[BEGINNER] Air vs. Liquid cooling, Which coolers to get?

[Electrolyzed]

I'm thinking about buying an i5-4690K. I am wanting to overclock this CPU, but this is my first unlocked CPU, so I'm new to overclocking. Should I stick with a basic air cooler or go for a liquid cooling option?

For air coolers, I was looking at these:
- CM Hyper 212 EVO
- Noctua NH-D14

For liquid cooling I was looking at these:
- Corsair H100i / CM Seidon 240M
- Corsair H80i / CM Nepton 140XL

 

[clutchc]

The 212 EVO is about all you need for all but the most sophisticated high-end OC'ing. It takes more than most 120mm liq coolers to match it. And those 240mm liq coolers get pretty expensive and take up a lot of real estate. If you plan on a simple multiplier increase type of overclock with a tweak to the vcore when needed, you won't need liq cooling. I have the 212 EVO on the rig in my sig and another machine (PhIIX4 @ 4GHZ) and they both run extremely cool at load.

 

[axe1592]

The Hyper 212 is an excellent cooler and gotta be the best in the world dollar for dollar but its not the best in terms of performance. The Noctua D14 or the new D15 are much better choices if youre wanting the maximum cooling. If youre just wanting a few MHz over stock then a Hyper 212 Evo will certainly be fine but if youre wanting to push your chip and get as much as you can then the more cooling horsepower you buy the better.

The AIO coolers will perform better than a heat sink like the D14 but itll be louder too. Heatsinks offer almost as much cooling but at much quieter levels. But thats not to say AIO coolers are loud. My H100 is usually very quiet. I run it on the medium fan setting and my temps stay in the low 40's to mid 30's while gaming and the fans dont really spin up that much and thats with a pretty hot running FX 8350 doing 4.8 GHz! But still, HSF's will generally run quieter not to mention theyre usually a little cheaper.

AIO coolers are also much smaller and wont eat up near as much room inside your case, wont block half your RAM slots and some heatsinks like one from Phanteks actually block a PCIE slot! And if you move your PC around a lot there is also a concern of having a big chunk of metal hanging off your motherboard. I move mine a lot carrying it upstairs to tinker with it or clean it or whatever and so I dont like the thought of a heavy cooler being supported by my precious motherboard.

But bottom line is both high end AIO's and HSF's are excellent performers and each have a couple trade offs. Cant really go wrong with either IMO.

As to which one Id pick from your list, I have to go H100. Mine's been awesome and if it can handle my chip at its speed, itll handle just about anything this side of a $300 custom loop. If youre concerned about pump noise (mine has none but there are some that do) or just like the simplicity of a HSF, the Noctua D14 (or the better performing D15) would be my choice.

 

[Electrolyzed]

The Hyper 212 is an excellent cooler and gotta be the best in the world dollar for dollar but its not the best in terms of performance. The Noctua D14 or the new D15 are much better choices if youre wanting the maximum cooling. If youre just wanting a few MHz over stock then a Hyper 212 Evo will certainly be fine but if youre wanting to push your chip and get as much as you can then the more cooling horsepower you buy the better.

The AIO coolers will perform better than a heat sink like the D14 but itll be louder too. Heatsinks offer almost as much cooling but at much quieter levels. But thats not to say AIO coolers are loud. My H100 is usually very quiet. I run it on the medium fan setting and my temps stay in the low 40's to mid 30's while gaming and the fans dont really spin up that much and thats with a pretty hot running FX 8350 doing 4.8 GHz! But still, HSF's will generally run quieter not to mention theyre usually a little cheaper.

AIO coolers are also much smaller and wont eat up near as much room inside your case, wont block half your RAM slots and some heatsinks like one from Phanteks actually block a PCIE slot! And if you move your PC around a lot there is also a concern of having a big chunk of metal hanging off your motherboard. I move mine a lot carrying it upstairs to tinker with it or clean it or whatever and so I dont like the thought of a heavy cooler being supported by my precious motherboard.

But bottom line is both high end AIO's and HSF's are excellent performers and each have a couple trade offs. Cant really go wrong with either IMO.

As to which one Id pick from your list, I have to go H100. Mine's been awesome and if it can handle my chip at its speed, itll handle just about anything this side of a $300 custom loop. If youre concerned about pump noise (mine has none but there are some that do) or just like the simplicity of a HSF, the Noctua D14 (or the better performing D15) would be my choice.

If I go with the H100i, should I switch out the fans for something like the Noctua NF-F12?

 

[axe1592]

You can but I wouldnt. The stock fans are actually a very good mix of performance and noise. Besides, if a H100 with stock fans is enough to cool my heat generating monster 8350 at 4.8 GHz, then itll be more than enough to handle your i3.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Noctua NH-D14

 

[Godto]

Noctua NH-D14

i'm second this ... because i have 212evo and i don't like it when the cooler can move few degree on it axis ... thinking of changing cooler even those it doing great on temp .. 4790k OC 4.5 = 83 max

 

[4Ryan6]

The Hyper 212 is an excellent cooler and gotta be the best in the world dollar for dollar but its not the best in terms of performance. The Noctua D14 or the new D15 are much better choices if youre wanting the maximum cooling. If youre just wanting a few MHz over stock then a Hyper 212 Evo will certainly be fine but if youre wanting to push your chip and get as much as you can then the more cooling horsepower you buy the better.

The AIO coolers will perform better than a heat sink like the D14 but itll be louder too. Heatsinks offer almost as much cooling but at much quieter levels. But thats not to say AIO coolers are loud. My H100 is usually very quiet. I run it on the medium fan setting and my temps stay in the low 40's to mid 30's while gaming and the fans dont really spin up that much and thats with a pretty hot running FX 8350 doing 4.8 GHz! But still, HSF's will generally run quieter not to mention theyre usually a little cheaper.

AIO coolers are also much smaller and wont eat up near as much room inside your case, wont block half your RAM slots and some heatsinks like one from Phanteks actually block a PCIE slot! And if you move your PC around a lot there is also a concern of having a big chunk of metal hanging off your motherboard. I move mine a lot carrying it upstairs to tinker with it or clean it or whatever and so I dont like the thought of a heavy cooler being supported by my precious motherboard.

But bottom line is both high end AIO's and HSF's are excellent performers and each have a couple trade offs. Cant really go wrong with either IMO.

As to which one Id pick from your list, I have to go H100. Mine's been awesome and if it can handle my chip at its speed, itll handle just about anything this side of a $300 custom loop. If youre concerned about pump noise (mine has none but there are some that do) or just like the simplicity of a HSF, the Noctua D14 (or the better performing D15) would be my choice.

If I go with the H100i, should I switch out the fans for something like the Noctua NF-F12?

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2196038/air-cooling-water-cooling-things.html

Seeing as how you are new to an unlocked multiplier CPU and overclocking take the time to read this so you can get some cooling knowledge under your belt.

Being new to overclocking you really do not know yet how far you intend to push the i5-4690K, and how far you want to overclock has everything to do with the cooling you opt for.

Being new would normally put you way on the cautious side, but I've seen some that took to overclocking like a duck to water?

So until you step into that territory, learn what you need to know first, even regarding the cooling itself.

 

[unknownofprob]

NH-D15 is the latest cooler by Noctua but quite expensive compared to the D14, the 212 EVO or if you like the 212X, that is all you really need.

The best extreme-end air cooler would be the Thermalright SilverArrow SB-E Extreme, but noise is of a much higher factor compared to the Noctua's. that said it only performs 1 degree cooler compared to the D15 on this review;

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cooling/2014/05/01/noctua-nh-d15-review/2

 

[zachparr2442]

the NH14 is only like 2c worst then the h100i so i would go air cooled you'll save a little bit also, unless neweggs or someone has a refurbished watercooler

 

[Godto]

the NH14 is only like 2c worst then the h100i so i would go air cooled you'll save a little bit also, unless neweggs or someone has a refurbished watercooler

just order NH D14 at newegg ... $75.24 in clude tax and free shipping ( special promocode ) and will get it tomorrow.
I guess I live close to their warerhouse ...

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

NH D13 ?

 

[Godto]

typo,, sorry .. fix already

 

[zachparr2442]

one thing you should have look at before you bought it is going to fit in your case its a pretty taller cooler thats why some people just use the h100s

 

[Godto]

i have antec 1200 case ... also the 212 evo fit no problem ... but i did check carefully because the NH-D14 is deeper ... 158mm compare to 80mm on 212 evo .. i also have low profile Ram

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Noctua D-14 is 160mm with fan

212 EVO is 159mm

 

[Godto]

Noctua D-14 is 160mm with fan

212 EVO is 159mm

no .. that the height.
the depth is 50mm with out.. and 80 with fan
and NH-D14 is 158 with fan ... so basically a square can fit going up or to the back the same

 

[zachparr2442]

you'll be fine yo have a big ass case if anything leave the side panel off better cooling anyways

 

[Godto]

actually the way my set up is .... with the side on ... i have better cooling. and also have positive air ... little dust

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Here's my BIG Air Setup.

 

[Godto]

nice ... very nice ... i was going with the NH-D15 ... but the height is 165mm and that would touch my side panel.
beside D14 is $25 cheaper and only 2-3 degree hotter than the new NH-D15

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Thanks, I have D-14 also and a Phanteks PH-TC14PE

 

[unknownofprob]

Heres my new big air setup; (Modded NH-D14 SE2011)

 

[Godto]

ic .. you push up and not to the back ... maybe i will add another fan to it.. thanks for the pict

 

[unknownofprob]

hot air rises so i find taking air up instead of moving it sideways to the back is the best and more logical reasoning. Ask Noctua for the 3rd fan mounting kit and they'll send you the clips/plastic risers (to keep fan from touching heatsink) to you you free of charge.