Question Noctua NH-L9i-17xx and i5-14600K?

[jnjnilson6]

I've a friend whom I've helped build his current desktop back in 2016. Had a list of all the components, but currently I have it no longer. This is what I'm gathering up from the edges of memory.

Mobo: Asus Z170-P
CPU: i7-6700
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master HYPER 212 EVO (I think?)
RAM: 2x 8 GB DDR4 (I think 2400 MHz) Corsair
GPU: Radeon RX 580 (Sapphire)
PSU: 1200W Cooler Master
Box: (have forgotten; but it was Cooler Master)
SSD: 256 GB SATA (Samusing - I think.)

I've compiled a list of specifications for an update of that system:

Motherboard - ASUS Prime B760-PLUS D4:
147.89 EUR

Amazon.fr

--

CPU - Core i5-14600K:
336.00 EUR

Amazon.fr

--

CPU Cooler - Noctua NH-L9i-17xx:
59.90 EUR

Amazon.fr

--

RAM - 32 GB DDR4 @ 3200 MHz Viper Steel:

Amazon.fr

73.99 EUR

--

SSD - Samsung 980 PRO 500 GB:
84.93 EUR

Amazon.fr

TOTAL: 702.71 EUR

He will be keeping the Box and the PSU and everything not included within the newer specifications. The parts are on the French Amazon coinciding with wherefrom he'll be purchasing.

Do tell me what you think and, especially, about the fan (Noctua NH-L9i-17xx) and the i5-14600K which he'll not be overclocking. The machine will be used for animation. We've chosen the more compact fan for the new build due to the fact the Cooler Master Hyper 212 of the current build ended up shadowing 2 of the motherboard's memory slots and a more compact fan will not harbor such potential negative repercussions.

Thank you very much!

 

[Lafong]

Have you gone over the various Noctua compatibility lists?

That cooler is 37 mm tall. Pity if height is your limiting factor. Low profile has major limitations.

Some Noctua towers are designed not to overhang RAM slots at all. Not sure what you mean by "shadowing" with the Coolermaster.

If you need a short-ish Noctua tower, the standard recommendations would be U9S at 125 mm and D12L at 145 mm. Both considerably better than L9i, but maybe you have rejected them for whatever reason.

How perturbed would your friend be if had to de-tune the 14700K or accept throttling? Ideally, he would be not be a high anxiety type re temps.

 

[punkncat]

The NH-L9i is not going to keep that CPU cool. I attempted to use one on an 11600K for a specialty build and it couldn't even hold what I considered a reasonable idle temp, much less under load.

 

[jnjnilson6]

Have you gone over the various Noctua compatibility lists?

That cooler is 37 mm tall. Pity if height is your limiting factor. Low profile has major limitations.

Some Noctua towers are designed not to overhang RAM slots at all. Not sure what you mean by "shadowing" with the Coolermaster.

If you need a short-ish Noctua tower, the standard recommendations would be U9S at 125 mm and D12L at 145 mm. Both considerably better than L9i, but maybe you have rejected them for whatever reason.

How perturbed would your friend be if had to de-tune the 14700K or accept throttling? Ideally, he would be not be a high anxiety type re temps.

By shadowing I mean leaning over to the point it would be impossible to insert RAM sticks in those two slots.

Well, he really does expect a tremendous level of performance over the i7-6700. Before that he had a Core 2 Quad Q8200 and the difference between that and the i7-6700 is a little less than the diff. between the i7-6700 and the i5-14600K.

He would want very good performance because he's an animator and he needs something very good. I cannot produce the particular model of the PC Box. Maybe he has the box in which it was shipped at home and a model could be retrieved from there. But it was tall enough for the Cooler Master 212 EVO.

 

[Lafong]

What is the RAM clearance of my Noctua CPU cooler?

If you already have a motherboard and RAM for your future build, you can verify your memory module, socket and cooler combination is compatible by entering your components in the RAM compatibility section of our Noctua Compatibility Centre (NCC)....

faqs.noctua.at

Noctua RAM clearance chart above. I use the U9S with no issues regarding any of 4 RAM slots. Previously used U12S with no issues.

 

[jnjnilson6]

What is the RAM clearance of my Noctua CPU cooler?

If you already have a motherboard and RAM for your future build, you can verify your memory module, socket and cooler combination is compatible by entering your components in the RAM compatibility section of our Noctua Compatibility Centre (NCC)....

faqs.noctua.at

Noctua RAM clearance chart above. I use the U9S with no issues regarding any of 4 RAM slots. Previously used U12S with no issues.

Which fans would be good enough that the i5-14600K does not throttle and would not be too much bigger than the Cooler Master HYPER 212 EVO (since I do not have the PC Box model and do not know the height; only that the CM 212 EVO did fit in) and come at a good price?

 

[Phaaze88]

Which Hyper 212 Evo? There's a few models, with differing heights - according to PCpartpicker - at 154, 155, and 159mm tall.

CPU - Core i5-14600K

not overclocking

Consider the non-K cpus. They're actually the better versions - what the Ks should've been. The K cpus have worse power management for the tiny bump in frequency that's advertised over the non-Ks. You may even be able to get away with a smaller cooler with a non-K.
With how hard the Core-i cpus are pushed out the door, there's less reason for folks to get K cpus. Plus, most vendors preset their Z motherboards to push the already power leaky K cpus even harder, leading a fair number of folks to crappy experiences and sinking excessive amounts of money into coolers.


NH-L9i-17xx
14600K - no turbo/overclocking headroom
14600 - low turbo/overclocking headroom

 

[Lafong]

You'd have to confirm, but I think the Coolermaster 212 is 159 mm tall.

Noctua U12S is 158

Noctua U14S is 165

Noctua D12L is 145 and a bit superior to the above 2.

All superior to Coolermaster.

Noctua’s Standardised Performance Rating (NSPR) and compatibility classification for CPU coolers Designed in Austria, Noctua's premium cooling components are renowned for their superb quietness, exceptional performance and thoroughgoing quality. noctua.at

For all I know, your case can accept any and all coolers. Noctua or otherwise.

There are cheaper good coolers than Noctua, but I have not kept up with their heights.

 

[jnjnilson6]

You'd have to confirm, but I think the Coolermaster 212 is 159 mm tall.

Noctua U12S is 158

Noctua U14S is 165

Noctua D12L is 145 and a bit superior to the above 2.

All superior to Coolermaster.

Noctua’s Standardised Performance Rating (NSPR) and compatibility classification for CPU coolers Designed in Austria, Noctua's premium cooling components are renowned for their superb quietness, exceptional performance and thoroughgoing quality. noctua.at

For all I know, your case can accept any and all coolers. Noctua or otherwise.

There are cheaper good coolers than Noctua, but I have not kept up with their heights.

Thank you! Would the Noctua NH-U9S be good enough for stuttering not to be experienced; for temperatures to be maintained in the norms even during heavy load and for the maximal potential of the CPU to be continually achieved?

 

[Lafong]

Thank you! Would the Noctua NH-U9S be good enough for stuttering not to be experienced; for temperatures to be maintained in the norms even during heavy load and for the maximal potential of the CPU to be continually achieved?

I have no idea. I use a U9S, but not on a recent processor. I may well end up using it on a 13600K or 14600K, but I am not frantic about temps and getting "maximum potential" or "continually achieved".

Unless you have cost limitations, why go with U9S? If cost is of little consequence, I'd get the D12L....I assume you don't want the quite bulky and taller D15.

If cost is an issue, there are 2 or 3 highly regarded cheaper brand choices....Peerless something or other? Thermalright? Can't recall and I do not know their height or RAM clearance issues. I think they are circa 50 US dollars.

 

[jnjnilson6]

I have no idea. I use a U9S, but not on a recent processor. I may well end up using it on a 13600K or 14600K, but I am not frantic about temps and getting "maximum potential" or "continually achieved".

Unless you have cost limitations, why go with U9S? If cost is of little consequence, I'd get the D12L....I assume you don't want the quite bulky and taller D15.

If cost is an issue, there are 2 or 3 highly regarded cheaper brand choices....Peerless something or other? Thermalright? Can't recall and I do not know their height or RAM clearance issues. I think they are circa 50 US dollars.

Thank you very much!

Well, if you can go to amazon.fr and judging by the prices there select the best options for 50 to 70 euro and provide them here that would bring to great illumination and fall within the synonymousness of the budget.

 

[Lafong]

I don't Parleyvoo, so can't help.

 

[geofelt]

Noctua maintains a list of suitable coolers for various processors.
Here is the list for the 14700K :
https://ncc.noctua.at/cpus/model/INTEL-Core-i7-14700K-1760
The l9I is on the list, but only for minimal cooling.
What is the make/model of the case?
Since it permits a hyper212 @ 158mm.\the NH-D15S or NH-U12A would be some of the best available.
When you are paying that much for a cpu upgrade, don't go too cheap on the cooler.

 

[jnjnilson6]

Noctua maintains a list of suitable coolers for various processors.
Here is the list for the 14700K :
https://ncc.noctua.at/cpus/model/INTEL-Core-i7-14700K-1760
The l9I is on the list, but only for minimal cooling.
What is the make/model of the case?
Since it permits a hyper212 @ 158mm.\the NH-D15S or NH-U12A would be some of the best available.
When you are paying that much for a cpu upgrade, don't go too cheap on the cooler.

Can the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO which is currently in the i7-6700 system be used for the LGA1700 / Core i5-14600K system?

 

[geofelt]

No, the hole dimensions for lga1700 are a bit wider.
More importantly, the height of the lga1700 socket is lower and the old cooler would not make proper contact or have the correct pressure.
There may be lga1700 adapters for the hyper 212, but
Hyper212 was a cheap cooler that I found hard to mount level.
I would not use it on such a nice processor as the 14700K
There are many superior lga1700 coolers that are under $50

 

[drjohnnyfever]

Can the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO which is currently in the i7-6700 system be used for the LGA1700 / Core i5-14600K system?

I got the i5-14600K at $299 right before it increased on Amazon for a gamer my son and I built. It's excellent. We used the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120SE ARGB. I stress tested it with CPU-Z stress test and watched the temps with HWMonitor. The temps never got over 72C, in fact, they hovered between 70-72C. He plays Red Dead 2 and FN and it runs cool. We have not overclocked it.

 

[35below0]

If your case can fit it, the Phantom Spirit Evo is going to cool more or less anything, and it is about 50 euro: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0CL9J6W5W?tag=pcp09-21&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

The 14600K is not a monster, so a smaller cooler will do. But we'd need to know the exact model of the case. Check the case manual, it will state the max size of a CPU cooler.

The Noctua D9L is not too tall and shoud handle the 14600K. It's not great, just good enough.
Here's what Noctua say about the 14600K and their coolers: https://ncc.noctua.at/cpus/model/INTEL-Core-i5-14600K-1758

Again, not knowing how much space is available makes it pointless to suggest a cooler.

 

[jnjnilson6]

If your case can fit it, the Phantom Spirit Evo is going to cool more or less anything, and it is about 50 euro: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0CL9J6W5W?tag=pcp09-21&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

The 14600K is not a monster, so a smaller cooler will do. But we'd need to know the exact model of the case. Check the case manual, it will state the max size of a CPU cooler.

The Noctua D9L is not too tall and shoud handle the 14600K. It's not great, just good enough.
Here's what Noctua say about the 14600K and their coolers: https://ncc.noctua.at/cpus/model/INTEL-Core-i5-14600K-1758

Again, not knowing how much space is available makes it pointless to suggest a cooler.

Thank you very much! My friend ended up finding the specifications of the PC Box. It is a Cooler Master N400. We're thinking on getting the Noctua NH-U12S cooler, the ASUS Prime B760-PLUS D4 motherboard and, perhaps, maybe even the Core i7-14700.

It says the cooler has good RAM clearance:

https://faqs.noctua.at/en/support/s...-is-the-ram-clearance-of-my-noctua-cpu-cooler


Would that type of cooler (NH-U12S) and the motherboard we've chosen (ASUS B760-PLUS D4) leave everything like RAM and PCIe slots available and fit in nicely and properly in the case? Is the Noctua NH-U12S better than the coolers you've provided?

He currently has the Cooler Master 212EVO and an ASUS Z170-P motherboard and the cooler is too close to 2 of the 4 RAM slots due to which he does not think it would be a very good and practicable idea to use them.

We may also get 64 GB DDR4 @ 3200 MHz RAM (2x32 GB). As stated the machine will be used for animation.

Thank you very much for writing up and giving that wonderful information! 👍

 

[jnjnilson6]

If your case can fit it, the Phantom Spirit Evo is going to cool more or less anything, and it is about 50 euro: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0CL9J6W5W?tag=pcp09-21&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

The 14600K is not a monster, so a smaller cooler will do. But we'd need to know the exact model of the case. Check the case manual, it will state the max size of a CPU cooler.

The Noctua D9L is not too tall and shoud handle the 14600K. It's not great, just good enough.
Here's what Noctua say about the 14600K and their coolers: https://ncc.noctua.at/cpus/model/INTEL-Core-i5-14600K-1758

Again, not knowing how much space is available makes it pointless to suggest a cooler.

Another little question. Since we do not know what version BIOS the motherboard he purchases (ASUS B760-PLUS D4) will come with there comes up the question about 14th gen support. I wonder if the motherboard comes with a version earlier than that which supports 14th gen what the options would be. (Since he does not have a 12th or 13th gen CPU with which to update the BIOS). Is the chance of getting the mobo with an older BIOS big or small? And if it does come with an older BIOS will an update at the hardware store be the only way of making the i7-14700 work?

 

[Lafong]

That case accepts coolers up to 164 mm;

U12S should not overhang or interfere with anything.

Difficult/impossible to know what BIOS board might arrive with. You should at minimum inspect Asus web site to see what they say about the various BIOSes available.

Seriously doubt if any of the better coolers will differ significantly on temps, but I don't know how anxious/fussy the user is re temps. Maybe 2 degrees is a big deal to him...in which case he can hope to rely on reviews or somehow experiment with various coolers.

 

[35below0]

The ASUS Prime B760-PLUS D4 motherboard supports 12th gen and 13th gen. No word on 14th gen.
The manual does not say BIOS can be flashed without a CPU installed.

You want a ASUS B760M motherboard. Those will support the 14th gen intels.
For example ASUS B760M-PLUS: https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/prime/prime-b760m-plus/techspec/

 

[jnjnilson6]

The ASUS Prime B760-PLUS D4 motherboard supports 12th gen and 13th gen. No word on 14th gen.
The manual does not say BIOS can be flashed without a CPU installed.

You want a ASUS B760M motherboard. Those will support the 14th gen intels.
For example ASUS B760M-PLUS: https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/prime/prime-b760m-plus/techspec/

https://www.asus.com/motherboards-c...elpdesk_qvl_cpu?model2Name=PRIME-B760-PLUS-D4

 

[geofelt]

The i9-14900 would be a very good alternative to the I7-14700K.
Performance at stock(no overclocking possible) is essentially the same.

The 14900 support started with bios 1205 which will be present on all motherboards made since June of 2023.
In the event that you bought old stock, here are some options:
1. Try it, differences from 13th gen are minor and may be mostly documentation.
2. Have the store or a repair shop update the bios for you.
3. Buy an inexpensive celeron to do the flash.

Being a 65w processor, that is not overclockable, I would use the excellent RH1 cooler that comes with the 14700
You can always change out the cooler later if you really think you need to.