Time to Replace my AIO Cooler?

[dylanarts]

Hello everyone! I want some other opinions on my current cooling situation. I have an Intel i7-12700K running at 5.1 GHz. I built this system in February of 2022 (16 months ago) and am cooling it with a MSI MAG Series CORELIQUID P240 AIO Liquid CPU Cooler. I used Fractal Design Venturi fans fans all the way around and the Fractal Design Meshify 3. I also used Noctua's NT-H1 thermal paste. I know the cooler's pump is the loudest part of my system, and it has made a annoying buzz since day one. I was recently looking to maybe replace the AIO with an NH-D15 from Noctua (which is about $109 USD) and I was wondering if it is a good use of my money. Will the Noctua fans be quieter than the AIO pump? Will the cooling performance be on par? I've got the room for it in my case and the funds to throw at it right now. I am going to upgrade the storage anyway and thought I may as well throw in a new cooler too if it would be quieter without sacrificing cooling. I also know it is over a year old, which I have heard AIOs don't last more than 2 years and I wouldn't want to risk a leak. Any advice is welcome! Thank you in advance!

[OhYou_]

yeah it should be good for noise and not too much difference in temps, just keep in mind you may want some case ventilation or something since another benefit of the aios is they directly dump the heat out of the case.

as for age, idk who said 2 years, my two have gone hard for 9 years or so and still work, with one just starting to make some noise in the pump.
I'd say an AIO should be fine for just as long in a build as the cpu is.

[dylanarts]

1 minute ago, OhYou_ said:

yeah it should be good for noise and not too much difference in temps, just keep in mind you may want some case ventilation or something since another benefit of the aios is they directly dump the heat out of the case.

as for age, idk who said 2 years, my two have gone hard for 9 years or so and still work, with one just starting to make some noise in the pump.
I'd say an AIO should be fine for just as long in a build as the cpu is.

Ok great on the age! I have three fans on the front for intake, and right now there are two fans that push through the radiator and out the top, and one on the back as exhaust. With an air cooler should I make the top two pull in or push out? I kinda feel like just pumping as much air in would be a good thing and it will find its way out since the whole back is mesh.

[Budget DIY]

I've owned a very budget friendly Coolermaster 240 ML AiO, and I never ever heard the pump running after I had a POST from my pc. Had it running 100%, 24/7 for just over 3 years. It had lost plenty-o-liquid, but still zero pump noise.

 

At this point, I've never ever heard my Deepcool Gammax 360 pump at all. Not even during POST. Pump running @ 100%.

 

Both kept my Ryzen 3600 cool. Your Intel thing might run more hot, but that doesn't change the pump speed: 100% 24/7 is still 100% 24/7.

[Somerandomtechyboi]

D15 is currently obselete, if you wanna spend money on a noctua wait for the upcoming d15 gen2 or whatever, otherwise you are getting ripped off on what is essentially a decade old cooler, it has aged pretty well but it aint a good buy nowadays

 

Id reccomend a peerless assassin/phantom spirit 120 cause theyre much cheaper (~40$) but perform similarly to a d15

[dylanarts]

2 minutes ago, Somerandomtechyboi said:

D15 is currently obselete, if you wanna spend money on a noctua wait for the upcoming d15 gen2 or whatever, otherwise you are getting ripped off on what is essentially a decade old cooler, it has aged pretty well but it aint a good buy nowadays

 

Id reccomend a peerless assassin/phantom spirit 120 cause theyre much cheaper (~40$) but perform similarly to a d15

I did not know about the upcoming Gen 2. I may just wait for that.

 

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/noctua-reveals-2nd-gen-nh-d15-cpu-cooler-for-q2-2024

[jaslion]

17 minutes ago, thedylanarts said:

AIOs don't last more than 2 years

Most do an average of 5 dunno where you heard 2 as thats not even the mandatory minimum warranty period in europe.

[dylanarts]

3 minutes ago, Budget DIY said:

I've owned a very budget friendly Coolermaster 240 ML AiO, and I never ever heard the pump running after I had a POST from my pc. Had it running 100%, 24/7 for just over 3 years. It had lost plenty-o-liquid, but still zero pump noise.

 

At this point, I've never ever heard my Deepcool Gammax 360 pump at all. Not even during POST. Pump running @ 100%.

 

Both kept my Ryzen 3600 cool. Your Intel thing might run more hot, but that doesn't change the pump speed: 100% 24/7 is still 100% 24/7.

I don't know why it is loud except for it is MSI. I know a lot of people like MSI products, but I have had a few bad experiences with them.

[dylanarts]

Just now, jaslion said:

Most do an average of 5 dunno where you heard 2 as thats not even the mandatory minimum warranty period in europe.

Good to have some more incorrect information out of my brain! Thanks!

[Budget DIY]

1 minute ago, thedylanarts said:

I don't know why it is loud except for it is MSI. I know a lot of people like MSI products, but I have had a few bad experiences with them.

TBH, I would most likely RMA-ed that AiO. From my limited experience and from what I've seen online, you shouldn't hear the pump. (I also would have avoided MSI as an AiO "fabricator", I feel like you're paying premium just for the brand)

[dylanarts]

Just now, Budget DIY said:

TBH, I would most likely RMA-ed that AiO. From my limited experience and from what I've seen online, you shouldn't hear the pump. (I also would have avoided MSI as an AiO "fabricator", I feel like you're paying premium just for the brand)

Well that is good to know for my second build lol.

[jaslion]

Just now, Budget DIY said:

MSI as an AiO "fabricator", I feel like you're paying premium just for the brand)

Basically. They are usually amongst the lowest end performers for a premium

[OhYou_]

12 minutes ago, thedylanarts said:

Ok great on the age! I have three fans on the front for intake, and right now there are two fans that push through the radiator and out the top, and one on the back as exhaust. With an air cooler should I make the top two pull in or push out? I kinda feel like just pumping as much air in would be a good thing and it will find its way out since the whole back is mesh.

you are correct on the fans, it will effectively pressurize the case and then assuming you have dust filters in the intakes, almost eliminate dust in the case.

[dylanarts]

So, with all that said, I can't RMA it and it is annoying. Should I just buy the NH-D15 and keep it forever (That is kinda a joke but you know), buy a cheaper one and plan to get a new cooler on my next build, or keep this one until the Gen 2 comes out? I am watching a video about the NH-D15 Gen 2 now.

[dylanarts]

1 minute ago, OhYou_ said:

you are correct on the fans, it will effectively pressurize the case and then assuming you have dust filters in the intakes, almost eliminate dust in the case.

Yep I have dust filters.

[jaslion]

Just now, thedylanarts said:

So, with all that said, I can't RMA it and it is annoying. Should I just buy the NH-D15 and keep it forever (That is kinda a joke but you know), buy a cheaper one and plan to get a new cooler on my next build, or keep this one until the Gen 2 comes out? I am watching a video about the NH-D15 Gen 2 now.

I mean there are ndh15 competitors like the sycthe fuma 2 and 3, ak620,... for less and theyll do the job fine.

[TPCEA]

3 hours ago, thedylanarts said:

Hello everyone! I want some other opinions on my current cooling situation. I have an Intel i7-12700K running at 5.1 GHz. I built this system in February of 2022 (16 months ago) and am cooling it with a MSI MAG Series CORELIQUID P240 AIO Liquid CPU Cooler. I used Fractal Design Venturi fans fans all the way around and the Fractal Design Meshify 3. I also used Noctua's NT-H1 thermal paste. I know the cooler's pump is the loudest part of my system, and it has made a annoying buzz since day one. I was recently looking to maybe replace the AIO with an NH-D15 from Noctua (which is about $109 USD) and I was wondering if it is a good use of my money. Will the Noctua fans be quieter than the AIO pump? Will the cooling performance be on par? I've got the room for it in my case and the funds to throw at it right now. I am going to upgrade the storage anyway and thought I may as well throw in a new cooler too if it would be quieter without sacrificing cooling. I also know it is over a year old, which I have heard AIOs don't last more than 2 years and I wouldn't want to risk a leak. Any advice is welcome! Thank you in advance!

• Will the Noctua fans be quieter than the AIO pump?

Yes.  P240: 14.3 ~ 34.3 dBA. D15: 19,2  ~ 24,6 dB(A)

• Will the cooling performance be on par?

I spent far too much time trying to find a review of the two of them. As far as I can tell from what little I learned, the Noctua will possibly be better. Maybe someone else knows for sure. In this forum post on THF, several users there trashed the P240 and recommended the D15.

[dylanarts]

1 hour ago, RevGAM said:

• Will the Noctua fans be quieter than the AIO pump?

Yes.  P240: 14.3 ~ 34.3 dBA. D15: 19,2  ~ 24,6 dB(A)

• Will the cooling performance be on par?

I spent far too much time trying to find a review of the two of them. As far as I can tell from what little I learned, the Noctua will possibly be better. Maybe someone else knows for sure. In this forum post on THF, several users there trashed the P240 and recommended the D15.

That is very good to know. Thanks!