Features Comparison
While most of today’s cooler competitors already include the necessary LGA 1156 mounting hardware, two require additional components. Sunbeamtech’s accessory mounting brackets cost around $10, while Xigamtek’s $8 universal LGA adapter is expected to eventually replace the dual-compatibility part included in current samples.
| LGA 1156 CPU Cooler Features | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Height | Base Height | DIMM Intrusion | Number of Fans | Fan Size | PWM Control | LGA 1156 | LGA 1366 | LGA 775 | AM3 / AM2 | |
| Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro R2 | 131mm | 28mm | 12mm | One | 92mm | Yes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus | 160mm | 38mm | 6mm | One | 120mm | Yes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Noctua NH-D14 | 160mm | 46mm | 42mm* | Two | 120mm, 140mm | No | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scythe Mugen-2 Rev. B | 156mm | 41mm | 28mm | One | 120mm | Yes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer | 156mm | 38mm | 10mm | One | 120mm | No | x | x | ✓ | ✓ |
| Thermalright MUX-120 | 161mm | 47mm | 2mm | One | 120mm | No | ✓ | x | x | x |
| Thermaltake Frio | 162mm | 28mm | 11mm | Two | 120mm | No | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme | 156mm | 47mm | 9mm | One | 120mm | No | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xigmatek Thor's Hammer | 160mm | 44mm | 24mm | Two | 120mm | No | x | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Zalman CNPS10X Quiet | 160mm | 37mm | 8mm | One | 120mm | No | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Top height in the chart above refers to the amount of mounting space needed to install the cooler in a case. Base height refers to component clearance space under the bottom fins, a number required to determine whether large coolers will fit over various motherboard sinks. DIMM intrusion refers to how far the sink extends beyond the front edge of the 3.75”-wide silk-screened outline that surrounds most LGA 1156 sockets.
Notice that all of today’s coolers extend beyond the outline that surrounds the socket. Base height can also be used to determine maximum memory height for DIMMs that fall under the cooler’s front fan.
Noctua’s NH-D14 gets an asterisk following its DIMM intrusion number because this particular cooler has a center fan that can be used with or without the front fan. Removing the front fan lessens DIMM encroachment by 25mm, though it also reduces the performance of the heat sink.
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Is the Titan Fenrir unavailable in the US, or is it just ignored...
i have the mugen 2 coolin my q9400 @ 3,2 GHz at auto voltage. temps are ~40 idle, ~62 load, but watch out - its PASSIVE, honey ! no fans on it, its sheer size is taking all the heat away, although the case is HAF 932.
Sunbeam core contact freezer includes 1156 bracket? I've been trying to find those adapter for some time-even tried emailing Sunbeam's tech support.. and now it showed up in Tom's.. anyone have any links of online retailers selling em'??
Very useful article.
I use a Cooler Master Hyper TX3, which keeps my CoreI5 750 at 29-32 degrees C. It is not overclocked, but it certainly leaves a lot of room with temps that low.
great review...i have the freezer 7 pro(lga775) cooling my pentium D 915( oc to 3.2ghz) and it does a sterling job keeping the cpu,s idle temp at just 29°C...rising to 47°C(max)at full load..
i was looking at the corsair H50 however why fix it when its not broken....
that said i would choose the Scythe Mugen-2 if i had to replace the freezer 7 pro.....
good article !
Since I hear nothing but good things about the Titan Fenrir I am a little disappointed to not see it in this test...
why dont they have the prolimatech mega shadow in there?
i5 750 @ 3.6ghz @ 26 degrees in my pc best cooler available imo for 1156
Well, It's a very nice review. As we all knows that Noctua NH-D14 beats Prolimatech Megahalem by near about 2-4 degree C so may be that is why they have not included Megahalem in this test but overall a very nice review and from this review I have decided to buy Scythe Mugen 2 Revision B.
the freezer 7 looks neat with the white fan specially if you have the accellero xxx edition of inno3d graphic cards!
I have bought this one and are getting it tomorrow. Will be interesting to see the temp after installing Scythe mugen because now I have a some piece of shit to cooler and fan that keeps my 2,8 ghz processor at a 80 temp when full process and around 60~ in idle.. Plus it sounds like an airplane when the fan is on
So this will be interesting and appreciated with a new cooler. Nice review!
im not sure if I should get the hyper 212 plus or scythe mugen 2 rev b. the scythe costs me 50 euro and the hyper 212 plus just 30 euro. Is the scythe worth the almost double price? I am planning to overclock my i7 860 to 3.8ghz. And I am fine with cpu temperatures which are not above 70 C
great review, thanks. which PWM fan did you use to replace the thermalright one?
noctua is one best cooler
watch my noctua
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlillcv4W6w