Conclusion: Optimal Cooling Is Always A Compromise
After our extensive tests we can say: Right now you cannot find the perfect CPU cooler in the market. The model with the best cooling result, the Swiftech MC370-0A, has two flaws. One is the noise, the other the weight. But it really convinced us when we measured a temperature of only 35 degrees Celsius near the die. Swiftech does not meet the AMD specifications regarding weight so that it cannot be shipped in a PC system.
The no-name standard cooler taken from a discount PC does not prevent the heat from going up to 54 degrees! We do not have to mention that such a cooler cannot guarantee a lifelong operation of your CPU. Nonetheless, all coolers tested present better features than any other cooler bundled with a discount PC system.
Among the candidates we found several "traps". Those two seem to be very promising by their looks but the performance was just poor. Practically they do not meet our expectations regarding cooling. These models are Titan and Thermaltake. Also the big Kanie Hedgehog-238M with its massive body made of copper is nothing special compared to others.
In order to make the choice easier for you we would like to recommend two models: Swiftech MC370-0A presents the best cooling performance and should bring a lot of fun to overclocking freaks. The Global Win FOP32-I could convince us as well. This model meets the AMD specs with 220 grams and it shines with a good cooling performance.
Users who are looking for an easy installable cooler with well-balanced feature set should consider Elan Vital's FSCUG 3 . The only reason why this well-designed model with lamella-fins can't compete with the other models is its compact layout compared to the big size models of the top league.
