Is It Worth Upgrading.

[The_Crawfish]

I am thinking about upgrading the cooling of my computer. It runs good enough, but it is running hot now that it's summer( I have a fx6300 overclocked to 4.5GHz.). I am thinking about going from a Rosewill Challenger case and Hyper 212 eco to a corsair 450D and Noctua Nh-D14. I am also planning on putting some more fans in the case for better airflow, and maybe a fan controller if it's worth it.

Now, like the title says, would this be a wise upgrade for me? And if you guys have any recommendations for me or whatever my budget is like $300, but could go like $25 over.

Thanks!

[AlwaysFSX]

If you're going to keep the case for a while then I say go for it. Nothing bad about low temps.

[Enderman]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($109.98 @ Amazon Canada) 

Case: Corsair 750D ATX Full Tower Case  ($139.99 @ Canada Computers) 

Total: $249.97

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-19 12:57 EDT-0400

 

or

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler  ($124.05 @ Newegg Canada) 

Case: Corsair 750D ATX Full Tower Case  ($139.99 @ Canada Computers) 

Total: $264.04

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-19 12:58 EDT-0400

 

Really you have a large budget to work with just for a cooler+case.

Just go for whatever case looks best

Fractal design r4, enthoo primo, 450d, 750d, 760t, whatever you like

[The_Crawfish]

If you're going to keep the case for a while then I say go for it. Nothing bad about low temps.

I'll keep it for as long as my components fit in it. But my current one is too small, and I couldn't do cable management and such. I'm just tired of having high temps.

[AlwaysFSX]

I'll keep it for as long as my components fit in it. But my current one is too small, and I couldn't do cable management and such. I'm just tired of having high temps.

Then do it, the 450D is a large enough case and so long as things don't get bigger it'll serve you well for years.

[The_Crawfish]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($109.98 @ Amazon Canada) 

Case: Corsair 750D ATX Full Tower Case  ($139.99 @ Canada Computers) 

Total: $249.97

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-19 12:57 EDT-0400

 

or

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler  ($124.05 @ Newegg Canada) 

Case: Corsair 750D ATX Full Tower Case  ($139.99 @ Canada Computers) 

Total: $264.04

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-19 12:58 EDT-0400

 

Really you have a large budget to work with just for a cooler+case.

Just go for whatever case looks best

Fractal design r4, enthoo primo, 450d, 750d, 760t, whatever you like

I'm not going for just a case and cooler, but fans and controller too. I want it to be as cool as I can go for this price, while staying somewhat quiet. And I thought he nhd14 offers similar performance to the AIOs while staying quieter?

[Enderman]

I'm not going for just a case and cooler, but fans and controller too. I want it to be as cool as I can go for this price, while staying somewhat quiet. And I thought he nhd14 offers similar performance to the AIOs while staying quieter?

Oh I see.

Well the NH-D14/15 performs about the same as a 240mm AiO but it is much more bulky, and personally I think it just looks bad. Noise is about the same, not too much quieter. Do you care about looks inside the case? Because you will have a side panel window...

If you do care about aesthetics, you should probably not get noctua fans. There are plenty of other options tat perform just as well.

[The_Crawfish]

I wouldn't mind an AIO. But is it as good with the stock fan config, or should I put some after market ones on too make it better? And would a h100i work as well?

[The_Crawfish]

I'm going to make my order tonight, have it narrowed down to a H105 or H100i.  And are there any recommendations for fan controllers?(under $50)

[WoodenMarker]

Oh I see.

Well the NH-D14/15 performs about the same as a 240mm AiO but it is much more bulky, and personally I think it just looks bad. Noise is about the same, not too much quieter. Do you care about looks inside the case? Because you will have a side panel window...

If you do care about aesthetics, you should probably not get noctua fans. There are plenty of other options tat perform just as well.

I wouldn't mind an AIO. But is it as good with the stock fan config, or should I put some after market ones on too make it better? And would a h100i work as well?

Noise is far from the same. The NH-D14/D15 is much quieter than any AIO with stock fans. 

[Enderman]

Noise is far from the same. The NH-D14/D15 is much quieter than any AIO with stock fans. 

If you put noctua fans on an AiO it is not much louder than an NH-D14/15

[WoodenMarker]

If you put noctua fans on an AiO it is not much louder than an NH-D14/15

Well obviously.. When fans are the source of the noise, using the same fans would sound the same. 

AIO's can have a fair bit of pump noise, are more expensive with aftermarket fans, and have worse mounting hardware though. 

[Enderman]

Well obviously.. When fans are the source of the noise, using the same fans would sound the same. 

AIO's can have a fair bit of pump noise, are more expensive with aftermarket fans, and have worse mounting hardware though. 

Well it is much easier to mount a small CPU block than a giant tower cooler like the NH-D15...

The H100i has great mounting hardware...takes seconds to install.

Plus the pump noise is not audible over other fans in the system, at least my H100i isnt...And all my fans are undervolted 15db Fractal Designs

Something like the Swiftec H220 will have a much louder pump.

[WoodenMarker]

Well it is much easier to mount a small CPU block than a giant tower cooler like the NH-D15...

The H100i has great mounting hardware...takes seconds to install.

Plus the pump noise is not audible over other fans in the system, at least my H100i isnt...And all my fans are undervolted 15db Fractal Designs

Something like the Swiftec H220 will have a much louder pump.

The cpu block may be easier to mount but the Noctua hardware is more secure. I've found others who have had mounting issues with the h100i but not so with the NH-D14/15. 

The pump noise would be audible over undervolted Noctuas. I'm pretty sure the hdd's in your system are louder than the pump noise. 

The H220 has a quieter pump than the H100i. The h100i has one of the louder pumps compared to other AIO's. http://martinsliquidlab.org/2013/03/12/swiftech-h220-vs-corsair-h100i-noise-testing/

[The_Crawfish]

I'm not really worried about the noise that much, my headphones are sort of noise proof.  I'm just wondering if I should go with the H100i or H105?  

 

And if I should get a fan controller.

[Enderman]

The cpu block may be easier to mount but the Noctua hardware is more secure. I've found others who have had mounting issues with the h100i but not so with the NH-D14/15. 

The pump noise would be audible over undervolted Noctuas. I'm pretty sure the hdd's in your system are louder than the pump noise. 

The H220 has a quieter pump than the H100i. The h100i has one of the louder pumps compared to other AIO's. http://martinsliquidlab.org/2013/03/12/swiftech-h220-vs-corsair-h100i-noise-testing/

Well speaking from personal experience the H100i was the easiest cooler I have ever mounted. I don't see how having 5 pounds of metal hanging off your motherboard is more secure.

The link to the tests is innacure. On the graphs the 'pump noise' is actually added to the noise from the fans. Obviously if the stock fans are louder the average noise level will be louder. There is no test for only the pump with no fans running. Therefore the test is evaluating the noise level of the pump+fan noise, not the pump. Have you actually heard an H100i irl? The fans are loud as hell, the pump not so much. This is why I never buy corsair fans...

[The_Crawfish]

 This is why I never buy corsair fans...

 

What fans do you recommend then?  I was going for the SP-120's to put on my cooler.

[Enderman]

What fans do you recommend then?  I was going for the SP-120's to put on my cooler.

Noctua fans are great if you can afford them. You probably will not want to buy the old coloured ones, and the new black industrial fans linus reviewed are over $30 each.

Other good options for radiators are noiseblocker e-loops.

Personally I use Fractal design silent fans which are optimised for airflow not static pressure, but they work fine on my rad, and I like them because they are silent. I will probably upgrade to e-loops soon though, they look very sexy

[The_Crawfish]

I've found of the old Noctuas on Newegg for like $25 a piece.  Which ones work best for radiators, the S12's or F12's?

And can someone answer my fan controller question!  I am thinking about getting one to control my two front, cooler, and two bottom fans.

edit: they're $20 on amazon, so I'll pick up two of the NF-F12s

[The_Crawfish]

Actually, I'm going to save a little money and use the stock fans for now.  I decided on the H100i.

 

Thanks for the help everyone!

[loccilucas]

If you put noctua fans on an AiO it is not much louder than an NH-D14/15

That isn't true, the pump noise will always be there with an AIO...and the pumps on them are not very good. The difference in noise between a D14 and AIO is pretty big regardless of the fans.

[loccilucas]

I'm not really worried about the noise that much, my headphones are sort of noise proof. I'm just wondering if I should go with the H100i or H105?

And if I should get a fan controller.

Get the h105, if you have the option just for the better performance.

[loccilucas]

I'm not really worried about the noise that much, my headphones are sort of noise proof. I'm just wondering if I should go with the H100i or H105?

And if I should get a fan controller.

Get the h105, if you have the option just for the better performance.