[SOLVED] Advice on purchasing an aftermarket CPU cooler.

Due to the fact that my PC is on for almost 24/7 and the fact that I would just leave it in my room with the air conditioning unit turned off in the middle of the day (I live in the tropics and my CPU temps idle at around 45 degrees C and at load would reach 58 degrees C with the stock cooler), I have decided to purchase an aftermarket CPU cooler. But believe when I say I absolutely have no knowledge in the CPU cooler market and this will be the first time that I will be purchasing an aftermarket cooler for a CPU.

After googling for a while checking out reviews and availability of CPU coolers near my area, I currently have set my sights on this one:

http://www.overclockersclub.com/revi...rmaltake_frio/

I'd appreciate if anyone with experience with CPU coolers could give a little insight. I'm currently using an Antec Three Hundred case and my RAM is just your normal average-looking DDR3 RAM if those details help.

100+ reviews on Newegg averaging 5/5 stars.

Sounds like a good cooler.

Hi shadowalk, long time.

I don't know much about those coolers but 58C isn't any where near critical. If you start running 70-80C for hours on end then maybe think about it.

Here's a handy little app (Core Temp) to monitor and even set alarms or shut down where you set it. I think Draceena turned me on to it.
http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/supportlist.html

Thanks yodap, I'm getting that app.

Actually this is my main concern right now:

It's currently 12:55 AM here and I have the airconditioning unit on its coldest setting in this room and it is quite cold. I used to get as low as 29 degrees on such environments until recently. Even on an average day with no air conditioning, I used to reach at least 35-38 degrees C average at idle. These current temps are what made think of getting an aftermarket cooler.

Any chance of this app causing harm to your system? The warning may have been for covering their tails, but it implied that it may cause damage on some systems. I'm running it in the sandbox, just in case.

I'm using it, and both core temps are displayed (43C, 34C).

Cat

I see nothing at all wrong with those temps, my notebook runs 2 times hotter than that, has for months, but I believe the hard drive rattle is what's going to kill it.

Cat

It looks like a great HDT cooler for your CPU.

I would go ahead and get it and you should get lower readings.

My ambient room temperature is about 72 deg. F. and my CPU stays around 31-34 deg. C. I have a Core 2 Duo E8400 Intel @ 3.0GHz.

The temps you posted are a little high if what you state about your room temp being quite chilly.

Get the ThermalTake Frio cooler and also some high-quality thermal compound such Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound which is highly rated.

Just installed the core temp app. Seems to run fine. Shows me at currently 31/30c

I agree with yodap that your temps are no where near critical - though I start to get a little nervous when I see 60°C - so your high temps are close and need watching. I also agree with Nibiru2012 to use a good TIM (thermal interface material) if you get a new HSF assembly.

However, note that it is the case's responsibility to expel the heat from the interior of your case and it is your responsibility to keep the interior free of heat trapping dust.

Note too if your CPU is less than 3 years old and a retail version that came with an OEM supplied fan, then the warranty covers the CPU and fan ONLY when used together. That is, damage due to heat if a 3rd party aftermarket cooler is used is not covered by either the AMD or Intel warranties.

So, my advice is to make sure the interior of the case is clean of heat trusting dust. Then, if possible, add another or larger case fans to provide better front-to-back air flow through the case. Also, if you have not replaced the TIM on your CPU and it has the OEM thermal "pad", you can achieve a few degrees improvement if you put a properly applied fresh layer of one of the better TIMs.

Then and only then, if that still does not provide enough cooling for your CPU, install a 3rd party cooler.

Looks like I got tempted to hell and gave in. So I went to my local PC store to purchase a nice aftermarket cooler just so for my peace of mind, hehe. Turns out the Thermaltake Frio was out of stock though they did have the Coolermaster V8 and I know I've heard nothing but great things about it all over the internet so I figured what the hell and bought it. It's sitting nice and pretty on my desktop now and holy hell my CPU temps sure did take a plunge! Currently at 31 degrees C right now, anyway thanks all!