Disappointed with Kraken x52, but why?

[stratuh]

A week ago I bought a Kraken x62 and a Kraken G12 to CLC watercool my GPU. Results were fantastic, my RTX2080 went from mid-70s during gaming to mid-40s. It was my first time using an AIO cooler and I was super impressed.

 

So impressed I thought I'd try to replace my CPU cooler with a Kraken x52. I was using a Noctua NH-L12S and it was a decent performer: after 1hr of Aida64 stress test, it ended up having a last minute average of 63c. After installing the Kraken x52 earlier today and benching now, I'm a little miffed after only 20 minutes it's already at 63c (but more or less remaining steady).

 

I'm still going the hour to check what it looks like but so far I'm confused why it's on par with the NH-L12S. The L12S isn't even a top tier Noctua cooler, it's one of the more budget friendly ones. Not to mention it's meant for SFFPC. I would have thought an AIO of equivalent pricing would be better, let alone one more than double the price.

 

Part of me wants to return the x52 but part of me thinks maybe it's user error? I looked at benchmarks for both the x52 and the L12S and benchmarks say the x52 should be 5-10c better.

[aezakmi]

bet you mounted it on top

 

 

[stratuh]

2 minutes ago, aezakmi said:

bet you mounted it on top

 

 

I did.

 

In the Meshify C, front intake is 2x140 NF-P14 1500rpm with x62, top exhaust is 2x120 NF-A12x15 1700rpm with the x52.

[ch3w2oy]

AIOs aren't that much better than decent air coolers..

 

What are your specs?

[stratuh]

2 minutes ago, ChewToy! said:

AIOs aren't that much better than decent air coolers..

 

What are your specs?

R5 2600 @ 3.4ghz stock

2x8gb Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3000

Gigabyte RTX2080

Gigabyte x470 Ultra Gaming

FD Meshify C

[aezakmi]

1 minute ago, stratuh said:

I did.

 

In the Meshify C, front intake is 2x140 NF-P14 1500rpm with x62, top exhaust is 2x120 NF-A12x15 1700rpm with the x52.

Temp is normal then, hot air is going through the rad so it performs like your everyday air cooler

[ch3w2oy]

4 minutes ago, stratuh said:

R5 2600 @ 3.4ghz stock

2x8gb Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3000

Gigabyte RTX2080

Gigabyte x470 Ultra Gaming

FD Meshify C

My 2600X can get up to 70 degrees celcius with my H150i Pro during Prime95.. I wouldn't worry about it too much.. and like @aezakmi said, you're feeding the rad hot air from inside your PC instead of fresh air.

[aezakmi]

Just now, ChewToy! said:

My 2600X can get up to 70 degrees celcius with my H150i Pro during Prime95.. I wouldn't worry about it too much.. and like @aezakmi said, you're feeding the rad hot air from inside your PC instead of fresh air.

He's at stock though that's why his temp is lower, on gaming that CPU must be around 50-55C amirite OP?

 

My oc'd 1700 gets to mid-high 70s with front intake 

[ch3w2oy]

3 minutes ago, aezakmi said:

He's at stock though that's why his temp is lower, on gaming that CPU must be around 50-55C amirite OP?

 

My oc'd 1700 gets to mid-high 70s with front intake 

Mine are in the 50s LOW 60s while gaming too. Max I've noticed it was like 66.

[stratuh]

 

The benchmark finished. Right is L12S, left is x52, it's the last minute of an hour test.

 

CPU is a degree cooler, GPU is 2 degrees warmer, motherboard is 6 degrees cooler which is neat. Temp#1 is GPU liquid temp, Temp#2 is CPU liquid temp.

 

I think I'm just going to return the x52. It's louder, doesn't perform better, and it's nearly $200.

[stratuh]

39 minutes ago, ChewToy! said:

Mine are in the 50s LOW 60s while gaming too. Max I've noticed it was like 66.

Oh in gaming, on the L12S I never see above 50 or so. Since getting the L12S, though, I only played Doom, GTA5, RE2, and Far Cry 5. I'm not even going to bother trying with the x52.

[aezakmi]

12 hours ago, stratuh said:

 

 

The benchmark finished. Right is L12S, left is x52, it's the last minute of an hour test.

 

CPU is a degree cooler, GPU is 2 degrees warmer, motherboard is 6 degrees cooler which is neat. Temp#1 is GPU liquid temp, Temp#2 is CPU liquid temp.

 

I think I'm just going to return the x52. It's louder, doesn't perform better, and it's nearly $200.

Return it.

And $200? That's MAD.... NZXT is really taking advantage... what a shit company tbh, they're like the rotten Apple of the PC stuff at this point.

[stratuh]

8 minutes ago, aezakmi said:

Return it.

And $200? That's MAD.... NZXT is really taking advantage... what a shit company tbh, they're like the rotten Apple of the PC stuff at this point.

Yeah, something like CAD$179+tax. The x62 was definitely worth it to cool my GPU but only in the absence of a real aftermarket for GPU cooling (examples exist, however). For CPU cooling, I'll stick to air. I ended up dropping it off at the PO earlier being returned to Amazon.

[_Hustler_One_]

You can't be wrong with water cooling the GPU but when you do it for CPU, there are many of relatively cheaper air coolers that can beat some of expensive water coolers.