Just installed a Scythe Shuriken

[Video Head]

The boxed cooler of my Intel processor in my HTPC met a tragic end. I just installed one of the Scythe Shuriken's in the HTPC. If there is enough interest I will post details and pictures of the install and my experiences of the performance.

http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/cpu/034/scsk1000_detail.html

[budz]

What's your c2d cpu temps with that hsf? I just installed a Cooler Master Vortex for my Allendale c2d the temps are at 45c when doing video encoding, 32c with windows loaded. This Cooler Master Vortex is also a low profile hsf. But I'm not using it for a HTPC.

[KBeee]

How quiet are the Shuriken and CM Vortex?

[Video Head]

This went on a 478 2.66Ghz Celeron D. Temps for the Celeron have typically been higher than on the C2D, but it is in a very enclosed space. With the Scythe, the temps are averaging 34 idle and 38 load...about the same as the boxed cooler. It is much quieter...but I don't think I am even close to 10.5db, more like 18. I used Arctic Silver and may still see a slight improvement yet, but overall I am impressed with the 3 pipe cooler and will probably get one for the C2D as well just for the noise reduction.

[rallynavvie]

You can run passive cooling on a C2D unless you're overclocking it. You should even be able to run passive on a C2Q. Nothing is going to top passive cooling for a quiet HTPC.

I can never fit these monstrous things in my rigs, the sockets are too close together

[Video Head]

I looked at the Ninja Mini but would have had to take a hacksaw to the chassis That could have been a passive solution. The Blue Orb was another consideration but on a mATX board it looked like it would have clearance issues. The Shuriken is only 65mm high and has clearance at it's base, but it was still very tight getting it in the SFF HTPC. I may start playing with the 100mm fan to see how good the 3 pipe heatsink is at cooling.

[aedipuss]

i just installed one of these 8 heatpipe zerotherm hsf's on my quad 6600. temps stay in the 20s mostly and at 100% it only hits 32. normally the fan is under 1000rpm and dead silent. even at max 2500rpm is hardly noticeable.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835887002

the beast is huge though and weighs over a pound.

[budz]

How quiet are the Shuriken and CM Vortex?

The cooler master vortex is 18db very quiet compared to my antec 120mm case fans.

aedipuss: That zerotherm hsf looks easy to install. I see you had to bolt it to your mobo.

[aedipuss]

budz it really isn't too bad if you don't mind removing the motherboard to get at the back side to install the metal support bracket.....

[budz]

budz it really is too bad if you don't mind removing the motherboard to get at the back side to install the metal support bracket.....

I had to bolt the cooler master vortex hsf to my gigabyte motherboard which wasn't difficult at all. Cooler master includes a nut & washer combo to screw into the motherboard and also a socket to use to with a philips screwdriver to secure the nut.

[aedipuss]

budz - sounds a wee bit more user friendly than a here's the bracket and oh yeah, it goes under the motherboard

[budz]

It was easy since I had a new motherboard so I didn't have to remove it from the computer case.

[Video Head]

i just installed one of these 8 heatpipe zerotherm hsf's on my quad 6600. temps stay in the 20s mostly and at 100% it only hits 32. normally the fan is under 1000rpm and dead silent. even at max 2500rpm is hardly noticeable.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835887002

the beast is huge though and weighs over a pound.

That cooler is bigger than my case!

[KBeee]

How quiet are the Shuriken and CM Vortex?

The cooler master vortex is 18db very quiet compared to my antec 120mm case fans.

aedipuss: That zerotherm hsf looks easy to install. I see you had to bolt it to your mobo.

I think my living room clock ticks louder than that

[rallynavvie]

Be careful of some of those really heavy HSF solutions on certain boards, especially if you move your PC around occasionally (like for LAN parties). The weight and the arm of those tall HSFs can break sockets. I know when the Nocona Xeons came out with their 2 lb. copper heatsinks they actually made the boards with holes through the PCB and the ability to mount the heatsink to the motherboard tray as primary and only secondary to the socket so that most of the weight and stress was on the chassis or the hat-spring they mounted with.

Mag-lev fans are really great though. I updated my Swiftech heatsinks to mag-lev 80mm fans and it made perhaps a 30% reduction in noise, but drastically less noise at low speeds.