Need help deciding cooler for Q6600

[elcold]

I recently built a new comp,with a G0 Q6600, a P5K premium within a CM 830 case. I currently have the stock cooler on the Q6600, its @ 3.15ghz, with idles around 40 and load around 60ish. I want to get up to 3.5, so I'm looking into aftermarket coolers. A cheap watercool system might be within my range, but I have heard the top air coolers can be better and my case has excellent air flow, so my question is, which air cooler would be a good choice for this system?

 

[genec57]

I think you are going to need good water cooling to get to 3.5. You are right that cheap water cooling is no better than good air but the Q6600 puts out a lot of heat.
Perhaps a cooler like the Tuniq Tower 120 would work but it will be very close.

 

[plguzman]

The Ultra 120 or the Tuniq Tower are the best for air cooling. You could reach 3.6 or even 3.7 easily with good case air flow. Water is of course better, but is also more costly.

 

[elcold]

Ok I will look into both of those. Thank you!

 

[jonny_ftm]

Just remember that aircoolers, usually you change them often to get more head. In 2-3 years, you'd spent the same sum in a good watercooling kit (at least in my case)

With a WC, you can reach maybe 3.5-3.6 in a quiet envirement while in aircooling the fans will be noisy on load no matter the HSF you get

Also, before investing, try your CPU / mb combo if they boot into windows and you can work in low load conditions at the frequency you aim for. If at idle, it is not stable on air at 3.5, it won't be on watercooling or high end air