Will this fan work ok with this motherboard and CPU?

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Inquisitive Builder

Inquisitive Builder

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Jul 16, 2013
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Hey guys,

I'm putting my first build together tonight. I already bought these parts, and I'm just wanting to make sure that this CPU fan will work here, since I actually picked that part out by myself (I think it may actually be overkill, but who cares, it's awesome looking! Plus I hate noisy fans :p)

Motherboard
ASUS M5A97 LE R2.0 AM3+

CPU
AMD FX-8120

CPU fan
ZALMAN CNPS9500A-LED 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

Just wanted so see if I could get some quick confirmation on this (besides, at this point my only alternative is to use the stock fan, and I seriously doubt that the $40 fan could be worse :p)

 
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frank the tank

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With that CPU i wouldent use that cooler. i would get one of these

21261_noctua%20nh-u14s%20intro%20page.jpg


If you want quiet and good cooling performance the U14S is one of the best options out there

a 92 MM fan that cooler has will have to run full tilt just to keep the thing from throttling. A 8120 needs the same cooling if not more than Intel's X79 chips. that CPNS 9500 is too small to cool that kind of heat. and even if it does it will run very loud.
 
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Inquisitive Builder

Inquisitive Builder

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So...wait are you saying the stock fan is better?

Edit: and I'm pretty sure I CAN'T get a fan that's much bigger, I'm a little unsure that this one will fit my case already :p
 
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frank the tank

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im not stating that the stock heat-sink is better. what i am saying is that cooler you chose will have a hard time keeping that chip cool. I used one once on an X58 system on a core I7 920 has the same 125 watt TDP . it struggled to keep it cool and was very loud as it had to run full speed all the time. the 8120 is a hot running chip. what i put up is a suggestion. yeah its big but it will be quiet and will keep your chip cool and will even allow some overclocking headroom. if I want a hot running processor to run cool and quiet I get a big heat sink. and really that one is smaller than some other options (look up the NDH 14 or the TC14 PE) those are monstrous although unless you plan on overclocking those monsters are overkill.
 
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Inquisitive Builder

Inquisitive Builder

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Oh, well thanks then. I think I will probably just go with this one for now so I can get this thing built, but I may well upgrade if it does turn out to be too loud.

What's the full name of that one you suggested? I may well be looking it up in a few days or weeks :p
 
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ingtar33

ingtar33

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Dec 17, 2012
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i wouldn't spend $50 on that zalman... i'd spend 30 on a hyper evo 212... that will do the job cheaper, better and quieter.
 
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Inquisitive Builder

Inquisitive Builder

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Wow really? I'm surprised, the other one seems to have such good reviews. I think I'm going to bump the motherboard installation into tomorrow, but I think I'm still going to go ahead and build this because I do have some time restainst in getting this done.

Do you think I should even install the Zalman, or should I go with the stock fan for now so that I can return the Zalman and get that other one?

And which would be easier to replace, the stock fan with the pre-applied thermal pad, or the Zalman with some Artic Silver 5 on it? Will I have to disassemble the whole rig to replace the fan? I'm just trying to balance getting a good rig with getting it done within my time restaints.

And thanks for your suggestions, I had no idea that this one was so underpowered :p
 
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ingtar33

ingtar33

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the Zalman works, it's just more for lower TDP cpus... i mean if you have a 65W cpu i'd say it's just fine for you; its an old design, and because it looks cool and most intel cpus hover around 65-85W it will work with more intel just fine of course it will get good reviews. it looks pretty and works just fine with lower power, cooler cpus. the problem is we're using it with a space heating 125W cpu. it will work better then the stock cooler, but only just barely better. it will look cooler then the stock cooler too. I would return it, unopened, use the stock cooler till you get the hyper evo in, and you'll be pretty happy with the hyper evo's results. It's not the best air cooler around, but it's impossible to beat it on a performance per dollar ratio, and it will perform about as good as an upper middle ranked air cooler for a bottom teir priced one. pretty great value.
 
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Inquisitive Builder

Inquisitive Builder

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Hmm, thanks for the advice, I may well go with that. Does that one require any special brackets that will require that I disassemble my whole rig, or will I be able to just rub off the old paste with a little alcohol, apply my as5, and screw this one on?

Also, I'm a little confused with this review I found on newegg that says:
"-Keeps my AMD FX 8350 CPU cool. at max 60c at MAX load. 13c at idle. and mostly at 30-40c for normal gaming. (high CPU intensive games like GW2 send it to about 50c max). "
Is the 8350 actually cooler than mine? I'm just trying to wade through the conflicting information. Who would have thought building your own computer could be so technical! :p :D
 
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ingtar33

ingtar33

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Dec 17, 2012
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ok.. the hyper evo 212 requires you to pull off the stock amd mounting bracket (this is very easy to do, use a flathead screwdriver to push the middle pins back, pull up on the plastic caps, and the whole assembly will pop off, it's really simple, and you'll see what i mean when you look closely at it. but yes, you'll need to pull the whole mb out of the system to install it.

as for the review... around 60C-65C is where an 8 core bulldozer/piledriver starts to fail from overheating. that reviewer didn't realize his cpu was overheating with the zalman. he was calling it "cool" without realizing he was actually very hot for an FX cpu.

and yes, the hyper evo should be a far more effective cpu cooler then the zalman.
 
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frank the tank

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I am actually talking to someone on another thread with that cooler (the evo) and an 8120 and it has a hard time keeping up with the chip's heat output. Intels chips have higher thresholds before they start throttling (at 90 C). the 8120 has a perfect storm of cooling problems. it runs very hot with a 125 watt TDP and has a low temperature threshold at only 60-65 C. yeah the Noctua is more expensive but it will even keep the X79 chips cool and even the hot as hell haswell chips (toms hardware recently did an article on heat-sinks on haswell). also it is very quiet as well. in case you were wondering the full name of the cooler is NH U14S I would say its the priciest option of the bunch but it will do the job at keeping that chip cool and then some.
 
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Inquisitive Builder

Inquisitive Builder

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Well, with both of those fans I think we may be running into a size issue, because the case I have in my garage right now is the "Cooler Master Elite 430 Mid Tower", which I believe only has a width of about 7 inches, and hight of both of those fans are getting dangerously close to the width of my case (+whatever the hight of the motherboard and the standoffs would be)

Are you guys sure that either of those will fit? And on a more vain note, do any of the newer fans look as cool as the Zalman? While I will choose performance over appearance, I have a window on my case and I must admit that I was looking forward to having one that looks more like a plasma engine and less like a box :p
 
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Inquisitive Builder

Inquisitive Builder

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As for my build today, I'm thinking that I will put the stock fan in instead for now so that I can return the Zalman since it's soo much older than I had thought. Considering that the stock fan does come with the CPU, surely it's at least good enough for me the browse the internet and stuff on.

Does this sound like a good idea until you guys can help me pick out a good fan to be my first upgrade?
 
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