MSI Core Frozr L CPU Air Cooler, Dual Fans Support, AMD/Intel Socket, Nickel-Plated Copper Base Plate, 120mm MSI Torx Fan Included, Silver/Black

First Impression Comment Comparing against the "S" Variant ("L" model is item with silver heat pipes, and "S" model is copper-colored pipes). I ordered the "L" variant (large model), but it won't actually be installed in my build because it unfortunately doesn't fit in my Zalman S2 case (it's so tall, that it sits flush against my case's tempered glass side panel; which can risk damaging my motherboard and CPU if something hits the panel). I ordered the "S" variant (small model) the next day because the "S" model is 3mm shorter, but will be keeping this because it's SUPER NICE - will just keep it for when I upgrade my PC case. My pictures compare the "L" and "S" variants. First-hand, the "S" model just looks cheaper (if I hadn't known the prices, I would've guessed the "L" model costs $80, and the "S" model costing $45....to put it in reference). For the "L" model, the packaging was premium - how all the nuts and bolts were neatly packed in a Styrofoam box! The "S" has all bolts just in a ziploc bag. The metal fins on the "L" model is also coated in zinc - giving it a super lustrous dark-metallic shine (looks like those high-end aftermarket car radiators that people put in their muscle cars). For the "S" model, the aluminum is non-painted so everything looks dull as seen in my picture. The thing I wish they also did on the "L" model is the use of direct heat pipes like the "S" model as seen in my picture - direct heat-pipes should theoretically provide better heat transfer from CPU to heat-sink.....and cut down on the heat-sink's height. The "L" model is also ~30% heavier because it uses 8mm pipes vs 6mm pipes on the "S" model. The fins are also larger on the "L" model - adding to the heft. TDP spec's are all over the place, some sites says the "L" has a rated TDP of 200W, some say 140W. The rated TDP of the "S" is 120W, so based on volumetric and weight difference, my instinct says the "L" has a rated TDP of 140W. Based on that premise, to make up for the 20W variance (as I originally wanted to put the "L" in my build), I ordered another MSI Frozr 120mm fan to have it be a push/pull configuration - from my many hours of research, adding a 2nd fan to have it be a push/pull configuration adds 20-30W of effective TDP; so it should make up for that 20W TDP variance.Other Notes - "L" model has light-up badge and replaceable top-panel. The badge on my "L" model also looks different from the stock photos (it doesn't say "MSI Gaming" on the top). I actually prefer the badge on my "L" copy so it's a bonus.

I recently bought a really nice custom-built computer off Craigslist when the previous owner decided to upgrade. The specs included an Intel i7-6700, Gigabyte GTX 1080, and MSI Z170a Gaming Pro Carbon. The computer came in a gym-locker-sized full tower case that needed to go, and the CPU was cooled using a Corsair AIO cooler (I'm not sure which one...I'm not a big fan of AIO coolers).I don't know if it wasn't seated properly of if the thermal paste had dried up, but the cooler was doing a terrible job. The CPU idled around 50C and under moderate 4k gaming topped out around 90C. The previous owner had been running the build as-is for about 4 years, so maybe it was just dried up thermal paste.While in the process of transferring everything to a new case that would actually fit ...well...anywhere useful, I decided to get rid of the AIO. I bought this MSI cooler, having never used an MSI cooler before, but it looked cool and the TDP dwarfed my needs. I was shocked, SHOCKED I TELLS YA, at the difference I saw once in the new case. Granted, some of that could have been airflow through the case, but the old case should've flowed just fine. My new idle temps were between 25 and 30C, and under the same loads the CPU peaks around 60C! I now use that PC with my new Steam Index VR set and even hitting 100% on multiple cores during the process of a session the CPU never tops about 68C. Really impressed with this thing!Installation was simple and well thought-out (despite so/so directions that were 95% pictures). It came with a tube of thermal paste that I opted to use (in order to test it how MSI intended). The description actually states how tall a ram stick it'll clear which is EXTREMELY convenient, because that's usually an unknown. It cleared my non-LED Corsair Vengeance sticks without adjusting the fans up at all. Overall, really nice looking, VERY functional unit! Extremely happy with my purchase, and by far the best price found here.If you can fit it, buy it.