Under $700 PC Build for Photographers

It may be cheaper for you to get a computer that is already made and customize it to your liking. Something like this: http://forums.slickdea​ls.net …read.php?thread​id=1020097

Moppie wrote in post #6694133
I am curious as to why so many people recomend an aftermarket CPU cooler?

Running the CPU stock, I have never, ever had a problem, and the one supplied with the Q6600 is quite substantial, with nice quite fan on it.

Agreed, if you're on a budget and not planning to OC etc there's really no reason to buy an after market cooler. Save money on that and get a little something extra for some other component that your friend will benefit more form. You can OC some on the stock cooler anyway if you really want, the stock intel coolers are fairly capable.

That's a bit do as I say not as I do because I do have a Noctua U12 on my CPU to keep it nice and cool and I'm not even OCing it at the moment (planned to, never got around to it).

One reason for the aftermarket cooler could be for noise. Stock coolers tend to be cheaply made and fairly noisy whereas most of the aftermarket coolers are better made and considerably quieter.

The Intel ones generally aren't too bad about noise. Usually GPU and Northbridge fans (for Mobos that have them) are worse.

Thanks everyone. I dropped the after market heat sink and ordered. Thanks for all the input.

If you buy an OEM CPU, you save around $10 (as opposed to getting retail), but it doesn't come with a CPU fan. That $10 you save can go towards an aftermarket CPU cooler that performs way better than the stock one. Currently the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 is $22 after rebate at Newegg, so essentially you are getting an excellent CPU cooler for only $12.