20 replies to this topic

[Faolan65]

First off, would like to say thank you to Vulpes, for his guides and suggestions. Because I finally got around to upgrading my computer with the recommendations from Vulpes, I ended up getting the FX-8320, ASRock Extreme3 mobo and 8 gb ram. HUGE game changing improvement!!!

I went from 6-15fps which was a E2200 dual core, 4gb (4 sticks of 800hz) Ram, and a GTX 460 on the lowest of low settings in the User.cfg…

To …

40 to 60 fps on max settings, still with the same GTX 460, let me tell you I am still grinning from ear to ear! Thanks to Vulpes for the help in choosing those components! The whole upgrade only set me back roughly 300 bucks.

So now that Ive got everything installed and running nice, I notice the CPU temps spike from time to time. I have the cooler that came with the 8320, which is very very loud (reaches almost 5.5k rpm) and still allows the CPU to get to 60C in the heat of a fierce firefight. When not under load, the CPU runs around 40C and 2.5k rpm. I don’t know if these temps are ok or not. But even if they are, the CPU fan is annoyingly loud, and I want to replace it. So Here I am today to see about suggestions in both liquid cooling and/or other quieter cooling options. I’d like to stay under $75, but if a deal is too good to pass up, I may stretch….

[Flapdrol]

scythe mugen 3
cooler master hyper 212 evo
Gelid solutions tranquillo rev.2
cooler master hyper T4

plenty of good coolers that aren't expensive

[Barbaric Soul]

for air cooling, I believe this is still the best- http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835608018
for premade liquid cooling, I'd suggest- http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835181031

[Sen]

I second the Corsair H80i. It's easy to install, comes with good fans (though a little loud at max).

yea, it's a little pricier than $75, but it's worth the extra $20 ^^

[Vulpesveritas]

Barbaric Soul, on 14 February 2013 - 01:59 PM, said:

for air cooling, I believe this is still the best- http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835608018
for premade liquid cooling, I'd suggest- http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835181031

Well, the Noctura got beat out by the Phanteks coolers by a couple degrees, and in color choice. Oh and It's cheaper.
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835709001
The H80/i is beat out by the NZXT Kraken X40 with it's 140mm rad. And it's cheaper as well.
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835146027

Honestly, if you're not overclocking, you don't need anything that high end, and can make due on this cooler with safe temps if you want it quiet; http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835226051
Though I would also recommend getting some good TIM; http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835426020

[Havok1978]

I use an OLD corsair H60 on my FX6300, I have it overclocked to 4.97ghz. the water cooling is easy to install and quite adequete
my corsair is over 5 years old and absolutely no problems. I highly reccomend water cooling with 120mm low rpm fans.
It is also noteworthy to mention that air cooling on your CPU also serves to cool the surrounding VRM's, with water cooling you will not have this so having good airflow thru the case is still very important. haveing a case with side intake fan near your cpu will remedy this.

[Sen]

Quote

[color=#959595]The H80/i is beat out by the NZXT Kraken X40 with it's 140mm rad. And it's cheaper as well.[/color]

No thanks. From everything I've seen and read on NZXT, I'm not impressed with the quality. From YOU, Vulpes, I'd expect the comparison tests between the NZXT and the H80i, complete with results that show how the h80i performs in a push/pull config vs the NZXT unit.


Granted, it's not about ME, it's about the o/p, but I'd rather spend an extra $10 on a brand that has a solid reputation for high performance and generally high quality vs a vendor that manufactures low dollar bare budget cases and fans.

Of course, if they're just buying the things from thermaltake (and given the design, they could be) You could go with:

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835106188

Currently $66 after $15 MiR

Edited by Sen, 14 February 2013 - 07:11 PM.

[Barbaric Soul]

Quote

The H80/i is beat out by the NZXT Kraken X40 with it's 140mm rad. And it's cheaper as well.
[color="#b27204"]http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835146027[/color]

How mounting on that 140mm work? I know my Lian Li case only has mounting for 120mm fans. I can't use anything wider or taller than a my current H60.

[TheFlayedman]

I bought an expensive thermalright tower cooler for my build but tbh I should have saved some money and bought a cooler master hyper 212 evo as i reckon that would be good enough.

I agree with Flapdrol and suggest you get a cooler master hyper 212 evo.

Edited by TheFlayedman, 15 February 2013 - 07:50 AM.

[ICUBurn]

Ya the fx series processors are masive heat generators. I've got a antec 620 on my 8350 with a push pull fan setup. Roughly 40-45c loaded.

[DocBach]

I'm really digging the 8320. I got one on sale for $150 and it handles MWO like a champ. Been recommending it to everyone I know asking about setting up budget rigs.

[Az0r]

If you're not planning on overclocking, there's no point spending 80$ on a top of the line air cooler or entry level water cooling unit. Go with the Coolermaster 212+. If you ARE planning overclocking then feel free to shell out for a great cooler. I'm personally biased to the NH D-14, but most of the twin tower coolers in the 75-90$ range are within ~3c of each other so go with what ever you like the look of/is cheapest.

[Sen]

The only problem with the NH-D14 is the sheer mass of the thing. Ram clearance aside, THAT much weight hanging from the vertically mounted motherboard made me cringe a little.

It did, however, LOOK absolutely awesome

The benefit of going higher end cooling in the beginning is that

1) Just because you're not overclocking today, doesn't mean you won't tomorrow, better to buy once than twice, and
2) If it works that great under overclocking loads, you don't have to worry anywhere NEAR as much when running the computer in higher temperature areas [above 80f] Sure, it's ideal to play in a house with A/C set at 68 degrees, but it TRIPLES the electric bill for me in the summer, which I just can't afford

[Vulpesveritas]

Sen, on 14 February 2013 - 07:11 PM, said:

[/size]

No thanks. From everything I've seen and read on NZXT, I'm not impressed with the quality. From YOU, Vulpes, I'd expect the comparison tests between the NZXT and the H80i, complete with results that show how the h80i performs in a push/pull config vs the NZXT unit.


Granted, it's not about ME, it's about the o/p, but I'd rather spend an extra $10 on a brand that has a solid reputation for high performance and generally high quality vs a vendor that manufactures low dollar bare budget cases and fans.

Of course, if they're just buying the things from thermaltake (and given the design, they could be) You could go with:

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835106188

Currently $66 after $15 MiR

Perhaps do some real research on brands before you bring things to bear? While they just entered the AIO buisness, NZXT has had very high quality parts across the board. Their first generation cases and fans were nothing special, but since then they've been top of the line, and have better customer service than corsiar, though they don't have as good of a warranty policy. Their 140mm fans are better optimized for pressure than corsiars, and both the Corsair H90 (not yet released) and the NZXT Kraken X40 are made by CoolITAestek other than for the fans. You're basically getting the same product as Corsair is going to release in a couple of months at a lower cost and a better fan, you're paying for the name and the warranty.

Barbaric Soul, on 15 February 2013 - 04:16 AM, said:

How mounting on that 140mm work? I know my Lian Li case only has mounting for 120mm fans. I can't use anything wider or taller than a my current H60.

Most newer cases, (the HAF series included) all have 140mm fan capability.

[Sen]

http://www.anandtech...nzxt-compared/5

My review contradicts your review. . now what?

Mind you Vulpes, I'm not trying to bust yer basketballs here, I'm just used to your first level responses being much more comprehensive As to NZXT quality, it goes to show how a reputation can follow a company long after it's products have improved [and I have no proof that they actually have, and probably never will due to my already established opinion]. I'll also note that testing on the above article was with a current gen i7 [2700k] which more accurately resembles today's processors. [yes, I'm hatin' on the 920, sorry]

So what's the point of all this? Your results show the X40 on top, mine show the H80i as superior, both are excellent coolers, and if they're supplied by CoolIT as you stated, I concede quality. The reality is that both perform roughly on par, with enough wiggle room with certain hardware for either one to perform better or worse based on where it's being used [ambient temps, case airflow, etc]

Even with all that, I would *STILL* buy corsair over NZXT. I would rather trust the name I have had positive experiences with [and it's easy for me to say because I USE an H80 and 2 H100s, granted neither are the upgraded i series]

Because of those positive experiences, I will also continue to recommend their products until such time as I have an issue Corsair is unwilling or unable to resolve. At that time, I will vehemently disassociate myself from Corsair and start recommending a competitor's product.

. . . Probably thermaltake

[PS: I've missed these back and forth forum posts ^^ ]

Edited by Sen, 15 February 2013 - 03:16 PM.

[Catamount]

Now, now kids; play nicely or I'll send you to the corner.

Sen, I'm a little dubious of this review (which isn't to say Vulpes' is right or wrong; I really have no idea). Notice how higher end corsair coolers are getting outperformed by lower end coolers? The H80i is beating both the H100 and H100i, while the H80 is edging out the H100.

The review seems to have a problem somewhere with their methodology where large-radiator coolers (which may well include the NZXT X40) aren't performing like they should.

[Vulpesveritas]

Sen, on 15 February 2013 - 03:15 PM, said:

http://www.anandtech...nzxt-compared/5

My review contradicts your review. . now what?

Mind you Vulpes, I'm not trying to bust yer basketballs here, I'm just used to your first level responses being much more comprehensive As to NZXT quality, it goes to show how a reputation can follow a company long after it's products have improved [and I have no proof that they actually have, and probably never will due to my already established opinion]. I'll also note that testing on the above article was with a current gen i7 [2700k] which more accurately resembles today's processors. [yes, I'm hatin' on the 920, sorry]

So what's the point of all this? Your results show the X40 on top, mine show the H80i as superior, both are excellent coolers, and if they're supplied by CoolIT as you stated, I concede quality. The reality is that both perform roughly on par, with enough wiggle room with certain hardware for either one to perform better or worse based on where it's being used [ambient temps, case airflow, etc]

Even with all that, I would *STILL* buy corsair over NZXT. I would rather trust the name I have had positive experiences with [and it's easy for me to say because I USE an H80 and 2 H100s, granted neither are the upgraded i series]

Because of those positive experiences, I will also continue to recommend their products until such time as I have an issue Corsair is unwilling or unable to resolve. At that time, I will vehemently disassociate myself from Corsair and start recommending a competitor's product.

. . . Probably thermaltake

[PS: I've missed these back and forth forum posts ^^ ]

Your review also shows the NZXT giving better acoustic performance. As for your other points, I've never had issues with NZXT products or seen many who had, and after NZXT's first gen products I haven't seen any which are of issue any more than what Corsair has.

Neither would be a bad product, and the performance may well lie in the fan placement arrangement and case used. Either is going to give comparable thermals to the other in the end, the NZXT is ~$15 cheaper and is quieter, and the Corsair has a slightly better warranty, so in the end it would be a decision for the OP to make.

[Sen]

Quote

[color=#959595]Sen, I'm a little dubious of this review (which isn't to say Vulpes' is right or wrong; I really have no idea). Notice how higher end corsair coolers are getting outperformed by lower end coolers? The H80i is beating both the H100 and H100i, while the H80 is edging out the H100.[/color]

Doesn't surprise me at all, honestly. The H100 and H100i only come with two fans, and without a second set of fans for push/pull the cooling effectiveness suffers. Add to that they're using the default fan profiles built into the coolers which on the H80/H100 have three manually set presets (I don't know if the i series change this). . and they don't mention which one they use. My guess is they use the lowest, which on the H100 means the radiator is heat soaked by the time the fans spin up. Without a second set of fans for push/pull, it just doesn't have the volume to remove that kind of heat. Again, I don't have an H100i, but I suspect a very similar situation.

The H80 and H80i both use double thick radiators with dual 120mm fans in push/pull. They don't have the surface area of the H100 series, but the concentrated volume of air moving through the radiator allows it to dissipate heat more effectively.

[Vulpesveritas]

Sen, on 15 February 2013 - 08:30 PM, said:

Doesn't surprise me at all, honestly. The H100 and H100i only come with two fans, and without a second set of fans for push/pull the cooling effectiveness suffers. Add to that they're using the default fan profiles built into the coolers which on the H80/H100 have three manually set presets (I don't know if the i series change this). . and they don't mention which one they use. My guess is they use the lowest, which on the H100 means the radiator is heat soaked by the time the fans spin up. Without a second set of fans for push/pull, it just doesn't have the volume to remove that kind of heat. Again, I don't have an H100i, but I suspect a very similar situation.

The H80 and H80i both use double thick radiators with dual 120mm fans in push/pull. They don't have the surface area of the H100 series, but the concentrated volume of air moving through the radiator allows it to dissipate heat more effectively.

In all truth I must say I am disappointed Sen. I thought you understood the working of fans than that. The air volume is the same whether fans are in a single configuration or in push-pull, the only advantage in push-pull is the increase of static pressure, which reduces the creation of turbulence on the fins, and hence allows for heat to escape more efficiently. Therefore, it should be surprising that the X40, with it's 20% larger surface area, and the H100, with it's 60% larger surface area are not performing to the degree they should, unless the testing has improper airflow in the most likely instance of far too low external air pressure on the intake, or exceptionally high pressure towards the exhaust, of which the former is more likely in a standard room, with a case with a negative pressure fan setup.

Correct me if I'm wrong please, however as I see it Anandtech's bench seems more setup for testing stock fan air pressure capabilities more than cooling potential.

[Sen]

Quote

[color=#959595]The air volume is the same whether fans are in a single configuration or in push-pull, the only advantage in push-pull is the increase of static pressure[/color]

Pressure, volume. . . it's been a long week

As far as anandtech, you're not wrong there either, but didn't I see that those pesky canadians had likewise run everything stock? It DOES say "with stock cooling", which suggests to me default settings and fan configs.

You realize we're nitpicking over a possible 5c difference in temps at this point >.>