H100i for 2500k cooling

[UnknownXV]

Hi folks, 

 

Just wanted to get a bit of advice for this, as it will be the first time I will be venturing into water cooling. If I understand it right, the H100i isn't much more complicated than installing a fan. That's excellent. I always wanted to try water cooling but it's quite daunting, assembling a PC is quite easy in every respect besides that, I just never dared try. It's hard enough just figuring out what parts you'd need for a full custom WC build, so I'll stick to this.

 

First off, my 2500k is not overclocked yet as it's running only on the stock cooler. Even then, I still hit 76 c on average when I push the cpu to the max. That's hot for no OC. I've had the CPU for about two years now, using it for gaming and general purpose, nothing too intense. The first question is if there's much life left in my CPU, or if it would be worth it to upgrade to a new cpu instead, as I want to dabble into OCing, but it's moot if my cpu will die after a few months anyways. 

 

Secondly, about the H100i installation, I've seen a lot of videos and guides that have the radiator mounted inside the case, with the fans venting the air in the case too. This confuses me greatly. Wouldn't it be superior to have the fans exhaust air out of the case? Also, I'm looking at getting the Corsair Carbide series 500R, which has two fan mounts at the top that could accommodate a 240 MM radiator without a problem. What I was thinking of doing, is mounting the radiator inside the case underneath the mounting point, inside the case. See for example: http://img.hexus.net/v2/chassis/Corsair/500R/500R-03.jpg

 

I would mount the fans there, on the exterior, and have them exhaust the heat out of the case via the top. The question is, if the fans are not in absolute direct contact with the radiator, will that significantly reduce the performance of the cooler? They'd be separated by that thin sheet of metal. 

 

Thanks

[Ghost]

• H100i is easy to mount. It's easier to mount than some air coolers.
• You will not have any performance loss. Onyl thign you might get is whistling because the gap is too small if you are very unlucky. If that happens (which it won't) just seal the gap using electrical tape.

 

n.b.: Its not daunting. You should be more worried of messing up your first overclock.

[BlackOutCrisis]

Okay well first your 2500k has ALOT of life left in it if you haven't had it OC, I mean in gaming performance it will start to show its age in the next year-ish but is still a great cpu. Second you want it to be intaking air because the air inside of your case is going to be hot and pushing hot air through a cooler isn't as good as pushing cold air through it. So why most people have it mounted on the inside pulling air in is because they have their rear fan exhausting air and then a fan in the fron pulling air in so that there is a positive air pressure environment so that dust has a harder time to settle on parts. second yes that little gap would make it a little less efficient but not by like a crazy amount.

 

Edit* when I say a little less efficient I really mean like it will honestly probably not be noticeable.

[Ghost]

So why most people have it mounted on the inside pulling air in

Really? I thought most people has the exact opposite.

[BlackOutCrisis]

Really? I thought most people has the exact opposite.

Nope, the colder the air you have being pushed/pulled through the RAD the better the cooling is going to be, so if you had it as exhaust it would be pulling hot air built up in your case from your gpu and motherboard and such.

[Ghost]

Nope, the colder the air you have being pushed/pulled through the RAD the better the cooling is going to be, so if you had it as exhaust it would be pulling hot air built up in your case from your gpu and motherboard and such.

I didn't quote you on which is better. I quoted you on your statement that most people have it pulling in air from the top of their system. :o

[BlackOutCrisis]

I didn't quote you on which is better. I quoted you on your statement that most people have it pulling in air from the top of their system. :o

Yea I know I was just explaining why most people have it that way.

[BlackOutCrisis]

Lol I probably need to clarify my statement a little more XD most people have it mounted on the top of the inside of their case, not the outside haha

[UnknownXV]

That's a way to look at it, I didn't consider that.. I suppose it's a double edged sword then. It will cool my cpu better, but since it's funneling that hot air into the case, all other components will be a bit hotter then, I'll just need to make sure to have great airflow in that case. 

 

I just finished reading another thread in this sub-forum which recommended the Swiftech H220 over the H100i, it does seem better in every respect, and only marginally more expensive. Do any of you have experience with it? Recommend I get that instead? I am leaning towards that. 

 

Thanks for the advice. 

[dgtL]

I have 2 h100i's and ive tried both configs (front of case pulling fresh air & top of case venting)  they are almost the exact same. And from the pics ive seen online most people are mounting it in the top venting as the tubing is not very long.

[Ghost]

Lol I probably need to clarify my statement a little more XD most people have it mounted on the top of the inside of their case, not the outside haha

Not going to discuss this any further but afaik most people have their radiators pushing air out of the top of their case for the exact reason "unknown" just said.

 

 

 

I just finished reading another thread in this sub-forum which recommended the Swiftech H220 over the H100i, it does seem better in every respect, and only marginally more expensive. Do any of you have experience with it? Recommend I get that instead? I am leaning towards that. 

 

Thanks for the advice. 

 

Get it but don't expand it, if you plan on adding a gpu to your loop then sell the H220 and get your own components.

[BlackOutCrisis]

If you have the extra money for the h220 it is definitely the way to go. It's the best all in one water cooler out right now.

[dgtL]

Im not sure a 10 degree is worth $50 personally.  And as Ghost pointed out; when you eventually build a custom loop thats what you will want to do so youl end up selling it anyway. i also wouldnt be surprised if people looking to buy a used h220 asked if the loop had been opened before, possibly lowering the value of the unit..

[BlackOutCrisis]

It kills me when people say if you want to expand your loop to gpu then get rid of the h220. The h220 will cool a cpu and gpu just fine and is alot easier (easier to an extent) and cheaper than a custom loop. Obviously a custom loop with cool better but some people don't need a complete custom loop and if they want to casually water cool their gpu then the h220 will do the job perfectly.

[BlackOutCrisis]

Im not sure a 10 degree is worth $50 personally.  And as Ghost pointed out; when you eventually build a custom loop thats what you will want to do so youl end up selling it anyway. i also wouldnt be surprised if people looking to buy a used h220 asked if the loop had been opened before, possibly lowering the value of the unit..

The h220 isn't 50$ more. The h220 is 139$ and the h100i is 125$, maybe if you found a h100i on sale for 100$ with free shipping then if would be 50$ cheaper lol