Choice between fan vs liquid cooling for Intel i9-7900X CPU

[dc2000]

Hi everyone:

I'm building my new high end workstation. And I'm a little bit behind the curve on all this. So your guidance will be appreciated.

I'm buying the Intel Core i9-7900X Processor that will be mounted in the Gigabyte X299 Aorus Game 7 Pro motherboard. And almost everywhere I look people are using those glowing liquid cooled setups like this one: NZXT RL-KRX62-02 Kraken X62 280mm

I'll be honest. I don't feel good about introducing any water into this expensive rig I'm building. Thus my question. Can I get away with using just a conventional CPU fan like this one?

At the same time I don't want to burn my setup either

 

[Lutfij]

Don't bother with a Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo, you would need some beefy cooling and if you overclock on the CPU, you will need a cooler that has much higher TDP support like the Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4.

 

[dc2000]

Don't bother with a Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo, you would need some beefy cooling and if you overclock on the CPU, you will need a cooler that has much higher TDP support like the Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4.

Oh, thanks. So what you're looking for is that TDP value, right? If so, where do you get it from? Can you explain.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

it's hard to explain the relation between TDP on the cooler and CPU - simply put, there is none XD
the TDP ratings on the coolers from the same company can be related - so higher is better.
If this CPU is a bit overclocked, it will easily consume over 200watts. if this load is sustained, the problem will be cooling VRM on the motherboard, not the CPU.
something like this https://www.evga.com/products/product.aspx?pn=151-SX-E299-KR would make much more sense. It's a real MB vs shiny toy for Christmas tree.

Back to CPU cooling, if you manage to have the VRM on the MB actively cooled, there is no problem to go with AiO. Though something like this https://www.swiftech.com/drivex3aio.aspx is IMHO better than any crap made by asetek (https://www.asetek.com/desktop/do-it-yourself/).
Or you can use any high end (large) cooler from Noctua and Be Quiet!. The Dark Rock TF would make most sense, especially if you don't change the MB.
Otherwise NH-D15S or Dark Rock 4 Pro