New build

[IcyByte]

Hi, I am ascending to the master race soon (R.I.P. my Series X) and have made 2 identical configs on PCSpecialist UK. One has an RTX 2060 but has a 1TB HDD and the other has a 1TB m.2 NVMe SSD but only has a GTX 1660Ti. Is the better GPU worth it or are the better read/write times more important? BTW they're within £4 of each other so the prices don't matter. If you want to know, RTX + HDD is £912 and GTX + M.2 NVMe is £908. Read/write on m.2 is UP TO 3500MB sR/ 2500MB sW. HDD is quoted as 195MB sR/ 193 sW although real world benchmarks say about 147MB on both.

[curiousmind34]

13 minutes ago, BingBong71 said:

Hi, I am ascending to the master race soon (R.I.P. my Series X) and have made 2 identical configs on PCSpecialist UK. One has an RTX 2060 but has a 1TB HDD and the other has a 1TB m.2 NVMe SSD but only has a GTX 1660Ti. Is the better GPU worth it or are the better read/write times more important? BTW they're within £4 of each other so the prices don't matter. If you want to know, RTX + HDD is £912 and GTX + M.2 NVMe is £908. Read/write on m.2 is UP TO 3500MB sR/ 2500MB sW. HDD is quoted as 195MB sR/ 193 sW although real world benchmarks say about 147MB on both.

Can you give a full list of the system and what NVME ssd you chose?

1TB NVME SSDs can range from 80 pounds to 175 pounds

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/BhmFf7/western-digital-blue-sn550-1-tb-m2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-wds100t2b0c this would be the 1TB NVME ssd I would reccomend if you are to go full ssd on this build

[IcyByte]

1 hour ago, curiousmind34 said:

Can you give a full list of the system and what NVME ssd you chose?

1TB NVME SSDs can range from 80 pounds to 175 pounds

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/BhmFf7/western-digital-blue-sn550-1-tb-m2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-wds100t2b0c this would be the 1TB NVME ssd I would reccomend if you are to go full ssd on this build

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3500X

GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

Motherboard: Asus PRIME B450-PLUS

RAM: 2x8GB Vengeance 2400MHz

SSD: 1TB Intel 670p

PSU: Corsair VS-350

Cooler: AMD 125W TDP

[IcyByte]

Hi, is there any advantage of an AIO over an air cooler if they have the same TDP?

[WhitetailAni]

It depends on the exact coolers you are comparing. Cooler TDP rating means nothing if you're going with specifics most of the time, as AMD and Intel measure their TDP's differently.

 

Are you looking to compare two specific coolers or is this just a general question?

[RollinLower]

not really, AIO's have the one advantage that if you place the radiator on an exhaust fan, the heat is exhausted directly and it doesn;t have any chance to heat up things like the GPU.

[tkitch]

A High End Air Cooler (NHD15, or comprable) can go toe to toe with most 240mm AIOs.  360's can beat the air coolers, though, depending on models.

[IcyByte]

8 minutes ago, FakeKGB said:

It depends on the exact coolers you are comparing. Cooler TDP rating means nothing if you're going with specifics most of the time, as AMD and Intel measure their TDP's differently.

 

Are you looking to compare two specific coolers or is this just a general question?

Mainly a general question although I am also comparing a CoolerMaster MasterLiquid Lite and a Hyper 212 Black Edition

[Chris Pratt]

2 minutes ago, BingBong71 said:

Mainly a general question although I am also comparing a CoolerMaster MasterLiquid Lite and a Hyper 212 Black Edition

The Hyper 212 is a fairly basic, no frills, single tower cooler, so I'd imagine most AIOs would beat that, except maybe with a 120mm rad. However, you're comparing a $40 air cooler with a $100 AIO, so it's not exactly a fair fight. A $100 air cooler would likely beat that AIO.

[IcyByte]

12 hours ago, Chris Pratt said:

The Hyper 212 is a fairly basic, no frills, single tower cooler, so I'd imagine most AIOs would beat that, except maybe with a 120mm rad. However, you're comparing a $40 air cooler with a $100 AIO, so it's not exactly a fair fight. A $100 air cooler would likely beat that AIO.

Sorry, I didn't realize. I was speccing on PCSpecialist and live in the UK so the prices are very different.

[Boyohan]

13 hours ago, BingBong71 said:

Hi, is there any advantage of an AIO over an air cooler if they have the same TDP?

 

13 hours ago, tkitch said:

A High End Air Cooler (NHD15, or comprable) can go toe to toe with most 240mm AIOs.  360's can beat the air coolers, though, depending on models.

 

13 hours ago, Chris Pratt said:

The Hyper 212 is a fairly basic, no frills, single tower cooler, so I'd imagine most AIOs would beat that, except maybe with a 120mm rad. However, you're comparing a $40 air cooler with a $100 AIO, so it's not exactly a fair fight. A $100 air cooler would likely beat that AIO.

After having experienced both top line AIO and Air cooler I can say that the temp difference is extremely small.

An advantage (mentioned by @Chris Pratt) is that air cooler are usually a lot cheaper, about half the price of a comparable AIO. 

 

I recently rebuilt my PC with new case, GPU and also changed my CPU cooler.

Old setup: Lian Li o11 Dyn with 9900K + H150i Pro (360 AIO)

New setup: Be Quiet! 500DX with 9900K + NH-D15S

 

I tested my temps before and after with 30min runs of Cinebench. 

Max temp with Lian Li case & 360 AIO: 87°C

Max temp with Be Quiet! case & Air cooler: 84°C

I do believe that the freshly applied thermal paste and better case airflow also helped my new setup to achieve slightly better temps.

 

Hyper 212 is a very good budget air cooler.

I would expect the Hyper 212 to be slightly better than a 120 AIO and slightly worse than a 240 AIO.

 

@BingBong71 What CPU do you plan to use with this cooler ?

 

[tkitch]

5 hours ago, Boyohan said:

 

 

After having experienced both top line AIO and Air cooler I can say that the temp difference is extremely small.

An advantage (mentioned by @Chris Pratt) is that air cooler are usually a lot cheaper, about half the price of a comparable AIO. 

 

I recently rebuilt my PC with new case, GPU and also changed my CPU cooler.

Old setup: Lian Li o11 Dyn with 9900K + H150i Pro (360 AIO)

New setup: Be Quiet! 500DX with 9900K + NH-D15S

 

I tested my temps before and after with 30min runs of Cinebench. 

Max temp with Lian Li case & 360 AIO: 87°C

Max temp with Be Quiet! case & Air cooler: 84°C

I do believe that the freshly applied thermal paste and better case airflow also helped my new setup to achieve slightly better temps.

 

Hyper 212 is a very good budget air cooler.

I would expect the Hyper 212 to be slightly better than a 120 AIO and slightly worse than a 240 AIO.

 

@BingBong71 What CPU do you plan to use with this cooler ?

 

You can't compare temps with 2 different coolers in 2 very different cases.  THose numbers have too may variables to be relevant.

 

I based it off testing from people like Tech Jesus at Gamer's Nexus.  

[Boyohan]

1 hour ago, tkitch said:

You can't compare temps with 2 different coolers in 2 very different cases.  THose numbers have too may variables to be relevant.

 

I based it off testing from people like Tech Jesus at Gamer's Nexus.  

That is why I said "better case airflow also helped my new setup to achieve slightly better temps"

The point I was trying to make is that a good air cooler can be just as good as an AIO with the right setup. 

 

If we discount any variation in case/airflow and only focus on the cooler itself my old 360 AIO would be a few degrees better than my new NH-D15. 

 

Bigger AIOs is and should (in my opinion) only be used if you are pushing high overclocks but don't want to go for a custom loop. 

I really don't see the point of a 120mm or 140mm AIO unless you want to build in some unusual case that won't fit an air cooler. 

240mm AIO are decent but they don't really perform any better than big air coolers at the same time as they cost about 30% more. 

Air coolers also have fewer components that could fail and my NH-D15 is basically silent compared to my old AIO. 

 

[Jeppes]

30 minutes ago, Boyohan said:

That is why I said "better case airflow also helped my new setup to achieve slightly better temps"

The point I was trying to make is that a good air cooler can be just as good as an AIO with the right setup. 

 

If we discount any variation in case/airflow and only focus on the cooler itself my old 360 AIO would be a few degrees better than my new NH-D15. 

 

Bigger AIOs is and should (in my opinion) only be used if you are pushing high overclocks but don't want to go for a custom loop. 

I really don't see the point of a 120mm or 140mm AIO unless you want to build in some unusual case that won't fit an air cooler. 

240mm AIO are decent but they don't really perform any better than big air coolers at the same time as they cost about 30% more. 

Air coolers also have fewer components that could fail and my NH-D15 is basically silent compared to my old AIO. 

 

D15 is a bad example as it costs even more than Liquid Freezer II 240 here. Its pretty much just as overpriced as some aio:s.

[freeagent]

I know for sure I give those AIO guys a run for their money 

 

And I know I am keeping up with some liquid cooled guys on hwbot, keeping up with some of the ones who are little colder than that too..

 

System tuning is more than just speeds and voltages.. it is as the name implies..

[WoodenMarker]

Higher TDP = better cooling. 

That being said, how the TDP is measured varied between manufacturers and they're often not great for direct comparisons. Direct comparisons via tests are probably better. 

 

When it comes to different styles of coolers like an air cooler or AIO, the performance varies depending on the system airflow and the chip being cooled. 

[IcyByte]

On 5/4/2021 at 8:20 AM, Boyohan said:

 

 

After having experienced both top line AIO and Air cooler I can say that the temp difference is extremely small.

An advantage (mentioned by @Chris Pratt) is that air cooler are usually a lot cheaper, about half the price of a comparable AIO. 

 

I recently rebuilt my PC with new case, GPU and also changed my CPU cooler.

Old setup: Lian Li o11 Dyn with 9900K + H150i Pro (360 AIO)

New setup: Be Quiet! 500DX with 9900K + NH-D15S

 

I tested my temps before and after with 30min runs of Cinebench. 

Max temp with Lian Li case & 360 AIO: 87°C

Max temp with Be Quiet! case & Air cooler: 84°C

I do believe that the freshly applied thermal paste and better case airflow also helped my new setup to achieve slightly better temps.

 

Hyper 212 is a very good budget air cooler.

I would expect the Hyper 212 to be slightly better than a 120 AIO and slightly worse than a 240 AIO.

 

@BingBong71 What CPU do you plan to use with this cooler ?

 

An i5-10400F

[IcyByte]

Would CFM be a better metric?

[SavageNeo]

2 minutes ago, BingBong71 said:

Would CFM be a better metric?

no. 

for 10400f the hyper 212 will be fine with pretty much any case/ fan setup

[IcyByte]

Hi, I would like some advice on whether to go Intel or AMD for my first gaming PC which I will configure on PCSpecialist. I was originally using sites like UserBenchmark until I found out that they were largely BS so decided to ask you. In terms of CPU cooler, I will go for a Cooler master Hyper 212 Black Edition (air), CoolerMaster MasterLiquid Lite 120 (liquid) or a Corsair H60 (liquid).

[SavageNeo]

10400f is better

also the hyper212 will be the best choice

[iMxmo]

A few things here, UBM is a biased and non-reputable source. Don''t use it for comparing parts. Also for the 10400 vs 3600, 10400 is the better option on B560 + 3200C16 and is cheaper. But an even better option is an 11400/F on B560 Plus + Ballistix 3200C16. If you want an air cooler I'd stay away from the Hyper212, it has a sleeve bearing and there are better options that perform better/quieter for cheaper. See SE-224 XT The stock cooler will also work fine as 11th gen features a newer all black, and better performing stack cooler.

[curiousmind34]

10400 also has hyperthreading which the 3500x does not have (the 3600x does but not 3500x)

[SorryBella]

16 minutes ago, BingBong71 said:

until I found out that they were largely BS so decided to ask you.

Good on you to know that. Many dont, and you should contribute on voicing that its largely BS to others.

 

But to your question, 10400 beaten up pretty much the entire Zen 5 3xxx lineup in both value and benchmark scores, especially against 3500X as the 3500X missed its 6 SMT threads that their 3600 sibling have fully enabled.

[CommanderAlex]

10400F is a better choice for gaming as it has more threads (thanks to hyperthreading). 

17 minutes ago, BingBong71 said:

I was originally using sites like UserBenchmark until I found out that they were largely BS so decided to ask you.

Indeed they are biased heavily and should not even be bothered to read the pixels they display about X vs Y. 

 

The Cooler Master Hyper 212 is a better choice out of those coolers you listed.