ARCTIC Alpine 64 Pro Rev. 2 CPU Cooler - AMD, Supports Multiple Sockets 92mm PWM Fan at 23dBA

Pros: Cheap

Nice looking on paper

Cons: Poor quality clasp system.

On a gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 motherboard for a AM3+ cpu. Does not work.

The clasps are a stupid screwdriver system, which if you have to 'unscrew' the screw to get the clasp to have some wiggle room to play with and get around the hooks, unfortunantly it's built so you don't know how much is too much, and the clasp will bloody well fall out of the screwhole if you do one too many rotations (which you will).

You can get it on one clasp but not the other, after abusing my board and trying and trying, I was unable to seat it on an AM3+ board, when I finaly gave up, I found it had managed to damage my processor.

I'm sure it's a nice fan, but such poor quality control on the clasps means it won't install well.

If you're thinking of paying a little more to get out of stock and get this for an AM3+, I would recommend against it, my processor bent for this review, either spend big bucks or just stay with stock.

It's not worth it.

Pros: looks good and does the job. havent stressed it but keeps my phenom II running cool.

Cons: not really a con to me but this is my second one as the part where screw screws in on one of the brackets broke with heatsink halfway in but cant complain the heatsink has been solid for me and for $20 it lasted the last 3 years better than i thought for that price

Pros: Easily installed after backing off screws as expected. Handles 90 watt CPU fine.

Cons: Slight high pitch whine if you are listening for it, computer under load (Newer game).

Other Thoughts: It is variable speed on this mobo. Normal load, no whine. Good price for a substitute default cooler instead of AMD. My other AMDs don't whine though, threw the load changes.

Pros: This cooler does its job and is not particularly noisy.

Cons: Flimsy plastic around the outside - part of mine broke while I was installing it.

Other Thoughts: Read the instructions (who thought you would need to for a simple HSF?) The clips loosen to make it easier to secure to the mobo - I did not realize this and had to put a lot of effort to get them to clip on out of the box.

Pros: It looks good, works a little better than stock.

Cons: it sits very close to the ram. don't try overclocking fx procs with this. pita to install. I knew all this before i bought it.

Other Thoughts: after reading all the reviews, i got this and some arctic silver to help solve the overheating problem reported. the paste that comes on it isnt enough. I have a fx 8120 and it keeps it cool enough for me since im not over clocking.

to help install this, unscrew the clamps on the side until they alomst come off and then push the screw flush with the radiator. after placing it on the cpu just tighten the screws.

Pros: ALL you can want. It is quiet, and cools. when it is idle sometimes it goes to 0 rpm because it is so cool. I have a Athlon || x4 640 and even on load it don't get all that hot.

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: Recommended to all

Pros: Works well at stock speed and voltage on my AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE @ 2.8 GHz. Temps at idle stay around 23°C and up to 45°C under load.

Cons: Gets too warm for my liking if you try to OC. With 4 cores enabled, and a clock speed of 3.0 GHz, temps were over 65°C.

Other Thoughts: Great replacement for a stock cooler.

Pros: My Phenom ii x4 975 was idling around 45-46C on the stock cooler. With this aftermarket heatsink I get around 35 on idle and 58 on full load. Huge difference. Probably wouldn't use this to overclock but I don't overclock anyways and for the price it can't be beat. Installation was pretty straightforward. Just loosen the screws and latch on and then tighten back up.

Cons: None that can really think of.

Other Thoughts: Probably would pay an extra $15-$20 for a decent heatsink if you plan on doing some overclocking. If your looking just to replace the stock without overclocking, this is perfect.

Pros: Bought to replace the stocker on my Phenom 2 x4 965, it sucked! Consistent temps over 60 plus... The fan, the only good thing here.

Cons: If you run a phenom series, do not think this is an upgrade! Kept the fan, glued it to bottom of case at an angle, put the stocker back in, never hit 55!

Other Thoughts: Asrock 770i cafe
Phenom 965 @ 3.8ghz
8gb ballistix sport ram
600w psu
EVGA GTS 450
WD blue 500gb hd

Pros: +Cheap.
+Better than stock.
+Quiet.
+Looks nice.
+MX-2 paste pre-applied. (Good stuff)

Cons: -Only a bit better than stock.
-Heatsink hovers about 1mm above my ram. (Kind of expected this... small Mobo.)
-Was a PITA to install, but also expected this.

Other Thoughts: I really don't suggest OCing FX CPUs with this. Handles OC'd Athlons just fine though.