Best cpu cooler for HTPC (Socket FM1)

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Best cpu cooler for HTPC (Socket FM1)

esawers

551 posts

Ultimate Geek

#98783 6-Mar-2012 11:37

Can anyone recommend an excellent CPU cooler for a HTPC.
We have just rebuilt it with an AMD A6 3500 cpu and included cpu fan, and it's the only fan thats making any noticable noise now.

Budget, definetly under $100, prefer under $50 but we want something super quiet

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#591166 6-Mar-2012 12:11

I got a Shuriken Scythe, took the fan off it and perched a full-size Antec 5" case fan on top of it. It's an underclocked CPU so doesn't run particularly hot anyway, and a case fan makes a lot less noise than a CPU fan. The original Scythe fan wasn't bad though noise-wise, and it's low-profile.

In my HTPC the noisiest component was the HDD.

@KnightNZ

esawers

551 posts

Ultimate Geek

#591211 6-Mar-2012 12:51

thanks!

looking at this one
http://www.techpowerup.com/158040/Scythe-Releases-the-BIG-Shuriken-2-Rev.-B-CPU-Cooler-with-LGA-2011-Support.html

but i see it needs low profile ram? thats the only website i see that mentions it though, do you think it would be a problem?

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#591228 6-Mar-2012 13:07

Most RAM is about the same height unless they've got finned heatsinks on them that stick up above the usual amount. As long as the heatsinks aren't higher than the PCB by more than 1-2mm then you should be fine.

@KnightNZ

silver565

170 posts

Master Geek

#592542 8-Mar-2012 21:12

+1 for the scythe. That or the gemini may be suitable for you

http://pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=FANCLM0204

redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek

#592553 8-Mar-2012 21:50

Have a read of this thread I created where I've recently built a HTPC with the Big Shuriken: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=84&topicid=98018

As the previous poster mentioned you don't have to have low profile RAM you just need to make sure you don't have massive fins on the heatsinks.

This was the RAM I used: http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=397866