I'm about to put together my new rig for the first time. I'm satisfied with my choices, but a bit concerned about CPU heat. When is it a good idea to use heat sink compound and/or a cpu cooler? I've heard that one company makes an acceptable cpu with heat sink and fan, and that the other does not.

My CPU: Intel C2D E6750

Some other specs:

mobo: EVGA 122-CK-NF63-TR nForce 680i SLI ATX
psu: SILVERSTONE ST75F ATX12V / EPS12V 750W
vga: 8800GTX (1 card now. probably 2 sometime in the future)
ram: 2 GB (2 x 1 GB) crucial


I'm not going to overclock my cpu now, but i'll probably be looking into it in the future. Should I run out and grab some arctic silver compound and/or a cpu cooler?

If you plan on doing OCing in the future, then yes get arctic silver now and a good CPU heatsink (I use the Scythe Ninja Plus). That way you can avoid having to take apart the PC later.

In my opinion the stock Intel HS mounting is junk. You can use the stock HS even if you are OCing but you need to pay particular attention to the mounting and keep an eye on temps. You should mount it on the mobo outside the case and ensure that the pins are securely locked in place. An alternative aftermarket HS is a good idea IMO. If you go that route be sure that you get one with a back plate and not the same push pins. I like the Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme CPU Cooler in combination with the Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Fan. It is tall so you need to check the case depth. I know it fits well in the Antec P180/182. There are others that are good as well and a little shorter. AnandTech: Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme: Is More Better? is a good review that includes other heatsinks to choose from.

My Lian Li case seems like it will be a cool one with all those 120mm fans and i'm not going to overclock yet. what if i just got some arctic silver 5 and called it good? - no cpu cooler, no additional fans. the cpu cooler is a good chunk more money. and i can always add all this stuff later if i need to, right? including the thermal compound?

First, over clock your cpu your just leaving the best part on the table.

As you know, intel builds in 20% plus over engineering and 3ghz chips are made in quad core packages. Your dual core is small and therefore cooler and will be able to run faster then the 3ghz plus 20% or 3.4ghz.

You will have a 10 year life span at 3.4ghz if you keep your cpu below 55-65c at max output.

As far as cooling - if you are not oc-ing just use the intel cooler it works great. At 3ghz plus a thermalright ultra-90 can be had for $20 combined with a 92cm fan will cool your cpu to 45c at high loads.

If you want to max your system, and get long life, run your Vdroop - the nvidia mobo drops voltage with load to 1.41-1.42v - you need 1.46-1.47v. Your cpu will last longer then you will ever use the computer.

Do some research check anandtech and ibit and thg you find there are many cpu coolers that will work great and fine one that is low in cost - there is no need for any high end cpu cooler.

If you do not believe me, look at a stock shuttle from 2-4 years ago, the cpu runs 55-66c all the time and these systems do not fail. Likewise look at pentiums from the past, a little research and you find that you can run your cpu as fast as you can as long as you stay under 65-70c.

Lastly remember, if i am even 10-20% wrong, you will be able to buy that same 6750 cpu for $50 in 2-4 years.

I am warpedsystems and all we do is build overclocked systems. I warranty every cpu for 3 years and have zero failures. I have been doing this for many years, offering 100% labor for life and 3 year warranty since 2003.

Its your choice, but when you lay it all out on the table, overclocking is simply the smartest way to go.

Try a 6550 at 3.2ghz and 1.45v with the 680i mobo you find your at 40-55c with the stock cooler!

Or you can get a defective stock cooler and have your 6550 at 70C idle.