New to water cooling

[Chr1s]

I am confused and hoping I can get some clarity

 

As summer approaches I am finding my air cooler is struggling with maintaining CPU temps, not a OMG I am cooking the CPU level but more of a damn I wish it was more consistent kind of thing.

 

I was thinking that an AIO might be the answer but am unsure as I have no experience and am on a limited budget.

 

My question to you out there is does water cooling handle limited delta T better than air cooling when considering the BUDGET end of things. I am looking at less than £80 ( about $100) so not custom or high end cooling options.

 

CPU is Ryzen 2700 with the Max cooler atm.

[astranger200]

Just now, Chr1s said:

I am confused and hoping I can get some clarity

 

As summer approaches I am finding my air cooler is struggling with maintaining CPU temps, not a OMG I am cooking the CPU level but more of a damn I wish it was more consistent kind of thing.

 

I was thinking that an AIO might be the answer but am unsure as I have no experience and am on a limited budget.

 

My question to you out there is does water cooling handle limited delta T better than air cooling when considering the BUDGET end of things. I am looking at less than £80 ( about $100) so not custom or high end cooling options.

 

CPU is Ryzen 2700 with the Max cooler atm.

for that kind of budget air cooling is the way to go. Pick up a big cooler from noctua (d14 or d15) or be-quiet and you will be set and sorted. 

[Ordinarily_Greater]

Under $100 means you still have AIO options but they are mediocre against the same priced Air Coolers.

 

The air coolers I meant are Noctua, Cooler Master, Be quiet!, Cryorig (my personal best)

for a specific product I would go for Noctua NH-U12S SE-AM4

[Chr1s]

Thank you for that, to be perfectly clear the current cooler is doing the job but just feels like it will struggle as ambient increases. Would you consider a better case as an option as that would be around the same price point of maybe just see how it goes for now and save for upgrading in other areas that will give more obvious benefits? I am, to be honest at the start of overhauling a stock system for the first time in years and am somewhat out of touch.

[Cyracus]

6 minutes ago, Chr1s said:

Thank you for that, to be perfectly clear the current cooler is doing the job but just feels like it will struggle as ambient increases. Would you consider a better case as an option as that would be around the same price point of maybe just see how it goes for now and save for upgrading in other areas that will give more obvious benefits? I am, to be honest at the start of overhauling a stock system for the first time in years and am somewhat out of touch.

Depends on what case you have it in and what fans you have on the case (even a mesh case will be mediocre without fans to move air through it) but if you have at least 2 fans, one pulling air in one pushing air out, you should be ok. A good way to test if/how much your case is limiting your cooling take the side panel off and compare temps to having the panel on.

[Firewrath9]

AMD wraith max is around 20$ cpu cooler level. Get a decent 50-80$ Mugen5 or a DRP4 or U12A

[Chr1s]

26 minutes ago, Cyracus said:

Depends on what case you have it in and what fans you have on the case (even a mesh case will be mediocre without fans to move air through it) but if you have at least 2 fans, one pulling air in one pushing air out, you should be ok. A good way to test if/how much your case is limiting your cooling take the side panel off and compare temps to having the panel on.

Temps are less than 2 degrees better with case open, from what I am seeing from all replies it looks like a better air cooler is the best option for my situation. 

 

Thanks to all replies, it has been a real help

 

Chris