How much fan cooling is *enough*..new i7 build CPU and memory?

**steve_83** · April 26th, 2009, 06:34 PM

I'm gutting my socket 478 machine and rebuilding it with a new X58, i7 intel 920 CPU.

I pretty much have the component bought ,and am only waiting to buy memory.

Here's my question:

I bought an Intel 920 when the local MicroCenter had them for $230 when I noticed last Tuesday (4/23) the prices jumped up $50-75.00.

I'm not an overclocker but may experiment with that with the Asus Rampage II Extreme Motherboard .
They make it super simple for novice overclockers...like yours truly.

I am a gamer to the extent that I bought my first nvidia product...the eVGA GeForce GTX 295 Video Card. (which doesn't really pertain to this question)
That was NOT cheap.
I could care less who kills who first in multiplayer.
I rarely win anyway!

If relevant: this is NOT a toy to me.
I conduct business on it too.

Memory I'm about to buy:

Either 6GB of Corsair Dominator ....with or without the fans..
TR3X6G1866C9DF with fan accessory about $250. (or)
Without fan: TR3X6G1866C7GTF for about $160
The summary of performance compatible Corsair memory is here:
http://corsair.com/corei7/default.aspx

The meat of this post, 2) fan questions:

1) Should I stay with the factory supplied Intel CPU fan, or buy (what I have come to believe is the best on the market), a Zalman aftermarket cooler?

2)And: Do I really need the Corsair memory with the top fan kit?

The price of this upgrade is killing me financially, so every 10 bucks I can save is a Good Deal.
I'd like to be able to use this for 4-5 years...with minor ugrades as they appear, and I have the $$.

But ....I wanna do it right the first time, and not get surprised down the road.

This is going into a Thermaltake Kandalf Super tower case, with plenty of space and fan cooling in the thing.

I'm still going to be running what I have: Windows XP Pro w/SP-3.
If I can skip Vista, fine.
I'm looking forward to Windows 7 and hope I can just jump right over Vista like I (fortunately) did Windows Me-stake.

Nothing special on the optical drives and I using a new WD VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS Internal 300GB Hard Drive.

Can't think of anything at this moment I missed to be able to reply.
If I did, sorry bout that.

Just ask.
I visit here.........often.

Opinions and advice much appreciated as always.

Steve_83

**crunchie** · April 26th, 2009, 06:55 PM

If you are going to overclock, do yourself a favour and get an aftermarket cooler. The xigmatec S1283 is supposed to be the bees knees of air coolers.
If you're getting the TT I would not worry about the RAM fans.

**steve_83** · April 27th, 2009, 08:29 AM

Thanks crunchie.
I have never worried about memory cooling, but:
I've never approached 6GB, DDR3, nor used Corsair Brand.

I had always standardized on Crucial until they wanted to replace 2) defective Ballistix sticks with regular ones.

Crucial doesn't make Ballistix in plain DDR now.
It was a bitter battle to get them to upgrade me to 2048 from 1024 in regular memory.
And they made $$ on that fiasco AND STILL charged me $58.00.

They (after 3 months) did, but I can't tell one bit of difference.

Take care & Thanks again for the CPU fan tip.

Steve_83

**bistro** · April 28th, 2009, 03:43 PM

Ditto on the aftermarket CPU cooler, whether or not you will be overclocking (I've never liked stock coolers). No flame intended, but that Xigmatec S1283 is not compatible with the i7 as far as I can see. There are a few compatible coolers at Directron. Nice to see they have a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme for the i7 (quite similar to the Xigmatec)...I use the U120E on my Q9450 and it it is VERY effective.

I've used an aftermarket cooler on my Corsair DDR3 memory and, while it certainly cooled down the memory a little, the front intake fan I have up in that area actually does the job pretty effectively on its own, so I uninstalled the RAM fan. Just depends on how much airflow you perceive to be up in that area. BUT...if you plan on overclocking that memory at all, a little extra airflow would be advisable.

**crunchie** · April 28th, 2009, 04:35 PM

I missed the 'V' on the end

.
http://www.xigmatek.com/product/air-...ht-s1283-v.php

**bistro** · April 28th, 2009, 07:13 PM

A-HA! So....the truth comes out! I hope you realize, crunchie, that missing the "v" on the end of a nomenclature normally costs you 15 VDR Demerits....but we will let it go for now. Watch your step....

**crunchie** · April 28th, 2009, 09:05 PM

Go onnnn, make my day

**SpywareDr** · April 29th, 2009, 06:12 AM

**steve_83** · April 29th, 2009, 08:06 PM

I'm glad to see you fellows are having fun.

Now seriously, but not too much......I went ahead and ordered the CORSAIR DOMINATOR-GT memory X 2.

What exactly should I do on the CPU cooler please?

I guess I'll buy one somewhere

and get into the 101K a little more.

My Zalman CNPS9500A LED might work, might not.

I haven't contacted them...yet about the X58, i7 CPU and they don't list it as being compatible.

Should I assume if it fits it works?

The LED is out

, but the fan is keeping my socket 478 @ 3.2gHZ cooled well enough for the girls I go with.

There are so many fans in my Thermaltake Kandalf super tower case. I can't hear myself think with the side cover off.

Thermaltake is one Great Company.

They've GIVEN ME at N/C so many spare parts.......even a spare clear acrylic side, there's no way I'm parting with it.
They don't even show the brushed aluminum ones anymore, so this does make one unique looking 'puter.

Have fun...and kindly reply to the topic when you're through foolin around.

I love this place.

Steve_83

**crunchie** · April 30th, 2009, 05:17 AM

At the end of the day it's up to you which cooler to buy. The Zalman 9500 is really only good for a dual core.

**steve_83** · April 30th, 2009, 07:10 AM

Nope that dang cooler won't fit the 1366 boards.

For the sake of anyone else who searches for this, here is what Zalman tech support says about how to make it work:

We are releasing a new clip called the CS-4 that is compatible with our 9*** series CPU coolers. The CNPS7/8*** series are not compatible with the 1366 socket. This clip will enable the CNPS9500 and 9700 series to be installed onto the new INTEL core i7 socket 1366 CPU’s. The newly released CNPS9900 will include the CS-4 in its free hardware bundle and is ready to be used out of the box.

Please look for the CS-4 clip by visiting the "Where To Buy" network on our website and locate a distributor close to you for the parts you need. In the event that all your local suppliers refuse/cannot help please contact Support ([email protected]) if you reside in the Americas and [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] for all other regions and explain your situation. Thank you again for your interest in ZALMAN.

I guess I'll clean the thing up, see what the deal is with the LED (probably lost my light connection) and try it.

If anyone else knows of a decent 1366, X58, i7 CPU cooler, please let me know.

I really busted the bank on this one

and bought my 1st nvidia product, a GTX 295.

I suppose I'll use the stock cooler on it, unless one of the resident hardware experts has a better idea.

Steve_83

**bistro** · April 30th, 2009, 07:12 AM

Directron has several CPU coolers for the i7. I would highly recommend the Thermalright Ultra 120 E (U120E); fourth one down on the left. I use the version for the Intel quad cores and it is the best cooler I've ever had. Slap a Scythe SFF21F 120mm fan on that puppy and the CPU will stay pretty chilly (though it looks like they include a fan that's pretty close in specs to that Scythe).

OCZ makes a good RAM cooler. I used it for a while; it did a decent job while adding a little bling with the blue LEDs. I ended up taking it off when I added an additional 120mm front intake fan up in the RAM area...didn't really need the RAM cooler after that.

**steve_83** · April 30th, 2009, 04:47 PM

Nice job Bistro....Thanks!

Instead of asking in another thread, for those who've already participated and anybody else who cares to throw their $.02 in......what about Hard Drive cooling?

I'm planning on setting up 2) operating systems on 1) 150GB Raptor I already have after I government wipe it.
XP Pro w/SP-3 for sure, and either Vista Ultimate (or) possibly Windows 7.

And that will be all that's in that one drive that HD.

I've got a new WD Velociraptor, 300GB for everything else.

This would be the 1st time I've ever attemped this....so any comments or suggestions, please chime in.

Back to the sub-topic: Can Bistro or anyone else suggest , or recommend a Hard Drive cooler ?
I know for sure there are a LOT of manufacturers for those.

Train

I'll send you a Thermaltake Hardcano for a REALLY GOOD suggestion!

Steve_83

**Train** · April 30th, 2009, 06:25 PM

I have my front case fans blowing over the hdds. That 120 does good job.

**bistro** · April 30th, 2009, 06:54 PM

Ditto Train's response. My experience with hard drive coolers has been that they just tend to blow warm air around the drive bay and add extra noise to the system. A 120mm front intake in the hard drive bay drives the cool air across the drive and into the case where it can be exhausted out the back....more effective cooling IMHO. Just place the drives so there's a nice air gap between them and they should do fine.

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