What is the absolute best silent air cooler?

[computerpro3]

I need to know quick because I need to buy it tonight (selling all my WC gear). Basically I need my machine to be as silent as possible, but I don't want to lose my 2.8ghz overclock. My room gets hot too, so it's a challenge. The heatsink also needs to be available to order right now, obviously, so I'm not sure on where that leaves me with the Tuniq. I've really been out of the air cooling loop for a long time, so I'd really, really appreciate any help.

Thanks.

[davefr]

I need to know quick because I need to buy it tonight (selling all my WC gear). Basically I need my machine to be as silent as possible, but I don't want to lose my 2.8ghz overclock. My room gets hot too, so it's a challenge. The heatsink also needs to be available to order right now, obviously, so I'm not sure on where that leaves me with the Tuniq. I've really been out of the air cooling loop for a long time, so I'd really, really appreciate any help.

Thanks.

I have a feeling we'll be declaring a new winner and it'll be the new Scythe Infinity. It has the potential to spank the Tuniq Tower and it's now available.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=109217

[AzraelDarkangel]

The new Scythe Infinity is probably the best air cooler out there, may be even better than the Tuniq:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=185&products_id=20547

As the Tuniq is not available second choice would be the Scythe Ninja:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=185&products_id=4157

or Thermalright Ultra-120:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835109125&ATT=35-109-125&CMP=OTC-Froogle

Thermalright SI-128 is very good too:

http://www.frozencpu.com/cpu-tri-27.html

[computerpro3]

Thanks, infinity it is.

[WesM63]

Thanks for the link AzraelDarkangel, just ordered an infinity.

Hopefully it'll help cool this beast of a processor. (couldn't wait on the Tuniq Tower any longer.)

[ShoNuff]

I just got mine today. Works a LOT better than the AMD stock heatsink. Temps went from 53c load @ 1.36v to 44c at the same volts. On H20 my max OC was 233 x 13. With the Infinity I max out at 227 x 13 @ 1.52v. At 1.52v the temps max out at 52c (note I have the bios thermal offset adjusted to add 6c per Everest). Also worth noting is the fact that I am using Cool laboratory's Liquid Pro thermal paste for the first time. I was using AS5 with the stock HS.

Before you ask why I am air cooling my rig I’ll tell you. I just bought a new G5 from Red.Sky. It turns out that the G5 was one a handful of blocks that had a defect. Sent it back to Cathar to be fixed. I should have it in two weeks or less. I won't be putting my H20 rig back together for a while anyway. I am waiting on EK Waterblocks to finish their 7950GX2 blocks in addition to my new “step up” cards from eVGA. :D


Question for you guys. Do you know if it would be safe to mount the Infinity to a cpu without the IHS?