Best CPU Cooler?

[TheCheeseling]

I need to know what the best CPU cooler is.

i'm planning on buying a i7-3930k and Overclocking it

I had one guy say the Noctua NH-D14 is the best and another say the Phanteks PH-TC14PE... Is there a better option than either of these?

I'm open on going for Water Cooling but just not an open system, don't feel like going through all the hassle... and money.

 

[payturr]

Depends how much you wanna put down. Water cooling can be great for performance & silence, but will cause you quite the dollar & could screw you over if you mess up & there's a leak. Air cooling is great but is big, the varying RPM fans could be annoying to you, and it might look kinda stupid. As budget coolers go, things like the Hyper 212 Plus/EVO are awesome, for high end air coolers, a lot of people love the Noctua NH-D14 & the Silver Arrow Extreme, and if you wanna water cool, get some parts from Swiftech.

 

[CMac019]

The corsair H100i is the coolest if you're open to closed-loop water cooling.

 

[payturr]

Closed loop systems are good but they are considered "overpriced" because an air cooler can meet it's performance at a lower price... Depends if you want silence or performance.

 

[TheCheeseling]

so i should get the H100i if I want silence and performance?

 

[payturr]

I would say yes, unless you wanna get a regular air cooler & experiment with fan configurations - I would recommend you invest in that because it's cheaper & prevents the danger of a leak.

 

[TheCheeseling]

ok, Thanks

 

[stantheman123]

h100i i would love to get one. however isnt it like $150?

 

[mansfield]

H100i is overpriced, You would only really need an H50

 

[Tonkyboy]

I use a Corsair H80. My Core i7 3820 sits at 27 C under normal use, gets a little hotter under strain, but not much.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

I have the Corsair H100 for use with my Intel® Core™ i5-3570K. While it isnt that quiet it does work well.

 

[EchoOne]

yeah h100 or Antec Kuhler 920 both are kick ass

 

[TheCheeseling]

does the h100i leak? because that would be the only reason why I wouldn't get it

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Do they normally leak? Nope. Is it possible that they could leak? Yes. Closed loop coolers are generally very reliable and perform well. However it is still possible (very rarely) for them to get a leak.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Oh one more thing the Corsair H100 are big. They have 2 120mm fan next to each other for cooling. So you are going to want to make sure that your case can fit one.

 

[TheCheeseling]

ok Thanks

 

[TheCheeseling]

Best answer selected by TheCheeseling.