Scythe Kozuti Low Profile CPU Cooler for LGA 1366/1156/1155/775 and Socket AM3/AM2+/AM2 (SCKZT-1000)

Quick Glance: A quiet SFF low profile cooler with superior airflow.My normal "Pros and Cons" method isn't really apt for a "first impressions" on a piece of equipment like this, so have my personal anecdotes for why I chose it and how it performs in my build.I purchased it after I constructed a super-SFF PC based on an AMD A10 APU, and discovered that the stock cooler would not correctly fit inside of my tiny case. It also had to run very high fan speeds due to motherboard/RAM components blocking hunks of its discharge airflow. Under full load, the fan would reach near full speed just to keep my temps below 70C (yikes!).I've only had the Kozuti for a short time, but that short time has allowed me to finish my PC's assembly and dramatically improve its cooling ability. The relatively "open" design allows vastly improved airflow over the stock cooler, especially in that cramped machine. The top-radiator configuration looks neat when you look into the door of the PC. And the two most important parts:My fan RPMs fell, suggesting improved airflow and cooling, and IT FITS.It's able to keep my A10-7870K at reasonable temperatures, and although is a bit noisy at high power, I consider that an acceptable compromise, as it is still an improvement over stock. The cooler seems to have power to spare above 95w, even if Scythe recommends not going above 65w for a "silent" system. It also runs almost silently when NOT under load - my WD Black hard drive is noisier than the cooler fan at light (non gaming) loads!Intel users need not feel left out, the cooler includes mounting brackets to fit almost anything in the LGA- series sockets, and AMD users can depend on this for anything AM2 and newer. It includes simplistic graphical instructions, the cooler itself, mounting brackets, and a plastic sleeve with a dose of thermal compound - everything you need to get going! You will need to remove your motherboard, and AMD users will have to remove the stock mounting brackets. I recommend installing it during initial assembly. It does not use a back plate, but instead uses rubber pads behind the screws - the cooler is light enough to not require any more support than that. Dry-fit the cooler in your build before beginning assembly. You CAN orient it in more than one way, and AMD users may have to "rotate it" so that the heat pipes are lengthwise with the mounting adapter in order to comply with your motherboard's "no zone" for CPU coolers and not strike your RAM chips or VRM heat sinks.IF YOUR FAN FAILS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY:I've read several reviews that talk about the sleeve bearing fan failing prematurely. If yours begins failing outside of warranty, you can actually "repair" it, if you catch it early enough. These fans are fairly simple and actually serviceable.Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility if you ruin your fan, cooler, PC, or cause a fire by following these instructions either correctly or incorrectly. This ONLY works on SLEEVE type fans. Ball bearing, magnetic, and fluid type bearings are not user serviceable.You will need some kind of grease (I don't think they're picky) and fine-point pliers (Americans call them 'needle nose').First, undo the clips and gently remove the fan from beneath the radiator. You may need to partially disassemble your PC to get to it, depending on your build.Remove any stickers on the front hub of the fan, and carefully remove any circlip retainers on the fan shaft. Try not to break them, you'll need them later to put everything back together again.Pull the fan bladehub off the motor frame, careful not to break any blades. It should come off easily. If not, you may not have removed all the criclips.Clean the shaft of the fan hub.Apply your favorite brand of grease. I recommend dabbing it onto the motor shaft, then inserting some on either end of the motor hub on the sleeve bearings themselves.Reinsert the bladehub into the motor frame, reinstall the circlip(s), and put your sticker back on. Free-spin the fan to make sure it still runs smoothly.Reinstall the fan into the radiator's holder.Your fan will now be as smooth and silent as the day you got it. Source: I did this to the laptop I'm typing this review on now, it has been reliable for an est. two years. Don't lose or damage those circlips though. I had that happen to a video card that subsequently launched the blade hub out into the computer case during a gaming session, destroying the fan motor. I caught it before it cooked the video card though.

I installed this on a GIGABYTE GA-F2A88XN-WIFI FM2+ / FM2 board with an A10-5700 processor and 8GB of RAM pulled from an dead HP tower. The HP system had a special heatsink mount so I needed cooler that would work on the tight space of the MITX motherboard and Cooler Master Elite 110 case . After reading a fair amount around the internet the Kozuti looked like a solid choice for the 65w processor in my possession.My primary concerns included cooling capabilities, noise, and size and the Kozuti fit the bill. It installed easily and does an adequate job for this application. I did notice that standard height RAM would fit snug under the cooler and needed to be installed before the cooler when installed in RAM slot 2 on this board - I did not try turning the cooler around to see if this solved the problem and put the RAM in slot 1.Points with noting:- The HP power supply fan and 120MM case fan are louder than the fan on the Kozuti.- This cooler is VERY low profile with the fan mounted between the processor and cooling fins.- I am looking to remove the Scythe fan and mounting an 80mm Nocturna fan on the top of the cooling fins to see if this helps improve already solid cooling ability of this heatsink.- This is no Scythe Big Shuriken (which is a great low profile cooler that I have in another system) but I am impressed by this oneOver all I am happy with the purchase.

My dual socket LGA 1366 motherboard has a rear plate. The equipment included did not work for it. My first attempt caused me to bend the fins a little bit (not the fault of the HSF) and bend socket pins. If you are installing this into a 4u (I was putting these in an an Isilon NL400 to quiet it down by removing the stock jet engine fans) then:Grab the long screws which the instructions say to put through the rear of the motherboard. Place the thicker rubber washer near the head. Place it through the heat sink brackets that you have to screw onto the heat sink. Place the thinner rubber washer on the other side. Place on the socket and line the screws up the best you can. Hand tighten them until you can't tighten them anymore. This secured it rather well onto my X8DT6 motherboard (see picture). Don't forget thermal paste. Xeon 56xx will run hot. So far so good with this method. Again: the bent fins were my fault. I was aggressive when I pulled the motherboard out the second time because I bent socket pins and it wouldn't boot. Luckily I was able to bend the socket pins back into place and get it working again. DO NOT TAKE YOUR CPUs out if it is unnecessary! Keep them locked in place with the locking bracket on the board.Disclaimer: Worked for me, don't blame me if you break your system. :)

Quiet and keeps my cpu temperature down. used in the setup as described below.Motherboard: FM2A88X-ITX+Case: Antec Mini-ITX Case ISK110-VESAcpu: AMD A10-Series APU A10-7850K (95w)Cpu cooler: Scythe Kozuti Low Profile CPU Coolermemory: 8 gig low profile memoryhard drive: 240gb msata SSDadditional parts: 1) 120W Mini ITX Power Supply KIT PicoPSU (if cpu greater than 90w is needed) 2)StarTech.com LP4P4ADAP 6in LP4 to P4 Auxiliary Power Cable AdapterTemperature at full load: amazing 64 c At idle: 35cFull load at 64c in a pc case less then 3 inch high and 8 inches long (length is about size of mac mini) is simply an amazing feat for me and I have put together many pc's.The case will accomodate 2 x 2.5inch laptop hard drives and 1 msata ssd on motherboard. if you choose a cpu less than 90w, then you will not need the 120w mini ITX power supply kit, the case comes with a 90w kit also neater it is made for the case, with the 120w kit, the female power plug will hang out of the case - doesn't bother me though)If space is a constraint and you need a multi purpose, light gaming pc, and need more space for your legs beneath your desk, this is it. This pc setup run really fast, I am very happy.