Should I Get a CPU Cooler For This Build?

[Hastur The Unspeakable]

Hello TH community, I currently finished up my PC build, and have ordered the parts. This is the current buildlist

Motherboard
ASUS H97M-PLUS LGA 1150

Ram
Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB)

Graphics Card
Sapphire Radeon R9 280

Power Supply Unit
Antec TruePower Classic Series 650 watt

CPU
i3 4160

Optical Reader
ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM

HDD
Western Digital Blue WD10EZEX 1TB

Case
NZXT Phantom 410

OS
Windows 7


I was just wondering if I would need an aftermarket CPU cooler for my i3. I plan on using my PC for gaming. I plan to play games such as DoTA 2, Hearthstone, Skyrim, Minecraft, the new magic origins game when it comes out, MTGO, and Witcher 3. I usually play for roughly 2-3 hour stints and my room is usually stuffy because I have wool carpeting. The newegg reviews either said the stock fan was perfect, or terrible. So what do you guys think? If I need to get an aftermarket cooler, I would prefer it be under $30. Thank you for your time.

 

[DaronMal]

Hello TH community, I currently finished up my PC build, and have ordered the parts. This is the current buildlist

Motherboard
ASUS H97M-PLUS LGA 1150

Ram
Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB)

Graphics Card
Sapphire Radeon R9 280

Power Supply Unit
Antec TruePower Classic Series 650 watt

CPU
i3 4160

Optical Reader
ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM

HDD
Western Digital Blue WD10EZEX 1TB

Case
NZXT Phantom 410

OS
Windows 7


I was just wondering if I would need an aftermarket CPU cooler for my i3. I plan on using my PC for gaming. I plan to play games such as DoTA 2, Hearthstone, Skyrim, Minecraft, the new magic origins game when it comes out, MTGO, and Witcher 3. I usually play for roughly 2-3 hour stints and my room is usually stuffy because I have wool carpeting. The newegg reviews either said the stock fan was perfect, or terrible. So what do you guys think? If I need to get an aftermarket cooler, I would prefer it be under $30. Thank you for your time.

Intel's stock CPU coolers are 100% capable of cooling the CPU they come with. The general rule is:

Overclocking = yes = aftermarket CPU cooler
Overclocking = no = stock CPU cooler

 

[viewtyjoe]

The only reason to get an aftermarket cooler is if you want something quieter than a stock cooler or are overclocking. Otherwise, the stock coolers will almost always get the job done.

 

[Blueberries]

Keep the stock cooler if you don't mind noise, shoddy cooling performance, and a cheap fan that will have rattly bearings after a few years.

 

[Hastur The Unspeakable]

Keep the stock cooler if you don't mind noise, shoddy cooling performance, and a cheap fan that will have rattly bearings after a few years.

Alright. Bearing that in mind what would you recommend as an alternative?

 

[Blueberries]

Keep the stock cooler if you don't mind noise, shoddy cooling performance, and a cheap fan that will have rattly bearings after a few years.

Alright. Bearing that in mind what would you recommend as an alternative?

LOL

http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NH-L9x65-Low-Profile-LGA2011-Bearing/dp/B00VB3Y89E

These are really, really, really good. Meaning the best you can get for your application. But that's $60.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608029

This is the old version for just $40.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

These are $35 and will do the trick if it fits, but I'd bite the bullet and get one of the above instead, they're definitely worth it.

 

[DaronMal]

Keep the stock cooler if you don't mind noise, shoddy cooling performance, and a cheap fan that will have rattly bearings after a few years.

Alright. Bearing that in mind what would you recommend as an alternative?

Stock cooler is fine, if you dont want that, the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo is a really good cooler for the price, if it's too loud, go for a Noctua NH-D14

 

[Hastur The Unspeakable]

Keep the stock cooler if you don't mind noise, shoddy cooling performance, and a cheap fan that will have rattly bearings after a few years.

Alright. Bearing that in mind what would you recommend as an alternative?

LOL

http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NH-L9x65-Low-Profile-LGA2011-Bearing/dp/B00VB3Y89E

These are really, really, really good. Meaning the best you can get for your application. But that's $60.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608029

This is the old version for just $40.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

These are $35 and will do the trick if it fits, but I'd bite the bullet and get one of the above instead, they're definitely worth it.

Alright. Thank you for the input. I will wait for a few more responses before I make a final decision, but you have swayed me a bit.

 

[Hastur The Unspeakable]

Alright so the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo seems like the best bet for aftermarket cooling. My only question is- will it fit in my rig despite the obnoxiously flared heatsinks of my RAM? Will anything else obstruct it?

 

[DaronMal]

Alright so the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo seems like the best bet for aftermarket cooling. My only question is- will it fit in my rig despite the obnoxiously flared heatsinks of my RAM? Will anything else obstruct it?

It's a super popular CPU cooler, so I'd think it would fit over your RAM, like it does mine.

 

[Blueberries]

Alright so the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo seems like the best bet for aftermarket cooling. My only question is- will it fit in my rig despite the obnoxiously flared heatsinks of my RAM? Will anything else obstruct it?

Probably. The L9i includes a better fan with a lower minimum RPM as well as better cabling options and will definitely fit for just a day's lunch more.

 

[Hastur The Unspeakable]

Alright so the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo seems like the best bet for aftermarket cooling. My only question is- will it fit in my rig despite the obnoxiously flared heatsinks of my RAM? Will anything else obstruct it?

Probably. The L9i includes a better fan with a lower minimum RPM as well as better cabling options and will definitely fit for just a day's lunch more.

Yea, I'm liking the looks of the L9i one far more. I want a build that is going to last me a good 3-4 years, so I'm not going to skimp. Thank you for the help.