After market cooler for Core i5 3470

adycopilu · May 21, 2013

Hi guys,

I've recently built a PC around the Ivy Bridge platform. I didn't invest in a CPU cooler at first, because I wanted to check the stock cooler performance. But after 1 month, I decided to change it because the temperature raises over 70C in high load (in less than a minute of running prime95) and the fan is quite loud. I don't know how much hotter does it get, because I don't have the courage to leave it running more than a few minutes with these temperatures.

So anyway, I'm not looking to overclock, also I'm not looking for a jet airliner inside my case. The CPU is Intel Core i5 3470 @ 3.2GHz, case is Antec One, I have two 1200rpm exhaust fans near the CPU (one on top of the case, one on the rear panel) and one 1500rpm intake fan in front. I don't want to spend a fortune on a cooler and I only have access to a limited number of cooler options in my country. On top of that, my case will only accommodate coolers of maximum 150mm height (although I think I can trick it to take up to 160mm).

Basically, I can't decide between the following, so any advice on that will be appreciated:
- ZEROtherm Zen FZ120: is the cheapest and has copper base; little too loud at maximum rpm, as I found on several reviews;
- Thermalright True Spirit 120M: quite silent, good performance, I heard the base is not the best out there (convex and no mirror finishing);
- Zalman CNPS10X Performa: seems pretty good, but it's the most expensive. How about Zalman CNPS10X Optima?
- Deepcool Iceedge 400 XT: I think it gets pretty loud at high rpm and also I don't know what to say about the manufacturer (haven't heard about him on good review sites). Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 seems good too
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO: praised by everybody, but would hardly fit my case; also expensive as Zalman Performa

Thank you!

GhislainG · May 21, 2013

I left my i7 3770 running for at least 12 hours and there were no issues (other than the somewhat loud fan). If 70°C was really bad, Intel would have included a better HSF. Under normal utilization, the CPU rarely is 100% busy.

If the stock fan is too loud for you then you should select the quietest HSF that you can find. Based on your comments, the Thermalright True Spirit 120M and the Zalman CNPS10X Performa seem to be the best solutions.

markwp · May 21, 2013

What case are you using?

adycopilu · May 21, 2013

Well, 70C is not "really bad", it's just that CPU reached and EXCEEDED this temperature after ~1 minute. If I kept running prime95, the temperature would go even higher and maybe exceed 80C, which is really bad, considering that at 90C it will get burned.
I don't find this acceptable, even if the normal utilization is rarely at 100% load. The cooler the CPU, the better. And also the airflow in my case will degrade considerably when I buy the dedicated GPU...
All I want from you is some personal experience with any of them or advice on which one to get.

adycopilu · May 21, 2013

markwp :

It's Antec One, I mentioned this in my post and you can also find it in my signature.

GhislainG · May 21, 2013

Even after 12 hours it won't be much higher as it reaches the maximum within a minutes or two. Mine didn't exceed 71°C while I watched it for a few minutes and it was still the same 12 hours later.

You are totally wrong when you say that the CPU will burn. It will throttle and then shutdown if need be. This is what happens when a fan fails or the HSF falls off. A fan failed on one of my systems and it would eventually shutdown under load.

markwp · May 21, 2013

The 212 is ~160mm tall and should be no problem for your case. Since you are not overclocking, there is really no need for an aftermarket cooler. Ivies tend to run a little warmer than sandies, and your 70's temps are fine.

cin19 · May 21, 2013

Based on the review and the cooler I used ( Hyper 212 Plus and XIGMATEK dark knight - s1283 ), I will say get either Zalman CNPS10X Performa or Hyper 212 EVO, whatever it is cheaper. Because ZEROtherm Zen FZ120 is similar with Coolermaster TX2, and Thermalright True Spirit 120M is similar with ARCTIC Freezer 13, and Deepcool Iceedge 400 XT has lower performance.
Here is the review for Zalman CNPS10X Performa. http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2498&page=5

adycopilu · May 21, 2013

Guys, I understand I can keep it like this, but isn't it better for the CPU to run at lower temps? Now really, my CPU will not burn (I already knew that, lol), but the fact that the CPU is close to the temperatures that will make it downclock itself should make me feel safe and calm? Well, I don't know about you, but I want my CPU to run in the green zone, not the red zone, for a couple of reasons: better performance, longer life, low noise, peace of mind.
Also, the temperature will not be stable after 1 minute of high load, maybe after 15 minutes. I'm not at home right now, but I will run the test again and give you exact values, by minute.

adycopilu · May 21, 2013

cin19 :

umm... I understand it's not exactly like this, more specifically, 120M seems to be better at cooling and much quieter than AC Freezer 13. But if you say so, I will simply just take out True Spirit from my options. ZEROtherm and Zalman are my first choices, due to low price (first) and good overall performance (latter).

bryonhowley · May 21, 2013

I would say the Hyper 212 EVO although I have not used any of them as all of my rigs are water cooled but from the reviews I have read it seems to be about the best and low cost.

USAFRet · May 21, 2013

I have the Hyper 212 + and the same case. They fit.
The EVO is essentially the same size.

GhislainG · May 21, 2013

adycopilu :

Please also provide ambient temperature as that affects the idle and maximum CPU temperatures. I performed my tests in a room at 23°C.

adycopilu · May 21, 2013

GhislainG :

about the same with me. Basically I can narrow it down to ZeroTherm Zen FZ120 (the cheapest), Thermalright True Spirit 120M (the quietest) and Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO (the best performance).

@USAFRet: Can you please comment on the noise of your CM? Thanks.

USAFRet · May 21, 2013

adycopilu :

i5-3570k (no OC). PC under the desk by my feet. Room ambient @ 21C.
Running Prime95. Package temp max at 65C, stabilizing at 60-63C. (so far, only been running about 8 minutes)

If I take the side panel off and stick my head under the desk, I can hear it, a little. In normal use, never, ever notice it.

And since I had the side panel off, there is about 3mm clearance over the very highest point of the cooler.

adycopilu · May 21, 2013

Yeap, CM seems to be the solution. Thank you guys!

USAFRet · May 21, 2013

Let me revise that clearance a little. Because of the bulge in the side panel, probably about 10-12mm clearance.

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