (Its on the way, in the post at the moment).

Looks like I will have to go for the mini ninja... I heard that the fan that comes with it is not very good... anyone suggest a quiet alternative. It can take 92mm or 80mm fans.

To be honest alot of people will say Noctua and Yate Loon and Sharkoon, so would I for a PC but for this I'd get an Arctic Cooling 9 PWM Fan. Why?

Because it comes mounted with silencing rubber grommets and also the sides are exposed so air can be expelled out from the sides as well as above which may be better especially if the fan is pointing up but the exhaust isnt directly above. Some air will get chucked directly into the exhaust.

Might be a load of Boll**ks but worst comes to worst you get a good cheap quiet fan lol

[Ommid]

Thats for the Zalman btw

If you are going to get the Mini Ninja Id stick with something 80mm unless you know you have the clearance mate

[ackrite26]

SiM check this out

silentpcreview.com | View topic - HTPC CPU cooler recommendation: Antec NSK2480 desktop case

[SiM]

Thanks, I like the idea of the PWM... but I can't find it anywhere for sale in the UK!!!

Definitely not going to get the zalman. Its not a big enough saving over the mini ninja...

Regarding clearance... check out this photo:

I think there should be adequate clearance for a 92mm fan unless the ram will get in the way... I think I will get a 92mm fan and use it as a case fan if it doesn't fit.

[SiM]

SiM check this out

silentpcreview.com | View topic - HTPC CPU cooler recommendation: Antec NSK2480 desktop case

Thanks for that... looks like I will be running it fanless

[MSIC]

Have you been able to read this article yet?
Anandtech's guide to building an uATX system May 27th 2008.
This Page mentions his choices of HSFs.

I'd love to mention this AC LP but it's AMD only

[Ommid]

Thanks, I like the idea of the PWM... but I can't find it anywhere for sale in the UK!!!

If you fancy it you can get it from here

Arctic Cooling ACF9PWM Arctic Fan 9 PWM 92mm Case Fan on eBay, also Fans, Heatsinks Cooling, For Desktops, PC Components, Computers Networking (end time 03-Jun-08 08:33:11 BST)

[SiM]

If you fancy it you can get it from here

Arctic Cooling ACF9PWM Arctic Fan 9 PWM 92mm Case Fan on eBay, also Fans, Heatsinks Cooling, For Desktops, PC Components, Computers Networking (end time 03-Jun-08 08:33:11 BST)

Yeh, I saw that, but that's in the US and with postage its not cheap... I will just run the ninja without a fan... It looks like it will work well without a fan

Have you been able to read this article yet?
Anandtech's guide to building an uATX system May 27th 2008.
This Page mentions his choices of HSFs.

I'd love to mention this AC LP but it's AMD only

That article is mostly AMD only too... that guy put 8GB into his matx system... how crazy is that!

[Thorsson]

that guy put 8GB into his matx system... how crazy is that!

He clearly has money to burn, despite all the garbage about budgets, so why not?

[SiM]

He clearly has money to burn, despite all the garbage about budgets, so why not?

lol... garbage... understatement... he talks about the Scythe Shuriken being too expensive then he goes and gets 8GB of ram... I wonder how much he can overclock his cpu with the turd he is using as a heatsink to "keep the budget"...

[Ommid]

Lol SiM hate to say it but I told you so lol. If I were you id run it fanless too mate

[SiM]

Lol SiM hate to say it but I told you so lol. If I were you id run it fanless too mate

well its not really fanless... there are 2 fans less than a cm away!!!

[TAKTAK]

i've got a zalman cnps hanging around (can't remember the full model number, but if your interested then i'll find the box) but i'm not sure if it will fit...

Piccys of it:

HERE
HERE
HERE
HERE with bogroll for comparison (336 single ply sheets )
HERE again with bum fodder, (Imageshack didn't like that piccy )

It's not amazingly small or fanless but it's an option....