Best cooler for overclocking Q6600?

Get the TRUE and a Scythe Kaze and a fan controller!

Lapping dangers? Uhhh, make a note of how much of a clearance your processors IHS has over that lil floppy latch thingie that locks over it. I had a chip that was especially lopsided, and I had to lap half the IHS off, and now I also hod to lap that lil cover latch thingie too, so the IHS sticks up far enough to contact the cooler!!

q6600s are pretty much good for 3.6ish.

Gotta run Core Temp with the processor in, and list the VID that it states. That helps with knowing the voltages your processor will need.

--Lupi

I've had a very good experience cooling wise with the 9700 Zalman. I am overclocked to 3.2 Ghz and rarely go above 40 C even while gaming. This is using my motherboard's internal temperature probe so I am fairly certain it is accurate.

The catch is that the mounting plate and clip for the 9700 are very difficult to deal with. I almost could not fit the fan on my motherboard, as the clip is literally right up against my first RAM slot.

Could you use CoreTemp to find out your core temps? The temp you're refering to is probably the TCase, which is generally 10C lower than the core temps.

To OP: If your cousin can afford it, the TRUE (ThermalRight Ultra 120 Extreme) is generally regarded as the best air-cooling solution out there once lapped. If he (or you) doesn't want to lap or can't afford the hefty price, the Xigmatek HDT S1283 or S1284 is just as good.

Here are 3 Reviews on the Best CPU Coolers for 2008 and Thermal Compound. Once you read them you can make your choice.

Vendetta 2 vs TRUE vs HDT-S1283
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=156&Itemid=47

Best CPU Cooler Performance - Q1 2008
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&It

33-Way Thermal Interface Material Comparison
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=47

Hope this helps.

Although the Vendetta 2 vs. TRUE HDT-S1283 shows the Vendetta 2 with more potential of cooling, the TRUE is constant. The Vendetta temps ranged to quite oddly while the TRUE was... well... constant.

I recommend the TRUE.

Does the ThermalRight Ultra 120 Extreme always require lapping? How is it right out of the box vs. Intel HSF?

I am using a lapped TRUE/S-Flex fan combo (18 months old) with AS5 to cool a Q6600 OC'd to 3.6 GHz in an Antec 900 case. Ambient air is about 24 C. Idle temps are 30 - 32 C. Prime95 loaded core temps are 60 - 65 C.

I haven't noticed any drop in temps as the AS5 "cures".

Today, I would try one of the bare pipe heatsinks. I doubt if the small bit of extra performance of the TRUE is worth the price difference.

i think i should say the TRUE will perform the best and remain unbeatable in its class is when its operate under Extreme condition.(as it suggested in the name TRUE E=eXtreme)

this meaning a extreme OC that will burn other performance cooler off and also you need extreme amount of airflow passing through the heatsink of the TRUE. but these kind of extreme cooling performance will give you extreme hearing damage and mental abuse if it go flat out 24/7 in your bedroom.

thats why you need a fan controller(as lupi said) to give you(it) a break when idling or just general browsing on Tom's forum!  and you can enjoy a nice sleep or little quiet conversation in the existance of your PC.

Zalman 9700....It will do the job.

People cream their pants over the TRUE like it's Jesus. Nearly everyone that gets it laps it. There are several other coolers you can get for cheaper and lap and would give you similar results. However, if you want to buy a fan or two for your cpu cooler and spend another $20, then go ahead. The Tuniq Tower is still great. the OCZ and Xigmatek coolers are exactly the same. Kingwin even makes one based on the original from Xigmatek.

It was the best in an era came and gone.  
There are now better performing coolers that also cost less. Here's the most complete benchmarking for coolers available:
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=227...

The zalman will do quite well in a case thats got very good airflow. and the TRUE is still unbeatable as many review have show. even those the Xigmatech and OCZ's HDT cooler is performing closely but its just not as powerful as the TRUE. For those who dont believe or still not sure can take a look at Yoosty's first link.

TRUE is still in the top five, but have already been unseated as the top performing model. See chart.  

humm....didnt read that.if TRUE got HDT i think it will perform similar because the fin is as packed as the TRUE the sunbeam cooler

but in the K8 platform the TRU still No1!lol
but i dont think that number 1 rated is not accurate for its grade
since the TRUE and the Sunbeam is enthusiast class cooler. they should face like QX9650@4Ghz with low and high speed fan to test their true cooling capacity. i still believe the TRUE will still outperform it and will allow a higher OC. i gonna search for more review

What a gob of relatively useless reviews of both coolers and cooling paste.
While some of a manufacturers coolers were tested, the best were not tested against the best.
The various pastes tests were less than useful but did show that Arctic silver 5 is still the one to beat Only a small handful beat it and only by 1 degree, LOL.

To buy a good cooler you need to know it's Thermal Resistance. Every thing else is mental FAP.

This is the number that you want to beat.
Thermal Resistance: 0.17°C/Watt
Anything higher is a waste of your money.
If this number is not given, move along.

Oh by the way this is from the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro, $32 retail.

True research is knowing what you are looking for, when it comes to HSF what you are looking for, is it's ability to remove heat. Thats where Thermal Resistance comes into play.

Yes sure it needs lapping out of box

lapping is easy and give you higher gain anyway.

Not for every model. The Nvirna Zerotherm I use has a base plate that's so well polished you can see yourself in it. Lapping that would only make it rougher.  

+1 for the TRUE, excellent cpu cooler when paired with a good 120mm fan. It can almost reach water cooling temps, if you have a push pull system on the TRUE. Make sure the fan has a high cfm.

That's true (not TRUE  ) but keep in mind Frosty does testing a little differently than other sites. I believe they just stimulate an Intel and AMD CPU just by putting in heat? So it isn't exactly real. Also keep in mind that the TRUE is tested with a slower fan than the Sunbeam, Xigmatek and the TRU, so naturally it performs worse. Lupiron used a Ultra Kaze on his TRUE (lapped) and he claims that it performs better than the Xigmatek after a few tests.

Nonetheless, the Sunbeam Core Contact Freezer is an excellent deal, currently going for less than $40. If it does really beat the TRUE (lapped), all the better to get one.

Had a 9700NT on my Q6600 (G0) and switched it to a HDT-S1283 today and it's already dropped my temps 2C. Can't wait to see what it does once it gets settled in.

Meh, the difference shouldn't be too big. 9700NT is still a very good cooler, still among the best.

i know this has been asked before but does the TRUE always require lapping?

it does if you want it to perform better than a cooler half its price.

why thank you kind sir  

wow two thanks in one day? gettin lucky here..

haha it would appear that way, hey, why not make it 3?! my mom says thanks for replying to my message!  

haha well that's my 10 or so good deeds a day  

The stock cooler itself seems to be a pretty good overclocker. lol