I'm looking for a high quality cpu heatsink for a Sandybridge processor. I know many people recommend the Coolermaster Hyper 212 because it's cheap, but what if money was no problem. Which heatsink would be better? I looked at the recommended heatsinks articles, but some of the heatsinks that rank the best are not available anymore (like the Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme Rev. C)

Thanks in advance.

Scythe's Orochi if you can find one. With no budget limit you can track down a case it will fit in without overhanging the expansion slots and 4 fans to attach.

Personally, my Scythe Mugen 2 in a push-pull arrangement keeps temps low and rarely becomes audible.

Scythe Mugen 2 is a very good cooler. Not that expensive.

Megahalems was a decent cooler when it came out.

Noctua's 14cm towers are very good as well.

I think you may have made some mistake while looking for them: the TRUE 120 Rev. C is currently on full production and widely available (check Google Products or eBay, it's plentiful), but it should not sport a 1156/1155 mounting, so you'd need the relevant kit.

Other comparable options currently are (IMO/IME): the Noctua NH-C14 and NH-D14, the Scythe Mugen 2 Rev. B with a second Slipstream 120 PWM in a push-pull config, and eventually the Thermalright Archon, HR-02 and Silver Arrow (for the Archon you will need a very wide case - as it's 170mm high -, and the fans of choice for the first two).

The Scythe Orochi is also a viable option if you'd like to try out a fanless setup, while the Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. B and Super Mega are eventually worthly considered, but I don't know them (please take note that recently Prolimatech has also carried out a new line of fans for its heatsinks).

Hi,

If you want a passive heatsink or with a5v fan Thermalrigh HR-02, if you use 12v fan Thermalrigh Archon (if it fits into you case)

I will use the Antec p183 case. I'm just waiting for it to become available again.

Noctua nh-d14 is really good and include two fans, Scythe Ninga 3/Mugen 2, Thermalright Hr-02 and also a really great cooler is Prolimatech Megahalem. If you have a lot of money to spend and you want to overclock the sandy bridge to like 5ghz and you want to keep it quiet, I reccomend water cooling which is very expensive and complicated to build.

Check the relevant review: it just sucks.

So the Archon won't fit.

OK, I found the Thermalright Ultra 120 at Amazon. It says that it comes with the bracket for socket 1156 (which should be good for the 1155 I'll be using). I also have some 12cm Nexus fans that I could use with it.

The Thermalrigh HR-02 also looks very good, but I wonder if it will fit on an Antec P183... anyone know?

It's as tall as the HR-01 Plus and that one fits.

I didn't read so: play safe, check twice (however, there are cheaper ones around, even with the TR fan).


It should fit, it's only 4mm higher (and 7mm wider) than the TRUE (it fits in the smaller NSK3480, even if without the TAC duct): you have just to check the available depth (with reference to your motherboard, rear I/O and RAM), as it's a tad less than 3 times the TRUE (110mm vs 38mm).

The newest release of Archon with Thermalright TY-140 fan looks to be VERY good, but VERY tall.
Linke to one review:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cooler ... hon_4.html

I bought another prolimatech mega from superbiiz for $50 and change after coupon. Both for two core i5-2500k. Currently idling at 24c.

Anything that both SPCR and Frostytech can both agree on:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Noctua_NH-C14_CPU_Cooler
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_Heatsinks

http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.c ... cleID=2562
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.c ... 562&page=5

http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

http://www.frostytech.com/top5_lowprofile_heatsinks.cfm

Hmm... Frosty Tech rates the Noctua NH-C14 as the #2 best heatsink by temperature, but it doesn't even make the list for low noise at max speed:

http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

That said, it does have great temperature/noise performance at low speed:

http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2562&page=5

These are the two quietest heatsinks from their site:
Scythe Orochi SCORC-1000 27.8 dB Intel/AMD
Scythe Zipang 33.1 dB Intel/AMD
The Noctua on low would rank 3rd lowest in sound (and still cools very well)
Noctua NH-C14 low 35.1 dB Intel/AMD

I think Noctua's design philosophy is that if you want quiet, they will give you more quiet than you ask for if you use their special cables that slow down the fans. Look at this link and you will see what I mean:
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.c ... 562&page=3
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.c ... 562&page=5