Heatsink recommendation for socket 1366?

AceNZ · 09-18-2009, 05:42 PM

I'm looking for recommendations for a high-end heatsink for a socket 1366 setup. The system will be a dual Xeon X5550 2.66GHz on a Supermicro X8DTH-6F board.

The TRUE Ultra-120 looks too big; I'm planning to use all of the RAM sockets, so anything that might block one won't work. Seems like the Megahalem has the same problem. Something that's reasonably quiet would be nice. I would like to OC a little, but I'm not planning to set any records.

Also, what's the best thermal adapter interface these days?

momomo6789 · 09-19-2009, 08:33 PM

you could just remove the fins that would be in the way by bending them or cuting them off b/c if you want best air cooling those are the best.

KILLER_K · 09-20-2009, 05:25 PM

Perhaps a mugen 2 then, or thors hammer or a sunbeam contact maybe.

Camride · 09-21-2009, 04:48 AM

I'm guessing case size isn't a concern or you'd have mentioned it. On the cheap side this one seems to have gotten good reviews: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835200053

For thermal compound I use: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835202006

AceNZ · 09-23-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momomo6789

you could just remove the fins that would be in the way by bending them or cuting them off b/c if you want best air cooling those are the best.

How would that work? If you bent the fins, wouldn't that block the air flow? And can you really bend them enough so that the fan wouldn't hit the RAM?

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_K

Perhaps a mugen 2 then, or thors hammer or a sunbeam contact maybe.

Thanks for the suggestions. What are the differences between them? Does one cool better than the others? Ease of installation is another issue for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camride

I'm guessing case size isn't a concern or you'd have mentioned it. On the cheap side this one seems to have gotten good reviews: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835200053

For thermal compound I use: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835202006

Correct, case size doesn't matter; I'm planning on using a large Lian Li tower.

scottsee · 09-25-2009, 08:40 AM

I second the Mugen-2. I'm running it on my i7/bloodrage, It's a great fit, big and comes with a 95cfm fan for around $38.

kgk · 09-25-2009, 05:50 PM

Assuming your case has two 120mm vents (one rear-one top or two top), why not just stick two Corsair H50's on them?

EDIT: Looking at the board, yea just find a case that has 120mm exhaust on the top and one at the rear. Quite common. You can mount the rad for the rear CPU on the rear grill and the one for the top CPU on the top grill.

They are extremely quiet and cool better than the top air coolers. They take up hardly any space on or around the CPU aside from the 120mm rad, but that's mounted on the exhausts anyway and won't come close to covering your ram slots.

On top of that they are just as easy to install as an air cooler, and there's no filling/draining.

I can't believe no one has recommended it yet, particularly considering the requirements you outlined.

AceNZ · 09-26-2009, 04:28 AM

The H50 looks very interesting. The case I'm looking at is the Lian Li PC-P80. It has a 120mm fan on the back, but a 140mm fan on the top. I suppose I could rig up an adapter of some kind. It also sounds like I would need to reverse the air flow of the three 140mm fans in the front, so they exhaust instead of intake. It would be a bit of work, but possibly worth the effort.

kgk · 09-26-2009, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AceNZ

The H50 looks very interesting. The case I'm looking at is the Lian Li PC-P80. It has a 120mm fan on the back, but a 140mm fan on the top. I suppose I could rig up an adapter of some kind. It also sounds like I would need to reverse the air flow of the three 140mm fans in the front, so they exhaust instead of intake. It would be a bit of work, but possibly worth the effort.

Unless you already have the P80, I'd go with a case that has a 120 on the rear and two 120 exhaust on the top.

The HAF 932, while not the favorite of all due to design, would work quite well with that setup. The rear 140mm fan has mounting holes predrilled for 120mm as well, and the top 200mm fan can be replaced with two 120mm fans (also pre drilled holes).

Or, assuming the RAM sticks are normal height and don't have massive coolers on them, you could mount both H50's on the top 120 vents and use the 140mm at the rear for exhaust.

Or if that doesn't work for the lower sitting CPU, just mount that one on the rear grill and the higher CPU on the top. That still leaves you a second 120mm top fan for exhaust. Plus you still have the massive 200 mm fan in the front drawing in cool air.

Only thing you'd have to do is cut a dust filter for the front fan if you want, as it doesn't come with one.