ABT Builder’s Guide: November 2008
CPU COOLERS
When you purchase a processor in its retail package, you get the stock heatsink and fan (HSF) included with it. While this is adequate to cool the CPU, a need might arise to improve on it. This is where an aftermarket cooler comes into play.
Even if you don’t overclock your processor, an aftermarket cooler is still a good idea. The fact is that the cooler you can run your CPU, the longer it will last. An increase of 10°C in constant operating temperature may cut your processor’s lifespan in half.
If you are an overclocker, the stock HSF will not give you enough headroom to really let your machine stretch its proverbial legs and therefore, an aftermarket cooler is more or less a requirement for any heavy overclock.
Some coolers work with certain sockets while others are more versatile. Based on the CPU section of this guide, you might have noticed, the Socket T (LGA 775) from Intel and the AM2+/AM2 socket from AMD are the ones used for my recommendations, as they are the most popular and most current (at the time of this writing).
With that in mind, here are the recommendations.
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INTEL (LGA 775) |
AMD (AM2) |
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ENTRY |
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BUDGET |
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MAINSTREAM |
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PERFORMANCE |
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ENTHUSIAST |
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Notes:
Thermalright Ultra-120: Also known as the TRUE-120; this cooler can outperform the Tuniq Tower 120. However, to do so you would have to add a high performance 120mm fan to the unit because it comes as a passive cooler (no fans). In my opinion, the additional cost does not outweigh the minimal performance gain over the Tuniq. It is for this reason, that I recommend the Tuniq Tower 120 as being the best air cooler right out of the box.
