Good low-profile air cooler?

[Smartidiot89]

Well I am done with my Cooler Master HAF 932 - it's big and ugly

I was after a new case, HTPC-style which didn't cost to much and I found some old stock of NZXT Duet where it was really cheap so I took it. But my H70 won't fit in it without some serious modding which I am really not in the mood for. The case will probably retire in the far away future as a HTPC when I have a fatter pocket to buy another case anyways so.

So I wonder if you guys got some tips for a good low-profile air cooler? Currently using AMD's stock cooler (125W TDP one with heatpipes) so obviously I want it to be noticeably better than that. Got no exact measurements but I guess 11 cm (about 4,3" for you heathens that won't adopt the metric system) would be the limit in height. The cooler will be used for an Phenom II X4 955BE and the coming Bulldozer (unless it sucks and I'll adopt to Intel SB/IB later on). My hopes is to have some OC headroom.

I was hoping not to spend a fortune on a low-profile cooler so here's what I've been looking at:

• Scythe Samurai ZZ
• Scythe Shuriken Rev. B
• Scythe Kozuti CPU Kylare
• Cooler Master Vortex plus

I don't know much about either cooler, but they are relatively cheap and "looks good" to me. Ideas/suggestions, or am I better off keeping my stock cooler?

Yours sincerely, Jacob

[Smartidiot89]

Well I have been looking around and it came down to a Noctua NH-C12P SE14 but due to it's price I went with a Scythe Big Shuriken. As long as it cools atleast as good as the stock-cooler with lower noise I am happy but some headroom would also be nice.

My optimal solution would've been a Scythe Ninja Mini but for some odd reason Scythe has decided to EOL it.

[Helios1234]

Noctua NH-C14? It's superior to the older design.

[Cooper]

Scythe Big Shuriken. Utilizes same concept as original Shuriken Rev.B. but uses larger fan. Just 58mm in height.
Cheap, good performer and very quiet.

[OgaiB]

Excellent cooler: Prolimatech Samuel 17

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/prsa17forhts.html

[Smartidiot89]

Scythe Big Shuriken. Utilizes same concept as original Shuriken Rev.B. but uses larger fan. Just 58mm in height.
Cheap, good performer and very quiet.

Went with this one in the end, and its a performer! It's very good for it's price and does a good job cooling a Phenom II X4 955BE 125W in a cramped case.