[SOLVED] Best 159mm *Quiet* CPU Cooler ?

[Regev]

Which one's the absolute best CPU cooler that can fit a 159mm clearance case?

I'll be using a non-OCed 12600K.

Was thinking:

Fuma 2
Mugen 5
Dark Rock 4
U12A
U12S
34 Duo

It has to be as silent as possible - not audible at all when on silent mode at least ((like the D15 on my 9900K, which I don't hear at all). What do you guys recommend? Price isn't a factor at all. Business expenses

Thank you!

 

[Lafong]

I can't comment on anything but the U12S....it is the only one of those that I have actually used. On an Intel 6600K, not overclocked.

I have used it in "silent" mode per my BIOS controls, where the rpm was in a very tight range very close to 800.

The only time I could hear it was early in the boot cycle BEFORE Windows actually loaded and slowed it down to 800.

The only other fans I have are a single Noctua intake and a single Noctua exhaust. Both also in "silent" mode, where they spin at a near constant 500 rpm.

My idle temps are in the low 30s in a warm room (27 C, 81 F).

You say "absolute best".

That's code for something......it might mean "lowest temps" or it might mean "lowest noise" or it might mean something else entirely. I have no idea.

 

[Regev]

Thanks!

Absolute best, meaning: best possible performance (both CPU and VRM) while remaining non-audible at all.

 

[rolli59]

Fuma2

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0UtQQ1rEo

 

[Lafong]

Thanks!

Absolute best, meaning: best possible performance while remaining non-audible at all.

Whoever is standing next to you has different hearing than you........a different frequency response curve. They may be able to hear stuff you cannot and vice versa.

If you want certainty...........you have to personally try all possible candidates in your case in your room under your precise circumstances.

If you cannot or will not do that, then you have to take a leap of faith and hope the results are satisfactory.

If you did not try all possible coolers, then you will be left to wonder if perhaps the ones you did NOT buy are "better".

I don't know how you can expect an accurate answer since we are not in your room and don't have your ears. We can only speculate and all you can get from us is anecdotes.....such as the one I gave you.

If you buy a U12S or any other cooler based on an anecdote or a review, you may be highly unsatisfied. Neither I nor the reviewer has your ears in your room in your case at your ambient temperatures, etc etc etc.

 

[Regev]

Fuma2

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0UtQQ1rEo

Yep I heavily consider the Fuma 2, I just see that it's a 154.5mm cooler, so im wondering if there are other coolers that can make use of the maximum height available (159mm) and be better.

 

[geofelt]

Noise comes from fans running at high rpm's.
Noctua keeps a chart of suitable coolers for a i5-12600K:
https://ncc.noctua.at/cpus/model/Intel-Core-i5-12600K-1581
The strongest on that list under 158mm is the NH-U12A with a 169 nspr rating.
https://noctua.at/en/nh-u12a/specification
Read about nspr here:
https://noctua.at/en/noctua-standardised-performance-rating

You have the ability, either through the motherboard fan profile, or the included low noise adapters to tune the cooling/noise balance.
While the chart includes some coolers that are considerably weaker,
I advise buying the strongest one that fits.
The reason is that even without overclocking, the turbo mechanism will perform better it the cpu stays under 70c.

What is the make/model of your case?
Sometimes there is some wiggle room on cooler heights.
For example, do a google image search for your case, and a 160mm cooler like the NH-D15s.
You may well see examples of taller coolers actually fitting.
If you can find a good cooler with 140mm fans, it will run more quietly.

 

[Regev]

The case is the Silverstone Alta G1M:

https://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=1010&area=en

So far Ive found those 159mm or below coolers:

Zalman CNPS10X Optima II - $40
Hyper 212 Evo V2 -$43
Hyper 212 Evo - $45
Mugen 5 Rev B - $50
Mugen 5 Black Edition - $60
U12S Chromax - $60
Zalman CNPS10X Performa Black - $60
Hyper 212 Black Edition - $65
U12A Chromax -$72
Dark Rock 4 (not Pro) - $75
Fuma 2 - $78

(prices are for my country)

 

[geofelt]

That is a great looking case. Particularly for air cooling.
I have used Silverstone before(TJ-08E) with the 180mm air penetrator fan.
I only needed to run the intake at half speed.

I have used scythe before(kotetsu) and was pleased with them.
fuma 2 with 2 radiator stacks will cool well.
You have good experience with noctua.
It has the easiest mounting system ever.
The U-12A has a deep radiator that will also cool well.
Any above would do the job.

Mugen 5 looks to be similar with one fan and you could always add a second fan.

Hyper212, not so much.
I had to install one and it was hard to get it on straight.
Instructions were awful.
The single radiator stack is not likely to cool well.
I would avoid the 212's.

ditto on the zalmans to be avoided.

An interesting thought on lga1700 cooler heights:
12th gen processors Z heights are about 1mm less.
Does this mean that a lga1200 cooler that previously required 160mm like the NH-D15s now will fit when on a 12th gen processor?

 

[Regev]

That is a great looking case. Particularly for air cooling.
I have used Silverstone before(TJ-08E) with the 180mm air penetrator fan.
I only needed to run the intake at half speed.

I have used scythe before(kotetsu) and was pleased with them.
fuma 2 with 2 radiator stacks will cool well.
You have good experience with noctua.
It has the easiest mounting system ever.
The U-12A has a deep radiator that will also cool well.
Any above would do the job.

Mugen 5 looks to be similar with one fan and you could always add a second fan.

Hyper212, not so much.
I had to install one and it was hard to get it on straight.
Instructions were awful.
The single radiator stack is not likely to cool well.
I would avoid the 212's.

ditto on the zalmans to be avoided.

An interesting thought on lga1700 cooler heights:
12th gen processors Z heights are about 1mm less.
Does this mean that a lga1200 cooler that previously required 160mm like the NH-D15s now will fit when on a 12th gen processor?

That would be awesome if the D15s fits. I'll message Silverstone. If it doesn't, Fuma 2, Mugen 5, or U12a/U12s are your recommendations - but how is the BeQuiet! Dark Rock 4 (non-Pro) performing relative to them?

This is what's available for me:

Zalman CNPS10X Optima II - $40
Hyper 212 Evo V2 -$43
Hyper 212 Evo - $45
Mugen 5 Rev B - $50
Mugen 5 Black Edition - $60
U12S Chromax - $60
Zalman CNPS10X Performa Black - $60
Hyper 212 Black Edition - $65
U12A Chromax -$72
Dark Rock 4 (not Pro) - $75
Fuma 2 - $78

 

[geofelt]

That would be awesome if the D15s fits. I'll message Silverstone. If it doesn't, Fuma 2, Mugen 5, or U12a/U12s are your recommendations - but how is the BeQuiet! Dark Rock 4 (non-Pro) performing relative to them?

This is what's available for me:

Zalman CNPS10X Optima II - $40
Hyper 212 Evo V2 -$43
Hyper 212 Evo - $45
Mugen 5 Rev B - $50
Mugen 5 Black Edition - $60
U12S Chromax - $60
Zalman CNPS10X Performa Black - $60
Hyper 212 Black Edition - $65
U12A Chromax -$72
Dark Rock 4 (not Pro) - $75
Fuma 2 - $78

You could search for reviews, but what you read may not be applicable to your results in a case.
Most tests are on an open test bed.
Your case is a bit unique, but in a very good way.
In a different orientation, I had no trouble cooling on the TJ-08E with only the 180mm air penetrator intake and a single 120mm exhaust. It cooled my then 8600K and NH-D15s well along with a GTX1080ti.
The NH-D15s nspr rating is similar but a tad lower than the NH-U12A.
However, the fan would likely turn slower for less noise.

I think the DRP4 would perform comparably to all of them.
All the coolers will have fans that must turn at reasonably high speeds to do the best job of cooling.
That will be a trade off for cooling.
In addition to height available, check for ram clearance if you will not be using low profile ram.
Corsair lpx, for instance should fit any cooler. Tall ram heat spreaders(which are mostly marketing) or rgb variants may be an issue with some coolers.

How close to your ear will be the case?
The closer, the more noise you are likely to notice.
In my case, my pc is on a small low table next to my desk. Perhaps a bit more than an arm's length away.

I have often thought that it might be better to not focus on quiet so much as case location.
You can buy front panel power switch and audio connection extenders which allow you to place a pc on the floor some 6 feet away.

 

[Regev]

You could search for reviews, but what you read may not be applicable to your results in a case.
Most tests are on an open test bed.
Your case is a bit unique, but in a very good way.
In a different orientation, I had no trouble cooling on the TJ-08E with only the 180mm air penetrator intake and a single 120mm exhaust. It cooled my then 8600K and NH-D15s well along with a GTX1080ti.
The NH-D15s nspr rating is similar but a tad lower than the NH-U12A.
However, the fan would likely turn slower for less noise.

I think the DRP4 would perform comparably to all of them.
All the coolers will have fans that must turn at reasonably high speeds to do the best job of cooling.
That will be a trade off for cooling.
In addition to height available, check for ram clearance if you will not be using low profile ram.
Corsair lpx, for instance should fit any cooler. Tall ram heat spreaders(which are mostly marketing) or rgb variants may be an issue with some coolers.

How close to your ear will be the case?
The closer, the more noise you are likely to notice.
In my case, my pc is on a small low table next to my desk. Perhaps a bit more than an arm's length away.

I have often thought that it might be better to not focus on quiet so much as case location.
You can buy front panel power switch and audio connection extenders which allow you to place a pc on the floor some 6 feet away.

As for memory, I have 4 sticks of XPG Z1. is that low clearance?

 

[geofelt]

As for memory, I have 4 sticks of XPG Z1. is that low clearance?

The specs say 42.6mm.
Low profile is more like 32mm.
With 4 sticks, all slots, particularly those near to the cooler will be populated.
Look for detailed dimensions.
You would have no issues with the NH-U12A:
The first ram slot lies outside the cooler fan.
https://noctua.at/en/how-big-is-the...-it-provide-for-ram-and-motherboard-heatsinks
The NH-D15s (if it fits) diagram looks like this:
https://noctua.at/en/nh-d15s/specification
It can handle 65mm ram.
A optional front fan does little to help cooling but adding one would impact your ram unless the added fan was 120mm.

What is the make/model of your motherboard?
Check the fitment options for the cooler you pick.
Here is the link to noctua motherboard compatibility:
https://ncc.noctua.at/motherboards

A few motherboards may have minor issues like:
Some motherboards will place the X16 graphics slot too close to the cpu.
Some will have vrm heat sinks that intrude.
Or possibly, the ram slots are placed closer to the cpu than standard.

 

[logainofhades]

Yep I heavily consider the Fuma 2, I just see that it's a 154.5mm cooler, so im wondering if there are other coolers that can make use of the maximum height available (159mm) and be better.

There is nothing wrong with 4.5mm of clearance, between the cooler and the side panel. I would rather be a bit short, than right on the edge of what is supported. I highly doubt manufacturing tolerances, on many air coolers, is very tight. At least not on the level I am used to seeing on a daily basis, working in automotive.

 

[Regev]

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