Got a narrow case. Need short heatsink

[Koolpc]

I have a narrow case that won't take my old 160mm heatsink. It protrudes by approx 1.5".

I would like to utilise my 120mm fan so what would you recommend? I have searched and looked around but can't decide.

Thought maybe a Top Down cooler but read reviews and searched on here but still unsure. Budget is not an issue.

[Fire-Flare]

How much clearance is there for a cooler? The product page or manual should say.

[SebRad]

Hi, what CPU are you trying to cool?
From your description I'm guess you have ~125mm of height to play with. Many of the biggest top down coolers are still pretty tall and then need to allow for air clearance above the fan.
The Noctua C14 recently reviewed is probably a good choice, but very expensive at ~£68 Rather more budget friendly and fine for low/mid range CPUs would be Xigmatec HDT9xx or Coolermaster Hypter TX3 at ~£15.

I have similar height restriction in my case and when looking 3~4 years ago first tried a Zalman 9500 which wasn't bad and then moved to a Zerotherm Butterfly that's slightly more effective. I think Ninja Mini would also be great choice.

Regards, Seb

[Modo]

A top-down cooler is the best thing for you. Noctua and Thermalright both have heatsinks of this type efficient enough to quietly cool any CPU. Take look at the AXP-140 RT, and the recently reviewed NH-C14. They should both deliver performance close to--if not better than--that of the top tower heatsinks, plus they provide much better VRM and chipset cooling.

[Koolpc]

Scythe Shuriken BIG

Or

Thermalright SI-128

Have the option of getting either.

[Modo]

I'd go for the Shuriken due to its low height. The SI-128 + fan is actually pretty tall. I put it in an Antec NSK-2480, and it had to remain fanless.

[Fire-Flare]

Shuriken hands down.

I have one and it beats the Thermalright because it has fins on top of the base, the fan clips will work with a standard width fan, plus you get a quiet 12mm PWM fan for additional cooling down the road.

[Koolpc]

Cheers guys

[Koolpc]

Bought and fitted the Scythe Shuriken BIG Awesome is the only word. A doddle to fit (Had to take mobo out of case but that was easy). Lovely size to it. Very quiet when smart enabled. Beauty of it is it takes 120mm fans!! Means i can change mine if need be, anytime.