Stock Proc cooler

[PTRMAN]

Is the stock cooler for Intel really so bad? I've got a Q6600 running stock and not OC'd (yet ) and haven't seen any problems. But there's a lot of chatter on various sites about "upgrading".

I won't consider it until I need it (if/when OC), but how much of this is just hype from companies trying to sell their stuff?

[PrOLifIC_onE]

It's fine if you aren't OCing but I would recommend an upgrade to a good 3rd party cooler if you plan on OCing, especially that Quad CPU.

[polobunny]

There's hype, but the Intel stock cooler does a very bad job at keeping this baby cool. It's not rare at idle to see 55C with these.

[screwballl]

I am using the stock cooler on the E2140 but only because it is a standard every day computer, no powerhouse apps or OC going on that system.

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by PTRMAN

Is the stock cooler for Intel really so bad?

'Bad' is the wrong word. Stock coolers are sufficient, just not proficient. Third party coolers, depending on the make/model, can potentially kick the cooling up several notches, allowing for better overclocks, and/or run much quieter than a stock cooler.

Barring the above goals (higher OCs, quieter computing), you're fine running the stock cooler. Otherwise, it'd be hard for Intel and AMD to offer 3-year warranties on their retail chips.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by One4yu2c

'Bad' is the wrong word. Stock coolers are sufficient, just not proficient. Third party coolers, depending on the make/model, can potentially kick the cooling up several notches, allowing for better overclocks, and/or run much quieter than a stock cooler.

Barring the above goals (higher OCs, quieter computing), you're fine running the stock cooler. Otherwise, it'd be hard for Intel and AMD to offer 3-year warranties on their retail chips.

I beg to differ.
Sufficient if you don't stress your CPU much AKA internet use. Load up a game for a few hours in a row (Crysis got quad support, why not use that!) in a normal midtower (nothing too crazily ventilated or completely shut) and pair it with a mid to high-end video card and you'll likely end up with over 65C temps in a matter of minutes. Besides, the heatsink becomes boiling very quickly and stays boiling for a while even after reducing load. While the Q6600 can reach 70C without dying on you, I'm not exactly sure those temps are beneficial to it.

[One4yu2c]

Stress or don't stress (at stock speed/volts), gaming or internet use, a third party cooler is not a necessity in a "normal midtower". Obviously temps will go down with a higher end cooler, but you can play Crysis and other games on the stock cooler without fear the proc will up and die, provided there aren't any serious airflow problems occurring.

[azianai]

My brother's using a stock cooler on his stock Q6600, hasn't had an issue with it yet. Temps hover around 50-55 when he's on WoW.

[Capper]

I'd add that Dell and every other generic builder use stock cooling, and arguably have the worst case setups in the world.......and its rare to see a processor die from overheating.

I recommend upgrading the cooling if at all possible, but won't go as far as to say that the stock cooling is insufficient for a stock system.

[azianai]

actually, the Dell's our office got and what i've seen, don't even use the stock cooling. They use an OEM sink on the processor and have a cover over the sink to use the rear exhaust fan to remove the heat.