Hi I'm looking for recommendations for LGA775 compatible (non-liquid) coolers to OC my Q9650 towards 4GHz... any suggestions?

Noctua's NH-D14 is the best cooler on the market right now. It's a beast, but if you have room for it in your case it can't be beat. $85 for a 2-fan HSF isn't bad either. Newegg's got em.

My wife bought me a Corsair H50 for Christmas and I just installed it in my computer last weekend. It's a great, low cost, easy to install alternative to more advanced liquid cooling at the price of a good air cooler. Just $60 USD at BestBuy. And it takes up a lot less space.

Thanks for you're replies.I'm looking at coolers which feature 2 X 120mm fans in a push-pull config. How can I control two CPU fans in PWM mode if I have only one CPU fan header?

I just picked up one of those Corsair H50's for my secondary PC, it's a good 10 degrees cooler than the dual fan Xigmatek 1283 cooler it replaced, a decent HSF in its own right. Definitely worth the buy! I'm sure it would be out-performed by the NH-D14, but it's at least $25 cheaper and a whole lot less clutter around the CPU socket.

I just picked up one of those Corsair H50's for my secondary PC, it's a good 10 degrees cooler than the dual fan Xigmatek 1283 cooler it replaced, a decent HSF in its own right. Definitely worth the buy! I'm sure it would be out-performed by the NH-D14, but it's at least $25 cheaper and a whole lot less clutter around the CPU socket.

TecguyMaxC:I'm really happy with it! Surprised more people aren't using it. PS -- Did you see my final posts over on the other thread in the FS2004 forum -- about the 5870? If not, I think you should check it out -- ! :(

For you guy's using the Corsair H50, how did you deal with the reversed airflow in your case?

For me it was a non-issue. I did as recommended and reversed my fan flow so that now everything is blowing out the front -- no big deal. The way my room set up is, it's probably a bit better for my rig any way. On my FS9 machine, I immediately got temps 8 - 10 degrees c cooler than with my Thermaltake TK-1, which is about what I expected from a more expensive liquid cooler. I only wish there was a similar alternative for my video card, which just pumps out the heat like a blast furnace.Honestly, for the price of the H50 and the fact that you can get it at a brick and mortar store (like a BestBuy) instead of waiting for mail order, I just really can't beilieve more people that it's not getting more "ink".

TecguyMaxC:I'm really happy with it! Surprised more people aren't using it.

Me too! Although I'm not surprised a lot of people aren't using it, there's a lot of stigma that goes with water cooling, difficult install and potential upkeep among them, although these aren't a problem with the H50!

PS -- Did you see my final posts over on the other thread in the FS2004 forum -- about the 5870? If not, I think you should check it out -- ! :(

I see it now. Glad you got everything worked out. If I had known you were using a Rocketfish PSU I would've told you to replace it from the outset, regardless of its wattage rating.

For you guy's using the Corsair H50, how did you deal with the reversed airflow in your case?

Just like Trelane, it wasn't an issue for me. The case which I've installed the H50 in has the PSU mounted at the bottom, and an exhaust fan directly above the CPU socket.

Honestly, for the price of the H50 and the fact that you can get it at a brick and mortar store (like a BestBuy) instead of waiting for mail order, I just really can't beilieve more people that it's not getting more "ink".

That $60 Best Buy deal is outstanding.

I see it now. Glad you got everything worked out. If I had known you were using a Rocketfish PSU I would've told you to replace it from the outset, regardless of its wattage rating.

Oh, god no! I just bought it along with the BMG in the hopes it would work as well -- of course it didn't. It goes back today. No my original PSU is the one still listed in my specs below in my sig. but I'll soon be looking for a better alternative to the BMG, I think, and something probably a bit stronger --1100 to 1200 watts. The card is still acting a bit squirrely. Thanks again for your help over there!