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Trying to figure out what to replace your stock Intel Core i7 heatsink and fan with can be a daunting task. To help make your life a little easier, here are the top 3 Intel Core i7 cooling products that cost under $100.
As always, we recommend applying the proper amount of thermal conductivity paste in order to achieve maximum cooling results (without it, you may as well keep your stock cooler).
Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU Cooler
The most expensive cooler on the list at $80 is, sadly, not the best performer; however, it is the best built product on the list. With several heatpipes and two 120mm fans, this beast is quiet, and cools your Core i7 processor.
Just make sure you have good clearance from the processor and a large case, because this baby is huge. If you have a small case that just barely fits your video card, then this cooling fan may not fit.
Cooler Master Hyper N520 CPU Cooler
While it's the cheapest option on our list at $40, this Cooler Master CPU cooler is not the worst performer, with heavy load temperatures well below 60c. While using two fans does help to keep the hot Core i7 975 Extreme cool, it doesn't do much for the noise. While the manufacturer lists the noise level at 19dBA (below audible), we've found that this cooler is slightly more noisy than the Noctua.
It's not a big deal, since the noise is minuscule, but it is something to consider if you're a "quiet computing" enthusiast.
At $65 this CPU cooler isn't cheap, but it is a top performer, consistently keeping processor temperatures down in the 40c range (higher at heavy load, but that's to be expected). It's also dead easy to install (as all Thermaltake products usually are), and it looks amazing in your computer case. The only complaint we have is that while the wind tunnel effect that Thermaltake created is effective at cooling, it's also loud, creating noticeable airflow noise and fan whine.
Do you have a question you need answered? E-mail me! lordkat@gmail.com
Click here to check out How to Build a Gaming Computer for Under $1000.
Be safe,
Jason