[SOLVED] Small and quiet CPU cooler for 9700k

[Deadroth]

Hello My setup is basically 0dB while not gaming with Gainward GTX 1080 GLH (passive cooler while not gaming), G.SKILL Trident RAM 3200MHz, GIGABYTE Z390M, i7-9700K, Corsair RM750i PSU (passive cooler) and case Corsair Crystal Series 280X (15cm CPU fan max height) The only component missing is cooler for CPU, but I really want those G.SKILL Tridents to be fully exposed, can someone please recommend cooler that is as quiet as possible (or passive on idle) and will not cover RAMs?

I thought about getting Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro and maybe turn it sideways? So the fan would be on the opposite side no over RAM?

I also asked about Noctua NH-L9x65 on linus forums, so it is basically compatible: https://noctua.at/en/products/cpu-cooler-retail/nh-l9x65/cpucomp
If I never plan to overclock is it enough? Thank you very much.

 

[prince_xaine]

You could always try an AIO or a Hyper 212 Evo

 

[Deadroth]

Thank you. I see basically everywhere that AIOs got noisy fans or pumps or they leak.. Can I maybe rotate that Dark rock fan? In general is changing position of cooler even possible?

 

[Karadjgne]

Incorrect. Most ppl base opinion about AIO's on second hand info, they read somewhere, posted by someone who heard it from someone else, who owned a old Corsair Hydro series cooler, which for a fact has miserably loud fans no doubt.

My nzxt Kraken X61 has loud fans, sure, at max speed (performance mode) which is roughly 3°C better temps at max than silent mode where the fans run at a silent(barely audible) 900rpm, and idle just above 450rpm which is dead silent.

As for leaks, over 95% of all leaks can de directly attributed to the installer twisting the tubing up like a pretzel and putting undue stress on the fittings before the pc is even turned on. Of course the resultant leak gets blamed on the AIO because nobody will either admit to a crappy install or is clueless to the fact they caused it in the first place.

You can orient a cooler any which way it physically fits, just be aware that the fans might hit the gpu, ram, rear exhaust fan etc. You can even install the air coolers 180° backwards and they'll be fine, with a fan on the rear not the front, as long as the fan is oriented to draw fresh air and exhaust it out of the case, not into the case.

AIO's are known for leaks. What's little talked about is aircooler failures. Warped base plates, bad solder joints on heatpipes leaking at high temps, cracked fins, direct contact heatpipes falling out of the base etc. I've seen all those, failures happen. It's unavoidable, there's always a percentage of failures in anything manufactured that can get by quality control on a Friday afternoon or Monday morning.

But ppl didn't have an Aio they made leak all over their motherboard causing large scale failures, they had an aircooler they simply swapped out.

For silent operation you want to go with the biggest cooler you can get, be it air or aio. The only thing that makes enough noise to be heard is the fans at high rpm. Bigger the cooler, more efficient it is, slower the fans spin, quieter it is. Smaller = louder. There's no avoiding the noise put out by a small fan at 2400 rpm vrs a large fan at 900rpm.