Best top-down cooler?

[karl_eller]

I know tower heatsinks like the TRUE and Xigmatek HDT-S1283/1284 are all the rage these days, but what's good in the world of top-down coolers? I mean they don't have the clearance issues that come with big 160mm tower heatsinks, and I'd gladly trade a few C off the load temp for having the extra cooling on the motherboard, at least once you get used to their few positional oddities.

So basically, what's some of the best top-down heatsinks out there?

I've heard a lot of good things about the Noctura NH-C12P (http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=18&lng=en), but at AU$90 a pop, it's hardly cheap :p: How does the Xigmatek HDT-D1284 (http://www.xigmatek.com/product/air-hdtd1284.php) (for a much more tempting AU$45) go? A few others that have caught my eye are the Cooler Master Geminii S (http://www.coolermaster.com/products/product.php?language=en&act=detail&tbcate=1&id=3263), the Asus Triton 75 (http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=16&l2=65&l3=0&l4=0&model=1775&modelmenu=1) and Triton 77 (http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=16&l2=65&l3=0&l4=0&model=1917&modelmenu=1) (all of which weigh in at the AU$40 mark).

I'm tempted to give the HDT-D1284 a go, since it's fairly cheap and the HDT-S1284's have been fairly well recieved, but I'm unsure about the others.

Eller

[filthysanchez]

Si-128?

[celemine1Gig]

Si-128?

Thermalright SI-128SE or the Noctua NH-C12P. ;) Can't think of any other non-tower heatsinks that could rival these, ATM.

[ThugsRook]

Noctua C12P, 6 heatpipes :up:

[fatguy1992]

I'd say Thermalright SI-128SE if u put a good fan on it, otherwise the Noutua C12P

[Deodatus]

You might want to take a look at the Enzotech Ultra-X as well, although I would prefer the Noctua myself simply because Noctuas look so stunning.

[roofsniper]

i have been curious as to how these work. i mean like do their raise the temperature of the air in the case because it doesn't blow out the back? i can't think of an advantage of them besides the fact that they can fit in cases with no room.

[Ozzfest05]

They advertise these coolers as also cool motherboard and ram etc however when the cpu is under load the fins heat up and the air blowing on the motherboard is increasing the temps not the opposite and its killing the front to back airflow, I mounter the Enzotech Xtreme X for 3 hours then removed it went back to scythe infinity and my Trusty TRUE

[Exedy]

Noctua C12P and Enzotech Extreme X

[Ar3s]

Scythe Zipang with its stock 14cm fan

[nullface]

NH-C12P will eate the SI1-28SE alive.