Z Overlord

1 hour ago, WoodenMarker said:

Where are you shopping / located? Budget?

What ram are you using?

1 hour ago, Daniel Z. said:

Noctua NH-D15 or D-14 are great.

ok so I looked and I got in this (gifted) PC those stupid Ripjaw ram kits which probably have clearance profiles with those coolers. (F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL if anyone happens to have tried those with those coolers). 

I guess I can try removing the ram heat spreaders

So I know the case isn't the best for cooling but I want to do this anyways. What's my best options for OCing an i5 4690K? 

If you want something quite cheap, Fractal Design Arc Midi R2. Do you have the cooler or are you going to buy it?

oh I am willing to spend if it justifies itself and cools well. I just don't need like seven DVD drives + eight hard drive cages or whatever it is case makers think people want. I don't mind if the case has that, basically nothing is a deal breaker unless it has horrible temps.

Motherboard format?

Motherboard format?

ATX (Z77 Sabertooth if it matters)

I used to have the Corsair Obsidian 800D and used it with that CPU cooler and my temps were so low I would see other people's temps and think they were overheating  :lol:

Anywho, I only am interested in using that cpu cooler and no water cooling, and I don't need or use a DVD drive, what's a good case with good airflow for my baby? 

Edit: I have an ATX Mobo

Get a better cooler if you want better temps.

Using the quiet cooler isn't helping it =/

 

You're looking at over a 10 degree change in just switching to a better cooler.

is not the Dark Rock 2 a decent cooler?

whoops forgot to mention my cpu is a an i5 3570k

stock clocks, full load under LinX my cpu (i5 3570k) is about 67c. Seems kinda bad even if the prodigy isn't a super big case

aftermarket cooler: Dark Rock 2
Rear Exhaust fan: Noctua NF-P14 FLX 140mm Case fan
Front intake fan: BitFenix Spectre All Black 230mm Case Fan

I tried removing the front panel but it didn't do anything, my graphics card is a small HD7850. I think I did the thermal paste poorly (any tips on this?)

are these temps the norm for this? Do you think I'd be able to get a small/decent OC with it?

First of all, i dont understand why you are using a slim fan when you have so much headroom with a case such as Bitfenix Prodigy.

 

There is nothing wrong with your heatsink but you NEED to change your fan, that gelid is only good for very small cases where space is limited.

For your heatsink get this; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608026

 

Your case supports up to 230 mm front fan and this is my favorite; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835345004

 

Again prodigy supports 140 mm for rear exhaust and I would recommend mounting this  for your rear exhaust; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608017

 

You dont really need to install fans on top, if you feel like it, get the same 120 mm noctua fans which you will be using for your heatsink and configure them as exhaust as well.

 

One more thing, you heatsink fan should always be blowing air downwards. This way it will be able to cool not only the cpu but also other components of your motherboard.

 

Dont forget to buy a quality thermal paste as well. It has a massive effect on how your heatsink will perform.

 

PS: If you decide to go with my advice, I expect your temps to drop by at least 15c and That is a very conservative assumption.

so I got the two fans but my temps are almost the same, so it's probably the thermal paste, or the heatsink isn't good enough.

Oh I didn't get that last rear exhaust fan

I've read on an article that yes, there is a difference but it isn't as crazy as you'd expect. You'll see an average spread of 12-15c on an OC'd CPU at full load. But on idle, you won't see much of a difference. So if you have the extra 10 dollars or so then why not?

 

I personally used the thermal paste that came with the Dark Rock 2 and it's keeping my 4.4Ghz 4670k under 75c!

why is that heatsink not sold anywhere? Nothing seems to carry it

would different thermal paste really make that big of a difference?

First of all, i dont understand why you are using a slim fan when you have so much headroom with a case such as Bitfenix Prodigy.

 

There is nothing wrong with your heatsink but you NEED to change your fan, that gelid is only good for very small cases where space is limited.

For your heatsink get this; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608026

 

Your case supports up to 230 mm front fan and this is my favorite; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835345004

 

Again prodigy supports 140 mm for rear exhaust and I would recommend mounting this  for your rear exhaust; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608017

 

You dont really need to install fans on top, if you feel like it, get the same 120 mm noctua fans which you will be using for your heatsink and configure them as exhaust as well.

 

One more thing, you heatsink fan should always be blowing air downwards. This way it will be able to cool not only the cpu but also other components of your motherboard.

 

Dont forget to buy a quality thermal paste as well. It has a massive effect on how your heatsink will perform.

 

PS: If you decide to go with my advice, I expect your temps to drop by at least 15c and That is a very conservative assumption.

ok thanks

some questions. The fan in front, isn't it blocked by the front panel? And the heatsink is fine just the fan isn't? Or should I get a different heatsink?

Also if my mobo doesn't have enough fan headers, what do you do?

I don't have the stock cooler lol

ugh what a drag

yes I am aware that means only one expansion slot. Any other advice like cpu cooler or psu's for something that snug could be nice, but that's probably better fit for another section.

I'm looking at this, not sure about it though:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-p8z77ideluxewd

What motherboard do you have?

Asus Z77 Sabertooth

I also have an Asus Xonar Essence STX laying around but I hear sound cards cause more problems than they're worth and probably won't be using it in future rigs

Is that enough to drive them? Any things I should know about?