Need advice on a limited selection of heatsinks

[Clyde]

I'm getting ready to finally upgrade my old pc and I want to get a combo from Monarch since it will be assembled and tested for me. I've tentatively decided on the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum w/ Athlon 64 3500+ 90nm and 1 GB (2 pcs 512) DDR (400) PC-3200 Corsair XMS (TwinX1024-3200C2PT).

My question is, which of their available heatsink/fans should I use? I don't plan to do any overclocking but I'd like to make sure the system is cool enough that I'm not right on the edge of acceptable temp (whatever that may be). Their choices are:

CoolJag JVC681A $8
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=130122

Dynatron A21 SK-V2 $22
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=130972

Thermaltake A1772 $35
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=130150

Thermaltake A1838 $25
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=130129

Thermaltake AMD K8 Venus 7+ $20
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=130956

Price is a consideration but I don't want to skimp on cooling so if I need the most expensive one, I'll buy it. The reason I didn't include the retail heatsink/fan as an option is the price difference to get the retail chip in the combo is $65 and I assumed it wouldn't be better than the oem with aftermarket hs/f. Please correct me if this is wrong.

One more question - They charge $14.00 to install thermal grease. Should I get it anyway? It's listed as more an optional thing but I always thought you pretty much had to put thermal grease on.

I'd appreciate any advice you could offer me.

PS someone on another board already suggested I get the Zalman cooler from Monarch. They do sell it but I called them and they don't offer it with the combos because it's "too big and bulky for a combo". <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Clyde on 11/30/04 03:07 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Clyde]

Thanks for the reply. I'm having a hard time finding reviews for any of these coolers which makes me think maybe they're not very popular/good. It will now end up costing about $10 more to go with the retail than the TT A1772, so I think maybe I'll just go with the retail version. Unless the retail cooler is even worse than the TT?

 

[diplomat696]

From what I have read in the past in general a retail cpu cooler will do the job fine, unless u plan on overclocking at all. I am running a P4 2.8E 10% overclocked with the retail cooling heatsink and fan and I havent had any problems and the prescotts run hot compared to most other things so I wouldnt worry too much about buying something else. U can always upgrade later if u decide that its not cooling it enuff also