Low profile cooler for a full tower case

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AnUnusedUsername

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I'm rebuilding an old Alienware Predator case, and I need something to replace the stock fan on an i5-2500k. It's currently not overclocked, but will be eventually.

The case has three 120mm fans (front, rear, and side) and one 92mm fan on the other side for the HDD bays. Thats not a lot of front to back airflow, so I'd rather not limit it even further with a gigantic heatsink. I also move the system around a lot so I'd rather not risk using something extraordinarily heavy that may eventually crack the motherboard.

So, suggestions? I know the goto CPU cooler is the Hyper 212, but it's both very large and very heavy, so I'm looking for something a little less extreme. Closed-loop really isn't an option since I don't have a spare fan grill for the radiator.

Price isn't a huge issue but I certainly don't want to spend over $100, more in the $30-$60 range.

The rest of the system:
i5-2500k
8GB RAM
AsRock Extreme4 Gen 3 motherboard
Gigabyte Radeon HD 6950 1GB
SeaSonic 650W PSU SS-650KM
WD RE4 500GB HDD
Samsung 840 Pro 128GB SSD

I'll be replacing the case fans with these, unless someone knows of anything substantially better (or quieter with similar performance) that doesn't cost $30 a fan:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835553009
 
Solution
geofelt
I still think something like the cm hyper212 or Xigmatek would be the best bet.

Your case has decent airflow for your parts.
If you use a cooler with a backplate, it will stand reasonable movement.

The fans are usually flimsily attached to the cooler with spring wires. I would expect that to give way before the cooler could damage the motherboard.

If you do get a low profile cooler, this noctua NH-L12 is very good:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608025
It weighs about the same as the hyper212.
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nukemaster

nukemaster

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The freezer 7 pro is a smaller cooler. It does not perform like a top end cooler, but it can be had for a good price on sale.
http://www.arctic.ac/worldwide_en/freezer-7-64-pro.html

If you are looking for a real top down, check out the Geminii 524 from coolermaster, but it is still over 100mm tall.
http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-air-cooler/geminii-s524/

Problem with ultra low profile coolers is performance.

All in one liquid coolers are not as bad as some users make them out to be as long as you do not get a loud pump(rattling defect). As long as you had some space above and below the fan location(for the top and bottom section of the rad), one would fit and not cause any board stress.

I would personally just go the 212+ route as long as it fits in the case, I do not think it would hurt system performance. VRM temps should be checked out with tower coolers in some systems
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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I still think something like the cm hyper212 or Xigmatek would be the best bet.

Your case has decent airflow for your parts.
If you use a cooler with a backplate, it will stand reasonable movement.

The fans are usually flimsily attached to the cooler with spring wires. I would expect that to give way before the cooler could damage the motherboard.

If you do get a low profile cooler, this noctua NH-L12 is very good:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608025
It weighs about the same as the hyper212.
 
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Solution
nukemaster

nukemaster

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Geninii S

cram baby cram :) Now your case seems fine for a 212 :)
dsc0505t.jpg


Too bad the cheap(hell it was free with the case) globe fan only lasted a few years before making lots of noise.
 
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beyondlogic

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try more 10 dollar a fan aercool shark good fans for shifting air out the front and back


http://www.amazon.com/AeroCool-Shark-120mm-Red-Cooling/dp/B004DLTPQW/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390183091&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=aercoolshark+fan
3 of these will cost you 30

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186077

http://www.amazon.com/Nexus-Anti-Vibration-Mounting-Kit-Components/dp/B001AZFPHC/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1390183900&sr=1-3&keywords=rubber+mounts



now cpu cooler some low profile ones

this is about 5cm smaller then the coolermaster evo 212

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-GeminII-S524-RR-G524-18PK-R2/dp/B005SEZBXY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390184099&sr=8-1&keywords=524s

recomend mx4 paste stock paste rubbish
http://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-MX-4-Carbon-Based-Thermal-Compound/dp/B0045JCFLY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390184176&sr=8-1&keywords=mx4+paste

round 6cm in height

very low profile cooler 5 heatpipes
http://www.amazon.com/Thermalright-AXP-100-Designed-HTPC-Systems/dp/B00AKO0WCW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390184047&sr=8-1&keywords=100+thermalright
 
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AnUnusedUsername

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I just measured (though without amazing accuracy) how much space I have, and it looks like I've got roughly 5'' between the base of the motherboard and the edge of the side panel fan (it's almost directly above the CPU socket). I think the lack of space is also due to the rather thick side panel and empty space behind the tray for cable routing.

So that's about 127mm of height, not enough for a 212 and pushing it for a Gemini. The NH-L12 looks tempting, the price is high but I won't have to replace the fans it comes with and it should fit easily. (My RAM is Mushkin Silverline, so no tall heat spreaders).

Alienware shipped the system with a closed-loop cooler using the only rear exhaust fan, I guess height was their reason. I'd still rather not go that route as I don't like the idea of my only exhaust fan going through the CPU radiator.

Anyone have any experience with Noctua's thermal paste? The cooler comes with some but I already have several tubes of arctic silver lying around so I don't know which is better. Toms charts suggest that Noctua's solution is slightly better, but I only have firsthand experience with Arctic Silver (and it's quite good).
 
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beyondlogic

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another is made by sycthe replace stock fan with a aercool shark to get best performance

http://www.amazon.com/Scythe-SCBSK-2100-Shuriken-Cooler-Socket/dp/B0069CQ7BE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390188308&sr=8-1&keywords=scythe+cooler

 
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AnUnusedUsername

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Just ordered the NH-L12, at $70 it's only $10 more than the scythe with a replacement fan and it has a 6 year warranty vs 2 years (not that I'm likely to need that).

Funny that the CPU cooler cost more than the case did, though...
 
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