Searching for top affordable cooling solutions for my old i5 2500k.
Searching for top affordable cooling solutions for my old i5 2500k.
Hello everyone. It's time to replace the i5 2500k with a new CPU cooler. I'm seeking recommendations for budget-friendly options around 30-45€. I've considered the Thermalright Macho HR-02 (43€), but realized my case is slightly smaller than its height. The Macho model is taller at 162mm. Now I'm uncertain which cooler would suit my setup best. Other models that caught my eye are:
- Scythe Mugen 4 (38€),
- CM Hyper 212X (31€),
- CM Hyper 212 EVO (32€),
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 2 (38€).
Which one should I choose and why?
Additionally, regarding another matter, I plan to purchase a new VGA card paired with a CPU cooler to reduce shipping costs. I'm considering Sapphire Nitro+ rx 470 4GB (222€), Sapphire Nitro+ 480 4GB (248€) or Palit GTX 1060 6GB (277€). Since I'm still on 1680x1050 resolution and don't need long-term protection, I won't worry about future-proofing. My budget is around 290€, so buying the 1060 6GB would leave no room for a cooler. What are your thoughts? Thanks!
I got a Scythe Mugen 4 and cooled both, a Phantom II x4 955 and now an i7-6700k with it.
it's a nice cooler but makes the 1st RAM Slot unusable. so if you use 4 RAM slots, that's a problem.
it's quiet under load, but there is some (low) noise when idleing.
the bequiet & CM only has 4 heatpipes. it will be enough though. both are fine
also to be taken into consideration is the Cryorig H7/H5 both can convince in tests.
personally, the CM & BeQuiet are both good coolers, the Scythe is one class above but it is a bit big so better check if you can fit anything perfectly.
I got a Scythe Mugen 4 and cooled both, a Phantom II x4 955 and now an i7-6700k with it.
it's a nice cooler but makes the 1st RAM Slot unusable. so if you use 4 RAM slots, that's a problem.
it's quiet under load, but there is some (low) noise when idleing.
the bequiet & CM only has 4 heatpipes. it will be enough though. both are fine
also to be taken into consideration is the Cryorig H7/H5 both can convince in tests.
personally, the CM & BeQuiet are both good coolers, the Scythe is one class above but it is a bit big so better check if you can fit anything perfectly.
Isokolon :
I own a Scythe Mugen 4 with both coolers, a Phantom II x4 955 and now an i7-6700k.
It’s a decent cooler but it blocks the first RAM slot, so using four slots is tricky.
Under load it runs quietly, though there’s some low noise when idle.
The bequiet & CM only have four heatpipes, which should be sufficient. Both units are fine.
Also worth noting is that the Cryorig H7/H5 both perform well in tests.
Personally, the CM and BeQuiet are solid choices, the Scythe is top-notch but a bit bulky—check if you can fit anything perfectly.
Thanks for your help. Unfortunately, the Cryorig H7/H5 aren’t available here. One thing to consider: if you plan to use all four slots in the future, how can you check if others will fit without blocking the first one?
I have a Scythe Mugen 4, both cooled, a Phantom II x4 955, and now an i7-6700k.
It’s a decent cooler but it blocks the first RAM slot, so using four slots is problematic.
It runs quietly under load, though there’s some noise when idling.
The bequiet & CM only have four heatpipes, which should be sufficient. Both units are fine.
Also worth noting is that the Cryorig H7/H5 both performed well in tests.
Personally, the CM and BeQuiet are solid choices, the Scythe is a bit better but larger—check if you can fit anything perfectly.
Thanks for the help. Unfortunately, the Cryorig H7/H5 aren’t available here.
One thing to consider: when planning to use all four slots in the future, how can you check if others will fit without blocking the first slot? You’ll need to look at the dimensions.
I own a GA Z170 Gaming 7; the cooler doesn’t block the space, but the fan does. It’s 88+25mm, which seems too much for my board with Ripjaws V.
I should review the specs and do some calculations.