Any recommended Socket A CPU heatsink/fan?

[Cyde Weys]

My computer's been making this curious grinding noise recently. It
didn't sound like a hard drive going bad, but rather, a fan sleave
going bad. I managed to narrow it down to my CPU fan. I have an
Athlon 2500+ right now, and the fan (which is going bad) is a
heatsink/fan combo by Arctic Cooling called Copper Silent 2L. Well
ix-nay on the ilent-say.

This thing looks pretty integrated into the heatsink (which is also
came with), so I don't think just replacing the fan is an option. So,
I'm now taking suggestions on new CPU fan/heatsinks. I must confess, I
don't have any experience in the area, and the only reason I got the
current one is because of the blue LEDs, but I've gotten over that
phase. My only real qualification is that it's not too expensive; I'm
not doing any serious overclocking and I just need something that
works.

Thanks!

 

[old jon]

My computer's been making this curious grinding noise recently. It
didn't sound like a hard drive going bad, but rather, a fan sleave
going bad. I managed to narrow it down to my CPU fan. I have an
Athlon 2500+ right now, and the fan (which is going bad) is a
heatsink/fan combo by Arctic Cooling called Copper Silent 2L. Well
ix-nay on the ilent-say.

This thing looks pretty integrated into the heatsink (which is also
came with), so I don't think just replacing the fan is an option. So,
I'm now taking suggestions on new CPU fan/heatsinks. I must confess, I
don't have any experience in the area, and the only reason I got the
current one is because of the blue LEDs, but I've gotten over that
phase. My only real qualification is that it's not too expensive; I'm
not doing any serious overclocking and I just need something that
works.

Thanks!

Hi C. Use a Cooler Master myself, and been very happy with it.
http://www.coolermaster.com/
bw..OJ

 

[Sleepy]

My computer's been making this curious grinding noise recently. It
didn't sound like a hard drive going bad, but rather, a fan sleave
going bad. I managed to narrow it down to my CPU fan. I have an
Athlon 2500+ right now, and the fan (which is going bad) is a
heatsink/fan combo by Arctic Cooling called Copper Silent 2L. Well
ix-nay on the ilent-say.

This thing looks pretty integrated into the heatsink (which is also
came with), so I don't think just replacing the fan is an option. So,
I'm now taking suggestions on new CPU fan/heatsinks. I must confess, I
don't have any experience in the area, and the only reason I got the
current one is because of the blue LEDs, but I've gotten over that
phase. My only real qualification is that it's not too expensive; I'm
not doing any serious overclocking and I just need something that
works.

Thanks!

Ive got one of those - does the job fine and only cost a tenner. The blue
LEDs are unimportant - the variable fan speed and copper base are.

 

[Gary Hendricks]

The Masscool by Fanner Tech is one of the best thermal solutions for
PCs. It's really quiet, has low thermal resistance and rock-solid
durability. Check it out.

The specific model I have is the MASSCOOL FD06025S1M3/4 (60 x 60 x 25mm
Sleeve Cooling Fan). You probably can find it at newegg.com. It's
inexpensive and it doesn't sound like a jet is taking off inside your
computer. Good deal all the way around.

By the way, if you need help on installing that new CPU fan and
heatsink, check out this article:

http://www.build-your-own-computers.com/how-to-install-a-cpu-and-heatsink.html

 

[Cyde Weys]

Ive got one of those - does the job fine and only cost a tenner. The blue
LEDs are unimportant - the variable fan speed and copper base are.

Is variable fan speed really so important? Is it really that bad if
the thing is dialed up to 11 all the time?

 

[kony]

My computer's been making this curious grinding noise recently. It
didn't sound like a hard drive going bad, but rather, a fan sleave
going bad. I managed to narrow it down to my CPU fan. I have an
Athlon 2500+ right now, and the fan (which is going bad) is a
heatsink/fan combo by Arctic Cooling called Copper Silent 2L. Well
ix-nay on the ilent-say.

This thing looks pretty integrated into the heatsink (which is also
came with), so I don't think just replacing the fan is an option. So,
I'm now taking suggestions on new CPU fan/heatsinks. I must confess, I
don't have any experience in the area, and the only reason I got the
current one is because of the blue LEDs, but I've gotten over that
phase. My only real qualification is that it's not too expensive; I'm
not doing any serious overclocking and I just need something that
works.

Shipping cost on a heatsink is a large % of total cost, I
suggest putting this purchase in context of some other order
you'd be placing online to cut this shipping cost overhead.

In the inexpensive 'sinks they're more alike than different
but even so the overall design makes a difference. Instead
of make/model I'm suggesting attributes so when you make
your next purchase of something else you can select the best
offering from the same seller.

Copper base, preferribly thick but even a little beats none,
except the old Thermaltake designs with only a small round
copper slug in the middle aren't too good, it needs be
larger than that. The copper base is more important on
your CPU due to it being a flipchip without a heat spreader,
though among Athlons a Barton XP2500 is easier to cool than
some.

High fin count/fin-area, rather than fins just spread out
from a narrow based towards a wider top to accomodate a
larger fan. Large fan, 80mm x 25mm if not 92-120mm X
diameter (these larger fans uncommon on inexpensive 'sinks),
spinning at no more than 3000 RPM for best life, or even
slower for less noise.

Note the the failure of your Arctic Cooling 'sink was to be
expected because it has a poor fan. If you were buying a
'sink for a new system I would advise buying in the
mid-range 'sink category instead of low-range "inexpensive"
category to avoid this kind of issue in the future, even
buying a heatsink then buying another fan separately and
putting the other /better fan on originally rather than
waiting till the original fails... as a large low RPM,
quality fan can be expected to run for a decade.

On the other hand, this system now having aged a little and
depreciated some, I can see a reason to buy a 'sink at lower
price-point, though if you did want to try to keep this
replacement working for several more years I suggest buying
(or adding) a quality name-brand fan, which will add roughly
$5 to the total cost depending on where you buy it. Either
way, brands like Kingwin, Spire and Masscool (et al) should
be avoided due to particularly lower-quality fans that will
fare poorly except when implemented such that their RPM
stays low, perhaps under 2000RPM.

Given above criteria one of the more cost-effective 'sink
manufacturers is Coolermaster.

 

[kony]

The Masscool by Fanner Tech is one of the best thermal solutions for
PCs. It's really quiet, has low thermal resistance and rock-solid
durability. Check it out.

The specific model I have is the MASSCOOL FD06025S1M3/4 (60 x 60 x 25mm
Sleeve Cooling Fan). You probably can find it at newegg.com. It's
inexpensive and it doesn't sound like a jet is taking off inside your
computer. Good deal all the way around.

It would be hard to be more wrong!

Every Masscool w/60x25 fan is loud, has junk fan prone to
short lifespan, is poor at cooling as it has relatively high
thermal resistance.

What in the world could you possibly be comparing it to?
The only thing it has going for it is very low price (some
places, but overpriced at others). Bottom line is they're
among the worst 'sinks possible, even staying within the
low quality Masscool line there are better alternatives with
larger fan on top (at lower RPM, quieter and longer lasting)
for very little extra cost.

 

[Sleepy]

Is variable fan speed really so important? Is it really that bad if
the thing is dialed up to 11 all the time?

I leave it on medium speed most of the time and bump it up to high on a hot
Summer day - works well for me.

 

[Jan Alter]

A replacement HSF and heatsink arrived nicely packaged from AMD just last
Friday for the original that I'd bought a little less than 2 years ago from
Newegg. It seems that if one buys a cpu and fan in their retail box then
it's got a 3 year warranty. How about yours? It took 5 minutes to give the
technician about the noisy fan and the serial number of the cpu. If you're
in that warranty category just go to the AMD website to get their tech
number.

 

[Jan Alter]

Guess I should have read a little more carefully that the HSF you were using
wasn't OEM in the first place. Well maybe someone else out there has a noisy
AMD HSF that can get it replaced at no charge under warranty if needed.
Telephone to call is 408-749-3060

 

[Joe]

Check out the

MASSCOOL WhisperRock II 5F263B1M3 80mm Ball Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail
a.. Model #: 5F263B1M3
on www.newegg.com

i hav eone it is super quite, getts the job done, and it is cheap, read the
reviews

Joe