EVERCOOL HPK-10025EA 100mm EL long life bearing (Life Expectancy at 25°C 50000HR) Intel Core i7 Heat Pipe CPU Cooler

Pros: Low profile; would fit in a Lian Li PC-Q08 easily. Also, the fan can be replaced with a different 100MM model if desired (e.g. an even thinner one). Solidly built. PWM fan.

Cons: This will NOT fit socket 1155 (or 1156). Their similar model apparently will, so I got this one when I read "EL long life bearing." Oops. The i7 it will cool has to be on S1366.

Other Thoughts: The mounting brackets come off, so I'm going to try to contact Evercool and see if they have another set for S1155, because I'd really like to use this.
Though my selection of this product is my doing, I figure a 3-egg rating is fair because the similar model (without the long life bearing) specifically mentions the i5-750, which is S1156 (S1155 is the same). That one would have fit, so why not this one?

Pros: Better than stock cooling. Very good for bringing i7 temps down by 5-15c. If you aren't adding any voltage it may be efficient enough for a small OC. Not much bigger than intels stock cooler.

Cons: I dont like the thermal compound included, never have been a fan of ceramic. I bought some NT-H1 to go along with it. Didnt test it so it may actually be good stuff. The heatpipes on the bottom arent flush with the metal so it leaves some gaps. There was a slight roughness to the metal but it doesnt really lay against your cpu, just the pipes. I used the spread method for more efficient coverage (even though most people will scream when you spread NT-H1). The ring around the fan overlaps my ram so you may want to check dimensions before you buy if you have tall heatspreaders.

Other Thoughts: I though it was bigger from what people were saying but I was able to fit it on my Flaming Blade with plenty of clearance. The plastic ring around the fan does slightly overlap my memory heat spreader (GSkill Ripjaws) but high enough to slip it in and out. Its a good cooler if youre looking to slightly bring your temps down or need a replacement stock cooler but don't have alot of overhead space. I wouldnt do any serious overclocking with it though. I gave it 5 eggs because for the price it's amazing.

Pros: Compared to stock HS&F, it keeps the CPU much cooler. The fan volume is about the same, but at a deeper tone that is a little less annoying. Because it's attached with screws from the other side of the motherboard, the cooler can't be jostled loose.

Cons: Louder than any other after market cooler I have used. Because it's low and wide, I had to slightly bend the passive heatsink on the northbridge to make it fit. You have to get to the back of the motherboard to install.

Other Thoughts: The stock HS&F on a Core 2 Duo I was donating to a charity wasn't making good contact with the CPU anymore and the temp was going up to 80C, just at idle. After installing the HPK-1125EA, the CPU temp stays under 20C. I hope they can put it under a desk or something to keep the volume down.

Pros: * Quiet fan.

Cons: * Attachment via screws from back of motherboard, MUST have board out for initial installation AND subsequent removal.
* Short/Wide design - In 2 directions, the heat pipes rested on the voltage regulators of the Asus P5G41T-M motherboards I was using before they turned upwards toward the fins, completely preventing the cooler from resting flat on the CPU heat spreader (approx 5mm gap at one end). In the other two directions, the fins of the sink prevented installation due to hitting the northbridge heat sink or memory modules.

Other Thoughts: The voltage regulator interference issue should have been a known problem prior to shipping the product. Stock intel coolers have reliefs cut into them around the base for a reason.

By some miracle, no hardware was harmed in the making of this review.

Pros: Cools well, good price

Cons: Louder than I expected. Narrow range of RPMs.

Other Thoughts: After reading the reviews, I bought this for my new build - i7 950 3.06, Asus Sabretooth mobo in an Antec Nine Hundred Two case. It works well (and fits), however, the fan is the loudest in the box, and that includes the 4 built-in fans in the case. It's also not adjustable (as far as I can tell), it basically has two or three speeds, and even the "idle" speed is pretty loud. I wouldn't mind so much if all I did was gaming - with my headphones on, it's fine. But if I'm editing video or recording music, then the noise is not only distracting, but actually a problem.
Going to replace it with one that is specifically designed to be quiet, and allows more control over the speed of the fan.

Pros: This heatsink's fan is quieter than my case fans moving air through my full size tower. Installation was less than 5 minutes. I am running an Intel 2.80 Ghz overclocked at 3.4 Ghz with no problem and the heat handling was great it only reached 42C on over clocking. Best heatsink yet I have purchsed. I do alot of gaming on this system and even then it only seen it max out at 48C.

Cons: Non that I was able to find.

Other Thoughts: I would recommend this to my friends.

Pros: my stock i7-920 (1366) was running at 54* idle temperature on stock cooling until i had it suddenly pop out of place during a long trip. So i got this one because it has a back bracket which is attached via screws, thus impossible to pop out during traveling (on which i frequently take with me). I was pleased as my idle temperature dropped to between 41-43* (difference of 11 to 13 degrees) and now it can never accidentally pop off.

Cons: Installation, as other people have said may be a problem, and its somewhat difficult to know just exactly how it will fit in your system until you take a look. Also i was forced to take my motherboard out entirely in order to attach the back bracket, as i had no other access. But one good thing is that you can rotate it any direction to best suit your layout. Mine has the heat-pipes side pointing toward the north bridge and doesnt block access to anything.

Other Thoughts: I am pleased overall. Also note that the way this heatsink is designed, its possible to easily remove the fan it comes with and install one with a much higher CFM rating for increased cooling performance.

Pros: Moves a lot of air. Pretty darned quiet.

Cons: Huge. Partially blocks the slot for my sound card on my Asus Z8PE-D12 motherboard.
Included screws don't actually reach all the way through the motherboard into the heatsink. When sc*ewed (The dumb newegg content filter won't let me use that word) in tightly, they actually came flush with the other side of the motherboard and wouldn't screw into the heatsink. Spent a n hour digging through my huge 'screw jug' and found some hex screws from an old Western Digital HD that did actually fit.

Other Thoughts: My plan is to buy a second CPU for this motherboard. When I do, I'll move this heatsink over to the second CPU where there is more room (it won't block other components) and purchase a different heatsink for the first CPU.

Pros: Relatively inexpensive.

Cons: Installed this in a PC I built over the weekend, with a core i7 930 and an ASRock X58 Extreme mobo. Temperature is consistently at 47-49. While I hate to review this poorly not knowing whether something I did incorrectly is adversely affecting the performance, this thing does you no favors in making sure you do it right. As was noted in a previous review, the installation is a clumsy affair and requires the positioning of adhesive washers and four brass posts to screw into.

Other Thoughts: NewEgg did an amazing job of getting this out in time to have it to me before the holiday weekend.

Pros: Heatpipes make direct contact with CPU package. Fan is quiet. Unit is not too large or heavy. Fan blows towards motherboard providing secondary cooling for motherboard components.

Cons: Have to remove motherboard for installation.

Other Thoughts: I used mine with a Gigabyte EP43-UD3L motherboard in an old Antec SuperLanBoy case. It will only really fit one way and you have to remount the fan on the sink shifted slightly towards the front of the case or it won't clear the rear case fan.