Good CPU heatsink with less weight

[Asus]

Anandtech review of Thermalright's Ultima-90 heatsink.
Its weight is a lot less than most tower heatsinks. 460 grams vs >700 grams. Plus it is not as tall so its weight is closer to the board.

Can use either 92 or 120mm fan. Performs within 1-3 degrees of the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme (best cooler) with the CPU they tested @ stock.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

why is weight necessarily bad? (I'm assuming they dont actually touch the cpu)

 

[Asus]

Well, it isn't recommended to have a tower heatsink if you move your PC a lot (LANs). Most PCs stand up vertically so the heatsink sticks out horizontal. The more weight a heatsink has away from the board the more it will pry against the socket. And heatsinks are getting bigger and bigger these days.

If you did move your PC around a lot and had a large tower heatsink I would imagine it would first just become not flush with the CPU. Wouldn't cool properly. But it could then also fall off in the box if the weight broke the mounts and crush other parts. Maybe rip the socket or scratch the CPU. But then again a lot of heatsinks screw into metal backplates.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Oh that sh17 isn't hampered down by nails or anything?! Ah I'm gonna be more careful when moving back into the dorm (although I have a stock heatsink).

 

[Asus]

There are screws on better heatsink mounts and not just clips. But they go through plastic. That is what cracks. I'm sure the stock heatsink is not very tall so not a lot of top-heavy pressure. But I have seen pics online when a PC box gets handled really ruff (like during a move to a new home in a moving van or something) and the CPU cooler broke off and played pinball in the PC box during the trip.

 

[function9]

Another small alternative to the big sinks is the "Mini Ninja".
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185046
Haven't seen any reviews yet but a couple people on SPCR's boards have it and say it's quite nice. Unfortunately it uses the same mounting scheme as the rev B Ninja.