Best HSF for under 30$

[ElvishArcher]

The AMD supplied HSF doesnt cut for overclocking! Whats the best HSF for under 30$ and where do I get it?

[Element-Xero]

Hey I had to dig up this URL but this is for an SK-6 with Delta Fan. It's an all-copper heatsink that scored among the top ranked heatsinks on the heatsink roundup on the front page(http://www.overclockers.com/articles373/). Its a little loud, but it's easily one of the best aircoolers out there.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=62&manufactory=1444

[RandyM]

I've been doing homework and lurking re overclocking for a few months, and just o/c'd my new Athlon 1 Ghz to 1.2 Ghz. This range of speed is close to yours, and I'm very happy with with what I did on the "cheap".

At CompUSA (you guys are in UK [or Australia?] Is there a CompUSA or equivalent there?) for $15 US they sell an "Antec" hs and fan combo. (NOT Vantec). I looked at this thing from an engineer's standpoint and thought it was worth a try, so I bought it.

I've recorded some CPU temp numbers I've shown below. (I think these are good quality values, as I've added 6 deg C to what my Abit Mboard sensor is saying - based on an AMD document - and I have silver compound on the varistor so it contacts the CPU case as well as possible):

CPU idle temp: 1.0 GHz, 1.8 Vcore - 47 deg C
1.2 GHz, 1.9 Vcore - 52 deg
CPU heavy load temp: 1.0, 1.8, 55 deg
1.2, 1.9, 65 deg

I used "CPUBurn" for the high load test. Since I stay mostly at 55 C, and my cpu is rated for 90 C die temp (although I'd never run it at close to that temp), I'm satisfied with my $15 solution.

Other notes:

1) I've never replaced the side panel of my case to see what that will do. That will add a few degrees if I ever decide to put it back.
2) I have always installed a separate fan to blow on the cpu and mboard in addition to any cpu fan. Even in the 486 days I did this. I have not disabled this fan to see what effect it has. I suspect very little effect, especially with an open case.
3) I found I could run the Vcore at 1.6 until I got above 1133 MHz, then I had to boost it to 1.9 to get to 1200. I'm not going to try anything higher than this. 1.85 Vcore is the rating for my cpu.
4) My "Model 4" Athlon is rated at a die temperature of 90 C. Your Duron is probably rated at 70 C.
5) Boosting Vcore added a lot of temp increase to my cpu, but boosting MHz didn't.
6) I saw only a 2 C increase in Mboard temp for this o/c exercise.

A long post, but I wanted to get all this written down anyway.

[FrankMasterFlash]

There is the Alpha 8045. Heatsink alone is under 30. See if u can spring for a few more bucks for the ys tech 48.5cfm fan so u can keep the alpha cool...its one rockin HSF for its price here. (http://www.svcompucycle.com/alpalheaton.html) :D

[ElvishArcher]

I was considering the Sk6, now I think I will go with it.

[ken257]

I would highly recomend the Alpha 8045 mentioned above. It is one of the greatest cooling deals going and will give you much more bang for your cooling buck then anything else around.

[Malakai]

go for it man, those temps suck!:)
if u want a quieter solution, the millenium glaciator 2 is great www. millenium-thermal.com

[Hoot]

I just posted this not long ago.

Hoots best bang-for-buck recommendation. Get a Dynatron DY1206BH-625 from SVC. You can order it with whatever fan you want. Performance is obviously better with a better fan. Base price with a mid-to-low performance fan is $14.95. If you put a Delta 38cfm (add $5.00) on it really performs. I have it running right next to me on my "Hootary Public" HSF test bed. Right now it is running an XP1800 at 12x145 (1740 Mhz) @ 2.00 Vcore and with the air temp at 21C, the core temperature, measured at the internal thermal diode, is 43C. In case you dont want to do the math, that's 98Watts! A differential of 22C for 98W is .23c/w. I can't say enough about this HSF than that.

http://www.svcompucycle.com/dyndy1builyo.html

Hoot

[Yodums]

I like the Millennium Glaciator II its performance is very good for its price and its very quiet (39dBA).

Yodums

[William]

Glac 2 is incredible, and the Glac2 light is IMO even more amazing but not quite as good. Dynatron's like Hoot said are very good too.

[HBK216]

oh

[YoungstaxGx]

what about swiftech's MCXC-370

[RandyM]

Wow, Hoot, those are good temps for a $15-20 HSF. The 60 mm fan that came with the Antec is only 25 cfm, and is pretty quiet, but I spoiled that when I put a 4" fan right over the hsf assembly for extra measure.

I wonder if that Dynatron DY1206BH-625 is designed very different from this Antec. Like I said, I like the engineering on this one, considering how cheap it is. It looks like a standard heat sink, but it has a lot more fins (80), for 150 sq in total surface area. It's all 1 piece. Only disadvantage is those resulting narrow gaps could fill up with dust over time!

Regardless, I'm sure I won't be able to resist building a water block soon.