Meghalem CPU Cooler

[Jholdeman95]

I'm wondering if the meghalem is the best air cpu heatsink, if not what heatsink will allow me to get the highest stable overclock on my core i5-750. I have great airflow. Also what fans would you recommend for the megahalem or another heatsink

 

[anonymousdude]

It's certainly one of the best. Other alternative would be tuniq 120 extreme,iceage 120 Boss II, zalman cnps10x, etc. The best bang for you buck though is the hyper 212+ with some high cfm fans like scythe slipstreams or ultra kaze. Take a look at this site for some reviews of heatsinks.

http://www.frostytech.com/

 

[Ubrales]

The Megahalems are very good heatsinks. Make sure the heatsink you pick has enough clearance over the RAM chips; especially the RAM which has its own cooling fins. In my case, the Megahalem clip-on fan will not clear the Corsair dominator RAM cooling fins; therefore, I am staying with my CM V8 cooler.

 

[andy5174]

Source: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=432&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=20

ProlimaTech Megahalems 24.29°C over ambient
Thermalright Venomous-X 24.47°C over ambient
Scythe Mugen-2 SCMG-2000 26.03°C over ambient
Cogage Arrow 26.53°C over ambient
Titan FENRIR TTC-NK85TZ 27.92°C over ambient
Zalman CNPS10X-Performa 28.08°C over ambient
Coolink Corator-DS 28.38°C over ambient
Cogage TRUE Spirit 28.39°C over ambient
Noctual NH-D14 (2x 140) 29.10°C over ambient
ProlimaTech Armageddon 29.26°C over ambient
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme 29.40°C over ambient
CyberPowerPC XtremeGear HP-1216B 29.42°C over ambient
3R-System IceAge Prima Boss-II IA-120B2 29.46°C over ambient
Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme 29.52°C over ambient
Intel DBX-B ATS (Performance) 29.65°C over ambient
Xigmatek Balder SD1283 CAC-SXHH3-U06 30.00°C over ambient
Xigmatek Thor's Hammer S126384 30.76°C over ambient
Noctua NH-U12P 31.68°C over ambient
Thermaltake Contac-29 CLP0568 32.60°C over ambient

 

[andy5174]

The Megahalems are very good heatsinks. Make sure the heatsink you pick has enough clearance over the RAM chips; especially the RAM which has its own cooling fins. In my case, the Megahalem clip-on fan will not clear the Corsair dominator RAM cooling fins; therefore, I am staying with my CM V8 cooler.

+1

 

[RJR]

Bench Mark Reviews "cough, cough" with a big grain of salt.



Right now the top three are the NH-D14, Megahalems, Venomous-x

Most places you check (and people with them) will put them in that order also. You can't go wrong with any of them.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I'm wondering if the meghalem is the best air cpu heatsink, if not what heatsink will allow me to get the highest stable overclock on my core i5-750. I have great airflow. Also what fans would you recommend for the megahalem or another heatsink

I find that the Megahalems provides the best combination of performance and ease of installation. Seen one review where the Noctua DH-14 topped it by a hair but it's 3+ pound weight scared me a bit and the installation is a bit trying to many. Have also seen more interference issues reported with the DH-14 than i have w/ other HS's.

For moderate OC's (say 3.6) , I'd recommend the Mega and one (1) PWM fan.
For serious OC's (4+ Ghz), I'd recommend the Mega and two (2) PWM fans.

($65 for the HS, $7 for TIM, $11 per PWM fans and $7 for a PWM Y cable splitter if needed).

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8807/cpu-pro-01/Prolimatech_Megahalems_Rev_B_Intel_CPU_Heatsink_LGA_775_1156_1366_AM2_AM2_AM3_Hot_Item.html
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7038/thr-41/Innovation_Cooling_Diamond_7_Carat_Thermal_Compound_-_15_Grams.html?id=BZWnrfIC
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10026/fan-639/Scythe_Slip_Stream_120mm_x_25mm_PWM_Fan_-_SY1225SL12LM-P.html?tl=g36c365s936
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8418/cab-150/FrozenCPU_PMW_Y_Splitter_Cable.html

If that's a budget breaker, look at the Xigmnatec S1283 or one of the others here:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_Heatsinks
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm#INTELHEATSINK
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=432&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=23

pick a TIM from the top few here:
http://www.hwreviewlabs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64%3Amega-44-thermal-paste-round-up&catid=32%3Around-ups&Itemid=47&limitstart=3
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/thermal-interface-roundup_10.html#sect1
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=3

Suggest you avoid the tall heat spreaders found on the Corsair Dominators and GSkill Ripjaws with any of these top end coolers. The Mushkin low profile heat sinks are OK in most instances but, to my mind, most heat spreaders have outlived their function. My son's recent build has the Ascent Liquid Cooler son the Mushkin RAM and they do fit under the Megahalems.

He's running a 920 w/ various separate OC profiles stored in the R2E's BIOS .... the "everyday" profile runs at 3.7 Ghz and has core temps in low to mid 50's....the 4.2 and 4.4 Ghz profiles run 70-74

Avoid common advice about 3rd party heat Sinks when using the mega:

1. http://www.prolimatech.com/

Lapping Warning!

Prolimatech does not condone any type of lapping done to the CPU or to heatsink base. Every Prolimatech's heatsink base is designed on a pin-point scale of how the base is to be flat and/or curved where it's needed to be. We have programed our machines to machine the surface in a very calculated way. Any after-manufacture lapping or modding done to the base will alter the design, hence negating its performance factor as well as its warranty.

2. http://www.prolimatech.com/products/cpu_cooler/megahalems_rev.b.html

Minimal air resistance between fins allowing best balance between noise and performance in range of 800-1200RPM. Above that, it will sound like you live near an airport

If you really want quiet, this is the new kid on the block which doesn't quite matche the Mega in cooling performance while allowing much quieter fans to be used.:

ProlimaTech Armageddon
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=492&Itemid=62

Also note the following author comment on the new kid:

"I can tell you that if you mount this heatsink so it blows air towards the back of the case, you won't come close to the memory."

 

[Ubrales]

Here are my views on lapping/polishing.
After reading several articles, and applying my own decisions based on engineering, I decided to polish my V8 heatsink base because it is thick enough to withstand bowing (distortion) due to thermal stress. I decided to leave the CPU alone because the CPU heat spreader is a shallow drawn sheet metal part produced in a progressive die. The expansion and subsequent distortion of the CPU heat spreader can be determined only under lab testing. Therefore, I left the CPU as-is.
As a result of the as-is CPU and the polished base on the V8 heatsink, the temps dropped by 5 to 8 degrees C under identical conditions.
I am aware that some manufacturers put in disclaimer clauses in order to discourage the uninitiated from attempting engineering changes leading to consequential damages including risk to human life. Probably their legal department at work.
Besides, I don't buy products merely based on warranty - if the product is good, I will not need to exercise the warranty. The company's reputation based on its products is what I look for.

 

[RJR]

I decided to leave the CPU alone because the CPU heat spreader is a shallow drawn sheet metal part produced in a progressive die.

For reference:
http://download.intel.com/design/processor/designex/322167.pdf

 

[Ubrales]

Thanks RJR - good info - I am surprised that Intel would publicize such technical info.

 

[Jholdeman95]

Thanks I got the Megahalem Rev b. It's great i can get a stable overclock 3.8, 200 Blck 19 Multiplier. Idle temps 30 34 30 34.

 

[ubernoobie]

I say thermalright venomous>megahalems In mounting pressure and performance. For best performance, it goes to the noctua dh 14