As you know, many problems in a modern computer arise not because of poor reliability of components, but because of a very commonplace situation - their overheating. Therefore, ensuring quality system cooling the entire system unit is the key to the long-term operation of the computer. Choosing the best cooler for cpu Intel or AMD plays an important role in this.
But all problems begin with the computer case - it is not only the base on which all the components are screwed for their compact placement. It is also one of the components of the PC cooling system. Until a few years ago, processors and video cards were not as powerful and did not emit as much heat energy. Therefore, such strict requirements were not imposed on the case as it is today - it was a heavy box, closed on all sides, with 1 or maximum 2 small fans for air intake from the front and exhaust from the rear.
Today, if you collect at least universal home computer, this is no longer enough. The housings on the market today have large fan openings on all sides and air intake and exhaust from multiple directions.
Not only are two fans not enough, but very often users take cases without pre-installed fans and do not install them themselves, which makes overheating even faster.
The same goes for the processor cooling system. As you already know from the article about, they are sold either with a cooler (the so-called "BOX"), or without it. So, boxed versions are suitable only for office work slightly heated processors, such as Intel Core i3, i5, i7. From experience, they don't heat up much in the normal mode, and the stock CPU coolers do the job well.
If you plan to overclock them, play games, work in difficult graphics applications, then you need to buy a separate cooler (radiator + fan). This is especially true of AMD processors that generate a lot of heat.
How to Choose the Best CPU Cooling Cooler for Intel and AMD?
So we come close to the question of choosing a cooler for the processor. Let's take a closer look at those parameters that affect performance and which you should pay attention to when buying.
First of all, choose the cooler that suits your processor socket! As a rule, they support several sockets of both Intel and AMD at once, but given that they all have non-standard fastening, do not be too lazy to look at the instructions - perhaps it is not provided for installation for your socket.
CPU cooler type
It is rather not even a type of cooler, but of the entire system as a whole. The most common is the air cooler, which is what we call a processor cooler. It consists of a metal heatsink, which absorbs heat from the processor cover, and a fan, which draws air onto it and thereby cools it. In advanced models, there are even two fans - for blowing and blowing.
Another type of processor cooling that is widespread among gamers is water cooling. These systems range from small fans connected to cooling liquid pipes to large expensive systems with external radiators. One thing in common is that a liquid takes part in thermoregulation, which cools more than just air.
By the way, if you plan to use this type of cooling, then pay attention to the presence of special holes on the rear panel of the case for the output of pipes - they are usually covered with rubber curtains.
Also, coolers can be divided into active and passive - the passive has no fan and is usually used for inexpensive and already outdated video cards - of course, this will not work for a processor.
Cooler heatsink size
I will not touch on water cooling, but let's talk about the most accessible and widespread - air cooling. And here the size of the radiator and the number of metal plates are important - the more there are, the easier it is to remove excess heat. It is also desirable that they be as thin as possible.
Fan size
A fan or even two fans must be installed on the radiator to supply and exhaust air. The larger the fan (120x120x25), the more efficiently it cools the processor, and secondly, it is easier for it to do this than for a small one, therefore, with the same quality of heat sink, it will make less noise. It is also better to take fans with the inscription "Ball bearing" - they have a quieter and more durable bearing.
Adjustable CPU fan speed
It is good if the possibility of adjusting the speed of the processor cooler is provided - so that it does not just rotate at a constant speed, but chooses it depending on the heating. It is easy to distinguish such a fan - its power connector, which is connected to motherboard, must have 4 pins.
Metal and number of heat pipes of the computer cooling system
The heat sink is in direct contact with the surface of the processor case, so the metal from which this surface is made, as well as the pipes through which heat goes to the heat sink, are important. The characteristics of the metal must be such as to heat and cool as quickly as possible. There are tubes made of aluminum, but copper does this best, although this unit is heavier. So get the CPU cooler that has them in dark yellow.
Cooler location type
As I said, the larger the processor cooler, the better, but at the same time consider how it will be located on motherboard and in the case - will it interfere with the installation of RAM or expansion cards, covering the necessary slots. And whether it will fit into the case in width. It is considered optimal tower type as it directs air directly to the rear case blower fan.
In the same time classical the option when the fan blades are right in front of you, when looking at the motherboard from above, is more suitable if the case and mother are small in microATX format, and as many devices as possible need to be compactly placed on them. The advantage of this type is also that the radiator fins blow around other components inserted into the motherboard.
However, there are also expensive models in which these two types are combined, as in the picture below.
All the characteristics described above are listed in one general parameter- heat dissipation (in cotton wool). The larger it is, the better your processor will cool.
Manufacturer
Thermal paste
And finally, the final touch is the choice of thermal paste as an intermediate link between the processor cover and the cooler. Its task is to displace excess air between the metal plates, while it should also maximize heat transfer. In order for this to be as effective as possible, metal is added to good pastes, which is why it is not white, but dark gray - buy just such a paste. It is slightly more expensive, but more effective. I already wrote somewhere, but I will repeat once again - I use MX-2 paste, it is cheaper than competitors with comparable quality.
CPU cooler rotation speed
And now, after we bought a cooler for the processor, I will show you how to adjust its speed if this function supported in it and in the motherboard. This can be done in two ways - through a program from under running Windows or through BIOS. Gigabyte has developed for its products special utility, which is called i-Cool, which, however, is not supported by all motherboards. It is very easy to do all this for any novice user without getting into the bowels of the blue BIOS screen.
If you are the owner of a motherboard from another company, then we reboot the computer, go into the BIOS and look for such items in the menu as CPU Smart FAN Control and CPU Smart FAN Control (I found them in the PC Status section).
In the first, the processor fan speed control mode (Enabled or Auto) must be activated, and in the second one of the modes must be automatic (Auto, Normal, Silent) or manual (Manual) to set the speed manually.
At the end of this article about CPU coolers, I suggest you watch an educational video - tests of several heaped up models for Intel Core and AMD.
Air cooling systems for lower grades for central processors are not frequent guests in our materials. For example, we tested the last budget processor cooler more than half a year ago. And it would be wrong to call GlacialTech Igloo 5710 Plus Silent absolutely “budget”, since its cost is 34 US dollars, which, frankly, is not cheap. Meanwhile, not everyone is ready to pay more than $ 35-40 for a cooler different from the reference one, especially since high cooling efficiency is not needed by everyone, but by a minority, who mainly belong to the category of computer enthusiasts, overclocking enthusiasts. So today we decided to make the material for the majority, having studied and tested four small and very cheap air cooling systems that cost less than $ 20 from companies such as Cooler Master, Nexus, Scythe and Ice Hammer.
Cooler Master Hyper TX3 (RR-910-HTX3-GP)
Hyper TX3 is the third version of the well-known budget cooler from Cooler Master. The first - Hyper TX - appeared in 2006 and rightfully received many well-deserved marks for a very successful combination of price and efficiency. In 2008, the Hyper TX2 took over the baton, becoming universal, but nothing more. Finally, in the second half of last year, Cooler Master released the third version of Hyper TX, in which there were indeed significant changes relative to the two previous coolers of this brand. Let's take a closer look at the cooler.The cooling system is supplied in a transparent plastic blister with a cardboard insert inside:
The following accessories are supplied with the Hyper TX3:
At first glance at the cooler, it seems that its design has not changed - all the same three copper heat pipes with a diameter of 6 mm and aluminum plates pressed onto them:
The dimensions of the new Hyper TX3 have also remained virtually unchanged compared to their predecessors:
The cooler's weight has decreased by 12 grams and is now 470 grams. The radiator still consists of 42 aluminum plates with a metal thickness of 0.5 mm and an intercostal spacing of 1.9 mm.
There is only one key change in the design of the radiator: now Hyper TX uses direct contact technology, referred to in the interpretation of Cooler Master as Direct Contact:
However, there is an obvious drawback in implementing this technology in Hyper TX3 - the distance between the heat pipes at the base of the cooler is 6 (!) Mm, which will definitely negatively affect the uniformity of heat transfer between the cooler and the processor heat spreader. The aluminum insert, turning into a scanty radiator, is not able to compensate for this flaw, so one can hardly hope for a high efficiency for its class Hyper TX3. Nevertheless, it's still better than the base of the Hyper 101 cooler;)
The second innovation in Hyper TX3 in relation to its two predecessors was its equipping with a new 92x92x25 mm fan. Сooler Master Blade Master 92 (R4-BM9S-28PK-R0):
The fan speed is automatically controlled by pulse width modulation(PWM) in the range from 800 to 2800 rpm. The air flow should be between 15.7 and 54.8 CFM and the noise level should be between 17 and 35 dBA. The manufacturer guarantees that the improved fan sleeve bearing will last 40,000 hours. The maximum power consumption of the "turntable" is a little over 3 watts. The fan is fastened to the radiator using two tight wire brackets. A couple more brackets in the kit will allow you to install a second blower fan. Impeller diameter - 84 mm, rotor - 32 mm, cable length - 305 mm.
Installing Hyper TX3 on a processor is as simple and intuitive as possible. For motherboards with LGA 775/1156 connectors, standard plastic mounts are used, and for motherboards for AMD processors - a swing clip with a locking flag. A step-by-step installation guide in 18 languages is set out in the instructions. For installation on motherboards with an LGA 1366 connector, the Hyper TX3 cooler is not provided with a mount.
Cooler Master Hyper TX3 has a MSRP of just $ 19.9.
Nexus LXM-8200
The products of the Dutch company Nexus are not a frequent visitor to our laboratory, nevertheless, by today we have already got acquainted with very high-quality Nexus fans and not very successful coolers. FLC-3000, XiR-2300 and XiR-3500... Most recently, Nexus announced new fans and new model cooler VCT-9000, which, we hope, will also get to us for testing. And today we are going to get acquainted with the budget cooler Nexus LXM-8200.A small cooler box is half-open on the front and one of the sides, which makes the fan and part of the cooler radiator visible:
Next to them is a photo of a woman's face, which clearly indicates the low noise level of the cooler. A plastic blister is inserted inside the cardboard shell, in which the cooler is fixed. Only a 1 gram sachet of SilMORE thermal paste is supplied with it:
Nexus LXM-8200 is a tower cooler with dimensions of 110x72x140 and a weight of 664 grams. Despite the seemingly quite typical design for tower coolers, the cooling system looks unusual:
The package of ribs in the middle of the radiator immediately attracts attention, which consists of 19 copper plates 0.35 mm thick and 1.5 mm intercostal distance. The same intercostal distance is also in the other two sections of the radiator, located above and below the copper insert, but these plates are made of aluminum (20 pieces in each section).
The plates are pressed onto two copper heat pipes with a diameter of 8 mm, soldered to the copper base. A 100 mm seven-blade impeller is installed on one side of the radiator:
Equipping such a dense radiator with a frameless fan is at least surprising, because such fans have a lower static pressure than frame fans. Therefore, we can assume that the efficiency of the Nexus LXM-8200 will strongly depend on the fan speed. Let's check this fact in testing, but for now let's continue to study the cooler:
The shape of the radiator fins is rectangular, with rounded corners; on the fan side, the fins have a slightly rounded cutout. Apparently, by doing so, the manufacturer tried to focus the air flow and maintain the high efficiency of the frameless fan.
The heat pipes are soldered to a 2 mm thick copper base plate, and an aluminum pad is installed above them, to which a steel mounting plate is screwed:
The contact surface of the cooler base is rather rough:
Nevertheless, the surface is even, which is much more important than polishing to a mirror finish:
The fan that is installed on the Nexus LXM-8200 is released by Evercool (model EC10025LL12EP-N):
The impeller diameter is 100 mm, which is slightly less than that of 120-mm frame fans. The rotation speed of the "turntable" is varied automatically by the method of pulse-width modulation in the range from 700 to 1500 rpm. That is, when the system is idle or under low load, the Nexus LXM-8200 will be virtually silent. This is also indicated by minimum level fan noise declared at 17 dBA. The maximum is 25.5 dBA. Static pressure, airflow and life of the Advanced Plain Bearing are not included in the specifications. The fan is fixed to the radiator with two wire brackets, and there are soft damping rubber bands at the contact points between the thin fan frame and the radiator.
The Nexus LXM-8200 is only compatible with motherboards with an LGA 775 socket on which it is installed with with four standard latches. For motherboards for AMD processors in the Nexus range there is exactly the same model, but with a different type of mounting - Nexus AXM-8200. The MSRP for both coolers is just $ 19.9.
Scythe Samurai ZZ (SCSMZ-2000)
The next cooler that we will examine today is released by Scythe EU GmbH and comes in a small box with a photo of the cooler on the front side and all kinds of information on the rest of the package:
The cooler comes with three pairs of fasteners, installation instructions and a small bag of thick gray SilMORE thermal paste weighing 1 gram:
Scythe Samurai ZZ - this is the name of the new creation of the engineers of the land of the rising sun - is a modest size top-design cooler equipped with a 92 mm fan:
The main dimensions of Samurai ZZ are 94x122x94 mm, and the rest you can see below:
The weight of the new item is 472 grams, which is not a lot by modern standards.
The core of the cooler's construction is three copper heat pipes with a diameter of 6 mm passing through the base, on which aluminum plates are strung:
The total number of plates is 47 pieces, the metal thickness is 0.35 mm, and the intercostal distance is no more than 1.7 mm. Samurai ZZ uses F.P.S. technology. (Fast-Phase Structure), which is a combination of a large area base and a very dense top-design of the radiator, due to which, according to Scythe engineers, high efficiency is achieved with small size cooler.
When looking at the cooler from the front or from the back, you might get the impression that the Samurai ZZ has not three, but six heat pipes:
However, there are still three of them, they are just bent in a U-shape at the base. The heat pipes are in contact with the nickel-plated copper base plate by soldering:
The plates are most likely simply pressed onto the heat pipes, since no traces of hot melt or solder were found at the contact points. Above the heat pipes, a small aluminum radiator is installed, which serves not only for thermal relief of the upper surface of the pipes at the base, but also serves as a support for the cooler mounts. For this, there are special grooves in the ends of the radiator.
From above, the entire heatsink of the cooler is closed by a fan, fixed with two wire brackets:
Samurai ZZ base closed plastic wrap with a warning about its mandatory removal during installation. The surface of the nickel-plated copper base, which is 2 mm thick, is mirrored and extremely smooth:
Scythe Samurai ZZ is equipped with one 7-blade SY9225SL12M-P fan, 92x92x25 mm, with the ability to control the pulse width modulation (PWM) method:
According to the specifications, the fan speed ranges from 300 to 2500 rpm. In this case, the air flow should be in the range from 6.7 to 55.55 CFM, and the noise level should be from 7.2 to 31.07 dBA. Nothing is said about the service life of a sleeve bearing in the characteristics, but it is unlikely that it exceeds the nominal 30,000 hours for this type of bearing. Fan power consumption must not exceed 2.1 W.
Samurai ZZ is equipped with V.T.M.S. (Versatile Tool-free Multiplatform System), thanks to which the user is only required to insert a certain pair of fasteners into the ends of the lower radiator and install the cooler on the processor without removing the motherboard from the case of the system unit:
Socket 478Socket AM2 / AM3LGA 775/1156/1366
No tools are required for this operation, and the cooler itself is compatible with all modern platforms without exception. Due to the compactness of the radiator, Scythe Samurai ZZ can be installed even on motherboards that are very saturated with radiators in the space around the socket:
Any orientation of the cooler on the board is not hindered by either the tubes coming out of the base or by the low top-radiator. Unless it is impossible to install the cooler with the ends of the heat pipes downward, since they will rest against the heatsink of the motherboard chipset, but this can hardly be called a drawback, since such an orientation of the cooler is not recommended by the manufacturer due to a significant loss in efficiency. In our testing, the Samurai ZZ was installed with the ends of the heatpipes facing up.
The suggested retail price is 19.9 US dollars.
Ice Hammer IH-4330
Ice Hammer IH-4330 appeared at the end of last year, belongs to an inexpensive budget class and comes in a small but brightly decorated box made of thick cardboard. The front, back and sides of the package contain all comprehensive information about the cooling system, and in two languages at once - Russian and English:
Inside the package, the cooler is additionally sealed in a plastic blister, which reliably protects it from possible damage during transportation. Above this blister is a small flat box containing the following accessories in the package:
Ice Hammer IH-4330 kit includes two plastic frames for motherboards with LGA 775 and LGA 1366 connectors, a backplate for LGA 1366, two installation instructions in Russian and English, four silicone pins for additional fan, plastic clips, screws, a holographic sticker with the Ice Hammer logo, as well as Ice Hammer thermal paste with a 25% content of silver particles and a declared thermal conductivity of more than 7.5 W / m ° K. The country of manufacture of the cooler is China.
Let's take a look at the cooling system:
A small tower-type cooling system has a modest size of 97x77x124 mm and a weight of 360 grams excluding the weight of the fan and mounts. The cooler heatsink is based on three copper heat pipes with a diameter of 6 mm, which are part of the base (Heatpipe Direct technology). 43 aluminum plates with a thickness of slightly less than 0.40 mm and an intercostal distance of 1.8 mm are pressed onto the heat pipes:
On one side of the radiator, there is a 92x92x25 mm fan mounted on soft silicone pins, which reduce the transmission of fan vibrations to the radiator and thus reduce the noise level:
By the way, the radiator is symmetrical, and on the other hand it has the same slots for installing another 92-mm fan. Silicone pins, as you remember, are included in the kit for this.
Heat pipes penetrate the radiator fins in a rather unusual way, namely, obliquely:
Probably, this was done in order to maximize the blowing of heat pipes and radiator zones adjacent to the pipes, since with such an offset they do not overlap each other. Or maybe there is some other reason here, including even a purely marketing one. We add that the aluminum fins of the Ice Hammer IH-4330 radiator have pronounced and easily perceptible pimples, due to which the air flow creates additional turbulence, which increases the efficiency of heat transfer.
The distance between the heat pipes at the base of the cooler is just over 1 mm. The surface is smooth and well finished for direct contact coolers:
Judging by the imprint of the LGA 1366 processor heat spreader on the base of the cooler, only half of the entire area of the heat spreader is in direct contact with the heat pipes. Three heat pipes with a diameter of 6 mm are clearly not enough to cover the entire area of the heat spreader. Nevertheless, this base layout is better than that of the Cooler Master Hyper TX3 base discussed above.
Ice Hammer IH-4330 is equipped with one 92mm fan with red seven-blade impeller. The fan speed is constant at 2200 (± 10%) rpm. According to the specifications, at this speed the fan should drive 40.3 CFM and make no more than 20.8 dBA noise. Impeller diameter - 85 mm, rotor - 34 mm, 3-wire cable length - 290 mm. The fan is equipped with a hydrodynamic bearing, although its service life is not specified in the specifications.
Installation of Ice Hammer IH-4330 on motherboards with AMD processors is carried out without removing the motherboard from the case of the system unit. In this case, the cooler is hooked with steel clips on the standard plastic frame of the connector. In the case of motherboards for modern Intel processors, the principle of fastening the IH-4330 is exactly the same, only the role of the plastic frame is played by the fasteners from the cooler kit. For boards with LGA 775 connectors, a plastic frame is inserted from above and fixed with special “nails”, and for LGA 1366, the frame is fastened through the board with screws to the backplate:
Our copy of Ice Hammer IH-4330 is not intended for installation on motherboards with an LGA 1156 socket - there are no mounts in the kit. However, the official website indicates that the possibility of installing the IH-4330 on this platform is also available, so it is likely serial models already shipped with full set fastenings.
Finally, here's a photo of the Ice Hammer IH-4330 with two fans inside the Antec Twelve Hundred case:
The MSRP for the IH-4330 is only $ 18.
Test configuration, tools and testing methodology
Comparison of the efficiency of cooling systems with competitors was carried out in a closed case of the system unit of the following configuration:
Motherboard: DFI LANPARTY DK X48-T2RS (Intel X48, LGA 775, BIOS 03/10/2008);
Central processor: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650, 3.0 GHz (Yorkfield C0, 1.15 V, 2x6 MB L2);
Thermal interface: Arctic Cooling MX-2;
DDR2 RAM:
2 x 1024 MB Corsair Dominator TWIN2X2048-9136C5D (passport data: 1142 MHz, 5-5-5-18, 2.1 V);
2 x 1024 MB CSX DIABLO CSXO-XAC-1200-2GB-KIT (passport data: 1200 MHz, 5-5-5-16, 2.4 V);
Video card: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 275 896 MB 256 bit, 633/1404/2268 MHz;
Disk subsystem: Western digital VelociRaptor (SATA-II, 300 GB, 10,000 rpm, 16 MB buffer, NCQ);
HDD cooling and soundproofing system: Scythe Quiet Drive;
Case: Hiper Osiris (standard fans at 900 rpm);
Control and monitoring panel: Zalman ZM-MFC3;
Power supply: Thermaltake Toughpower XT 850W.
Overclocking the processor was limited by the least efficient cooler tested today in its quiet mode, so the processor was overclocked to 3.65 GHz with an increase in the voltage in the motherboard BIOS to 1.45 V. The voltage of the RAM modules was fixed at around 2.0 V , and its frequency was about 1 GHz with timings 5-5-5-12_2T. All other parameters in the BIOS of the motherboard related to overclocking the processor or memory were not changed (left in the “Auto” positions).
Testing performed in the operating room Microsoft system Windows 7 Ultimate x64. The software used for the test is as follows:
Linpack 64-bit in the LinX 0.6.4 shell - for the processor load (5 Linpack passes with 2500 MB of RAM used);
CPU-Z 1.54 - to control the processor frequency and core voltage;
Real Temp 3.58 - for monitoring the temperature of the processor cores;
Everest 5.30.2049 Beta - for monitoring the rotation speed of standard fans.
The processor load was created by two consecutive Linpack cycles with the above settings. The period of stabilization of the processor temperature between cycles was 8-10 minutes. The final result, which you will see on the graph and diagram, is the maximum temperature of the hottest of four cores central processing unit at peak load and idle. In addition, a separate table will contain the temperatures of all processor cores and their averaged values. The room temperature was controlled by an electronic thermometer installed next to the system unit with a measurement accuracy of 0.1 ° C and the possibility of hourly monitoring of the room temperature change over the last 6 hours. During testing, the room temperature fluctuated in the range of 25.9..26.1 ° C.
The measurement of the noise level of the cooling systems was carried out using an electronic sound level meter CENTER-321 from one to three o'clock in the morning in a completely closed room with an area of about 20 m2 with double-glazed windows. The noise level of each cooler was measured outside the case of the system unit, when the source of noise in the room was only the cooler itself and its fan. The sound level meter, fixed on a tripod, was always located exactly at one point at a distance of exactly 200 mm from the cooler fan rotor. The cooling systems were placed on the very corner of the table on a polyurethane foam backing. The lower limit of measurements of the sound level meter is 29.8 dBA. Subjectively, the comfortable noise level of coolers when measured from such a distance is around 35 dBA, and very low - at 32 dBA. The fan speed of the coolers was changed in the entire range of their operation with the help of our controller by changing the supply voltage with a step of 0.5 V.
For comparison with the coolers reviewed today, the tests include the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus cooler, as predictably the next most efficient step from budget coolers to more expensive air cooling systems (recommended cost - $ 29). The competitor was tested with a stock Blade Master 120 fan. Tower coolers Cooler Master Hyper TX3 and Ice Hammer IH-4300, except with their own standard fans, were tested with two Thermalright TR-SL-92-1500 fans at 1560 rpm, set in a blow-out pattern.
Let's move on to studying the test results.
Cooler test results and their analysis
noise levelThe results of measurements of the noise level of today's test participants are shown in the following graph:
As it turned out, the Ice Hammer IH-4330 is equipped with the quietest fan among the budget coolers tested today. Its 92mm fan remains very quiet up to 1400rpm and quite comfortable up to 1740rpm. It is obvious that not only the improved sliding bearing, but also the silicone pins, on which the fan is fixed, contributes to this work of the "turntable". Scythe Samurai ZZ is behind the Ice Hammer IH-4330 in terms of noise level, but immediately after 1200 rpm the fan of this cooler starts to increase the noise level and already on the “comfort line” is inferior to the third cooler in terms of noise - Cooler Master Hyper TX3. Last on maximum speed is the noisiest cooler tested.
The Nexus LXM-8200 was frankly disappointing in terms of the noise level. The silence promised by the woman on his box has nothing to do with reality, since the 100-mm fan of the cooler can be called quiet only up to 1000 rpm, and comfortable - at 1240 rpm. However, if someone decides to compare all coolers by maximum level noise, it can be said that the Nexus is indeed in a prime position. The 120-mm fan of the tower Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus, as you would expect, is the loudest on the whole.
efficiency
As you probably noticed, on the graph with the noise level curves, two horizontal dashed lines indicate a very low noise level, and subjectively comfortable. Due to this, it is possible to determine at which fan speeds the noise level of the tested coolers is the same. Therefore, it was not difficult to test the efficiency of cooling systems at the same noise level - very low and subjectively comfortable. In addition, the efficiency of the coolers has been tested for maximum speed the rotation of their fans. Let's look at the results:
Let's analyze the results for three groups. In a very quiet mode of operation of all coolers, Ice Hammer IH-4330 leads among the heroes of today's article, which is quite logical, since it is equipped with the quietest fan, and due to this, it has a head start of 360 rpm over Cooler Master Hyper TX3, and 150 rpm min - before Scythe Samurai ZZ. The last cooler turned out to be the least efficient both in this and in the next two groups, which is also logical, since it is very difficult for top-orientation cooling systems to compete with tower coolers in ATX cases without fans on the side wall. As for the Nexus, it is surprisingly able to keep up with the Ice Hammer IH-4330 even at 1000 rpm. It should also be noted that the best cheap cooler yielded 3 ° C to a mid-range cooler - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus.
At a subjectively comfortable noise level, there were no cardinal changes in the balance of forces. The Ice Hammer still manages to be the best among its peers, though it needed a second fan, just like the Hyper TX3. Nexus LXM-8200 looks the best in the mode with one standard fan. Two 8mm heat pipes and a copper package of fins in the middle of the radiator respond well even at +250 rpm to the fan speed in the previous group. Samurai ZZ is again an outsider, and the advantage of Hyper 212 Plus over the best budget cooler is 4 ° C.
At maximum fan speed, the gap between inexpensive systems cooling and cooler average cost is reduced to a minimum. But this is only true for the noisiest Cooler Master Hyper TX3 and Ice Hammer IH-4330. The quietest Nexus LXM-8200 at maximum power takes an honorable third place among state employees, and the Japanese Samurai Zi-Zi is again at the very end, yielding 3 ° С even to the Nexus cooler.
Conclusion
First of all, I must say that any of the budget cooler models tested today will be an excellent and, importantly, an inexpensive replacement for the reference (boxed) cooling systems for modern processors, winning over 15 ° C or more even in a very quiet mode. All four coolers are very easy to install, so even a user who is not burdened with megahertz and many frames per second can carry out such a replacement without outside help. Now let's summarize the results of each cooler studied and tested today.Cooler Master Hyper TX3 can be considered a disappointment in today's testing. The primary reason for this is the unsuccessful implementation of the direct contact technology. The distance between the heat pipes at the base of this cooler is 6 mm and is filled with an aluminum insert. Of course, in this case, there is no reason to hope for a uniform and efficient heat exchange between the cooler's heatsink and the processor's heat spreader. As a result, the potentially best cooler turned out to be an average one, which cannot boast of even a very low noise level. The advantages of Hyper TX3 are its versatility and ease of installation on all platforms it supports, as well as the ability to install a second fan.
Nexus LXM-8200 is a more interesting model that outperforms the Hyper TX3 in very quiet and comfortable modes, which are relevant for most ordinary users. True, we still expected more impressive results from this model both in terms of efficiency and noise level. The fact that Nexus LXM-8200 can only be installed on LGA 775 (or purchase the AXM-8200 model for AMD) can also be attributed to disadvantages, despite low cost... However, by now these coolers have already been taken out of production, giving way to the more advanced VCT-9000 model.
The effectiveness of Scythe Samurai ZZ against the background of other test participants looks, frankly, very dim. But this cooler is the most compact of the four, as well as versatile. In addition, if your system unit has a fan or at least ventilation holes in the side wall opposite the processor socket, then Samurai ZZ will be able to pleasantly surprise you. For example, the simple removal of the side cover from the case of the system unit increases its efficiency by 6 ° C. And this despite the fact that ventilation in Hyper Osiris is not organized in the worst way.
Finally, the test leader is Ice Hammer IH-4330. It is this model that we can recommend to economical users as the most efficient and with the lowest noise level out of the four coolers of the material. At the same time, a second fan can be installed on the Ice Hammer IH-4330, and either maintain high efficiency for this class of cooling systems with a very low noise level, or achieve maximum efficiency at high speeds. Ice Hammer IH-4330 is the least lagging behind the mid-range cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus, which in terms of price and dimensions is already the next step in air cooling systems. The choice, as always, is yours.
To cool the processor, a cooler is used, which consists of a radiator and a fan.
Different processors provide different mounts for coolers and have different heat dissipation (TDP). As for heat dissipation, the more powerful the processor, the larger the cooler should be.
For the cheapest 2-core processors (Celeron, A4, A6), any simplest cooler with an aluminum heatsink and an 80-90 mm fan will suffice. The larger the fan and heatsink, the more better cooling... The lower the fan speed, the less noise. Some of these headers are not suitable for all processors, so check the supported sockets in the description. For example, Deepcool GAMMA ARCHER fits almost all sockets except AM4.
Cooler for processor Deepcool GAMMA ARCHER
Most coolers for more powerful processors are universal and have a set of mounts for all modern processors. Optimal ratio coolers DeepCool and Zalman have price / quality, and I will recommend them first of all.
Please note that not all coolers can be equipped with a mount for the AM4 socket, and sometimes it can be purchased separately, check this point with the seller.
For 2-core Intel processors (Pentium, Core-i3) and 4-core AMD (A8, A10, Ryzen 3), a small cooler with 2-3 heat pipes and a 90-120 mm fan, such as Deepcool GAMMAXX 200T (for TDP 65 Tue).
Cooler for Deepcool GAMMAXX 200T processor
Or Deepcool GAMMAXX 300 (for TDP 95W).
Cooler for Deepcool GAMMAXX 300 processor
More powerful 4-core Intel (Core i3, i5) and AMD (FX-4,6,8, Ryzen 5) need a cooler with 4-5 heat pipes and 120mm fan. And the minimum option here would be Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 (4 pipes) or slightly better Zalman from the CNPS10X series (4-5 pipes) for more powerful processors.
Cooler for Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 processor
For even hotter 6-core Intel (Core i5, i7) and AMD (Ryzen 7), as well as for overclocking, it is advisable to purchase a large powerful cooler with 6 heat pipes and a 120-140 mm fan. Some of the best in terms of price / power ratio are Deepcool Lucifer V2 and Deepcool REDHAT.
Cooler for Deepcool Lucifer V2 processor
2. Do I need to buy a cooler separately
Most boxed processors that are sold in cardboard packaging and with the word "BOX" at the end of the label have a cooler included.
If “Tray” or “OEM” is written at the end of the marking, then the cooler is not included in the package.
Some expensive processors, despite the fact that they have the word "BOX" in the marking, are sold without a cooler. But the box is usually smaller in this case, and the description often indicates that the processor does not have a cooler in the kit.
If you buy a processor with a cooler, you don't have to buy a cooler separately. This usually comes out cheaper, and a boxed cooler is quite enough for cooling the processor, since it is just designed for it.
The disadvantages of boxed coolers are more high level noise and the lack of a heat sink in case of overclocking the processor. Therefore, if you want to have more quiet computer or to overclock the processor, it is better to purchase a separate processor and a separate quiet and more powerful cooler.
3. Processor parameters for choosing a cooler
In order to choose the right cooler, we need to know the socket (Socket) of the processor and its heat dissipation (TDP).
3.1. Processor socket
Socket is a motherboard connector for installing a processor, which also has a mount for a cooler. Different sockets have different types of cooler mounts.
3.2. Heat dissipation of the processor
With regard to heat dissipation (TDP), this figure is also often indicated on the websites of online stores. If the TDP of a processor is not specified, then it is easy to find it on the website of another online store or the official websites of processor manufacturers.
There are many more sites where you can find out the characteristics of the processor by model number.
You can also use the search engine Google system or Yandex.
4. The main characteristics of coolers
The main characteristics of the coolers are the supported sockets and the TDP for which the cooler is designed.
Each cooler is designed for certain sockets; it simply won't install on others. Which sockets are supported by this or that cooler is indicated on the websites of manufacturers and online stores.
4.2. Cooler TDP
Despite the fact that the TDP of the processor, for which the cooler is designed, is the main parameter, its value is not indicated on the websites of online stores and most manufacturers. However, this data can sometimes be found. For example, on the website of one of the leaders in the production of coolers - the Austrian company Noctua, there is a comparative table of TDP coolers.
The TDP value of some popular cooler models, determined approximately based on test results, can be found on the Internet. Based on this information and personal experience, I have compiled a table with which you can easily choose the optimal cooler depending on the TDP of the processor. You can download this table at the end of the article in the "" section.
5. Cooler design
CPU coolers come in many different designs.
5.1. Cooler with aluminum radiator
The simplest and cheapest are coolers with an aluminum heatsink and a standard 80 mm fan. The radiator shape can be different. Basically, in coolers for Intel processors, the heatsink has a round shape, for AMD processors- square.
Such coolers are often bundled with low-power boxed processors and usually they are enough for them. Such a cooler can also be purchased separately inexpensively, but their quality is likely to be slightly worse. Well, such a cooler is not well suited for overclocking a processor.
5.2. Cooler with plate heatsink
On sale you can still find coolers with a heatsink made of stacked aluminum or copper plates.
They are better at removing heat from the processor than coolers with a solid aluminum heatsink, but they are already outdated and replaced by more efficient coolers based on heat pipes.
5.3. Horizontal cooler with heat pipes
Heat pipe coolers are the most modern and most efficient.
These coolers are bundled with more powerful processors. They remove heat from the processor much better than cheap coolers with an aluminum heatsink, but they blow warm air in a less efficient direction - towards the motherboard.
This solution is more suitable for compact cases, since in other cases it is better to purchase a more modern vertical cooler.
5.4. Vertical cooler with heat pipes
A vertical cooler (or a tower-type cooler) has a more optimal design.
Warm air from the processor is blown out not towards the motherboard, but towards the rear exhaust fan housing.
Such coolers are the most optimal, they have a very large selection in terms of size, power and price. They are best suited for very powerful processors and overclocking them. Their main drawback is their large dimensions, which is why not every such cooler will fit into a standard case.
The cooler efficiency depends the most on the number of heat pipes. For a processor with a TDP of 80-100 W, a cooler with 3 heat pipes is enough, for a processor with a TDP of 150-180 W, a cooler with 6 heat pipes is needed. You can find out how many heat pipes a particular processor needs from the table, which can be downloaded in the "" section.
In the characteristics of a cooler, they usually do not focus on how many heat pipes it has. But it is easy to calculate from the photo of the cooler base or by counting the number of outgoing ends of the tubes and dividing them by 2.
6. Base design
The base of the cooler is the contact pad that directly contacts the processor. The efficiency of the cooler also depends on its quality and design.
In coolers with an aluminum heatsink, the heatsink itself acts as a contact area. The base can be solid or continuous.
A solid base is preferred as it increases the contact area between the heatsink and the processor, which has a beneficial effect on cooling. And in the through structure, dust can accumulate in the slots between the heatsink and the fan.
First, it is bad for cooling. Secondly, it is impossible to clean the dust from there without removing the cooler from the processor, while a heatsink with a solid pad can be easily cleaned without dismantling it.
6.2. Radiator with copper insert
The heatsinks of some coolers have a copper insert in the base, which is in contact with the processor.
Heatsinks with a copper insert are slightly more efficient than the all-aluminum options.
Coolers with heat pipes can have a copper base.
This design is quite effective.
6.4. Direct contact
Some manufacturers are actively advocating an almost space technology of direct contact (DirectCU), which consists in saving copper by pressing heat pipes in such a way that they themselves create a contact pad directly in contact with the processor.
In fact, such a design is close in efficiency to a radiator with a copper base.
7. Design and material of the radiator
The efficiency of the cooler also strongly depends on the design of the heatsink and the material from which it is made.
The cheapest coolers have a heatsink made entirely of aluminum, since this metal is cheaper than copper. But aluminum has a low heat capacity and uneven heat distribution, which requires a stronger airflow and, accordingly, noisy fans.
7.2. Aluminum with copper
Coolers with aluminum radiators with copper inserts are a little more efficient, but no longer relevant.
7.3. Copper radiator
On sale you can still find coolers with heatsinks made of copper plates.
Copper has a high heat capacity and heat is evenly distributed in it. This makes it possible to stabilize the processor temperature at a certain level and does not require fast noisy fans. But the effectiveness of such a system is limited due to the fact that a copper radiator has a large thermal inertia and it is difficult to quickly remove heat from it. But such a cooler can be indispensable in compact cases for media centers, since it is quite low.
7.4. Aluminum plate heatsink
The most efficient coolers today are those with heat pipes and a heatsink made of many thin aluminum fins.
Heat from the processor is instantly dissipated through heat pipes to the fins, on which the fan airflow is also quickly dissipated due to the high dissipation area. This design has a very low heat capacity and thermal inertia, so the cooling efficiency is greatly improved when the fan speed is slightly increased.
7.5. Nickel plated
Good branded coolers can have nickel-plated heat pipes, copper base, and even aluminum heatsink fins.
Nickel plating prevents surface oxidation. It always remains beautiful and shiny. But the most important thing is that the oxide does not interfere with heat dissipation and the cooler does not lose its properties. Although, by and large, the difference will not be significant.
7.6. Radiator size
The efficiency of the cooler always depends on the size of the heatsink. But coolers with large heatsinks cannot always fit into a standard computer case. The height of a tower radiator for a standard enclosure should not exceed 160 mm.
The width of the heatsink also matters. A cooler with a large heatsink may not fit due to a nearby power supply. You also need to consider the size and layout of the motherboard. It may so happen that the cooler cannot be installed due to the high protruding heatsinks of the motherboard near the processor, closely spaced high memory modules, etc.
All this must be taken into account in advance and, if in doubt, measure the required distances in your computer. Better to play it safe and take a slightly smaller cooler. If the processor is very hot, and the case is small or the elements sticking out on the motherboard interfere, then tear them off. horizontal cooler with heat pipes and specially designed with sufficient spacing from the motherboard.
7.7. Radiator weight
The larger the heatsink, the heavier it is, and the heavier the heatsink, the larger it is. Well, in essence, the higher the TDP of the processor, the heavier the heatsink should be. For a processor with a TDP of 100-125 W, a radiator weighing 300-400 grams is enough; for a monster like AMD FX9xxx with a TDP of 200-220 W, a radiator of at least 1 kg, or even all of 1200-1300 grams, is needed. I will not give the weight of the heatsink for each processor, since you will see all this in the table, which can be downloaded in the "" section.
8. Fans
The size, speed and other parameters of the fan determine the efficiency of the cooler and the level of noise it creates.
8.1. Fan size
In general, the larger the fan, the more efficient and quieter it is. The cheapest coolers are equipped with 80 × 80 mm fans. Their advantage is the simplicity and low cost of replacement (which is rare). The disadvantage is the highest noise level.
Better to buy a cooler with a bigger fan - 92 × 92, 120 × 120 mm. These are also standard sizes and are easy to replace in case of need.
For especially powerful and hot processors, such as AMD FX9xxx, it is better to take a cooler with a standard size 140x140 mm fan. Such a fan is more expensive, but the noise will be less.
Better to limit the choice of coolers with standard sizes fans, what if all the same someday have to be replaced? But this does not matter, since among us there are real nuggets of kulibins that will screw any fan on the knee to any radiator
8.2. Fan bearing type
The cheapest fans have Sleeve Bearing. These fans are considered less reliable and less durable.
Ball Bearing fans are considered more reliable. But they make more noise.
Most modern fans are equipped with a Hydro Bearing, which combines reliability with low noise levels.
8.3. Number of fans
To overclock such monsters as AMD FX9xxx with a TDP of 200-220 W, it is better to take a cooler with two 140 × 140 mm fans. But keep in mind that the more fans, the higher the noise level. Therefore, it is unnecessary to take a cooler with two fans for a processor with a TDP of up to 180 W. Recommendations on the number and size of fans can be found in the table in the "" section.
8.4. Fan speed
The smaller the heatsink and the size of the fan, the higher the RPM will be. This is necessary to compensate for the low dispersion area and low airflow.
In cheap coolers, the fan speed can vary between 2000-4000 rpm. At a speed of 2000 rpm, the fan noise becomes clearly distinguishable, at a speed of 3000 rpm, the noise becomes annoying, but at 4000 rpm your room will turn into a small take-off area ...
The ideal option is a 120-140 mm fan with a maximum speed of 1300-1500 rpm.
8.5. Automatic speed control
Motherboards are able to regulate the speed of the cooler depending on the temperature of the processor. Regulation can be done by changing the supply voltage (DC), which is supported by all motherboards.
More expensive coolers can be equipped with fans with a built-in speed controller (PWM). In this case, the motherboard must also support speed control via a PWM controller (PWM).
It's good if the cooler has a 120-140 mm fan with a speed in the range of 800-1300 rpm. In this case, you almost never wake up to hear it.
8.6. Cooler connector
CPU coolers can have a 3-pin or 4-pin connector for connecting to the motherboard. The 3-pins are controlled by changing the voltage of the motherboard (DC), and the 4-pins are controlled by a PWM controller (PWM). The PWM controller can control the fan speed more precisely, so it is better to purchase a cooler with a 4-pin connector.
8.7. Noise level
The noise level depends on the rotation speed of the fan, the configuration of its blades and is measured in decibels (dB). Fans with a noise level of up to 25 dB are considered quiet. By this indicator, you can compare several coolers and, other things being equal, choose the one that makes less noise.
8.8. Air flow
The efficiency of heat removal from the radiator and, accordingly, the efficiency of the entire cooler and the noise level depend on the strength of the air flow. Airflow is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). By this indicator, you can compare several coolers and, other things being equal, choose the one that has a higher CFM. But do not forget to pay attention to the noise level.
9. Mounting the cooler
There are no pitfalls in mounting a small or medium-sized cooler. But with big models there are surprises ...
Carefully read the cooler mounting diagram before purchasing it. Some heavy coolers require reinforced mounting with a special frame on the back of the motherboard.
In this case, the motherboard should allow the installation of such a frame and there should be no unsoldered electronic elements at the installation site. There should be a recess in the computer case where the processor is supposed to be located. It's even better if there is a window that allows you to install and remove such a cooler without removing the motherboard.
A set of universal coolers that fit a variety of sockets may include many different mounts.
If the cooler is of sufficient quality and expensive, then they will not be superfluous if you suddenly want (or have to) change the motherboard and processor with a transition to another platform (for example, from AMD to Intel). In this case, the cooler does not need to be changed.
10. Backlight
Some coolers have LEDs and glow nicely in the dark. It makes sense to purchase such a cooler if your case has a transparent window through which you enjoy how it works while you are resting.But keep in mind that the backlight can interfere and annoy not only you, but also your family members. Therefore, think in advance where the body will stand and where the light will go.
11. Thermal paste
Thermal grease is applied to the processor to improve heat transfer and this is very important. In cheap coolers, thermal paste can already be applied to the contact pad and covered with a plastic cover.
In more expensive models, a small tube of thermal paste is included, which can be enough for 2-3 times. Sometimes there is no thermal paste included. Check the availability of thermal paste on the website of the online store.
If there is no thermal paste in the kit, then it will need to be purchased separately. Heat transfer from the processor to the cooler depends quite strongly on thermal paste. The temperature difference between a processor and a good and bad thermal paste reaches up to 10 degrees!
As budget option you can take KPT-8 in a white aluminum tube. Its thermal conductivity is not so high, but if the processor is not very hot (TDP up to 100 W) and you do not plan to overclock it, then this will be enough. The main thing is that it is original! It is not advisable to purchase it in syringes, jars, plastic tubes with handmade stickers, since there are a lot of fakes in such packaging.
It should be absolutely clear that the packaging is original.
Thermal paste Alsil-3 is similar in quality and price, but even in the original it is sold in syringes that are difficult to distinguish from a fake.
12. Cooler manufacturers
The best cooler manufacturers are the Austrian company Noctua and the Japanese company Scythe. They produce high quality coolers and are well-deserved popularity among wealthy enthusiasts. Noctua company gives a 72-month warranty on coolers.
The above mentioned brands are successfully mowed by the Taiwanese company Thermalright, which has very similar models in its arsenal for a slightly more reasonable price.
But the most popular in Russian-speaking countries are coolers of such familiar brands as Cooler Master, Thermaltake, Zalman. Coolers from these manufacturers have the best price / quality ratio.
But by and large, the manufacturer of the cooler is not so important, since there is nothing special to break apart from the fan. Therefore, it is not a sin to save money and take something cheaper. A fairly large assortment and low prices offered to us by DeepCool, GlacialTech, Ice Hammer and TITAN.
Do not be afraid to make a mistake, this is just a cooler And let the presence of a guarantee calm your nervous system
13. Warranty
For the cheapest coolers, the warranty is standard 12 months. In principle, all that can come out of standing in the cooler is a fan, and it will not be difficult to replace it.
But if you buy a good cooler with branded fans, it is better to have a 24-36 month warranty, as it can be difficult and expensive to find quality fans with the same characteristics.
Top-end coolers are expensive, but manufacturers give them a warranty of up to 72 months.
I do not recommend purchasing coolers from little-known manufacturers, the lineup of which is represented by only a few models, as there may be problems with warranty service. Remember - the guarantee has not prevented anyone yet
14. Setting up filters in the online store
- Using the table, determine the main parameters of the cooler for your processor.
- Go to the section "Cooling systems" on the seller's website.
- Select the "For Processor" assignment.
- If you want a better cooler, then select only the best manufacturers.
- If you want to save money, then select all popular manufacturers, in lineup of which there are at least 15-20 models.
- Select your processor socket.
- Note the presence of heat pipes in the filter.
- Size and number of fans (optional).
- The presence of a speed regulator (only if necessary).
- Cooler height (for a standard case up to 160 mm).
- The presence of backlight (will greatly narrow the choice).
- Other parameters important to you.
- Sort the sample by price.
- Look at coolers, starting with the cheaper ones (from the photo you can determine the number of heat pipes and the massiveness of the radiator).
- Choose several suitable models, view their photos from different angles and compare them according to those parameters that were not in the filter.
- Buy the cheapest available model.
Don't overdo it with filters, as you can weed out good models. Choose only the parameters that are most important to you.
Thus, you will get an optimal cooler in terms of price / quality / efficiency ratio that meets your requirements at the lowest possible cost.
15. Links
Below you can download a table that allows you to easily determine the main parameters of the cooler, depending on the heat dissipation of the processor (TDP).
Cooler for Deepcool REDHAT processor
Cooler for processor Zalman CNPS10X Optima
Cooler for Deepcool GAMMAXX S40 processor
Updated: 13.07.2018 16:43:23
The processor heats up intensively during operation. This is due to the laws of physics and there is no way to get around them. Coolers, in turn, are designed to cool the processor to a temperature at which it will function normally. We have compiled a rating of the best coolers that are suitable for use with almost any processor - from a simple Celeron for an office "typewriter" to a high-performance Intel Core i7-7700K, which remains one of the best gaming chips to this day.
How to choose a CPU cooler
The cooler for the processor must be chosen carefully. Otherwise, he will not cope with his "duties". Overheating of the processor, in turn, leads to a drop in performance, shutdown of the computer or damage to the chip itself.
Active, passive and liquid cooling
Cooling can be organized by one of three types- active, passive and fluid.
Active cooling system implies the use of a radiator and fan. The first is installed on the processor. The plumage of the radiator is heated by the "chip", after which it is cooled by air currents. System efficiency active cooling depends on the materials from which the heat pipes are made, as well as on the fan performance.
So, the most effective copper heat-water tubes with copper or aluminum plumage. But exclusively aluminum heatsinks are suitable for cooling only old or budget processors like Celeron or Pentium lines.
The disadvantage of the active cooling system is that it needs a constant flow of "cool" air inside the case. Otherwise, other components on the motherboard may overheat. Therefore, the system unit must be installed so that air circulates freely around it.
In addition, the effectiveness of active cooling decreases when the radiator becomes clogged with dust.
The liquid cooling system is structurally similar to the active one. Only instead of a radiator, a contact plate and special tubes with a liquid-heat conductor (often ordinary water) are used. The fans are placed in a separate unit, which is exposed outside the system unit. Thanks to this, there are no special requirements for the installation of the system unit, and the performance of the cooling system does not decrease over time.
The disadvantage of a liquid cooling system is that it is expensive.
Passive cooling consists only of a radiator. Heat from the processor is dissipated naturally by convection inside the system unit. The performance of such a cooling system leaves much to be desired, so it is used exclusively with slightly heating chips - old or mobile, including laptop or ultrabook.
When choosing the type of cooling system, you should be guided by the purpose of the computer:
Office "typewriter" with an old or low-power processor- a passive radiator is suitable;
"Normal" or "gaming" computer - active cooling;
Gaming computer with top-end components - liquid cooling.
What to look for when choosing a cooler
The main criteria when choosing a cooler are compatible socket and power dissipation.
Since processors differ not only in performance, but also in size, it is important to consider socket and cooler compatibility. Socket - the size and form factor of the chip itself, as well as the placement of the cooling system mounts on the motherboard. If it is not compatible with the cooler, you will simply not be able to install the latter. You can find out which socket is in use from technical characteristics processor and motherboard, and also through AIDA64 software or similar.
Power Dissipation - Cooling system performance. It shows how much heat can be removed by the cooler. The power dissipation must be greater than the heat dissipation (TDP) of the processor. Both of these parameters are measured in watts, so it is not difficult to compare them.
The rest of the parameters are optional and do not really matter when choosing a cooler.
Manufacturer
The quality of the materials used, the durability of the cooler and additional functions of the cooling system depend on the manufacturer. Therefore, it is advisable to choose devices from trusted companies.
Rating of the best CPU coolers
| Nomination | place | Name of product | price |
| The best tower coolers for gaming systems and overclocking | 1 | 5 500 ₽ | |
| 2 | 4 190 ₽ | ||
| 3 | 7 660 ₽ | ||
| 4 | 5 090 ₽ | ||
| The best mid-range coolers under 3000 rubles | 1 | 2 111 ₽ | |
| 2 | 3 970 ₽ | ||
| 3 | 1 150 ₽ | ||
| 4 | 3 350 ₽ | ||
| 5 | 2 756 ₽ | ||
| Best passive cooling systems | 1 | 3 920 ₽ | |
| Best CPU Water Coolers | 1 | 9 273 ₽ | |
| 2 | 6 290 ₽ | ||
| 3 | 5 990 ₽ |
The best tower coolers for gaming systems and overclocking
A tower cooler is a type of active cooling systems. Its design involves placing the fan on the side of the radiator, thereby dissipating heat more efficiently. The main thing is to choose the right direction for blowing out hot air.
An important advantage of a tower cooler is the preservation of the radiator's performance over time. The plumage is not covered with dust, so that the blowing efficiency does not decrease.
Why first place: High performance, wide socket compatibility, virtually silent operation.
Description: The Noctua NH-U14S tower cooler opens the rating - one of the best active cooling systems on the market. At a relatively low price, it provides a maximum power dissipation of 220 W, making it compatible with high-performance and "overclocked" processors. The mounting pad can be installed on the chips most popular sockets LGA, AM and FM series, including LGA1151 (which is used in the line Intel Atom Coffee Lake).
The design of the radiator includes six copper pipes-heat conductors of direct contact and aluminum fins. Moreover, the plates are not welded to the tubes, but pressed with them, which ensures efficient heat transfer.
The fan is based on a magnetic centering bearing. The maximum speed is 1500 rpm, and the regulator of this number is internal. The fan provides 82.52 CFM airflow, but the volume is no higher than 24.6 dB.
Dignity
Highly efficient and at the same time practically silent;
The kit includes a mounting structure, bolts, thermal paste and everything you need for installation;
The service life is 150 thousand hours, the manufacturer's warranty is 6 years.
Flaws
-
Oversized - can overlap the PCI slot or RAM slots;
When used with overclocked or "hot" chips, it is better to replace the bundled thermal grease with another one.
Why second place: High performance and compact design, but relatively high noise levels.
Description: In the Zalman CNP9900DF model, the manufacturing company used a radiator of a non-standard design for tower coolers. The plumage is located radially, and the fans (there are two of them) are somewhat "recessed" into the plates. According to the manufacturer, this design provides better heat dissipation and a smaller dissipation area while maintaining efficiency.
The nominal maximum power dissipation is 300 W. But such a value is provided only with open installation; in a system unit with a side wall installed, this parameter drops by about 25-30%. Nevertheless, even this is enough for most modern processors, including gaming ones.
The radiator is completely copper - there are three heat pipes of direct contact, and the fins. The fans are equipped with straight-slide bearings that provide rotation speeds of up to 1400 rpm at a nominal volume of up to 27 dB.
Dignity
Compact, does not cover anything during installation;
Cools stock processors well;
Flaws
Not suitable for overclocked processors, as it lacks performance;
Noises loudly under high load;
Difficult to install, it is better to mount on a removed motherboard.
Why third place: Powerful, quiet, with 6 direct contact heat pipes, but relatively expensive.
Description: The Noctua NH-D15 cooler is a good solution for computers that are equipped with the latest generation of multi-core processors (for example, Intel Core i9 or overclocked Intel Core i7). The device provides efficient cooling thanks to 82.52 CFM airflow, 6 direct contact copper heat pipes in the heatsink and two fans at speeds up to 1500 rpm. At the same time, the cooler is compatible with most processors - it can be installed on almost all sockets of the LGA, AM and FM series.
Like the leader of the rating, this cooler is equipped with a proprietary radiator - copper heat pipes are connected to the aluminum fins by pressing. The sole is also copper, polished to a mirror finish. Heat pipes are nickel plated for better corrosion protection.
The fans are based on magnetically centered bearings for quiet operation.
Dignity
Excellent cooling performance for both overclocked and multi-core processors;
Easy installation... Everything you need for installation is included;
Quiet fans even under high load.
Flaws
Huge! Use with RAM standard height or with cooling will not work. Install in a narrow case - too;
Boring, unattractive design;
Flimsy fins of the radiator, so the cooler requires caution during installation.
Why fourth place: Good cooler for stock, including multi-core, processors, but it may not cope with cooling overclocked ones.
Description: Closing the rating is one of the most classic tower coolers designed for use with gaming and multi-core (6, 8 cores) processors - Thermalright Macho Rev.B. The device dissipates up to 280 W of heating power, is equipped with six direct-contact heat pipes, an aluminum heatsink fin and one fan, which operates almost silently even at maximum speed.
Fan speed ranges from 300 to 1300 rpm and air flow rate is 16.9-73.6 CFM, respectively. The speed controller is external, so that a specific performance can be adjusted independently for the used processor or tasks. The cooler is compatible with almost all existing chips and can be installed on LGA, AM (including the latest AM4) and FM sockets.
Dignity
High performance and quiet operation;
Relatively low price(lower than the predecessors from the list);
Compact, however, the fan can cover the first RAM slot.
Flaws
Less than that of "colleagues", productivity;
Assembly and installation can be tricky, but instructions are included;
High, 165 mm, it is worth considering when choosing.
The best mid-range coolers under 3000 rubles
Why first place: Tower cooler, direct contact of heat pipes and processor, rotation speed up to 2000 rpm.
Description: The top-rated Zalman CNPS10X Performa cooler has a tower design, so it can cool even high-performance processors. In particular, it is equipped with five copper pipes-heat pipes of direct contact with the base plate, an aluminum radiator and a 120-mm fan with a rotation speed of 900 to 2000 rpm.
The fan is equipped with a classic sleeve bearing, but thanks to the optimization, the noise level even under maximum load is up to 36 dB. In this case, the speed controller is internal, so that the speed of rotation is set by the cooler automatically.
The cooler is compatible with both modern and classic sockets. So, it can be installed on almost all LGA models (including LGA1151 and even LGA775), AM, FM and S. Additional mounts can be purchased for other sockets.
Dignity
The design of the heatsink allows for good cooling of processors even at low speeds;
Quiet work;
Durability.
Flaws
Complicated, inconvenient mount. It is advisable to place the cooler on a removed motherboard with already installed RAM;
It is advisable to replace the complete thermal grease;
Bulky and heavy.
Why the second place: Powerful, efficient cooling system, but more expensive than other models in the ranking.
Description: Deepcool Assassin II is a tower cooler with two fans and eight copper heat pipes. Thanks to this, the device provides good cooling even for gaming and overclocked processors, and is also compatible with almost all used sockets.
The cooler radiator, consisting of two modules, is made of aluminum plates. Copper pipes-heat pipes are connected to them by pressing. This ensures good transmission and heat dissipation from the processor.
The two 140mm fans can rotate at 300-1400 rpm and are based on fluid dynamic bearings that provide low volume even under heavy load. Maximum - 27.3 dB.
The cooler, despite its low price, has a high performance. For example, the Intel Core i7-7800X processor under peak load in stress tests heats up to 54 degrees.
Dignity
High performance;
Silence of work;
A rich set with a large number of platforms, mounts, as well as thermal paste.
Flaws
Comparatively complex assembly;
Oversized, can cover power connectors or various functional elements motherboard;
An inconvenient hub for powering coolers, it dangles, you need to glue it to the case yourself.
Why third place: Ultra-budget tower cooler, good price-performance ratio.
Description: The cooler Deepcool Gammaxx 300, which occupies the "middle" of the rating, is distinguished by an excellent combination of price and quality. Of course, it is not very suitable for overclocked or gaming processors, but at the same time it copes well with the heating of mid-range chips or with average heat dissipation. In particular, the maximum power dissipation of the device is 125 W.
The cooler is compatible with almost all processor models. Necessary soles and bindings included. The radiator is made of aluminum plates, which are complemented by three copper heat pipes.
The cooler fan is equipped with a proprietary hydrodynamic bearing, which ensures minimum operating volume. In particular, even under load, it produces a noise level of 21 dB. The rotation speed is 900-1600 rpm (the regulator is external, i.e. it can be adjusted), and the air flow is 40 CFM.
Dignity
Simple, quick installation;
Minimum volume of work;
Rich equipment.
Flaws
Comparatively large;
The contact pad is made of aluminum, into which the direct contacts of the heat pipes are built;
Inconvenient clamps with plastic "ears" that can break.
Why fourth place: Quiet, productive and comfortable. But the improved version (Rev.B) costs only a few hundred rubles more, so it's better to take it.
Description: Tower cooler with the highest performance in this segment of the rating. In particular, the maximum power dissipation of the device is as much as 280 W, which makes it compatible even with gaming and overclocked processors. Includes mounts and platforms for LGA sockets(including LGA775 and LGA1151), AM and FM.
The radiator configuration includes 6 copper heat pipes with direct contact. The plumage is made of aluminum sheets. Plates are connected to tubes by pressing, not welding.
The cooler is equipped with one 140 mm fan. Rotation speed - 900-1300 rpm. The proprietary bearing makes the fan quiet - even at maximum load, it makes a noise of 21 dB. At the same time, the air flow is up to 73.6 CFM.
The speed controller is external, so you can configure it yourself for the installed processor and the scenario of use.
Dignity
-
A rich set with a proprietary screwdriver and the necessary fasteners;
High performance.
Flaws
Many revisions, and there are even those with an aluminum sole without direct contact of heat pipes;
Oversized, may not fit into some cases;
The assembly is not easy for beginners and at the same time there is no instruction in Russian.
Description: The Noctua NH-L9i cooler is designed for Intel Core i3-i7 series processors installed in LSI sockets. It is carried out in a traditional design, which implies placing the fan above the radiator. As a result, the power dissipation of the cooler is relatively low and amounts to 65 watts.
The cooler's radiator is made of aluminum plates, by pressing, placed on a copper tube-heat conductor with direct contact. The fan is equipped with a proprietary low-noise magnetic centering bearing, so the cooler's volume does not exceed 23.6 dB even at 2500 rpm. The speed itself is adjustable from 300 to 2500 rpm. The airflow generated by the fan is 33.84 CFM. The speed controller is built into the cooler and works automatically.
The cooler is highly reliable - the uptime is 150 thousand hours, and the manufacturer's warranty is 6 years.
Dignity
Low-profile design, can be installed in narrow system blocks;
Low operating volume and good performance (even Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 can cool down);
Simplest installation.
Flaws
The mounting bolts are secured with the motherboard removed;
Relatively high price;
Not suitable for overclocked and unlocked CPUs.
Best passive cooling systems
Why it: Copper-aluminum heatsink designed specifically for passive cooling systems.
Description: The Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. C cooler has been designed specifically for use as a sole cooling device. It is distinguished by a massive base with a polished copper base, to which six copper heat pipes are attached by pressing, and an aluminum radiator with a wide distance between the plates, which ensures free air circulation.
The cooler is compatible with the vast majority Intel sockets LSAs, including the most recent ones, as well as AMD AM and FM.
Even without a fan, it provides the same cooling as some of the other devices in the rating, providing passive dissipation of up to 40-50 watts. However, if you wish, you can attach a fan to it - models for 120 and 140 mm are suitable. Brackets for fixing it are included with the radiator.
Dignity
Effective heat dissipation thanks to solid base and 6 copper pipes;
Wide space between radiator fins for better air circulation;
Massive base.
Flaws
High radiator, may not fit into slim body;
Dense placement of heat pipes;
The "two towers" design has less rigidity than a monolithic one.
Best CPU Water Coolers
Why first place: A cooling system that can cool the processor even without fans. There are, of course, three of them.
Description: Opens the rating one of the most productive systems water cooling - Thermaltake Water 3.0 Ultimate. The device is equipped with three fans that rotate at speeds up to 2000 rpm. This ensures effective cooling even for overclocked processors. In addition, up to 6 additional fans can be installed.
The contact pad is made of aluminum and copper. The mount is compatible with the most common sockets including LGA, AM and FM. Adapters for other types of processors are commercially available.
The installed fans are quite quiet - even at a maximum rotation speed of 2000 rpm, they generate 20 dB of noise. The airflow through the cooling system is 99 CFM. The minimum rotation speed of coolers is 1000 rpm.
The system can also work in passive mode - with the coolers turned off.
Dignity
Quiet but powerful cooling system;
Quiet pump;
Compact and easy to install.
Flaws
Over time, the noise level increases, it is recommended to replace the fans or install a reobass;
It may not be possible to cope with cooling processors with a heat dissipation of more than 250-300 W (overclocked);
Expensive.
Why second place: Gaming water cooling system, the main drawback of which is the price.
Description: Deepcool Captain 360 EX could have topped the rating if it had not been relatively expensive (even for water cooling systems). It is very efficient - power dissipation is 220 watts. At the same time, thanks to the use of proprietary hydrodynamic bearings in the fans, the system is distinguished by quiet operation - the noise level is up to 31.3 dB at a rotation speed of 1800 rpm and an air flow of 76.52 CFM.
The contact plate of the water block is made of polished copper. The pump is equipped with a ceramic bearing, which provides a service life of 120 thousand hours. It works silently.
Why third place: Dual fan cooling system with fast pump and high efficiency.
Description: The rating closes with a rather unusual liquid cooling system - Arctic Cooling Liquid Freezer 120. It differs from other devices in a compact unit with a radiator and fans, which is much smaller than traditional "panels". Nevertheless, it copes with the task of cooling the processor "perfectly" - the nominal power dissipation is 300 watts.
The fans can rotate at speeds from 500 to 1350 rpm, provide 74 CFM air flow, are equipped with durable fluid-dynamic bearings and are relatively quiet - at maximum load, the noise level is 30-35 dB.
The waterblock is equipped with a copper contact plate and a built-in pump that rotates at 5400 rpm. Thanks to this, the cooler can be used even in passive mode. However, the pump can still be heard from the case.
Dignity
Rich equipment with quality additional items;
Quiet, efficient work;
Suitable for overclocked processors.
Flaws
Pump speed too high, which can reduce reliability and cause noise;
Heavy and oversized;
Comparatively expensive.
Attention! This rating is subjective, does not constitute an advertisement, and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Any computer enthusiast, and there are most of them on our site, should know– What parameters should you pay attention to when choosing a cooler for and how do these little turntables differ from each other? Should you buy a tower cooler or is the boxed version enough? WITHShould I put dropsy and what is Dissipated Power?I will try to answer all these questions today.
So, coming to the store to choose a little spinning comrade for their processor, many users start to scatter their eyes. And this is not surprising, today the market offers great amount models at a wide variety of prices. Coolers can be conventionally divided into three categories.
Boxes and coolers without heat pipes
The simplest models on the market, consisting of an aluminum plate with fins and a fan attached to them. Almost every processor model has two versions for sale.
The first one is BOX version(hence the name of boxed coolers), which includes the processor itself and a simple cooler without heat pipes included.
Second version - OEM which includes a bare processor. By the way, for boxed versions, as a rule, the warranty for the goods is much higher, but this is not the question today.
(BOX cooler DEEPCOOL THETA 9 for CPU Intel Pentium G4560)
As we can see, in in this case the price is slightly different, but it differs precisely because of the included cooler and the increased warranty.
And the first question that I am often asked is: Should I take the BOX version or buy the turntable separately? It all depends on the price and purpose of your PC. In this case, the difference is 1250 rubles, which is quite noticeable. I advise you to take the boxed version of the processor if the difference does not exceed 400-500 rubles. Plus a bonus in the form of a big guarantee is never superfluous. As for the purpose of your computer, everything is simple, if your game or workstation is from primary and secondary price segment, then the boxed version will be enough for you. If your system is closer to the top-end options, or if it will undergo overclocking (during overclocking, the amount of heat generated by the processor increases greatly due to an increase in voltage on the stone!), Then you need to buy a more advanced fan model separately. The advantages of boxed coolers include low price and compactness. Of the minuses, they are not suitable for powerful machines and, due to their small size, they often work quite noisy. So we figured out the boxes, let's move on to the next category of turntables.
Liquid cooling systems or, more simply, "dropsy"
They are a copper base that is installed on the processor cover, a small pump that drives water, a pair of pipes and a radiator with fans.
The next question I am asked about cooling is whether to put dropsy? I will answer right away that no If we analyze all the pros and cons of these systems and compare them with the pros and cons of tower coolers, it becomes clear that the latter are much more expedient to purchase.
Tower coolers with heat pipes
The next category of processor cooling is tower coolers with heat pipes. They represent a copper or aluminum base, from which there are several heat pipes, to which, in turn, a radiator is attached. And a cooler is already attached to the radiator.
If we compare them with water cooling systems, then the first thing that catches the eye is the price. Dropsy is always much more expensive. This is the first reason why I advise against using them. Yes, they run a little quieter and cool a little better, but is it worth the double overpayment? Everyone decides for himself. The second reason is the complexity of operation and mandatory additional care. For regular user daily check of pump and water pipes - excess hemorrhoids. In general, the final decision is yours, but I have outlined my position.
CPU cooler parameters
So, after you have decided on the choice of the type of cooling, you can proceed to the parameters on which the final choice will be based. certain model... The first thing to look at is the type of sockets supported. Almost any online store has this characteristic. If not, then you know where to look - the manufacturer's website. I will analyze everything using my processor (i5 6400) and my cooler (DeepCool Gammaxx 400) as an example.
My pebble has 1151 sockets, respectively, and the cooler should be installed on the same socket.
Go ahead and look at the size of the turntable. It should fit into the case so that the side cover of the case closes quietly. By the way, I am often asked whether to close the case completely or leave it open. You definitely need to close it! If the case is open, air currents inside the system are disrupted, and the cooling of the components becomes worse. It is also easier for dust to penetrate inside, and dust, along with high temperature (I never tire of saying this), is the main evil of computer hardware! I digress a little from the topic, let's go back to the height of the turntable. The specifications for any case contain the maximum possible height of the processor cooler,
and in the characteristics of the cooler its height, length and width. I think it will not be difficult for anyone to compare these data.
The next one is very important parameter- power dissipation. The processor characteristics always indicate the amount of heat generated by the processor itself.
It is heat dissipation that is the sworn enemy of our cooler, and it is with it that it fights every day to ensure stable work our pebble. In general, a cooler should be able to dissipate all the heat generated by the processor. To do this, we look at the power dissipation column indicated in the characteristics of the turntable.
But in no case take a cooler with a power dissipation equal to the heat dissipation of the processor. The thing is that cooler developers often overestimate this parameter, so I recommend taking a cooler with a small margin. And if you are going to overclock your percentages, then boldly multiply the TDP of the processor by 2 and get real heat dissipation. Of course, the amount of heat during overclocking depends on the degree of overclocking itself, but in any case, always take a cooler with a small margin.
Next, be sure to look at the size of the fan. If you read my last article about, then you already know the main rule when choosing cooling. The larger the blades, the better. The point is that small fans need to spin much faster to handle the same amount of air than large ones. And the faster the cooler spins, the more noise it makes and the faster it wears out, as a rule. Therefore, I advise you not to look at the parameter showing the fan speed per minute. It is more accurate to look, but make your choice based more on the size of the turntable. For example, a 120 mm turntable at 1200 rpm will be several times quieter and more efficient than an 80 mm turntable at 2400 rpm.
The next, no less important parameter is the maximum air flow.
The quieter the fan, the better.
