It's intentional. I don't recommend it because I distrust the mounting system, which is not easily adapted for any kind of real through the board bolt mounting, it's way too heavy, and there are better choices at lower prices. Why bother with it?

Since AMD has different moutning system, is there any change that SPCR might get AMD test rig besides current Intel one. The AMD's clip system seems to be better than Intel's push-pins on Ninja and other tover coolers but probably doesn't beat Ninja in bolt-thru kit.

It would be nice to see eventually AMD and Intel test rigs. Of course its fully understandeable that it would delay heatsink reviews and would cost more so it might not be doable for various reasons... or be beneficial.

Agreed, an AM2 test rig would make our testing even more complete. We'll try and make the change some time in the future after the other major upgrades to our test setups are done (ie -- anechoic chamber.) In general, the AM2 mounting systems we've seen are better than 775 ones. If a clip is used, there's usually plenty of tension and it's quite secure, so unless the HS is very heavy, we have no issues. The biggest hitch with AM2 mounts is that because it's not symmetrical like 775, which direction the fan points becomes very important -- most (well, many, anyway) AM2 mounting kits w/HS don't allow rotation. AFAIK, AM2 sockets appear to be aligned north-south rather than east-west on most motherboards.

Thanks for swift reply Mike. its good to know that some changes are comming to make tests more complete. Soon SPCR tests can become even better. Thank you.

It looks like there have been some mix-ups with the June 24 update. The new "Apack ZeroTherm Zen FZ120" entry links to the ZeroTherm butterfly. The new "Noctua NH-U12" entry should have read "Noctua NH-C12P", and it links to the ZeroTherm Zen.

yup. fixed now.

Thanks for the great list. It is the reason my machine runs what ot does for cooling.I have been running xp90 on a prescott and accelero (I recently found to be #1 on spcr reviews), I have no doubts about the testing and list. "no bias" just facts is the way to go..
I have been donating to spcr folding team as a result. thanks spcr, sincerely. I lost one cpu 7 years ago...been a "silent vengeance" ever since.

The table has the following comment about the Thermalright HR01+:

"HR-01X variant with different hardware allows free rotation of mounting position on AM2 for correct fan position."

However, the Thermalright web site http://www.thermalright.com/new_a_page/product_page/cpu/hr01x/product_cpu_cooler_hr01x.html shows it as a variant for Xeons, with the following as the only statement on compatibility:

"Motherboard Compatibilities

Intel Xeon : 5000 Series,7000 Series. (Socket 603,Socket 604,Socket 771)

Support Duo Core, Quad Core Processors

For AMD Socket F processors (3U/4U) you need to buy 939 Bolt thru kit for your HR-01X "

Can someone please clarify?

The ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro is cheap, light and popular (1,885 customer ratings at newegg) but isn't good enough to be recommended. It might be helpful to have a "not quite recommended" section where you list rough ratings for popular heatsinks like this with a sentence to explain why each didn't make the cut.

The Zalman 7000alcu has a $5 adapter for using it on socket 775. I'm sure I'm not the only one with existing 7000s from 478 and 939 systems, I'd love to see this tested to see how it compares to the intel stock cooler for core 2 CPUs. I doubt it's a 7 for 775, but is it better than stock?

Just curious -- is there any way to view these sorted by size (other than sorting them myself)? A lot of them seem giant

how about

Arctic Cooling NV Silencer 6 (Rev.2) and Arctic Cooling Accelero X1

are they any better than nv silencer 5 or Accelero S1

also which heatsinks support nvidia quadro fx 370 series

and does quadro series need silencing

I'm contemplating building an HTPC based on the 780G or 790GX (when it comes out) chipset, which of course means an AM2-compatible heat sink

Some of the AM2 units in the Recommended list have orientation limitations (i.e., can only be mounted in one direction), and it appears that the TR HR01 Plus may also need to be lapped to work correctly with an AM2 CPU (see http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/vi ... hp?t=48936).

Given these limitations, it would be very useful if the list could include some sort of compatibility rating for AM2 - rated units. We need to distinguish between units that work well with one type of CPU, but poorly with another.

Perhaps an additional column or two?

The vast majority of CPU heatsinks come with almost the exact same same K8 clip which always goes on the "wrong way". I've done most of the CPU heatsink reviews for the past year or so and the only tower heatsinks I've come across with proper AM2 mounting are the HR-01 Plus and Noctua NH-U12P (and I suppose the Scythe Ninja/Mini, but only because it's an almost completely symmetrical design, so there is no "proper" orientation).

will you review titan amanda they say it is very quiet especially while cpu overclocked


ninja II is out

http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/hard ... u-kuehler/

http://www.scythe-eu.com/en/products/cp ... nja-2.html

[quote]Improved Performance

Performance improvement has accomplished for this version 2 as 5% performance increase in fanless operation (TDP 65W at 25°/77F ambient temperature) and 15% performance increase in active cooling operation (TDP 130W at 25°/77F ambient temperature). Fin shape and fin pitch have been also modified to maximize the performance yet making the total dimension and weight to be compact like the former version.

Specially Tuned Scythe “Slip Streamâ€

I note the Scythe Zipang is only shown as compatible with AM2 and 775, whereas it also fits 478.

How About Scythe OROCHI Shuriken and Ninja II

The AM2, AM2+ and the AM3 uses the same mounting mechanism since they're all the same physically (except pin count), something that not everyone knows who look at the recommended list for the first time.
The list only mentions AM2.

In case you didn't know, ZALMAN is producing a new variant of the CNPS-7000 dubbed CNPS-7000C. It comes with the good old plastic mounting kit ZALMAN is known for. I ordered the new variant and also the ZM-CS1 clip support you talked about. I said hey 3€ isn't much, so if it doesn't work I'll just throw it away. It turned out that the ZM-CS1 is exactly the same as the plastic mounting kit for Socket 775 from ZALMAN. Yes it's 100% compatible with all Socket 775 ZALMANs, not only CNPS-7000A/B.

From my own experience, you should ALWAYS buy the ZM-CS1 if you buy a Socket 775 ZALMAN CPU cooler. It provides a much much tighter fight and is much lower in height than the normal plastic mounting kit from ZALMAN. Also, there's no backplate which makes it more compatible with different Intel motherboards.

And now to the comment if it beats the Intel stock cooler. IT SURE DOES! My Core 2 Duo was idling at around 48C with the Intel stock cooler running at around 1500RPM using the Silent Profile in my BIOS (it's a PWM fan in that cooler). Not only did it produce noticeable and slightly loud sound, it also made a whining sound. Now my CNPS-7000C has its fan undervolted to approx. 5.5V and it's running at around 1000RPM. The Core 2 Duo is currently idling while I'm writing this at 39C and compared to the Intel stock cooler the ZALMAN is nearly inaudible (to my ear*).

* I'm turning 17 in summer

this article doesnt even have thermalright ifx-14

Well, it wasn't even reviewed officially by SPCR, was it?

I ran across one review of the IFX-14 that used it passively *and* aligned with the opening facing the rear fan. And it was by far the best passive design that they had tested when it was set up this way.(basically the huge middle opening allows loads of air to blow past the two towers(since the area in the center is where the heat would naturally concentrate)

Most reviews try to cram a fan in the middle or mount the opening towards the power supply intake fan. And the thing isn't so good with a fan, because it really should be mounted on the end straddling the two "towers". Tthe secondary mini backside "tower" isn't actually required and can't fit with the thing aligned as I suggest. But as such, it's pretty good as the towers are long - and go almost to the exhaust fan.(about 1 inch from it)

The only problem with it is that it's huge.

Hi,

Will this article get an i7 update sometime soon?

Cheers.

Updated --

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_Heatsinks

No Core Contact Freezer?

"Core contact"? As in: "Remove the CPU's heat spreader before mounting the heatsink."?
I've never seen any of those...

Anyway, I see the Ninja 2 is now on the list, which is fine, but the review of that heatsink still doesn't feature my additional comments about mounting on AMD sockets...

Cheers
Olle

Haha, not quite

Sunbeam Core-Contact Freezer

Until you see a review in http://www.silentpcreview.com/section11.html you won't see the product rated in the recommended list.

Any chance the updated Shuriken Rev. B (SCSK-1100) is on the list to be reviewed, Mike? It's so short, it seems to be perfect for a number of smaller cases. I for one would love to see it put through the paces.

I am just about to buy the Scythe Mugen 2, and although I have read the SPCR review I would still like to see it listed in the recommended heatsinks article. There is only the original Mugen, how about adding Mugen 2? Thank you.

Aiyaiyai, so much buyer's anxiety! It will get an Editor's Choice award. All the recommended pages are being updated currently -- slow, tedious process, tons of details to check & double check. Trust the reviews -- they are the basis of the recommended pages.