First challenging build in progress, air cooling options?

Gryfaun

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Apr 17, 2015
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I am living in a very hot country, ambient temps of over 30 degrees C all year round. I plan to travel with my case, so I don't want to try water cooling.

I plan to get the Geforce 970 Strix (4GB) and a CPU cooler.

Space is definitely an issue in the case but an NHD14, TPC 812 or even the V8 GTS "should" fit. I have just read so many conflicting reviews and I'm stumped. Will a big CPU cooler negatively affect general airflow in the cramped case? Should I rather go with a smaller cooler, 212 EVO or Noctua U12P or something?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Here are my specs so far:

Mobo: Gryphon Z97 Matx
RAM: 2x 8GB Vengeance Pro
Case: Bitfenix Prodigy M
PSU: Silverstone 550W
CPU: i5 4690K
Fans: 2x120 and 1x200
ODD (I want to keep it)


 
Solution
This guy used a H80i in that case:

46_11_bitfenix_prodigy_m_build_part_2_the_build.jpg


http://www.tweaktown.com/tweakipedia/46/bitfenix-prodigy-m-build-part-2-the-build/index.html

Noctua NH-D14 and NH-D15 are the best air coolers you can get. Together with cryorig ultimate...

Moving your case with large air coolers as these is more of an issue than with AIO CL liquid cooler. You wouldn't be the first one to beak MB cause of big heavy air cooler wrecking ball... you're best of with mediocre air coolers (single tower) you mention or AIO CL LC if you dont want to risk breaking your MB while moving it.
 
^Yes, actually most people get AIO water-cooling when they need to move their case often. Large air coolers and very heavy and unbalanced. NOT meant for any movement. Also if you have noticed, pre-built systems (from IBUYPOWER for example) that need to be shipped to your house mostly ship with watercooling solutions now.


Especially in a hot place, its best to get a water-cooling solution, so you don't exhaust the heat from ur cpu into ur case. Something like the h100i will exhaust cpu heat directly outside ur case. Its also safer for traveling.

 
Thanks for the replies. :) I think I can rule out the big coolers now. I played on sketch up this morning with the gpu dimensions etc:

http://postimg.org/image/q3axlxbqx/

and it looks like I'd have to take the ODD out to fit the gpu in if i get a cooler with fans bigger than 120mm.... and, as you said Neutr1n, the weight of a big cooler on my vertical mobo while travelling is not a good idea.

I guess the question now is...which little air cooler or AIO? I'm leaning towards the U12, but it's not very pretty. I'm a bit worried about water cooling, I understand that AIOs are pretty safe and sturdy, I just know that when I go back home I won't have access to any IT hardware stores if something goes wrong. (Literally, no IT stores). Maybe I should buy an air cooler for back up? Then I'd have an excuse to keep playing with my build :)

I don't think the H100i would fit, unless I take out the ODD....time to research on 120 - 140 mm AIOs!

Thanks guys :)