The reason I say "best" in quote marks is that I need a HSF that's best for my needs - if I was just after the _best_ I'd just look in the PR reviews section ...

First off, I really want it to be quiet - 25dbA or less (and a low pitch noise - no 60 or 70mm fans here). 7 volting the fan or a unit that comes with a rheostat/speed switch might be an option, so I can keep it low most of the year but crank it up in the summer.

Secondly, size is a real issue - this is for an NF& mobo in an Antec Super LANBOY case , there's almost no space between the top edge of the CPU socket & the PSU.



What I've tried so far:

Thermaltake Volcano 7+ - did a fair job of cooling on the high fan settings, but I couldn't live with the high pitched scream;

Qtec AMD Coooler Noiseless - totally inadequate with the stock 80mm fan, but actually the best thing I've tried so far, once I fitted an 80-120 adaptor & a 120 fan. The problem with that setup was the weight being held on by just 1 pip on each side of the CPU socket;

Coolermaster Aero 7+ - really disappointing, indifferent cooling at idle, inadequate at full load. I also had to dismantle it & refit the clip backwards to prevent it interfering with the PSU.




Watercooling is not an option - I just don't have the inclination to go down that road, I have enough computer hassles as it is without having something else to worry about, plus pump noise is something really irritates what's left of my right eardrum.

So, any ideas?

How about a Swiftech MCX462V with ducting from a window mounted 120mm fan?
Use the 92mm brackets that come with the HSF and make the ducting 120mm to 92mm and attach directly to the HSF. I don't remember if you have a window and/or fan on your side panel for the LAN Boy.

Quote: Originally Posted by godfoot How about a Swiftech MCX462V with ducting from a window mounted 120mm fan? Use the 92mm brackets that come with the HSF and make the ducting 120mm to 92mm and attach directly to the HSF. I don't remember if you have a window and/or fan on your side panel for the LAN Boy.

I've just been looking at that, & the older (?) model, the MCX462+ ... hard to ignore the 6C improvement they claim on the 'V though, even if it does cost an extra £10 ...


Looks like we have our first contender

Edit - gak! the 'V doesn't use the 4 hole mounting ... looks like the '+ is my #1 choice in a list of 1 so far ...

Silentboost K7 with ducting mod and AS5 is giving me a 32 idle with a 13x172 setup. Get a 120mm to 80mm adapter and an Enermax 120mm fan and it will be quiet (~24dB) flowing 63 CFM which is a hell of a lot more air then the stock Silentboost fan. Most of my case noise comes from the 4 80mm fans but my brother's LANboy is pretty quiet, if I know what was up with his motherboard I could give you a temp quote off his system but I need to sort out the mobo first.

His setup is:
Enermax 120mm fan in front
stock Antec blue LED fan that came with it moved to the back
Volcano 11 heatsink
Ducting mod
80mm Firework 9 LED fan flowing 32.5 CFM at about 28dB

Edit: I should mention the Enermax fan is rheostated so it's adjustable from 63 CFM at 24.6 dB to 93 CFM at 30.1 dB so I think that should work great for the fan part of your setup

Quote: Originally Posted by Jonny English I've just been looking at that, & the older (?) model, the MCX462+ ... hard to ignore the 6C improvement they claim on the 'V though, even if it does cost an extra £10 ... Looks like we have our first contender Edit - gak! the 'V doesn't use the 4 hole mounting ... looks like the '+ is my #1 choice in a list of 1 so far ...

I have not had any problem yet with the mounting system even though my Shuttle has mounting holes. But I guess if you take it off and on a lot for reviews and such it might get some wear and tear. Mine has only been taken off once since I got the rig running.
It is deceptively heavy though.
The U version has the 4-hole mounts but is a discontinued line, maybe you can find one online still somewhere. It has the rectangular look though as opposed to the conical-like shape of the V version.

Quote: Originally Posted by Andrevas Silentboost K7 with ducting mod and AS5 is giving me a 32 idle ...

Thanks Andrevas - I had a look at it, but it's just too similar to 2 of the HSFs I've already tried for me to believe it'd perform significantly better than them.

Quote: Originally Posted by godfoot I have not had any problem yet with the mounting system ...

Can't say I've had any problems with conventional HSF mounting either, but I've been theorising about clip mounts - I can't see that having a clip, & therfore a void or an absence of fins directly above the CPU core can be a Good Thing, so if there's a credible option that uses the four mobo holes instead, I'm quite keen on trying it.

If you like I will go to the trouble of swapping my mobo/CPU/cooler into my brother's Super LANboy just to see what kind of idle/load temps I can get out of it

Im surprised no one had said the slk-900a. Best heatsink ive ever had bar none. Couple that with the vantec 92mm silent version fan(cant think of name) and your golden. Isnt really all that big and its performance has proven itself time and time again. Let me know if you want numbers as far as cooling.

ThermalRight SP-97 + Enermax 92MM (Click here to see my BlueLED modded version )
Yes, this heatpipe version really is worth the extra cash. The fan has 7~12v control on included rheo.

This keeps the 2100+ at a mere 29C (20C Ambient) at stock speeds, and 35C @ 12x225.

dont know might be to big ,but i cant get a good picture of the room limit your talking about a pic or measurement might help.
http://www.zalmanusa.com/

Quote: Originally Posted by flounder405 ... i cant get a good picture of the room limit your talking about a pic or measurement might help. ...

This is the mobo, the amount of space between the top edge (left in the pic) of the board & the bottom of the PSU is 4mm (1/8th"), so I doubt if the SP-97 would fit at all, & I'm sure I couldn't get a 92mm fan on that or the slk-900a

No worries JE, my Chenbro Gaming Bomb had about 1MM of clearance, the PSU actually had to go in after the motherboard and heatsink, but it fit with about a paper's width of clearance!

When you mount the psu, push it upwards while screwing it in for a few extra MM.

But you can on the Swiftech as the ZIF socket is in the same place on the shuttle, high up on the board.
There is like an 1/8th inch gap between the edge of the fan and the grill on my PSU.

Quote: Originally Posted by TekXoID No worries JE, my Chenbro Gaming Bomb had about 1MM of clearance, the PSU actually had to go in after the motherboard and heatsink, but it fit with about a paper's width of clearance! When you mount the psu, push it upwards while screwing it in for a few extra MM.

A few mm? I'd be suprised if that technique would gain more than a few 1/1000ths of a inch on the Antec ...

Quote: Originally Posted by godfoot But you can on the Swiftech as the ZIF socket is in the same place on the shuttle, high up on the board. There is like an 1/8th inch gap between the edge of the fan and the grill on my PSU.

Yep - the MCX462 is still my current champeen - not sure about a U,V or + yet though.

From the looks of the gap here you should be able to mount the SP-97, I mounted mine in the Chenbro with much less clearance than that.

Get on MSNM and I'll show you the overhang on my SP-97, I think you'll be suprised.

Quote: Originally Posted by TekXoID From the looks of the gap here you should be able to mount the SP-97, I mounted mine in the Chenbro with much less clearance than that. Get on MSNM and I'll show you the overhang on my SP-97, I think you'll be suprised.

I'm not sure what that PSU is (no reference in the review), but the Antec SL350 I've got has an external grill, which is fouled by the clip on the Aero 7+ ...

I don't see how you can get from not being able to fit a 7+ without modification, to being sure you could fit a Sp-97 (with all its sticky out fins & pipes) in the same gap


Much as I'd like to see your overhang (oo-er!) I've got to leave for work RSN

The length of that clip is about the length of the overhang on the SP-97.

Quote: Originally Posted by TekXoID The length of that clip is about the length of the overhang on the SP-97.

So no go on the SP-97 then

take the fan grill off maybe? as its in case hurting yourself would be pretty difficult...

Wel what i was thinking with the zalman was omit the bracket with /for the fan and maybe just chop a hole for a 120 mm fan to blow on it ....but i dunno thats a tight spot.Might want to look at the swifttech coolers its a thought they look pretty square.Geez i got to think about this one there has to be something.