How to Pick the Right Cooler that Best Fits Your CPU Size

[ces]

From Bench Mark Reviews

"Because of the slightly spread-out core placement on a Core 2 Quad or Duo processor, most triple-piped HDT cooler would make directly-aligned contact with the cores through the IHS. However, when it comes to the Core i7 series, the processor cores line-up better with four-piped HDT coolers (or at the outer edge of the center heat-pipe in the three-piped HDT cooler).

Conversely, coolers with a solid base are not effected by either platform, so long as they're big enough to saturate the contact surface.

Making matters a little more complicated is the orientation of the Core i7 processor series, which is restricted to comply with the Intel-designed horizontally-aligned rectangle shape (not square like LGA775 processors). The 32mm tall by 35mm wide Core i7 processor is more sensitive to how a cooler is mounted to it, and care must be take to ensure the IHS is fully covered."

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?o ... mitstart=7

"Users of Intel processors need to pay careful attention to their processor size and the number of core it contains.

When choosing a HDT-based cooler, the older LGA775 and even the newer LGA1156 CPUs all work best with three 8mm heatpipe rods in the base, or four 6mm rods.

Larger Nehalem-based LGA1366 Core-i7 processors with the 263mm2 die are large enough to use four 8mm heatpipe rods in the base, and five 8mm rods (such as those in the IceAge Prima Boss-II or Tuniq Tower-120 Extreme) just barely make full contact.

They key here is to choose a cooler with enough heatpipes to saturate the base, but not too few that they are overloaded.

On the other hand, Westmere-based 32nm processors won't have as much die space to cool, and so some of the LGA775 and LGA1156 heatsinks may work perfectly well on them."

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?o ... mitstart=7


"All of the top performing CPU coolers have a few things in common: bolt-through mounting clip systems that create impressive contact pressure.

Although some mounting systems are better designed than others, The mounting system on the Prolimatech Megahalems and Armageddon heatsinks use a bolt-through system with slotted alloy plates to ensure a perfectly centered cooler, which was a good bit better than the Xigmatek Crossbow kits we use on compatible coolers.

The new mounting kit that comes with the Thermalright Venomous-X heatsink creates a dangerous amount of contact pressure, although we were able to tighten the cooler all the way without incident. Thermalright's Ultra-120 eXtreme, Cogage TRUE Spirit, and Cogage Arrow all use a similar bolt-through kit that creates substantial contact pressure."

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?o ... itstart=20

[Wedge]

The new mounting kit that comes with the Thermalright Venomous-X heatsink creates a dangerous amount of contact pressure, although we were able to tighten the cooler all the way without incident. Thermalright's Ultra-120 eXtreme, Cogage TRUE Spirit, and Cogage Arrow all use a similar bolt-through kit that creates substantial contact pressure."[/i]

Wow, dangerous amount of pressure. I wish the author would qualify what he/she means by dangerous. Dangerous how? What is in danger? Is he suggesting that the IHS could crack?

I was thinking that Thermalright probably marketed Venomous X at a max of 70lbs for the reason being that is the safest upper limit one can reach. And I also assumed that is because Thermalright tested and re-tested it to make this determination.

[ces]

The new mounting kit that comes with the Thermalright Venomous-X heatsink creates a dangerous amount of contact pressure, although we were able to tighten the cooler all the way without incident. Thermalright's Ultra-120 eXtreme, Cogage TRUE Spirit, and Cogage Arrow all use a similar bolt-through kit that creates substantial contact pressure."[/i]

I was probably quoting some internet authority. I have no personal knowledge at what becomes dangerous and how that danger expresses itself. Perhaps in a cracked motherboard.

But no one forces you to torque down all the way. Probably what is safe for one board may be not so safe for another.

[Wedge]

I was probably quoting some internet authority. I have no personal knowledge at what becomes dangerous and how that danger expresses itself. Perhaps in a cracked motherboard.

I hope you took no personal offense. I wasn't talking about you (I knew you were quoting someone else).

I was just wishing the author of that statement would have pursued it a bit further. It would be nice to know how to determine when one should stop increasing the pressure if, in fact, there is a chance of harming the motherboard.