Best 120mm AIO?

[Blindsay]

So I was thinking about doing a build in the Thermaltake Tower 100 and I dont want to do an air cooler (just personal preference for the build) which pretty much means I am limited to a 120mm AIO. CPU will likely be the Ryzen 5900X. A lot of the reviews out there dont seem to cover 120mm anymore (probably not popular) so I am trying to figure out whats a good 120mm AIO for the 5900X? I like the look of the EK 120mm AIO but was not sure if it is a good performer? 

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

[Skiiwee29]

A 120mm AIO won't be able to keep that chip cool under load. 

[Downkey]

4 minutes ago, Blindsay said:

So I was thinking about doing a build in the Thermaltake Tower 100 and I dont want to do an air cooler (just personal preference for the build) which pretty much means I am limited to a 120mm AIO. CPU will likely be the Ryzen 5900X. A lot of the reviews out there dont seem to cover 120mm anymore (probably not popular) so I am trying to figure out whats a good 120mm AIO for the 5900X? I like the look of the EK 120mm AIO but was not sure if it is a good performer? 

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

120mm? The AIO doesn’t even matter, it won’t be able to handle a 5900x. Get an air cooler instead.

[Blindsay]

Just now, Downkey said:

120mm? The AIO doesn’t even matter, it won’t be able to handle a 5900x.

I mean its only a 105w chip, its not that crazy. I mean heck they ran a 3090 on a 120 - 

 

[Downkey]

3 minutes ago, Blindsay said:

I mean its only a 105w chip, its not that crazy. I mean heck they ran a 3090 on a 120 - 

 

I seriously doubt you would be able to run a 105W chip on a 120mm, let alone a 12 core chip.

[Jurrunio]

It's fine, especially if you want lights. Corsair H80iv2 and EVGA CLC120 don't have lights.

 

None of the 120mm AIOs have anything to do with good performance however. This is what you get with a case like this. To keep temps low, you will have to undervolt and no more overclocking the CPU.

 

6 minutes ago, Blindsay said:

I mean its only a 105w chip, its not that crazy. I mean heck they ran a 3090 on a 120 - 

GPUs cheat-ish in cooling by not having an IHS and not as thermally dense. In other words, easier to cool under the same heat output

[Blindsay]

Just now, Jurrunio said:

It's fine, especially if you want lights. Corsair H80iv2 and EVGA CLC120 don't have lights.

 

None of the 120mm AIOs have anything to do with good performance however. This is what you get with a case like this. To keep temps low, you will have to undervolt and no more overclocking the CPU.

 

GPUs cheat-ish in cooling by not having an IHS and not as thermally dense. In other words, easier to cool under the same heat output

Yeah I am fine with undervolting and I dont care about O/C. and I should be able to do push/pull on it. Do any of the 120mm AIO's have a notable performance advantage or is it pretty much a wash?

 

[WhitetailAni]

7 minutes ago, Blindsay said:

Yeah I am fine with undervolting and I dont care about O/C. and I should be able to do push/pull on it. Do any of the 120mm AIO's have a notable performance advantage or is it pretty much a wash?

There are differences. I'd go with a Liquid Freezer II 120mm - with PBO enabled (yes I tested it) my Ryzen 5 3600 hits max 73C fan push and an open side panel. Costs ~$80 USD, looks nice, and has a VRM fan in the block.

[dean_5234]

17 minutes ago, Blindsay said:

Yeah I am fine with undervolting and I dont care about O/C. and I should be able to do push/pull on it. Do any of the 120mm AIO's have a notable performance advantage or is it pretty much a wash?

 

You could get by (if I had to guess, no expert) by undervolting, but overclocking is not an option.

Still, you are leaving performance on the table by not just getting a good air cooler.

[Jurrunio]

30 minutes ago, Blindsay said:

Do any of the 120mm AIO's have a notable performance advantage or is it pretty much a wash?

Thicker rad > push/pull > standard. Arctic Freezer ii 120 for example, 38mm thick rad instead of 25-27mm on Asetek designs.

[Blindsay]

2 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

Thicker rad > push/pull > standard. Arctic Freezer ii 120 for example, 38mm thick rad instead of 25-27mm on Asetek designs.

Are there any other notable ones that use a 38mm? (I'll use the arctic if it comes down to it but it's quite boring haha)

[Jurrunio]

7 minutes ago, Blindsay said:

Are there any other notable ones that use a 38mm? (I'll use the arctic if it comes down to it but it's quite boring haha)

I'm not aware of any new AIOs with rad this thick. Custom ones that you have to build yourself from scratch maybe.

[NorKris]

4 hours ago, Blindsay said:

Are there any other notable ones that use a 38mm? (I'll use the arctic if it comes down to it but it's quite boring haha)

i would go for one of these:

Arctic freezer 120
CM ML120R

Corsair H80i

 

[DMawnykWun]

On 4/22/2021 at 9:36 PM, Blindsay said:

So I was thinking about doing a build in the Thermaltake Tower 100 and I dont want to do an air cooler (just personal preference for the build) which pretty much means I am limited to a 120mm AIO. CPU will likely be the Ryzen 5900X. A lot of the reviews out there dont seem to cover 120mm anymore (probably not popular) so I am trying to figure out whats a good 120mm AIO for the 5900X? I like the look of the EK 120mm AIO but was not sure if it is a good performer? 

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

 

[freeagent]

5900x is a 105w part? When?

 

With PBO that chip can do well over 200w

[Blindsay]

5 hours ago, freeagent said:

5900x is a 105w part? When?

 

With PBO that chip can do well over 200w

Don't use PBO? 

[freeagent]

6 hours ago, Blindsay said:

Don't use PBO? 

Don’t care.. I have a strong 5900X, I enjoy the booost.

[Kr6zY_b33]

Could you guys help me please? i've a dell precision t3610 with a xeon e5-2690v1 on a stock cooler heating up like crazy so im thinking on a aio, got any advice? socket 2011 narrow ilm!