Fractal Terra CPU cooler recommendations

thewelshbrummie · May 16

The TLDR - assuming I'm building a gaming rig in a Fractal Terra (something like a 9070XT/5070Ti for the GPU, or a Core 5 245K/Ryzen 5 7700 CPU) what cooler would you recommend?

--

Background, because this takes some explaining.

I've been planning a silent HTPC - basically building this silent office/HTPC from QuietPC in the UK, but for myself in the US. Specifically I want the Streacom DB4 case in Titanium. I'm currently using an Intel Compute Stick as an HTPC and it's basically not usable anymore (4GB RAM being the issue). I have most of a build ready, except for the case, appropriate PSU and CPU cooler.

Spoiler

(the Streacom DB4 comes with heatpipes that are good for 65W but with the extra heatpipe kit can support anything up to 110W. The PSU would either be a 160W Pico PSU of Streacom's ZF240).

My intention is to build it in full, partly for the fun of building it but also because in theory I can do it for less money and that's before import taxes and the like. However I want the Streacom DB4 case in Titanium and that's not been available in the US for around 18 months and counting. And Streacom have now suspended US shipping from their store thanks to tariffs so who knows when it will actually be available (other retailers are out of stock as well), if at all, for me to order. I could order from the UK and ship it but that's going to cost $120 in shipping and doesn't include the probable tariff cost which at 30% is way too much.

For the HTPC, I currently have:

Motherboard: AsRock Z790-ITX
CPU - Intel 14500T (105W max turbo TDP)
SSD - Samsung 990Pro 1TB
RAM G.Skill Ripjaws S5 2x16GB @6,400MHz (this kit is 33mm tall, which matters for where this thread is going).
OS - Windows 11 Pro, already installed and configured
Plenty of Thermal Paste

I'm probably 2 years away from a new gaming build (I have a 10700K, launched 5 years ago). So my thought was to get parts that let me finish the HTPC now, with the view of reusing them for an ITX gaming rig when ready to rebuild with the DB4 case, rather than buying cheaper parts now that won't be good enough to reuse.

I could buy a 300W PSU but they're expensive in the US, won't work in the DB4 case while also having no viable alternative use for me so it doesn't make sense to get one. So I've ordered a Coolermaster V750W SFX PSU that will power a 5070Ti or 9070XT should it need to (that's as powerful a GPU as I'd want to get) and will still get the job done of powering something far more lightweight.

I like the Fractal Terra so that's my intended case for my next gaming build. But I still need a CPU cooler since I don't have a stock Intel one spare (which would be fine for the HTPC build).

--

Ram clearance is 33mm. So I could go with any of the following:

Thermalright AXP-120-X67 ($32)
ID-Cooling IS-55 ($40)
Thermalright AXP90 X47 ($23)
Noctua L9i-1700 ($50)

Or something else. The HTPC parts will draw 150W max. I could cheap out since the 14500T really doesn't need anything fancy but ideally I'd get something that can handle a far more powerful CPU like the 245K or 9700 (or whatever is the direct replacement for those), again so I can reuse it rather than spend $20-30 on a cooler that will only ever be for temporary use.

Obviously the Noctua L9i would force me into an Intel build... and I'd like to keep options open for my next rig so I'd prefer to avoid that and go with something that can mount on both LGA1700/1851 or AM5.

Suggestions welcome. As implied above I'm in the US. I'm also 20mins from a Microcenter if that helps with recommendations.

OddOod · May 16

ID-Cooling IS-55 seems pretty decent and has a rated TDP of 150W

One thing I will always plug with HTPCs, if you can get away with it, caseless is fantastic
https://imgur.com/gallery/htpc-ZFDSpg6
You do need to live in a household with an accepting partner and usually no cats nor tykes