Recommendations for a new CPU cooler?

[Tom DWC]

I've recently replaced my HD 5870 for an overclocked EVGA GTX 570 and I decided at the same time I wanted to overclock the CPU again (only mildly mind, not a new CPU anymore!*) for folding purposes.

These days, any overclock is enough to cause the CPU to throttle (it hits 60 degrees really easily now) but because of the current weather and the general heat of my room it's even throttling at stock clocks when at full load for more than a few minutes. I can live without an overclock but I'm not prepared to have it slow down at factory settings. We're talking 800MHz per core here.

Not exactly been a fan of self contained WC units since my first one leaked on me but it's pretty apparent it's not doing its job properly at all anymore. So as well as applying some new thermal paste, does anyone have any suggestions for a good aircooler? There's so many out there and I'd like to narrow down the amount of reviews I have to read. Must of course be AM3 compatible and suitable for cooling even when overclocking.

Cheers.

*Talking like 3.6 - 3.8GHz, not 4+ like I used to have it running at. That extra boost makes all the difference for a few games I have.

[tom_gr7]

noctua NH-D14! beast and quiet!

[tom_gr7]

also have a look over frosty tech mate - http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

[Kalisnoir]

I've got the same CPU and wouldn't mind a newer cooler, these self contained WC's are rubbish, considering investing in a custom loop tbh. I don't have the problem of it throttling down on stock but I could only OC it to about 3.4Ghz stable. Not even sure on a extremely humid day like today that it actually would be stable ( it got reset a while ago and I never bothered to re do it)

[Tom DWC]

also have a look over frosty tech mate - http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

Cheers mate, exactly what I was after!

I've got the same CPU and wouldn't mind a newer cooler, these self contained WC's are rubbish, considering investing in a custom loop tbh. I don't have the problem of it throttling down on stock but I could only OC it to about 3.4Ghz stable. Not even sure on a extremely humid day like today that it actually would be stable ( it got reset a while ago and I never bothered to re do it)

They do seem to lose effectiveness overtime. And personally I'm forever paranoid about it leaking again now, especially as it gets older (as unlikely as it is).

[keynes]

You could try sending the cooler back to coolit if it is not under warranty anymore, you may get a free upgrade. I have the coolit eco II fatboy and so far it has been very good, cheaper and no maintenance involve as opposed to a custom loop. I go with Tom's suggestion, the noctua NH-D14 is a very good choice.

[Corfate]

I like my H100

Many say it's the best contained liquid CPU cooler on the market (can't find the linus video). Also, it looks sleek

[Buzz]

The newer Closed circuit WC loops are actually pretty good if the correct thermal paste is on. Almost a see through coating amount. Rice grain size in middle of CPU and allow the cooler to smudge out the paste underneath I find is best method for a even coating. Also Noctua NT-H1 Thermal paste or the Arctic Silver 5 paste IMO is the best
They tent to cool the CPU when it is hotter rather then colder. IE: Idle temps are not great compared to heavy use and slight overclock.

I have my i7 2700K at 5Ghz using the fat boy II and I find it great. Idle temps are pretty much the same as when my comp is 3.4Ghz. I changed the fans though from the stock to 2X Noctua NF-F12 focused flow PWM fans. ALso like corfate mentioned the H100 have been given great reviews from many places.

[tom_gr7]

What case have ya got tom?

[Kalisnoir]

The newer Closed circuit WC loops are actually pretty good if the correct thermal paste is on. Almost a see through coating amount. Rice grain size in middle of CPU and allow the cooler to smudge out the paste underneath I find is best method for a even coating. Also Noctua NT-H1 Thermal paste or the Arctic Silver 5 paste IMO is the best
They tent to cool the CPU when it is hotter rather then colder. IE: Idle temps are not great compared to heavy use and slight overclock.

I have my i7 2700K at 5Ghz using the fat boy II and I find it great. Idle temps are pretty much the same as when my comp is 3.4Ghz. I changed the fans though from the stock to 2X Noctua NF-F12 focused flow PWM fans. ALso like corfate mentioned the H100 have been given great reviews from many places.

Yeah but the i5/i7's are renown for being able to OC like hell even with stock cooler, in hindsight I would of paid the extra for an i7. I've always went AMD purely because I find Intel to expensive but after talking to an overclocker (he had world records for it) at The Gadget Show live this year and him commenting (aswell as the guy who owned the shop) about how AMD haven't had a good chip since the Athlons and how much you can OC the intels, I'll definitely be going Intel on my next rebuild!