[SOLVED] What would be a good liquid cooler on a budget for a FX 8350

[mrgrunts]

I am looking to liquid cool my FX 8350. I do not over clock but it does tend to run hot when playing some games.
I am capable of running 120 or 240 fans but would like to stay with a single 120mm, budget for this is 70 or less.
any recommendation would be great. Thank you in advance.

 

[jesse13williamson]

Hello. If it's running a bit hot with the stock cooler, you could absolutely get the job done with a high-quality air cooler. A great cooler is the Noctua NH-D9L. However, if you'd like to go the AIO route, the Corsair H60 would have no trouble keeping your FX 8350 cool at stock clock speeds.

Noctua NH-D9L: https://www.newegg.com/noctua-nh-d9...9l&cm_re=noctua_nh_d9l-_-35-608-068-_-Product

Corsair H60: https://www.newegg.com/corsair-liquid-cooling-system/p/N82E16835181140?Item=9SIAFVF7MZ6530

Hope this helps!

 

[USAFRet]

I am looking to liquid cool my FX 8350. I do not over clock but it does tend to run hot when playing some games.
I am capable of running 120 or 240 fans but would like to stay with a single 120mm, budget for this is 70 or less.
any recommendation would be great. Thank you in advance.

A 120mm liquid cooler is no better, and more expensive, than a good air cooler.

 

[mrgrunts]

Im running with a cooler master hyper 212 now and have been since i put all this together,
The Noctua is about the same size as the 212 and takes a lot of case room right in the middle. I think this is my problem , The air flow, So if I take that big thing out and go liquid that will free up a lot of room for air on other hardware. The Corsair H60 is something Im looking for Size wise, Is there any other options Or does everyone agree the Corsair H60 is the way to go.

BTW, Thank you very much for the info Jesse13. Right now I have the Corsair in my shopping cart.

 

[Phaaze88]

In a number of ways AIOs are actually WORSE for the FX series, due to most people who owned FX 8xxx and 9xxx having cheaped out on the motherboards...
Corsair H60 sucks.
H80 or bust, but what is the motherboard? This matters because, while you may get lower temps for the cpu, the mobo VRMs will run hotter, and that is a no-no depending on the mobo model.

 

[USAFRet]

H80 or bust, but what is the motherboard? This matters because, while you may get lower temps for the cpu, the mobo VRMs will run hotter, and that is a no-no depending on the mobo model.

Yep.
Unless it is a AIO like the Cryorig A80 with the extra fan on the pump, the area near the CPU and VRM is now starved of moving air.

 

[Phaaze88]

Cryorig A80

I wonder why designs like that and Arctic's Liquid Freezer 2 aren't more popular...

 

[jesse13williamson]

Im running with a cooler master hyper 212 now and have been since i put all this together,
The Noctua is about the same size as the 212 and takes a lot of case room right in the middle. I think this is my problem , The air flow, So if I take that big thing out and go liquid that will free up a lot of room for air on other hardware. The Corsair H60 is something Im looking for Size wise, Is there any other options Or does everyone agree the Corsair H60 is the way to go.

BTW, Thank you very much for the info Jesse13. Right now I have the Corsair in my shopping cart.

No worries, I'm glad to help! You're right, AIO coolers generally result in a lower case temp which is nice, and save a considerable amount of room. However, when it comes down to an air cooler or a 120mm AIO cooler, you'll likely get overall better performance and less noise if you take the air cooler route. But in this case either cooler will be more than enough to get the job done, so I suppose it really comes down to which cooler you prefer aesthetically.

 

[mrgrunts]

ASUS M5a99fx pro
FX8350 CPU
ASUS GTX 970 GPU
2 SSD'

In a number of ways AIOs are actually WORSE for the FX series, due to most people who owned FX 8xxx and 9xxx having cheaped out on the motherboards...
Corsair H60 sucks.
H80 or bust, but what is the motherboard? This matters because, while you may get lower temps for the cpu, the mobo VRMs will run hotter, and that is a no-no depending on the mobo model.

 

[USAFRet]

I wonder why designs like that and Arctic's Liquid Freezer 2 aren't more popular...

$$.
Seeing a the same size for $125, or $95...most people assume Liquid == good, and go for the cheaper one.
Or even worse, 120mm Liquid == good simply because liquid is involved.

 

[Phaaze88]

Okey-dokey, you're fine on the motherboard front.
On the cooler part, with a budget of 70USD... yeah... just scratch liquid cooling off the list. There's nothing worthwhile on the liquid end that will 'stomp' your Hyper 212.
Arctic Freezer 34 eSports Duo
Noctua NH-U14S or U12S
Cooler Master MA410M
be quiet! Shadow Rock 3 or Dark Rock Slim
Thermalright Macho Rev. B/C/Direct or True Spirit 140
Scythe Ninja 5 or Fuma 2

 

[DSzymborski]

I agree with the others in going with an air cooler, preferably one that blows air over the VRMs. AIO's don't really become preferable in most cases until you get to the better ones and in truth, the price of a good AIO cooler is enough that I'd be far more interested in saving that money towards replacing an FX-8350, not cooling one.