Question Advice for regular sized cpu cooler for i5-12600k appreciated

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jennypurr

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Nov 2, 2018
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Hi all,
I’m attempting to build a computer from scratch and I have an i5-12600k processor and MSI Pro B760M-P DDR4 motherboard (LGA 1700 socket) and after reading several different articles and forums highly recommending the Noctua NH-D15 I picked one up. However, I apparently misread or failed to comprehend exactly how huge the cooler is! I had no idea they made them that size! 😂 I have a mid-size tower so unfortunately that cooler won’t work for me, but I’m afraid I don’t really trust myself to pick another one now. From what I understand the Intel 12th gen can run a little hot so I’m not sure if any of the regular sized coolers would be enough. I won’t be don’t any overclocking if that helps. Thanks for any advice!
 
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12000K? Is that the exact model number of the CPU? Or is it 12600K, 12400, or what?

What case are you using? That will determine the maximum acceptable height of the cooler.

What country are you in and do you have a preferred seller (Amazon, B and H, New Egg?)

What was your specific complaint about the D15? Height? Bulk? Weight?

Depending on your CPU, you may be OK with a single tower cooler rather than dual tower like the D15.
 
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Lafong said:
12000K? Is that the exact model number of the CPU? Or is it 12600K, 12400, or what?

What case are you using? That will determine the maximum acceptable height of the cooler.

What country are you in and do you have a preferred seller (Amazon, B and H, New Egg?)

What was your specific complaint about the D15? Height? Bulk? Weight?

Depending on your CPU, you may be OK with a single tower cooler rather than dual tower like the D15.
Click to expand...
Oops, that was a mistype, thanks! It’s the 12600k. The case is a mid-tower: Cougar MX330 which is fairly narrow at only 7” wide. If I were to install the D15 the side of the case would be touching (if it would close at all - I didn’t try to attach it when I saw the cooler was even with the edge!) I haven’t had a new desktop in more than ten years so I had no idea they made coolers so big now 😂 I’m in Canada and there are no computer stores where I live so anything online is my go-to.
 
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COUGAR MX330 Gaming PC Case

cougargaming.com cougargaming.com

Case spec sheet above; it says your case can accept coolers up to 155 mm tall.

Go online and graze around looking for coolers NO TALLER than 155 and pick out a few candidates.

Several good single tower Noctuas are 158 and above so won't fit.

If you want Noctua, consider D12L. A short-ish dual tower; 145 mm tall.

Other brands likely OK too if short enough.

Noctua has its own rating system for its coolers, below. Higher is better. The D12L is quite high, easily adequate; higher than the Noctua single towers. Not as high as the taller D15 dual tower.

https://noctua.at/en/noctua-standardised-performance-rating
 
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Lafong said:

COUGAR MX330 Gaming PC Case

cougargaming.com cougargaming.com

Case spec sheet above; it says your case can accept coolers up to 155 mm tall.

Go online and graze around looking for coolers NO TALLER than 155 and pick out a few candidates.

Several good single tower Noctuas are 158 and above so won't fit.

If you want Noctua, consider D12L. A short-ish dual tower; 145 mm tall.

Other brands likely OK too if short enough.

Noctua has its own rating system for its coolers, below. Higher is better. The D12L is quite high, easily adequate; higher than the Noctua single towers. Not as high as the taller D15 dual tower.

https://noctua.at/en/noctua-standardised-performance-rating
Click to expand...
Lafong said:

COUGAR MX330 Gaming PC Case

cougargaming.com cougargaming.com

Case spec sheet above; it says your case can accept coolers up to 155 mm tall.

Go online and graze around looking for coolers NO TALLER than 155 and pick out a few candidates.

Several good single tower Noctuas are 158 and above so won't fit.

If you want Noctua, consider D12L. A short-ish dual tower; 145 mm tall.

Other brands likely OK too if short enough.

Noctua has its own rating system for its coolers, below. Higher is better. The D12L is quite high, easily adequate; higher than the Noctua single towers. Not as high as the taller D15 dual tower.

https://noctua.at/en/noctua-standardised-performance-rating
Click to expand...
Thank you, I’ll see what I can find! I really thought I had checked the specs on both the case and cooler but I was looking through so many that I imagine I just got them all mixed up. Interestingly, I was just noticing there are a lot of posts about people having coolers that touched the sides of their towers and the general consensus from the comments seems to be that as long as it’s only just touching (don’t have to force the side of the case on) it’s not actually a problem. I always thought there needed to be a decent amount of room around it for airflow? I’m tempted to install it again (all my parts are just in a pile right now) and see if the side goes on ok, but I think I’d still worry about the airflow. I’ll look around online as well to find a proper sized one just incase I think! Thank you so much for your help!
 
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D15 is 165 tall.

10 mm too tall for the Cougar.

Nearly half an inch. I would not even attempt it. Your case side panel would be seriously deformed if your forced it. NOT "just touching".

D12L is excellent, but other brands would work. 12600K requires a "good" cooler, but you don't need to go to extremes.
 
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