Which CPU Cooler?

[M4ttHardware]

Hi, I have decided to go for noctua to cool my i5 4670k but I cannot make up my mind between the NH U14S or the NH C14. Which one cools better? Are there any compatibility issues? I am hoping to get some advice from you people.

Also, should I bother getting the NH D15? Is the extra performance really worth the extra money and trouble of working around the large heat sink each time I try to upgrade my computer in the future.

If you people have any other cooler out there around the same price range or cheaper that doesn't have many compatibility issues, feel free to state them. 😀

 

[Dom_79]

Since you have the unlocked "K" processor I'd assume you want to overclock. Get the best performing cooler you can for the extra heat from overclocking and go with the D15. most "compatibility" issues come down to RAM height clearance. What motherboard are you looking to get? get the length/width specs from the cooler and see if they will overlap the RAM slots on the mobo. If so you're going to need either A: a different mobo, or B: low profile RAM.

When upgrading in the future the only time the large air cooler will be in your way is when you upgrade your RAM (for obvious reasons) or your PSU as it may make getting to the CPU power connectors difficult. How often do you plan to upgrade either of those parts vs. how much cooling do you want for OC?

BTW if it does get in your way you can always remove it, clean thermal paste+reapply and re-seat the cooler 😉

 

[M4ttHardware]

Since you have the unlocked "K" processor I'd assume you want to overclock. Get the best performing cooler you can for the extra heat from overclocking and go with the D15. most "compatibility" issues come down to RAM height clearance. What motherboard are you looking to get? get the length/width specs from the cooler and see if they will overlap the RAM slots on the mobo. If so you're going to need either A: a different mobo, or B: low profile RAM.

When upgrading in the future the only time the large air cooler will be in your way is when you upgrade your RAM (for obvious reasons) or your PSU as it may make getting to the CPU power connectors difficult. How often do you plan to upgrade either of those parts vs. how much cooling do you want for OC?

BTW if it does get in your way you can always remove it, clean thermal paste+reapply and re-seat the cooler 😉

Hi, thanks for your reply. I am using G-Skill Rip Jaw X 8GB RAM and the Asrock Z97 Extreme4 motherboard. I plan to upgrade maybe once a year, it depends, sometimes more. I would like to overclock the i5 4670k to maybe about 4.2 Ghz, 4.5 Ghz if it is possible. I might change to water cooling in the future when I feel more comfortable but I would like to stay with air cooling for now. By the way, how much can I move my case before it becomes unsafe for my motherboard with the NH D15?

Oh, and do you know which is better? The NH U14S or the NH C14.