Best CPU cooling choice?

[Pulsefire]

I'm struggling to decide whether I should go for air cooling or liquid cooling.

 

My options for air cooling are Noctua's NH-D15 and DeepCool AK620. Which one of these performs better? I think AK620 has higher TDP rating at 260W. Meanwhile for the NH-D15 people have given many contradictory ratings, some saying it is as high as 250W, others saying 220W, some sources claiming around 200W and then the lowest I've seen many use is a mere 110W. 

 

I would reckon AK620 is the better choice then? I also saw some benchmark results where it would give lower temps across the board.

 

But how does the AK620 compare to an AIO in terms of cooling capacity? 

 

Would AK620 in a high airflow case outperform a 280/380mm AIO from the likes of Corsair or Evga or NZXT? 

 

From what I've managed to find, AIOs don't have clear TDP ratings.

 

If I were to buy, let's say a 13900K, would the AIO outperform the AK620 or would I gain more mileage using the premium air cooler if the airflow within my case is exceptionally high?

 

Thanks in advance for help.

[Naijin]

22 minutes ago, Pulsefire said:

I'm struggling to decide whether I should go for air cooling or liquid cooling.

 

My options for air cooling are Noctua's NH-D15 and DeepCool AK620. Which one of these performs better? I think AK620 has higher TDP rating at 260W. Meanwhile for the NH-D15 people have given many contradictory ratings, some saying it is as high as 250W, others saying 220W, some sources claiming around 200W and then the lowest I've seen many use is a mere 110W. 

 

I would reckon AK620 is the better choice then? I also saw some benchmark results where it would give lower temps across the board.

 

But how does the AK620 compare to an AIO in terms of cooling capacity? 

 

Would AK620 in a high airflow case outperform a 280/380mm AIO from the likes of Corsair or Evga or NZXT? 

 

From what I've managed to find, AIOs don't have clear TDP ratings.

 

If I were to buy, let's say a 13900K, would the AIO outperform the AK620 or would I gain more mileage using the premium air cooler if the airflow within my case is exceptionally high?

 

Thanks in advance for help.

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/deepcool-ak620-dual-tower-cpu-cooler/

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/deepcool-ak620-review/3

 

These are some benchmarks, the Noctua seems to perform slightly better. TDP isn't everything, they are measured at maximum fan speeds but even then there can be differences between manufacturers in testing. I prefer the look of the AK620 over the Noctua, but if you want maximum performance while being quiet, Noctua is still the way to go.

 

For the AIO part, it matters where you can mount it. If you mount it in front, your cpu will get lower temperatures, but if you mount it as exhaust, the heat from your graphics card will be pulled through. If you can mount it at the front, a good 280/360 will perform better than the Noctua/Deepcool towers but that changes when you have a case with good airflow, they can come really close.

Bitwit did a nice video on the placement of AIOs

 

[Dukesilver27-]

A chip's official TDP is basically meaningless, nowadays, I mean 13900K's max turbo power is supposedly 253W, in reality it exceeds 400W IIRC.

Therefore, shopping for a cooler based on rated CPU TDP is just not ideal.

As for each product's performance, you have to check each product's review.

 

[Pulsefire]

41 minutes ago, Naijin said:

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/deepcool-ak620-dual-tower-cpu-cooler/

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/deepcool-ak620-review/3

 

These are some benchmarks, the Noctua seems to perform slightly better. TDP isn't everything, they are measured at maximum fan speeds but even then there can be differences between manufacturers in testing. I prefer the look of the AK620 over the Noctua, but if you want maximum performance while being quiet, Noctua is still the way to go.

 

For the AIO part, it matters where you can mount it. If you mount it in front, your cpu will get lower temperatures, but if you mount it as exhaust, the heat from your graphics card will be pulled through. If you can mount it at the front, a good 280/360 will perform better than the Noctua/Deepcool towers but that changes when you have a case with good airflow, they can come really close.

Bitwit did a nice video on the placement of AIOs

 

I was thinking of positioning my radiator as a side intake. Case in question is Lian Li O11 Air.

 

3x120mm iPPC Noctuas as front intake

3x120mm iPPC Noctuas as bottom intake

2x140mm iPPC Notctuas as top exhaust

2x80mm normal Noctuas as rear exhaust

 

Then my options are either side AIO or 3x120mm iPPC Noctuas, both set as intakes so AIO would definitely get fresh air. 

 

But with this amount of airflow, would the AK620 still beat it?

 

(I plan on replacing the AK620 stock fans with iPPC Noctuas as well. That's extra 40CFM on two fans on AK620, +literally 2x the static pressure)

 

I think the AK620 wins over the AIO especially with the fan replacement?

 

(Yeah I'm crazy, using so many iPPC Noctuas, way better than stock Noctuas)

[Naijin]

Just now, Pulsefire said:

I was thinking of positioning my radiator as a side intake. Case in question is Lian Li O11 Air.

 

3x120mm iPPC Noctuas as front intake

3x120mm iPPC Noctuas as bottom intake

2x140mm iPPC Notctuas as top exhaust

2x80mm normal Noctuas as rear exhaust

 

Then my options are either side AIO or 3x120mm iPPC Noctuas, both set as intakes so AIO would definitely get fresh air. 

 

But with this amount of airflow, would the AK620 still beat it?

 

(I plan on replacing the AK620 stock fans with iPPC Noctuas as well. That's extra 40CFM on two fans on AK620, +literally 2x the static pressure)

 

I think the AK620 wins over the AIO especially with the fan replacement?

 

(Yeah I'm crazy, using so many iPPC Noctuas, way better than stock Noctuas)

The pressure and CFM are also rated at full speeds. There will be diminishing returns to fan speeds and cooling, and by increasing fan speeds, noise will be a lot higher as well.

 

Running those Noctuas at 3000 rpm will be LOUD, and using those for a large AIO will be better than air cooling it. Just be aware that you may not be getting much lower temperatures running those fans at 3000 rpm compared to 1000 rpm, and that the cpu will automatically draw more power if temperatures allow for it.

[Pulsefire]

2 minutes ago, Naijin said:

The pressure and CFM are also rated at full speeds. There will be diminishing returns to fan speeds and cooling, and by increasing fan speeds, noise will be a lot higher as well.

 

Running those Noctuas at 3000 rpm will be LOUD, and using those for a large AIO will be better than air cooling it. Just be aware that you may not be getting much lower temperatures running those fans at 3000 rpm compared to 1000 rpm, and that the cpu will automatically draw more power if temperatures allow for it.

Well damn. I don't think the noise will be an issue though, as the Noctua fans at 3000RPM are rated for roughly 43 desibels. Anything below 60 desibels is acceptable to me since even if it's like 56dB on full load, it's still a safe noise level and I will barely be able to hear it with my headphones on with in game audio or music anyways.

 

But you think an AIO with the iPPC Noctua fans as radiator fans would give lower temps than AK620 with iPPC Noctua fans despite all the airflow? 

[jaslion]

12 minutes ago, Pulsefire said:

I was thinking of positioning my radiator as a side intake. Case in question is Lian Li O11 Air.

 

3x120mm iPPC Noctuas as front intake

3x120mm iPPC Noctuas as bottom intake

2x140mm iPPC Notctuas as top exhaust

2x80mm normal Noctuas as rear exhaust

 

Then my options are either side AIO or 3x120mm iPPC Noctuas, both set as intakes so AIO would definitely get fresh air. 

 

But with this amount of airflow, would the AK620 still beat it?

 

(I plan on replacing the AK620 stock fans with iPPC Noctuas as well. That's extra 40CFM on two fans on AK620, +literally 2x the static pressure)

 

I think the AK620 wins over the AIO especially with the fan replacement?

 

(Yeah I'm crazy, using so many iPPC Noctuas, way better than stock Noctuas)

Leave the back open. The small fans will hinder more than anything.

 

Also more fans inst better usually. Also dont spend crazy money on them just get 2 5 packs of arctic p12 or p14s.

 

You do not want to run those noctuas at 3000rpm they are LOUD. Dont pay for a feature you wont use.

 

 

If you get an aio have it as top intake. This case does best with all fan intake and exhaust open.

 

[Pulsefire]

6 minutes ago, jaslion said:

Leave the back open. The small fans will hinder more than anything.

 

Also more fans inst better usually. Also dont spend crazy money on them just get 2 5 packs of arctic p12 or p14s.

 

You do not want to run those noctuas at 3000rpm they are LOUD. Dont pay for a feature you wont use.

 

 

If you get an aio have it as top intake. This case does best with all fan intake and exhaust open.

 

Hmm I will consider that.

[jaslion]

5 minutes ago, Pulsefire said:

Well damn. I don't think the noise will be an issue though, as the Noctua fans at 3000RPM are rated for roughly 43 desibels. Anything below 60 desibels is acceptable to me since even if it's like 56dB on full load, it's still a safe noise level and I will barely be able to hear it with my headphones on with in game audio or music anyways.

 

But you think an AIO with the iPPC Noctua fans as radiator fans would give lower temps than AK620 with iPPC Noctua fans despite all the airflow? 

Those fans are good for radiators but they have a totally different noise profile compared to other noctua fans. They are LOUD at 43db.

 

Id just not waste money on them. For the price of 1 you can have 5 arctic p fans which are great strong silent fans.

 

As for radiator it depends. A 13900k sucks to cool no matter what and the ak620 or nhd15 both outcompete all 240/280mm rads. If you were to go liquid get a arctic liquid freezer II 360 or larger. Its better than most other 360mm rads and costs a fraction of the price of thr ones that are a tiny bit better.

[Dogzilla07]

Deepcool FC 120-3 in 1 (ARGB white and back), or Deepcool FK 120 (black) are a better option.

 

For very high speeds nobody should be buying Noctua iPPC when there's Phanteks T30-120 that's superior in every way.

 

Noctua A12x25 can also easily be ran up to 3000RPM (by buying the 5v version), and setting up an over-volted curve.