Looking for help with hot processor (LGA-1150)

[Chupacabra]

Hi all,

New to the forums here and I was hoping for some help with my issue. This isn't specifically an overclocking issue, however due to the extreme temperatures I'm experiencing, I felt you guys would be the ones in the know who might have a good recommendation for me.

I recently got into video encoding and editing and I've noticed that Handbrake likes to skyrocket CPU use up to 96-100% when it is encoding a video. This causes my CPU temperature to skyrocket to 72C, and is no bueno. When not under extreme load, on a cool morning my system will idle around 32C, or on a warm day around 38C using the stock Intel cooler and Arctic Silver paste.

I started researching LGA-1150 heat sinks/fans and found many people liked the Noctua NH-D14. I found others were fans of the Phanteks Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BK. However despite the simply cavernous CPU area in my Antec 900 case (see attached pic), it appears neither heat sink/fan combo will work due to my ram being too tall.

Here are some links to my hardware that I feel will determine the best air cooling solution for me. This isn't a serious gaming system (although I think it has some OC potential), it was just a best bang for the buck system I pieced together for under 600 bones:

Case: Antec 900
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

CPU: i5-4670k*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116899
*Ironically when I decided on the i5 I wasn't the least interested in video editing, now it would have been helpful to have the i7.

Mainboard: Asrock Z87 Extreme6
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157371

RAM: ADATA XPG™ Gaming v2.0 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211766

I don't have a millimeter ruler handy but I tape measured the A-Data ram incl heat spreader at somewhere between 1 7/8" to 1 15/16" in height, which comes out to 47.625 - 49.2125mm when I convert it to metrics. I should probably just be safe and use a 50mm measurement for clearance reasons. Unfortunately the Noctua, although listing being compatible with my mainboard, requires ram height of 44mm or less. The Phanteks is even worse.. it doesn't list itself as compatible with my mainboard, so I e-mailed them. And I'll probably have the same RAM height issue anyway.

But I'm very concerned about these hot temps I'm receiving and want to do something about it fast - this weekend if possible. So I'm asking for help.

What do you think the best bang for the buck air cooling system is that I could fit into my space, given my hardware (RAM height) limitations? I don't want to buy new RAM.**

** Edit: I just realized my RAM appears to have screws to remove the heat spreaders, which would make them much shorter.. but I've never modified my hardware even if it's a simple modification. What are the ramifications of removing RAM heat spreaders?

Thanks for your thoughtful answers.

Chupacabra.

 

[2x4b]

Noctua NH-U12P SE2
Everything the D14 is, but not as tall. The fans can be mounted higher than the RAM heat spreaders.

 

[animal]

You might want to consider getting an AIO water cooler from Corsair (or many other manufacturers).

 

[nikoli707]

the phanteks is better for sure but larger. you can always move your ram into the next slots. you honestly dont need that big of a cooler to work well. a cooler master hyper 212 evo will work fine even up to 4.4ghz overclock. but 72c isn't anything bad at all. generally you want to stay under 80c unless your at a high core voltage like 1.4v or higher then you might want to look into staying in the 75c and under during an intel burn test at maximum stress level.

 

[Chupacabra]

Hi all, thanks for the replies.

Animal--

You might want to consider getting an AIO water cooler from Corsair (or many other manufacturers).

What do you recommend for an AIO cooler? I've never worked with any of them before. After reading this Tom's guide review they sounded like a great alternative, but I'll be damned if I even know how or where to mount the radiator portion. I assume the single fans would might just fit on the back of my case where the exhaust fan is right now. But those double fans that are size by size.. no clue where that would go. I downloaded a manual for one of them and the instructions said "attach it to the case" and showed a generic picture of screws going through it into the top of a generic case.. but my Antec 900 has a big 240mm fan up there. I was like LOL?

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nepton-280l-tundra-td02-water3.0-pro-reserator3-max,3607-11.html

Nepton 280L looks the best performance, but pricey, and hard to get ahold of right now.. several sites are out of stock or don't have it. I'm really not sure I need that much cooling.. maybe not the best pick for me.

the phanteks is better for sure but larger. you can always move your ram into the next slots. you honestly dont need that big of a cooler to work well. a cooler master hyper 212 evo will work fine even up to 4.4ghz overclock. but 72c isn't anything bad at all. generally you want to stay under 80c unless your at a high core voltage like 1.4v or higher then you might want to look into staying in the 75c and under during an intel burn test at maximum stress level.

Hi Nikoli.. I wasn't aware 72C was not "that bad" for heat. If it is not that bad perhaps I don't need to spend as much on a cooling solution so I like your choice of 212 evo. However I was wondering your thoughts on its performance reviews.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-EVO-CPU-Cooler-Review/1407/6
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/LGA-2011-i7-3960X-Air-Overclocking,3130-17.html

Oddly the hardwaresecrets had the 212 evo actually beating the Noctua NH-D14, but the Tom's guide shows the opposite (review is for LGA-2011 but I have 1150). Except for value (cooling vs. $ spent), Tom picks the 212 evo.

If I wanted to overclock more than 4.4ghz, would that even be possible using the 212 evo with my hardware?

Thanks

 

[nikoli707]

by the way... you have socket 1150 with that z87 and 4670k haswell. although im betting that all coolers that fit 1155/1156 will also fit 1150, but maybe not so keep that in mind.

the noctua is a far better cooler than the cm hyper 212. it is much larger, has 2 large heatsinks instead of 1, and 2 fans. i dont know how they have the coolermaster beating a noctua, its just not possible. most people seem to be able to get to at least 4.3ghz on the 4670k with a simple hyper 212, its a great bang for buck cooler.

it is possible to go past 4.4ghz on the 4670k, im willing to be every 4670k is capable of 4.6-4.7ghz as long as you have good cooling and give it enough voltage. im not too familiar with the prefered safe voltage for the 4670k but i think most would like to get as much out of it without going above 1.30v vcore. anything above 1.40v and your going to need very superior water cooling. im sure you can look on the internet what the average overclock to voltage is and how much heat is usually output. for haswell and ivy bridge, heat becomes an issue before high voltages do.

 

[animal]

you might look these over:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-cpu-cooler-kuhlerh2o620

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rls12x24pkr1

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-cpu-cooler-h80i

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-cpu-cooler-lq315

or you can check out some others from this list:

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/cpu-cooler/#R=5,4&w=1

However, the most likely place to install one would be where your current rear 120mm exhaust fan is located which is why I listed a few 120mm sized cooler/radiator/fan set-ups.