CPU Cooler
When it came to choosing a CPU fan, there were only two real considerations:
- Quietness (obviously)
- Size (low profile)
In a low profile case, there isn’t much space to work with. Ultimately though, the choice came down to the Zalman CNPS 8700 (or one in that series) or the Scythe Shiruken. These are pretty much the only low-profile coolers I found to be worth considering.
After reading a few reviews, I decided to go with the Scythe Shuriken. I don’t know that it’s any better than the Zalman, but from what I’ve read it seems that Scythe are pretty much leading the field when it comes to silence and Zalman aren’t as strong as they used to be. Plus, I found that the Shuriken was cheaper and more available than the Zalmans.
As soon as I got the Shuriken and plugged it into my other PC’s fan controller straight away. It’s virtually inaudible until it spins at full speed. The heat-pipe technology is pretty hip, so I’m hoping it will perform well at low speeds. My CPU shouldn’t be maxing out anyway, as this machine won’t be used for games.
The mounting screws seem fairly innovative - it comes with every mount you could imagine! Looks quite easy to clamp the heatsink down, which is good because I hate the careful-yet-forceful approach one usually has to use.
The Shuriken has some fancy PWM controls, which the motherboard I’m getting does support, so we’ll see how that goes.
Here is a pretty good review of the Shuriken, with some nice photos and noise testing, if you want to take a closer look.