Cooling my Phenom 9850

25C idle? Think 3-5 C above room temp with water. Anyway, here is some links to get you started in the WC world.

Take your time to learn while you wait. I wrote this a while back, it will help get you on the right track.
............................................

For your benefit please spend a few days reading a LOT. Here and at the busiest places for WC masters. Guys who have done it for YEARS at OC forums and xtreme forums. It took me a while (I was OCing on air, aftermarket stuff, bios settings, best chipsets etc etc) to learn the language and the tricks to a easy install.

Don't expect miracles, or SUPER DOOPER over clocks. What you will get is a quiet system that can handle OC to the max of your hardware IF you buy quality and buy smart. And minor maintenance too, a bonus for the water cooler.

Also while there please read on case mods etc. The radiators are not for small cases, pumps and hose routing, wire management and other things are important. Google your planned case and the word water-cooled in one line. You might get lucky.

IF you just cool your CPU and your NB if you want, you can get by with a 120.2 sized radiator (RAD). And MAYBE fit in inside depending on your mod skillz. You want to cool your GPU too, you'll need a 120.3 sized rad, and it probably won't fit inside. The rear external rad really works great. No matter what your adding 15lbs to your PC, maybe 20lbs.

Once you got an idea of what is good/bad then start getting your system for WC put together and we'll be glad to help.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/index.php? Not a noob site, but great stickies
http://www.ocforums.com/ My fav, good peeps, know their stuff, less hardcore
http://www.skinneelabs.com/MartinsLiquidLab/
http://www.over-clock.com/ivb/inde [...] opic=20277 A GREAT Europe site
http://www.overclock.net/water-cooling/
http://translate.google.com/transl [...] n&ie=UTF-8 Info on rad testing
http://skinneelabs.com/
http://www.dangerden.com/index.php [...] e&Itemid=1
http://www.petrastechshop.com/
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/
http://www.jab-tech.com/

a couple of questions first: where are you getting those temps from? the cpu or the core temp? there is a difference and it's big in my case with phenom ii 940. cpu temps (bios and temp0 in hwmonitor) well within range, but core temps (core0-4 in hwmonitor and core temp) at upper end.

2nd, the zalman 9500 cooler is pretty good, in fact i use it i have the copper colored one which is about $10 cheaper. you could also get the zalman 9700. however, look at the ximatech or thermalright coolers as well.

with the 9500, my cpu is 34 idle, 43 load. my core temps are 42 idle, 58 load. these temps are based on using variable rpm fans controlled by mobo.

I love this phenom but I hate it at the same time...darn thermals...anyways I looked at the said cooler. I have the Z4...is that design really that much better? Like I said Im really hoping for the best possible choice because I dont have the money to buy another cooler that doesnt work.

Well now Im just downright confused...I had the opportunity to swap the 9850 for a 9600, having seen it run on a STOCK am2+ cooler at 32c idle and around 44 100% primed stable...I get it home, drop it in and its running in my machine at 44c idle with 80c load...what the heck!? Is it possible my board is to blame? What else would be causeing this...I mean I have a pretty beefy cooler.

Congrats! Good fix.