ABT Builder’s Guide: September-October 2008
CPU COOLERS
When you purchase a processor in its retail package, you get the stock heatsink and fan (HSF) with it. While this is adequate to cool the CPU, a need might arise to improve on this. Here 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 can 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 the recommendations, as they are the most popular and most current at the time of this writing.
With that in mind, here are the recommendations.
| INTEL (LGA 775) | AMD (AM2) | |
| ENTRY | ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro | ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro |
| BUDGET | XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 | Same as left |
| MAINSTREAM | Thermaltake CL-P0114 | Same as left |
| PERFORMANCE | ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED | Same as left |
| ENTHUSIAST | TUNIQ TOWER 120 | Same as left |
Honourable Mention:
Performance – 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 1 or 2 high performance 120mm fans to the unit because it comes as a passive cooler (no fans). In my opinion, the additional cost does not outweigh the 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. Keep in mind though that, the TRUE-120 does give the buyer a choice of high performance or silence.
