best option for system cooling

[Ghosted Muzik]

setup is currently 5 intakes 1 exhaust, all 120mm fans, looking to go aio so i can do the ryzen master auto overclocking and idk whats the best option, i can fit 240,280,360 and maybe a 420mm aio, want to be able to cool off my ryzen 5600x but still have fresh air for my gpu which will be upgraded to a 3060 or a 6600 wont know till i have the money and whats on sale.

any thoughts?

no real budget dont want cheap but dont want overly expensive so 150-250$ usd

or am i better off with speed controllable fans and just a beefy air cooler?

case fans just have power no speed controls

[GeorgeMKane]

Your top fans should be exhaust, also because the air from your gpu is travelling up. You don't want to push that exhaust air back down.

 

As for the cpu cooling, there are plenty of air coolers to choose from. If you're looking for new case fans and a new cpu cooler, then I would recommend something like this.

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/RCH4gb

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S redux 70.75 CFM CPU Cooler  ($49.95 @ Amazon) 
Case Fan: Corsair iCUE SP120 RGB ELITE 47.7 CFM 120 mm Fans 3-Pack  ($69.98 @ Amazon) 
Case Fan: Corsair iCUE SP120 RGB ELITE 47.7 CFM 120 mm Fans 3-Pack  ($69.98 @ Amazon) 
Custom: CORSAIR iCUE Commander CORE XT, Digital Fan Speed and RGB Lighting Controller  ($54.99 @ Amazon) 
$244.90

[Ralphred]

If they fit (physically) just use a noctua D15 or a dark rock pro 4, and you should probably set your "roof" fans as exhaust*. Both those coolers have more than enough dissipation to deal with a 5600x, overclocked or not.

 

What I really want to see is a 2 pci slot filtered intake fan unit, that can literally "supply fresh air" to a pci card above or below it, but until such time we have to just breathe cigarette smoke into our cases and make sure we get decent airflow and no dead eddies.

 

*the hot air rises naturally, it'll be more efficient if you exhaust there.

[MedicTim78]

I would just invest in a good CPU air cooler, re-orient your fans to exhaust out the top and put the savings of not buying a more expensive AIO into your new GPU.

 

That case and those fans you have should work just fine.

Edited June 1, 2022 by MedicTim78
Add text

[freeagent]

You don’t need anything crazy for a 5600X.

 

I would grab a PA120 for 40 bucks from Amazon, or better yet FC140. No need for an AIO.

[Ghosted Muzik]

3 minutes ago, freeagent said:

You don’t need anything crazy for a 5600X.

 

I would grab a PA120 for 40 bucks from Amazon, or better yet FC140. No need for an AIO.

so case supports 160mm in height idk i feel like 158mm might be cutting it more so since this is a amazon special 80$ with 6 free rgb fans lol

 

[Ghosted Muzik]

so max height for cooler this musetex case says it supports is 160mm, went ahead and flipped both top fans to exhaust and removed the air filter

got this at 158mm but no rgb which is ok Amazon.com: Thermalright Frost Spirit 140 White V3 ARGB CPU Air Cooler, Dual Tower 4×8mm Heat Pipes, D14W-S and C12W-S CPU Fan, Aluminium Heatsink Cover, AGHP, for AMD AM4/Intel LGA 1150/1151/1200/2011/2066 : Electronics

 

at 155mm and with argb is Amazon.com: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler, 6 Heat Pipes, Dual 120mm PWM CPU TL-C12C-S Fans, Aluminium Cover, AGHP Heatsink Technology, for AMD AM4/Intel LGA 1700/1150/1151/1200 : Electronics

 

this seems to be quietest but i cant find height info Amazon.com: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro TR4, BK023, 250W TDP, for AMD TR4 Only, CPU Cooler : Everything Else

thinking corsair fans possibly for the case fans,, current fans are 6 pin and its annoying to have them at full blast when im just downloading and trying to sleep

[freeagent]

12 minutes ago, Ghosted Muzik said:

at 155mm and with argb is Amazon.com: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler, 6 Heat Pipes, Dual 120mm PWM CPU TL-C12C-S Fans, Aluminium Cover, AGHP Heatsink Technology, for AMD AM4/Intel LGA 1700/1150/1151/1200 : Electronics

I would go for that one.

[Ghosted Muzik]

11 minutes ago, freeagent said:

I would go for that one.

awesome thanks. any input on new case fans and controller? i can do 6 120s or 5 140s and 1 120

[Allyxxx]

You don't need a fan controller if the motherboard bios has good options. If bios doesn't have enough control then try Rem0o FanControl to see if it works for your motherboard. It's free and has really good features. 

[Ghosted Muzik]

26 minutes ago, Allyxxx said:

You don't need a fan controller if the motherboard bios has good options. If bios doesn't have enough control then try Rem0o FanControl to see if it works for your motherboard. It's free and has really good features. 

i need fans regardless as current dont even connect to my mobo in anyway

[Dogzilla07]

158mm will never cut it too close for 160mm. The companies have taken that into account. Together with air coolers Mesh/Metal side panels have another 2-3mm extra wiggle room with any cooler. and the glass panels have another 0.75m-1.5mm wiggle room, Due to industry standards. And cause the coolers as well always have the measurements overstated by a ~0.5-0.8mm, on top of the panels.

 

Sure there's an odd obscure case/cooler than don't adhere, but it's very rare.

 

158mm fits into 160mm 99.9% of time time. so does 160mm into 160mm.

[Ghosted Muzik]

10 hours ago, Dogzilla07 said:

158mm will never cut it too close for 160mm. The companies have taken that into account. Together with air coolers Mesh/Metal side panels have another 2-3mm extra wiggle room with any cooler. and the glass panels have another 0.75m-1.5mm wiggle room, Due to industry standards. And cause the coolers as well always have the measurements overstated by a ~0.5-0.8mm, on top of the panels.

 

Sure there's an odd obscure case/cooler than don't adhere, but it's very rare.

 

158mm fits into 160mm 99.9% of time time. so does 160mm into 160mm.

good to know, didnt know if it was like the audio industry where everyone has different standards. but of the 2 thermal takes which would you use?

 

[freeagent]

Thermalright and thermaltake are two very different companies

[Tan3l6]

YES!!

[Ghosted Muzik]

1 minute ago, freeagent said:

Thermalright and thermaltake are two very different companies

derp didnt pay that much attention lol

[freeagent]

1 hour ago, Ghosted Muzik said:

derp didnt pay that much attention lol

Thermalright would get my money, thermaltake would not

[Dogzilla07]

2 hours ago, Ghosted Muzik said:

didnt know if it was like the audio industry where everyone has different standards.

 Thankfully for coolers/cases there's an industry standard, but for other stuff, there's definitely a lack off xD

 

As for the cooler, Peerless Assassin 120 or SE is a really good buy, either than or Frost Commander 140

 

 

[Ghosted Muzik]

2 hours ago, Dogzilla07 said:

 Thankfully for coolers/cases there's an industry standard, but for other stuff, there's definitely a lack off xD

 

As for the cooler, Peerless Assassin 120 or SE is a really good buy, either than or Frost Commander 140

 

 

lol thats what im trying to decide between. the all black of the fc140 looks killer and is a 120 and 140mm fan but no rgb, where the peerless assassin se srgb has exposed aluminum fans which doesnt match well but has rgb. if i didnt have any rgb it be a no brainer lol like why am i caring about looks xP

[freeagent]

9 minutes ago, Ghosted Muzik said:

lol thats what im trying to decide between. the all black of the fc140 looks killer and is a 120 and 140mm fan but no rgb, where the peerless assassin se srgb has exposed aluminum fans which doesnt match well but has rgb. if i didnt have any rgb it be a no brainer lol like why am i caring about looks xP

FC140 is an awesome cooler. I own Le Grand Macho RT, True Spirit 140 Power, TRUE, and FC140. It is a beast, and with stock fans it beats my other big coolers by 8c. No joke man, I post as Owterspace at OCN, and there are other air cooling fanatics like myself there. Actually some of them are way more hardcore than I am lol..

[Ghosted Muzik]

15 minutes ago, freeagent said:

FC140 is an awesome cooler. I own Le Grand Macho RT, True Spirit 140 Power, TRUE, and FC140. It is a beast, and with stock fans it beats my other big coolers by 8c. No joke man, I post as Owterspace at OCN, and there are other air cooling fanatics like myself there. Actually some of them are way more hardcore than I am lol..

think that cemented my option, itll block my ram so case fan upgrade maybe to plain fans now

[freeagent]

37 minutes ago, Ghosted Muzik said:

think that cemented my option, itll block my ram so case fan upgrade maybe to plain fans now

Sweet!

 

Not sure what ram you have but I can get my four Trident Z sticks in no problem with the cooler mounted..

[Ghosted Muzik]

1 hour ago, freeagent said:

Sweet!

 

Not sure what ram you have but I can get my four Trident Z sticks in no problem with the cooler mounted..

4 trident rgb

[freeagent]

Nice man, I like the red. Here is a shot of mine, I only have two glowy mcstix.. they are Royals, the other two are just Black and Whites.

 

[Ghosted Muzik]

1 hour ago, freeagent said:

Nice man, I like the red. Here is a shot of mine, I only have two glowy mcstix.. they are Royals, the other two are just Black and Whites.

 

oh i like what you did on new rear exhaust, i wonder if i could get away with removing my top 2 exhaust fans and have 1 rear and 3 fronts