Quick question (budget) CPU cooler

Satummoo · Post by **Satummoo** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:48 am

I just bought a brisbane 3600 x2 and need a CPU cooler for it. I am not going to pay over 30$ for a heatsink and was originally going to get a zalman 7000 alu heatsink. Newegg is sold out and they only have the blue LED version of it which i'm very hesitant because i'm using this for a HTPC and don't want my antec fusion glowing blue, but if some1 could convince me otherwise that it won't emit alot of light, i'll still be intrested. Here are my options:

ZALMAN CNPS7000B-AlCu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835118118

ARCTIC COOLING ALPINE64
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835186010

GIGABYTE GH-PDU21-SC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835128009

SILVERSTONE SST-NT01V2.0 -run semi passive, 2x 120mm fans next to it
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835220004

I can only order from newegg because I want to save on shipping. Let me know if any blue LED lights will light up a dark room even with a covered case like the fusion. Thanks!

J. Sparrow · Post by **J. Sparrow** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:05 am

why don't you try out the stock HSF ? it's not that bad, and it's comes "for free" with PIBs.

Satummoo · Post by **Satummoo** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:07 am

b/c I could only get OEM.

maybe i'll just get the artic cooling for 9.99, seems like a good deal.

J. Sparrow · Post by **J. Sparrow** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:19 am

If you're not going to overclock it, you probably could get away with a budget heatpipe heatsink. I see no reason to go for hsf with no heatpipes, nowadays.

Did a quick search, the Brisbane seems a good overclocker, I've read 2500 at stock voltage and even more (2800+) with overvolting. You might be interested in something better than budget.

EFoppen · Post by **EFoppen** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:59 am

I highly recommend the ARCTIC COOLING ALPINE64 you already listed. I can't hear it in my system where speed is managed by the Mobo (very slow). And reading reviews, it seems to be a good one if you are interested in silence and not in overclocking.

jimmyfergus · Post by **jimmyfergus** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:43 pm

I too recommend the Alpine. If your mobo has a 4 pin header, then get the Alpine 7, which is the same as the 64, but with additional hardware [edit: and, of course, the 4 pin pwm fan instead of the 3 pin]. Fits an AM2 no problem.

See the review on this site - and look at those numbers for lower fan speeds. Your CPU is unlikely to need to take this out of minimum fan speed.

autoboy · Post by **autoboy** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:01 pm

i love the alpine64 or alpine7. I have two now. They are very good at cooling a non overclocked or undervolted processor. Best budget cpu cooler by far. Zalman 7000 will not fit AM2