CPU cooler upgrade.

[50MinZ]

Hello, I'm running a 6 core 10th gen i7. Currently have the stock intel cooler. Im finding really high temperatures since I have quite a warm build. Getting some more case fans, but also want to upgrade my CPU's cooler. However, my problem is that I have a Micro ATX motherboard, and basically no clearance for a bigger cooler. Does anybody know of a cheap(ish) cooler I can get that is around the same size as this stock intel one? 

[Middcore]

What exactly do you mean by clearance? What would get in the way? 

[YoungBlade]

Do you mean a 6 core 10th gen i5 or an 8 core 10th gen i7? The 10th gen i7 CPUs had 8 cores.

[50MinZ]

13 minutes ago, Middcore said:

What exactly do you mean by clearance? What would get in the way? 

RAM

[50MinZ]

13 minutes ago, YoungBlade said:

Do you mean a 6 core 10th gen i5 or an 8 core 10th gen i7? The 10th gen i7 CPUs had 8 cores.

Yes, sorry.

[50MinZ]

1 minute ago, 50MinZ said:

Yes, sorry.

I meant the 8 core i7.

[PDifolco]

3 minutes ago, 50MinZ said:

RAM

RAM would be an issue oonly with super massive coolers DH15 style, get anything medium size (Esports 34, AK400, ...) and you'll be good

Thought i7 never shipped with crap stock coolers

[50MinZ]

Just now, PDifolco said:

RAM would be an issue oonly with super massive coolers DH15 style, get anything medium size (Esports 34, AK400, ...) and you'll be good

Thought i7 never shipped with crap stock coolers

I really dont think so.  Current cooler is millimetres away from touching the chunky corsair vengeance pro RAM I got. I cant find a single cooler that will provide more airflow and be the same size/smaller. And believe me, I have searched for hours.

[50MinZ]

I can try to get a photo if you'd like.

 

[PDifolco]

6 minutes ago, 50MinZ said:

I can try to get a photo if you'd like.

 

Yup

Do you have a special super cramped mobo ? 

Because with mostly any standard one there's no issue at all, look this for example, and you can even put the fan on the rear...

[50MinZ]

Yeah, see what you mean. Still think its going to be a tight fit though. Any recomendations?

[50MinZ]

I'm enjoying corsair so probably going to take a look for one of theres.

 

[YoungBlade]

That looks like you have enough room for a number of inexpensive tower-style air coolers. The RAM is tall, but plenty of air coolers stay far enough back that it won't be an issue. For example, the Thermalright Assassin X 120 is on sale right now for just $20, or there's an RGB version for $23 if you want to go that route: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B09LHBFPJ6

[50MinZ]

7 minutes ago, YoungBlade said:

That looks like you have enough room for a number of inexpensive tower-style air coolers. The RAM is tall, but plenty of air coolers stay far enough back that it won't be an issue. For example, the Thermalright Assassin X 120 is on sale right now for just $20, or there's an RGB version for $23 if you want to go that route: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B09LHBFPJ6

Yeah, I was thinking something a bit more powerful as I have around $120 to spend and would just rather get one that works great and I wont have to replace though.

 

[YoungBlade]

8 minutes ago, 50MinZ said:

Yeah, I was thinking something a bit more powerful as I have around $120 to spend and would just rather get one that works great and I wont have to replace though.

 

I don't typically think of $120 as "cheap(ish)" but if you're looking to go all-out, then the best compact air cooler is probably the Scythe Fuma 2. It looks bigger than it is, but the RAM won't be an issue because the heat pipes bend away and it has a thin front fan. Sadly, it's out of stock or being scalped by marketplace sellers on Amazon and Newegg. If you live near a Microcenter, they'd probably have it in stock. EDIT: Just looked and it's basically sold out at all Microcenter stores, too.

 

Otherwise, you could go with an all-in-one liquid cooler (AIO) with that budget pretty easily. If your case can handle a 240mm or 280mm, there are plenty around the $100 price point. Probably the best option there would be the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240 that Amazon has for $98: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07WSDLRVP

 

What case do you have?

[50MinZ]

1 minute ago, YoungBlade said:

I don't typically think of $120 as "cheap(ish)" but if you're looking to go all-out, then the best compact air cooler is probably the Scythe Fuma 2. It looks bigger than it is, but the RAM won't be an issue because the heat pipes bend away and it has a thin front fan. Sadly, it's out of stock or being scalped by marketplace sellers on Amazon and Newegg. If you live near a Microcenter, they'd probably have it in stock.

 

Otherwise, you could go with an all-in-one liquid cooler (AIO) with that budget pretty easily. If your case can handle a 240mm or 280mm, there are plenty around the $100 price point. Probably the best option there would be the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240 that Amazon has for $98: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07WSDLRVP

 

What case do you have?

I have the GameMax Kamikaze Pro. I think its a decent size but im not sure.

 

[YoungBlade]

1 minute ago, 50MinZ said:

I have the GameMax Kamikaze Pro. I think its a decent size but im not sure.

 

That case does support 240mm AIOs in both the top and front, so you can definitely go that route. The pump block definitely won't interfere with your RAM. I'd recommend mounting the radiator in the top if you decide to get an AIO, as that'll give you the best long-term experience.

[50MinZ]

13 minutes ago, YoungBlade said:

That case does support 240mm AIOs in both the top and front, so you can definitely go that route. The pump block definitely won't interfere with your RAM. I'd recommend mounting the radiator in the top if you decide to get an AIO, as that'll give you the best long-term experience.

I'd have to sacrifice 2 case fans for that though.

 

[YoungBlade]

5 minutes ago, 50MinZ said:

I'd have to sacrifice 2 case fans for that though.

I don't see case fans in the picture you posted - I'm talking about the top of the case above the motherboard, not the top 2 fans in the front of the case.

 

Even if you do have 2 case fans mounted in the top of your case, you won't really lose that much exhaust, because you will get airflow from the AIO's radiator. It won't be as much because it has to push air through the radiator fins, but it's not a complete loss.

[50MinZ]

1 minute ago, YoungBlade said:

I don't see case fans in the picture you posted - I'm talking about the top of the case above the motherboard, not the top 2 fans in the front of the case.

 

Even if you do have 2 case fans mounted in the top of your case, you won't really lose that much exhaust, because you will get airflow from the AIO's radiator. It won't be as much because it has to push air through the radiator fins, but it's not a complete loss.

Yeah, I got some extra fans installed up there.

[50MinZ]

Thanks for the help everyone. Going to go with the Corsair iCUE H115i ELITE AIO cooler.