Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-03 CPU Cooler

[adgjk]

Hi,

 

I've just ordered a PC that should be arriving within a couple of days. 

 

It has an i7 4790K, 16GB Corsair Vengeance, Radeon R9 270 and a 240GB SSD + 2TB HDD, all inside a Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-03.

 

I'm only really just starting out with "good" computers now, my previous laptop was just very dated and very cheap Toshiba laptop... 

 

I had hoped that I'd be able to replace the stock cooler with a Noctua NH-D15 (as far as i understand it, the best air cooler on the market), but after looking at the specs of the case it says the max. CPU cooler height is 157mm - the info i'm looking at says the Noctua height is 165mm...

 

I'm trying not to get too down about this as i didn't have a say in the choice of case, i bought it all as a bundle for a really good price. Unfortunately i don't have the money to buy a new case AND a new cooler, just a cooler. Plus, everything will already be assembled and cable managed, so i'm not sure i'd want to mess that up... Is there anything else that anyone could recommend to me? I really like the Noctua SecuFirm 2 mounting system, it just looks so easy from all the videos i've watched of installation, and i've not seen anyone complain about it's cooling power. 

 

Just out of interest, i'm guessing the Corsair website is accurate, but would those 8mm really make a difference? 157mm isn't just "recommended" is it? 

 

 

Thanks!

adgjk

[TheSLSAMG]

The 8mm will in fact make a difference.

 

You could go for a Noctua NH-U12S, or just get a 240MM AIO, such as the Corsair H100i (beware of the possible issues with LGA 115x sockets).

[daemonowner]

Another instance of Corsair cases being terrible. Can't even fit a Hyper212Evo. Pathetic. Guarantee you it was deliberate though.

 

NH-L12, NH-C14.

 

NH-U12S is 158mm, so probably won't quite fit. U14S is also incompatible of course. @TheSLSAMG

[adgjk]

Yeah it's a shame about the clearance... Looking at a couple of reviews the NH-C14 looks pretty good, and the installation still looks incredibly simple. I think i'll go with that  

[adgjk]

Quick question - the Carbide SPEC-03 can take 6 case fans:

 

- 2x 120 or 140mm at the front

- 2x 120mm at the top

- 1x 120mm on the bottom, and 

- 1x 120mm on the rear

 

It comes with a single 120mm front and 120mm rear, i assume for basic intake and exhaust. I was wondering what would be more important - filling the case fans or getting a better CPU cooler? Surely if ambient air temperature inside the case is reduced then the CPU fan won't have to be as good, not to say that it shouldn't be upgraded at all... Anyway, if i have money for one option (CPU cooler or max case fans), which should it be? 

 

Thanks