Hi

I'm currently running my i5 2500k at the default 3.3ghz clock speed but I'm considering trying to overclock it, and I am a little lost as to what cooling option to choose. Most threads on the topic in overclocking forums I've found mention water cooling systems and very large and pricy fans, then again the guys were OC'ing their CPUs to ground breaking clock speeds. 4.0Ghz should be plenty enough for my purposes though.

Does anyone have any advice ? I understand OCing is really trial and error, but there must be some ground rules. Any good guides out there on what to take into account and how to calculate cooling requirements for each CPU/speed setting ?

I'm a complete noob on the subject, but the new user-friendly ASUS BIOS and the reading I've been doing make it look within my reach now.

Cheers

Nico

The best place for reviews is Frosty Tech

They have recommendations for the quietest and the coolest. The coolest is

http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2521

you can go to 4.3ghz easy with the stock kooler...check this site below, they tell you everything about how to overclock the 2500k. it has loads of info in the intel section...

http://www.overclock.net/

Noctua NH-D14. You won't look back.

I have a Thermalright Archon. Keeps the temps below 70°C when stressing the CPU with Prime. And is very quiet due to it`s 140mm fan. I have 2 more 140mm case fans though (plus one in the PS).

I'm going to echo Jokerjinx.

I've had a i5 2500k on a P8P67 pro OC'd to 4.3 with the stock cooler for a few weeks now. No problems. Just after a gaming period the Asus Util gives a temp of between 46 and 48 celsius which is perfectly fine. I have a decent case (CM690) and 3 case fans fromt intake, side and rear exhaust so perhaps that helps (on the other hand I've got a AMD6970 as well.

Since you're just looking for an OC to 4.0 I really don't see the point of getting an aftermarket cooler based on my experience gaming @ 4.3 GHz.

All good suggestions above.

Try the stock cooler. If that doesn't do the job, buy an after market cooler. There are a few that are very close in performance. So, it comes down to price -- which varies with sales.

A couple more to consider. Both are highly rated in test reports. I own and have tested both -- they are within a degree or two of each other.

After my testing, I concluded it comes down to the fan you use for maximum cooling. But, maximum will be noisy and only a few to several degrees cooler than quiet fans.


HOLY HEATSINK BATMAN!!!

In checking just now, I found the nearly "unbeatable" Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus (one that I own and was going to recommend) is only $24.99 with free shipping today. It has been selling for $50 lately. I got mine for $30 last November and then the price went up and up as more folks caught on to its value. Well now its less than what I paid. So, I'm buying another one

Coolermaster Hyper 212

Notice over 1500 user comments and 5 egg rating. Notice its for Sandy Bridge (works fine with my AMD). This being so cheap I won't mention the other heatsink I have which would be over $70 normally


WHOOPS, I just noted -- you may be posting from "out of town". Well, maybe there is a similar sale in Europe.

I also have the Coolermaster Hyper 212 plus paired with the i2500k. The real beauty of it is the performance bang for buck as it's one of the cheapest money can buy (£23) and also that you can attach 2 fans to it for a push/pull effect. The fans spin slow by default whilst also pushing a huge amount of air through the heatsink fins.

When you use the Asus overclocking, it automatically increases the speed of the CPU fan whilst monitoring temps. You can't really go wrong with it....I've tested the Hyper 212 Plus from stock CPU speeds (3.3Ghz) to 4.6Ghz without a whimper or danger of the CPU going anywhere near the threshold.

If you're going all out for an air oc'ing, go with the Noctua NH-D14 and a Yate Loon fan(s).

For 4ghz oc, the CM Hyper 212+ is awfully hard to be for "best bang for the buck".

I picked up my Hyper 212+ at Micro Center a year ago when it was on sale for $19.00!!! At today's pricing, $24.99 is pretty darn good. The fan on the 212+ is also pretty good, imho.

plug_nickel

for those who have switched from the Stock cooler to tower style cooler.
What kind of change did you see on mobo\VRM temps? On some tower coolers VRM and NB temps will rise due to reduced airflow.