Can i use CPU cooler as a passive cooler?

[William Norberg]

Cooler: cooler master hyper 412s evo
CPU: Intel core i7 4790K @4.6 GHz

If i were to remove the fans (still use in-case fans) would my processor still stay under 70 degrees?

 

[Joseph DeGarmo]

I would not advise removing the heatsink fans. Your CPU may overheat under load.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

70C would be a great temperature under load *with* the fans I would have expected higher on any stress test.

Heat exchange is accomplished by moving air over the HD fins....

This one works passively

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2023752/the-biggest-baddest-most-utterly-ridonkulous-pc-coolers-of-all-time.html

 

[William Norberg]

70C would be a great temperature under load *with* the fans I would have expected higher on any stress test.

Heat exchange is accomplished by moving air over the HD fins....

This one works passively

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2023752/the-biggest-baddest-most-utterly-ridonkulous-pc-coolers-of-all-time.html

Well, fucking the CPU with both cpu Burner and prime95 took it over 100 Degrees (i shut it of at that point since stuff and things started to lag and my PSU started to whine)

 

[4Ryan6]

Cooler: cooler master hyper 412s evo
CPU: Intel core i7 4790K @4.6 GHz

If i were to remove the fans (still use in-case fans) would my processor still stay under 70 degrees?

That would be a whopping big NO!

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

The Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme formally called the TRUE was actually the first heat pipe air cooler that claimed to be able to be run passive, and those claims are true, originally it did not even come with a fan at all, if you wanted more cooling performance from it, you bought the fan separately.

It is still attainable today as the Thermalright Venomous SB-E, just don't mount the fan and you have a passive cooler, but you need to understand it was designed for it's day, it is not going to be the best option for a i7 4790K but it is much better than the Cooler Master you're running.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/thermalright-venomous-sb-e-universal-cpu-cooler.html

Without the cooling fan the heat pie cooler underneath is actually a Thermalright TRUE, and even with the cooling fan installed the Venomous SB-E is very tolerable sound level wise.

The coolers below are coolers that could also be used passively with really good case airflow.

The Noctua NH-D14, I've used it passively myself with the CPU overclocked in the Cooling Fan Roundup 2012.

The Noctua NH-D15

The Phanteks PH-TC13PE

The Thermalright Silver Arrow

You could always water cool and use the Mighty MO passively, side mounted to your case, wall mounted, or stand alone with it's support feet, (sold separately), and only deal with the pump noise.

Passively none of the heat pipe air coolers run passively can touch the Mighty MOs (Mighty MO is the nickname I gave to mine, a take off on the USS Missouri (BB-63), passive cooling performance!

Don't take my post wrong please, I am not attempting to sell you anything, I am simply telling you that if you want to run passively, you have got to have better performing cooling than you are attempting to do it with now!

When it comes to cooling your CPU you get what you pay for, you cannot use a cheap cooling solution that can barely cool the CPU with the fan or fans it has, and expect to run that same heat sink in passive mode!

 

[synphul]

It can be difficult to passively cool a cpu, especially when you have the fastest performing mainstream/desktop i7 quad core AND you have it oc'd. Most people who are able to achieve passive cooling use lower power chips, underclock etc to reduce power consumption (heat generation) and pair it with a larger than necessary cooler to compensate for the lack of a fan. Extremely quiet passive systems often are a tradeoff, exchanging bleeding edge performance for cooler quieter operation.

Not to say it can't be done, but it will take a decent amount of planning and money spent on a quality cooling solution. Far more than the 412s. Is there a reason for wanting to passively cool the system? A quality cooler uses very little power to drive the fans and can be nearly silent and will maintain good temps even with the overclock.

 

[jsmithepa]

Sure, just do your surfing, email blah-blah, don't even run flash.

Want passive? get one of THESE BABIES. It May want a bigger case though.

 

[William Norberg]

Well, since passive cooling doesn't seem to work very well, i'd love it if some of you could suggest a good cooler that's quiet. Also, if there are led ones (blue leds) it would be great if you could link me to one.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

For the money, it's hard to top these.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709002

Make sure you use the PWM adapter and not just the splitter for the 2 fans.