Customer Reviews

Cooler Master GeminII S - Processor cooler - ( Socket 754, Socket 940, Socket 775, Socket 939, Socket AM2, Socket 1366 ) - aluminum with copper base - 120 mm

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am kind of a CPU heatsink snob, and I tend to prefer the largest/quietest units I can get - but when I went with the Antec Skeleton case it limited by choices by quite a bit. At only 88mm tall (including the fan), this Cooler Master heatsink fit my requirements perfectly. Normally, I wouldn't have gone with a little unit like this - but I have been extremely impressed so far.

As far as compatability goes, this heatsink also works with the socket 1366 processors; even though it isn't specified in the info on Amazon. I'm using it with a Core I7 920 and it works perfectly - all the required parts for socket 1366 were included in the box.

One note on the installation is that you'll have to have the motherboard out when installing this heatsink. I'm not saying you need to pull it out just to install the backplate as with most other coolers - but you actually need to have the motherboard out when installing the heatsink itself; which seemed kind of awkward, but it wasn't very hard.

The first thing of note is that this is one of the quietest heatsinks I've used. I have other heatsink/fan combinations from Noctua, Nexus, and Zalman; and this is probably running quieter than any of those - even without adding a resistor to limit the fan speed! When I ordered this, I was planning on swapping out the fan with a 120mm Nexus, but it looks like I don't have to.

The cooling is also impressive. I run my main PC in extremely challenging conditions by keeping it locked up in a closed cabinet with only one 92mm intake fan and a 120mm exhaust fan that is venting into the garage. When you combine that with the summer heat in Texas, this is probably one of the most stressful conditions for a CPU heatsink. Even under full load, my Core I7 CPU has not gone above 160F (which may seem hot - but it's pretty impressive for the conditions).

Other reviewers have mentioned getting another type of thermal paste and I concur. Personally, I like the Arctic Silver 5.

Overall, I highly recommend this heatsink. Even if you don't specifically need a low profile unit, I think this is still a top choice.

Installation was not good. It did not go well. Screws were not long enough or strong enough. They did not hold the plate on the bottom of the Motherboard flush or secure. After I got better screws from an old heatsink it worked fine. The heat pipes on this heatsink are not copper through and through they are only copper plated. Which I find to be cheapie. Even on a cheap $400 laptop you get pure copper heat pipes. Nevertheless, it does the job. It cools my phenom II x4 B55 3.2 Ghz good. No heat problems.

I only gave this 4 stars because of the installation struggle I had with the post installation. Putting in on the mobo wasn't that bad at all (I had to take it out, but it was fine.) The problem I had (and might have could prevented) was putting the usb connecters and 4-pin connector on the board which were all underneath the fan.

It fits nice in My Lanbox Lite with just enough room between my fan and the PSU. I was originally gettting the Blue Orb II, but on the day my item was suppose to be delivered, I got an email from Amazon stating that the item was out of stock and they had to refund me.

Anyway, the fan looks, sounds, and cools ALOT better that the stock intel fan that I originally had there. I have a Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600. With Stock, temps were 44c idle, as high as mid 60s load. With this, 36 idle, 50 load. I call that improvement considering the noise difference.

Edit: After further use, I used the 2 60mm fans that are placced the the inside to the outside of the vents to suck out the heat that lingers in that area (most likely due to the heat coming off of the cpu and out of the PSU that is DIRECTLY above the CPU fan. The temperature is now around the same temperature as the stock, but MUCH quieter, especially with my fan controller.

This is a great cooler!

Pros:

> High quality (Copper Heat Pipes, Sturdy mounting, etc)
> Virtually Silent
> Cools my ram too!
> High compatibility! ( 775, 1156, 1366, AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 )
> Great Cooling capability for a good price.(My Intel Core i5-760 2.8GHz 8 MB LGA1156 Processor BX80605I5760 around 27c on idle and about 50c under load!)

Cons:

> Instructions aren't to clear.
> Requires that you remove the motherboard. Unless you have a removable motherboard tray, or a cpu cut out.


Also, this product comes with a small amount of Thermal Compound. It probably works well, but i would recommend that you use another brand such as Arctic Cooling MX-3 Super High Performance Non-Conductive Thermal Compound (4g) I use MX-3 because it is Non-Electricaly Conductive, so if you accidentally mess up, you don't risk shorting out your parts!

The Coolermaster GeminII is a slightly large heatsink fan combo. Installation went well for my mid-tower case (Coolermaster CM 690). The heatsink takes up a lot of room so RAM installation may be difficult for some motherboards. The only reason it lost a star is because the installation requires you to remove the motherboard entirely to replace the plate on the back (Socket 939/940 (AM2+))

After installation, the Fan/heatsink (I used one 120mm fan-replaced stock fan with Silenx Ixtrema Pro) did a great job of cooling my CPU compared to the stock fan/heatsink. On idle and low load the temp was decreased by about 5°c, on high load (Crysis Map Editor running windowed on high res. or GTA 4 with Athlon x2 2.8Ghz overclocked to 2.96Ghz) the temp was decreased by 10°c - 20°c! Since previously the temp was getting close to 58°c this is a big deal to me.

I am unable to comment on the ability to cool the motherboard and RAM because with my case and many fans there is no difference. The 120mm fan does overlap the heatsink so I would assume that with no other fans directed towards the motherboard it should make a difference.

Overall the GeminII could be better but for the price its a great deal.

I bought this CPU cooler because I got annoyed by the noise from the stock CPU fan/heatsink assembly that came with my AMD Phenom 9500. The stock CPU fan is 80mm (or so) and spins at 3000 RPM producing a bit of noise when the CPU is hot.

First impression of this heat sink:
1. High quality. Nicely packaged in a sturdy box, all the components look high quality and well made.
2. This CPU fan/heatsink is huge! Please note that your RAM must not be higher than 40mm from the motherboard for this to fit (on my motherboard, the RAM is right next to the CPU). Make sure you have room for this CPU cooler before buying.

Now for the installation:
1. There're instructions with diagrams for how to install the heatsink in like 12 languages, make sure you pay close attention to the instructions. I tried to put a screw in clockwise but turns out you need to put the screws in counter-clockwise. The text of the instructions doesn't say that, so you need to eyeball the diagrams to figure out.
2. the instructions doesn't say how much thermal paste to apply so be sure to go online and find out how to apply thermal paste properly.

Pros:
1. High quality
2. supports LGA 775 socket, AMD K8/AM2 socket
3. Quiet

Cons:
1. Big, make sure you have the clearance, at first it was touching my CPU air duct. Luckily for my case I could remove part of the air duct to make it shorter.
2. you have to remove the motherboard from the case to install. I suppose this is a non-issue if you're starting a new build, but for me I had to take my PC apart to pull the motherboard out.

Other thoughts:
1. If you're meticulous about cooling, the thermal paste that comes with the GeminII S probably won't be good enough, so be sure to pick up one.
2. The manufacturer could include some spare screws. In case you lose one of them you won't be able to install the CPU cooler.
3. I didn't compare the temperatures on my CPU before and after installing this CPU cooler, but the noise factor alone I think it's worth it.

NZXT Trinity case
gigabyte M55sli-s4
Corsair 750w
AMD 6400 dual core

I have a gigabyte m55sli-s4 main board and AMD 6400 dual core processor. I had to replace the motherboard sometime ago because the power rail failed. Apparently when I went to place the stock heat sink on the CPU the thermal probe which I normally run on the base of the heat sink next to the CPU managed to barely slide between the heat sink and the CPU leaving a small air gap on about 1/3 of the CPU surface area. Everything worked so I figured I was set.

Months later I started noticing temps were getting high to the point the system would hang. Rendering movies would drive temps beyond 170f and eventually would cause BSOD or freeze. I figured it was the CPU fan so I went to get a new fan and they were 20 bucks...The cooler master was about 30 bucks so I got that instead it was during the install of the cooler master that I noticed that the thermal probe was causing the problem.

I figured I would keep the cooler master and Im glad I did. Its totally quiet and temps stay 10f above ambient at idle (both cores at 85f right now) and during movie render temps never get above 110f at 100% load. (temps measured with CPUID HWMonitor) my system is not overclocked. The Gemin II fit fine in my old NZXT Trinity case with plenty of room to spare.

Im not sure whats going on with users who complain about it being hard to install. Perhaps their case is a total POS. Even with my dated trinity case it took about 10min to remove the mainboard and 5 to install the GeminII and another 10 min to put the whole thing back together and fire it up. (25 min total) It would be a 5min job with a case like the Corsair Obsidian. There was absolutely nothing difficult with the install. Although if one had tall RAM modules it would require possibly rotating the unit 180 degs...or it may not work depending on the layout.

The GeminII works much better than my stock AMD heatsink but the stock heat sink was adequate had I not made an idiot mistake during the install. The stock heat sink use to run around 122F to 130f @ 100% load as measured by the probe so actual core temps were higher. Now with the GeminII core temps as reported by CPUID HWMonitor never exceed 110f. The GeminII weighs about twice as much as the stock cooler. For its price its a very effective cooling system.

my only gripe is the instructions do lack a bit you'll probably benefit from watching one of several youtube GeminII S install videos.

This heat sink does an amazing job, and very quiet. The biggest drawback is mounting requires you to remove the motherboard, aince it screws in from underneath. However, it does an amazing job removing heat, as good as noisy Intel boxed solution. We have used it on Core i7, and Xeon CPUs with very good results. The shape is well designed to avoid hitting RAM and power supply heatsinks, but again, because it mounts from underneath, changing RAM may be difficult,although we have had no issues so far.

It looks awesome..but no parts were soldered (that I could See)..Funny I really have no complaints but cools worse than the factory fan..well it does spin at a less of rpm
Amazon was great on the replacement.. I felt i need to give it a second chance.. seems that none of the parts were soldered. spent 4-5hrs checking to make sure it was not my fault.. I will update
seemed to work better on the last install with just a plain ole radio shack 3 year old heat paste. 7C differences?? stock fan on Phenom II x6 1100t maxed at 68C on prime 95 ... I shut this off at 77C
I will wait.. for the replacement.. Running at under 70c with Shack Paste.. over Arctic Silver 5 and supplied paste.. ? this should not be... I don't want to give a bad review tell i'm sure .. I like Cooler Master I have 3 of there stacker cases .. Solid and Irreplaceable. I think a solid direct pipe contact construction may be better but i was concerned about space.. we will see

FOLLOW UP....... Works like a Charm.. Perfect Prime95 65C with artic 5 after a 1hr... old one had to turn off to heat.. installs easy... use a friend...
Only Comment would be better fan = more noise less temp.. might try that... http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Excalibur-120mm-Case/dp/B003AVMRPM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326265597&sr=8-1 peace..

This heatsink saved my PC build. Using the Intel stock heatsink, I was reaching temps of 84 degrees Celsius at full load! After installing this heatsink (and using Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste) I brought my full-load temps down to just 46 degrees Celsius!

It does take some work to install (you must remove the motherboard from your case to secure the back plate). However, it is worth the time, because you are left with a very secure, high-performance heatsink.

I was drawn to this heatsink, because it was used on Tom's Hardware for a microATX gaming build (which is the type of PC I was building). I has exceeded my expectations.