Which CPU cooler?

[_Pulse_]

Looking at getting a I-5 6600k. Soon as the new series is designed for better overclovking I decided I would go for a liquid cpu cooler. As well the motherboard I have chosen (Asus hero vii) helps with overclovking too. So should get around 4.5Ghz maxed.

I have come down to two options:
- corsair H80i $130 AUD
- corsair H100i GTX $170 AUD

Was just wondering which one I can get better cpu performance out of and by how much? As well as overclovking temps.

Expecting it to be the H100 but just wanting to know if the extra $40 is worth it.

 

[KKAW]

Looking at getting a I-5 6600k. Soon as the new series is designed for better overclovking I decided I would go for a liquid cpu cooler. As well the motherboard I have chosen (Asus hero vii) helps with overclovking too. So should get around 4.5Ghz maxed.

I have come down to two options:
- corsair H80i $130 AUD
- corsair H100i GTX $170 AUD

Was just wondering which one I can get better cpu performance out of and by how much? As well as overclovking temps.

Expecting it to be the H100 but just wanting to know if the extra $40 is worth it.

Honestly the Nepton 120XL or 140XL is a better option, it has excellent cooling for the price.

FrostyTech is a very reliable source: http://www.frostytech.com/top5_liquid_heatsinks.cfm

Unless you want to do very high overclocking the DeepCool Lucifer is also a solid air option that performs like an entry level liquid cooling with good thermals and noise level.

Search in google H80i Benchmarks or H100i Benchmarks and you will be able to find the temperatures when overclocked.

 

[_Pulse_]

Ok, the Nepton 120XL and the 280l both seem like a good options. However with the new chipset, does the mount support LGA1151? Because I was reading that it only supports Intel LGA 2011 / 1366 / 1150 / 1156 / 1155 / 775.

 

[cilliers]

On 2/6/2013, manofchalk said:
"My advice, mid-range coolers arent worth buying. Only get high or low end coolers. Get a H100i, which is the top of the CLC water-coolers, or get a Noctua NH-D14, the top of the air-coolers. Or go all out and get custom water-cooling."

Ref: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/283361-29-h80i-hyper212

 

[_Pulse_]

Looked at the Nepton 280l, its not compatible with the case im looking at. Might have to go for the 240M. Is there much of a performance drop from a downgrade to 2x120mm fans.

 

[Karadjgne]

Air or aio is one of the oldest questions here at Tom's, so it's still quite a popular argument. As far as I know, the lga 1151 socket and the lga 1150/5/6 sockets will all be compatible when it comes to socket height and spacing, so if it fits lga 1155/6, it'll fit 1150/1.

As to coolers, budget aside, it really boils down to aesthetics. Some swear that air looks 'cooler', is quieter, doesn't leak, and some swear that AIO's outperform air, are quieter, and wont break your motherboard. Each design has its bonus's and drawbacks so ultimately it boils down to just what you prefer, according to budget and need.

The Corsair h90 will hang with a h100i all day long and bests it easily in quietness, until you get to @4.8GHz on an Ivy Bridge cpu. The nzxt x41 beats both, until you get to the extreme OC. As does the Phanteks PH-TC14PE or Noctua NH-D14/15. It's only under extreme OC that a 240/280mm rad really comes out on top. Anything less and it's a dead heat.

Yes a 280mm will outperform a 240mm, but not by much, and again, not until you get to extreme OC, otherwise the biggest gain is to be had in fan noise. If you are happy with a 35°C idle and 50°C gaming, the only difference between a 249mm and a 280mm is fan noise. The 140mm fans will by default be spinning slower, so produce less noise than the faster spinning 120mm fans. If you must have absolutely the lowest possible temps, and noise isn't an issue, then 280mm is a must.

The h100i gtx is a 240mm rad that has very good performance for an aio, and the NH-D15 is the rough air equivalent. Both can have issues with case/mobo fitment, both get relatively loud at max fan speed, both will do an excellent job of cooling a cpu under high OC stress testing. Both cost roughly the same.

 

[KKAW]

Ok, the Nepton 120XL and the 280l both seem like a good options. However with the new chipset, does the mount support LGA1151? Because I was reading that it only supports Intel LGA 2011 / 1366 / 1150 / 1156 / 1155 / 775.

Yes almost all coolers that support the all the other sockets support LGA 1551, it's the same bracket.

Also the DeepCool Lucifer is a mid ranged cooler however the benchmarks show the performance of a Seidon 120XL which is impressive for the price and you don't have to worry about a noisy pump, etc.