Cooling a 3570k?

[Miller40hands]

Need a little help. Running a 3570k and want it to cool properly while overclocking to around 4.4. Running a 780 SLI set-up in a Phantek Enthoo Primo Case. Should I just go with the cheaper option of EVO 212 or save and not overclock until watercooling? Noise is not an issue at all. Could really use some insight as I myself am torn.

 

[Eduello]

I'd say neither; The 212 Evo is great, but it's not the most powerful cooler out there, whereas AIO water cooling units are usually very overpriced; You can match a Corsair H100i with a Noctua HN-D14, but the H100i is significantly more expensive. This is why I suggest getting a big air cooler like the NH-D14/15 or the Phanteks PH-TC14PE.

 

[Onus]

^Agreed. A quality 140mm air cooler (if it will fit in your case) is the way to go. If it won't fit, then you might consider a "better" (240mm rad) AIO if you can afford it. Otherwise, I know of no time during the past few years that a competitor's 120mm tower cooler has not offered similar performance to the often-parroted Hyper212 EVO for up to 30% less. For example, the Hyper212 Plus, the similar previous version (maybe 1C-2C hotter) is around $20-$22 now. Masscool also has one for $22.