Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

High-end CPU Coolers Reviewed and Compared

Posted by Soulskill on from the absolute-zero-is-an-absolute-necessity dept.

jjslash writes "CPU cooling units are an often-overlooked but always important side of PC building, whether you're looking to overclock or you simply want a cool-running, silent system. It's also easy to get lost if you aren't an enthusiast who keeps tabs on the best options. TechSpot has rounded up 10 high-end CPU coolers (read: huge heatsinks) including top units from Noctua, Thermalright, Xigmatek, Silverstone and Thermaltake. If you're willing to spend the cash, they rate the Noctua NH-U14S as the best overall pick. For a tighter budget, the Thermalright offerings provide the best bang for your buck."

6 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. Um, is this news? by WilliamGeorge · · Score: 4, Insightful

    These sorts of reviews are done regularly, by dozens of websites. I like computer hardware news (its the industry I work in, after all) but please don't let every review or roundup out there make it to Slashdot.

    --
    William George
    1. Re:Um, is this news? by interkin3tic · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I might forgive it were it not doing that fucking "put content across 10 pages!!!" thing.

      Techspot: fuck you and fuck your attempts to make your articles worth ten times as much without actually doing ten times more work.

  2. Loudness rating? by omnichad · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How about cooling capability per dB for those of us who want to cool quietly and relatively cheaply? I don't care what cools the most. I'm not overclocking. What I care about is cooling enough without having to hear it.

  3. Re:Silver by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Because the difference of the temperatures between the surrounding environment and the cooler is very small (a few ten degrees) so that radiated energy is nearly the same as absorbed (T1^4/ T2^4 is close to1). Also radiation surface is small (internal surfaces do not count - what is radiated by one is absorbed another surface) so in general only conventional heat exchange and airflow plays significant role.
    For that temperature differences having black anodizing is more-less just a fashion like having oxygen-free monster cables...

  4. Re:Silver by mcvos · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Not just overclocking, but noise. Many high end coolers are very quiet (some even passive), whereas stock coolers tend to be very noisy.

  5. Re:Silver by CBravo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    slower turning fans: quietness.

    --
    nosig today