23 replies to this topic

[Bishop Steiner]

Which would YOU reccomend, and why?

Is there a unit you woul drecommend OVER these (in a similar price point)?
http://www.microcent...duct_id=0391502
http://www.microcent...duct_id=0361180
KUHLER H2O 620 Water Cooling System

Which 120mm case fans give the best performance, for the least noise?


And.... go!

[DV McKenna]

If you can stretch the extra $10 get the Corsair H80 http://www.microcent...duct_id=0391503
really happy with mine, keeps my overclocked Bulldozer at mid 30's under load.

If you get the H80 or H60 the stock Corsair fans are really really noisy and you should replace them, i grabbed 2x http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835608026.

Much quieter (these on the high setting for the H80 are about as equal in noise as the standard Corsair ones on Low) and push through more air.

Edited by DV McKenna, 12 August 2012 - 12:48 AM.

[CCC Dober]

This one might help.

As for CFM/noise: Gentle Typhoon

[Benfro89]

I would say go for the H80 and some http://www.frozencpu...w_Red_LEDs.html fans these are great fans they push a bunch of air thier quite and they look cool what more could you want

[Gremlich Johns]

Arctic cooling has some great case fans

the 120mm F12 outputs 51 CFM / 86.6 m³/h at 0.5 sone (24 dBA), min/max RPM 400/1300

Zalman has some 120mm case fans as well: min/max RPM 1,000/1,500 @ 18-23 dBA, page does not indicate capacity.

That aerocool shark pushes over 80 CFM @26.5 dBA, so it is a little more noisy.

here is a link to a page with conversion charts for phon, sone and dBA

[Odins Fist]

I have seen the H-80 Corsair work just fine putting a Phenom II Thuban chip up from 3.4GHZ to 4.2 without issues..

[silentD11]

Neither, all in one water kits are very poor water cooling and even lose out to high end air. If you're getting it to say you have water cooling because you think it's cool fine, but if you're doing it for performance you're wasting cash.

[Dangerbird]

silentD11, on 13 August 2012 - 08:53 AM, said:

Neither, all in one water kits are very poor water cooling and even lose out to high end air. If you're getting it to say you have water cooling because you think it's cool fine, but if you're doing it for performance you're wasting cash.

I kind of agree. I use the Noctua NH-14 cooler and it cools as well as anything I've seen. It's huge, but it works. I am at 4.8G on my 2600k stable and I never exceed 42 degrees C. It's a little expensive, but there are other coolers that are cheaper and do a great job.

[mechnut450]

i run a cheap water unit that not on newegg anymore.( like a h60) and i not had many problems. my main issue has been that my motherboard won't let cpu temp show temps (always at 32 degrees) but i able to overclock nothing magor about 4 ghz but my ram won't stay stable ( I think cause lack of memory coolers ) but hey I am happy at 3.79 ghz.

[Bishop Steiner]

silentD11, on 13 August 2012 - 08:53 AM, said:

Neither, all in one water kits are very poor water cooling and even lose out to high end air. If you're getting it to say you have water cooling because you think it's cool fine, but if you're doing it for performance you're wasting cash.

That's odd, since in most comparos I have read, they still seem to give signifigant cooling increases, and the H100 seemd to demolish every air cooling unit I have seen it compared to (though I don't think I have roomin my case for one....)

[DarkBazerker]

Air is better right now, unless you go old school water cooling.

[DV McKenna]

Not sure why the links i posted above don't seem to want to display.
So the actual link http://www.tweaktown...iew/index7.html

[Michael Kalla]

I just recently built a new rig and have a TON of research about CPU coolers and heatsinks. I'll share what I've learned.

If you have a mid-sized case then cooling can be an issue, because of the confined spaces, so use: watercooling and stick with what you picked already those are some of the best.

However. If you have a full-sized tower then the open space gives ample breathing and air flow, so use: Aircooling to get the best effect.



Best Aircoolers: Noctua NH-D14 (based on continuous high reviews, recommendations, and my own personal experience). It is priced the same as the Corsair H60 and all benchmarks and tests show this thing cools better then watercooling. Research it yourself on these websites and you'll see what I'm talking about.
http://www.frostytec...?articleID=2525
http://www.kitguru.n...trian-sandwich/


Best 120mm Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 120mm Case Fan. Once again I'm recommending Noctua for this, hands down if price is not an issue these case fans are quite-litterly soundless and cool better then anything for it's size. Plus the build quality is fantastic. You just have to get over the ugly colors, though it's a symbol of quality and performance.


Take this advice to heart from someone who is an overclocker, gamer, and audiophile. Hope it helps.

[Bishop Steiner]

DV McKenna, on 19 August 2012 - 09:03 AM, said:

Not sure why the links i posted above don't seem to want to display.
So the actual link http://www.tweaktown...iew/index7.html

That comparo REALLY has me eyeballing if I can squeeze one into my case.......

Also, even though technically, since i have no real plans to overclock (or crossfire multiple vidcards yet), one of the things I was looking into was doing something to offset my fans, as I would like to go with the quietest fans possible. Kinda curious which fans people would recommend as the "best in class" for cooling, while still being whisper quiet?

[Bishop Steiner]

Michael Kalla, on 19 August 2012 - 09:47 AM, said:

I just recently built a new rig and have a TON of research about CPU coolers and heatsinks. I'll share what I've learned.

If you have a mid-sized case then cooling can be an issue, because of the confined spaces, so use: watercooling and stick with what you picked already those are some of the best.

However. If you have a full-sized tower then the open space gives ample breathing and air flow, so use: Aircooling to get the best effect.



Best Aircoolers: Noctua NH-D14 (based on continuous high reviews, recommendations, and my own personal experience). It is priced the same as the Corsair H60 and all benchmarks and tests show this thing cools better then watercooling. Research it yourself on these websites and you'll see what I'm talking about.
http://www.frostytec...?articleID=2525
http://www.kitguru.n...trian-sandwich/


Best 120mm Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 120mm Case Fan. Once again I'm recommending Noctua for this, hands down if price is not an issue these case fans are quite-litterly soundless and cool better then anything for it's size. Plus the build quality is fantastic. You just have to get over the ugly colors, though it's a symbol of quality and performance.


Take this advice to heart from someone who is an overclocker, gamer, and audiophile. Hope it helps.

Actually a huge help, since you also were the only one to take into account case size, which is a HUGE difference. I wish that review DV Mckenna posted had the Kuhler in it, just because I am curious how it would stack up. And will definitely look into the fans. Sound quality and noise levels ARE a big deal to me. I haven't really been able to build a custom sound system for my computer, though I will in time. Right now all I have is one of these I got on the cheap http://www.newegg.co...82E16836166004. Also, since I have my case sitting high up for better air circulation, I am still experimenting with ways to isolate and remove any vibration. Right now it sits on a piece of carpet on top of an old anti static pad, which seems to work pretty good, though it's not all that appealing to the eye.

[Vulpesveritas]

Bishop Steiner, on 19 August 2012 - 12:08 PM, said:

That comparo REALLY has me eyeballing if I can squeeze one into my case.......

Also, even though technically, since i have no real plans to overclock (or crossfire multiple vidcards yet), one of the things I was looking into was doing something to offset my fans, as I would like to go with the quietest fans possible. Kinda curious which fans people would recommend as the "best in class" for cooling, while still being whisper quiet?

Generally speaking?
$20+ / fan: Noctura
$10-20/fan: Scythe
$10 and under fan: Xigmatek

[DV McKenna]

Bishop Steiner, on 19 August 2012 - 12:15 PM, said:

Actually a huge help, since you also were the only one to take into account case size, which is a HUGE difference. I wish that review DV Mckenna posted had the Kuhler in it, just because I am curious how it would stack up. And will definitely look into the fans. Sound quality and noise levels ARE a big deal to me. I haven't really been able to build a custom sound system for my computer, though I will in time. Right now all I have is one of these I got on the cheap http://www.newegg.co...82E16836166004. Also, since I have my case sitting high up for better air circulation, I am still experimenting with ways to isolate and remove any vibration. Right now it sits on a piece of carpet on top of an old anti static pad, which seems to work pretty good, though it's not all that appealing to the eye.

If noise and sound are important too you, any liquid cooler you buy, be it antec or corsair...be prepared to replace the stock fans they ship with, with alternatives.

The stock fans certainly on the corsair models are like jet turbines.

[Barbaric Soul]

DV McKenna, on 19 August 2012 - 12:22 PM, said:

If noise and sound are important too you, any liquid cooler you buy, be it antec or corsair...be prepared to replace the stock fans they ship with, with alternatives.

The stock fans certainly on the corsair models are like jet turbines.

My H60 isn't loud. My 2600k at 4.5ghz at full load for hours, my H60's fan is barely audible. The Antec fan I added for push/pull is alittle louder than the Corsair fan.

[DV McKenna]

Barbaric Soul, on 19 August 2012 - 12:30 PM, said:

My H60 isn't loud. My 2600k at 4.5ghz at full load for hours, my H60's fan is barely audible. The Antec fan I added for push/pull is alittle louder than the Corsair fan.

I can tell you now, the story is entirely different for the H80 Medium and god forbid High are ridiculously loud while the low setting doesnt offer the cooling it should do.

[Bishop Steiner]

DV McKenna, on 19 August 2012 - 12:22 PM, said:

If noise and sound are important too you, any liquid cooler you buy, be it antec or corsair...be prepared to replace the stock fans they ship with, with alternatives.

The stock fans certainly on the corsair models are like jet turbines.

also found the Kuhler, just didn't look close enough. The H60 vastly outperforms it. So it looks like trying to decide between the H100 (if it fits) or that new? one from CoolMaster Vulpes linked me. hmmmmmmm. Getting great input here, so it's much appreciated. And yeah, I HATE background noises,lol.