Looking for a new CPU cooler

[cksmikey]

I know this is the Air Cooling section but I'm also gonna ask about water cooling too.

My current system right now is:

• CPU: A10-7850K
• Motherboard: G1.Sniper A88X
• RAM: 2x4GB 1600mhz Corsair Vengeance
• GPU: Sapphire R9 270X 2GB Toxic ed.
• Case: CM Storm Scout 2
• PSU: FSP 650W 80+ Silver

I'm still using the stock AMD CPU cooler. I still haven't decided whether to opt for an AIO Liquid Cooling solution or go for an Air Cooling one. I'm leaning into the liquid cooling solution because my graphics card with its TriX cooler/fans release the hot air inside the case. This heated air then rises and is sucked by the CPU cooler. Because of that my cpu temps are higher than when I was only using the iGPU. If I was to use a liquid cooler, attach it to the rear with the fans as intake I could avoid using up the hot air from the graphics card. Unless aftermarket air coolers aren't affected by this?

 

I've been recommended by some people these coolers: H80i(some say the H80 is still better?), Seidon 120V, NH-U12S, Hyper 212X. And if only my memory modules would let me I would put the NH-D14 there too, but unless I swap them with something like Ripjaws-X or Hyperx Fury rams that option is a no go for me. TBH if the air coolers I mentioned won't be affected by the hot air from the GPU I'd be choosing between them. That issue, if it is one, alone is what made me reconsider liquid coolers. I'd choose the H80i simply because it has 2 fans included and the installation is easy and the included software might be useful. It's probably similar to how the H60 is installed.

 

What would you guys recommend? I'm also limited to these brands btw: Noctua, Cooler Master, Seidon, Corsair, Deepcool.

[Cokeman]

We'll for AIO the h80i and h100i are great coolers. Get the h100i if it will fit inside your case. The I variants are better the have updated and easier to use mounting hardware. They also have Corsair link you just plug a cable into a USB 2 connector on your motherboard and it will let you check your temps and control the speeds of all your fans.

[cksmikey]

We'll for AIO the h80i and h100i are great coolers. Get the h100i if it will fit inside your case. The I variants are better the have updated and easier to use mounting hardware. They also have Corsair link you just plug a cable into a USB 2 connector on your motherboard and it will let you check your temps and control the speeds of all your fans.

Linus had a build guide with the same case and used an H100 or H100i and he placed the rad outside on the top fan mounts. I really don't want to do that, so I'm limited to 120mm AIO. I'm still really curious about the gpu heat affecting air coolers. If it shouldn't be seen as an issue I would opt for one of the air coolers recommended to me or if you guys have better alternatives. Pretty much because they are cheaper than the H80i, at least the prices I've seen where I live.

[Cokeman]

Linus had a build guide with the same case and used an H100 or H100i and he placed the rad outside on the top fan mounts. I really don't want to do that, so I'm limited to 120mm AIO. I'm still really curious about the gpu heat affecting air coolers. If it shouldn't be seen as an issue I would opt for one of the air coolers recommended to me or if you guys have better alternatives. Pretty much because they are cheaper than the H80i, at least the prices I've seen where I live.

We'll for air coolers get a Hyper 212 Evo. Replace the stock fan and get two SP 120 fans and do a push pull configuration

[HannahLewis]

We'll for air coolers get a Hyper 212 Evo. Replace the stock fan and get two SP 120 fans and do a push pull configuration

 

This^^, it's relatively cheap and offer great performance

[Thorium19]

a hyper 212 evo is about as good as most 120mm AIO coolers, but if you want performance better than the h80i you should get a be quiet dark rock 3 or noctua nh-u12/14s.

for a budget cooler, the 212 evo and silverstone AR01 are very good choices.

[Cokeman]

a hyper 212 evo is about as good as most 120mm AIO coolers, but if you want performance better than the h80i you should get a be quiet dark rock 3 or noctua nh-u12/14s.

for a budget cooler, the 212 evo and silverstone AR01 are very good choices.

Noctua fans aren't worth it twice as much as a SP 120 for 3 degrees difference

[Thorium19]

Noctua fans aren't worth it twice as much as a SP 120 for 3 degrees difference

it's not noctua fans, its the heatsink as well. considering the NH-U12s and the be quiet dark rock 3 heatsinks costs less than a H80i I think I know which I would go for.

[cksmikey]

a hyper 212 evo is about as good as most 120mm AIO coolers, but if you want performance better than the h80i you should get a be quiet dark rock 3 or noctua nh-u12/14s.

for a budget cooler, the 212 evo and silverstone AR01 are very good choices.

I don't think the dark rock 3 or NH-U14S heights fit inside my case. There's a newer version of the 212 called the 212X. I've heard it has better performance/parts compared to previous versions. But I also really want to know if the heat released by my graphics card has significant effect on an aftermarket air cooler or it will only add like 1 or 2 degrees C. That's basically what's holding me back on whether I choose AIO(mounted on th rear with fan(s) as intake) or an air cooler. I'm also planning to OC my processor a bit. Like maybe 4.0 or 4.1Ghz.

[Thorium19]

I don't think the dark rock 3 or NH-U14S heights fit inside my case. There's a newer version of the 212 called the 212X. I've heard it has better performance/parts compared to previous versions. But I also really want to know if the heat released by my graphics card has significant effect on an aftermarket air cooler or it will only add like 1 or 2 degrees C. That's basically what's holding me back on whether I choose AIO(mounted on th rear with fan(s) as intake) or an air cooler. I'm also planning to OC my processor a bit. Like maybe 4.0 or 4.1Ghz.

 

the heat from a GPU will barely affect the temperatures of your CPU. if it did, it would be affecting the stock cooler as much as an aftermarket cooler. it's likely to be negligible, at the most, like you said, 1-2C. Air coolers are quieter than 120mm AIOs, due to not having a pump, although the difference isn't really noticeable without trying to listen for it.

check the height of the coolers compared to the height your case will support. usually cases can support a little bit more, a few millimetres here and there.

[cksmikey]

the heat from a GPU will barely affect the temperatures of your CPU. if it did, it would be affecting the stock cooler as much as an aftermarket cooler. it's likely to be negligible, at the most, like you said, 1-2C. Air coolers are quieter than 120mm AIOs, due to not having a pump, although the difference isn't really noticeable without trying to listen for it.

check the height of the coolers compared to the height your case will support. usually cases can support a little bit more, a few millimetres here and there.

The Scout 2 has 162mm clearance for coolers, the NH-U14S is 165mm high not sure about the dark rock 3 but from what I remember they have really tall coolers. Not to mention memory clearance too. Thing is the Scout 2 has a side panel with a bulge/raised part where the plexiglass window and side fan mounts are located. idk if the 162mm includes that part but I don't want to take chances on tall coolers.

 

I asked about the gpu heat thing because my cpu temps are a bit higher than before I got the Toxic installed. I'm reaching 80C with HWinfo when I'm playing Watch_Dogs. Then again that game has a lot of performance issues from what I've read and it could be making my cpu work more and output more heat. I'm not really concerned much about fan/pump noise as I'm always using headphones.

[cksmikey]

hmm after comparing cpu temps when I played Watch_Dogs and Insurgency it only reached ~80C with Watch_Dogs and nowhere near 80C with Insurgency. haha I'm so ashamed that I blamed my gfx card for the cpu temps. Looks like I'm choosing the Hyper 212X then, unless you guys have another alternative? Is the 212X/Evo enough if I OC my processor up to 4.0 or 4.1 ghz? Would a 2nd fan in a push-pull config help significantly or just slightly?

[Thorium19]

hmm after comparing cpu temps when I played Watch_Dogs and Insurgency it only reached ~80C with Watch_Dogs and nowhere near 80C with Insurgency. haha I'm so ashamed that I blamed my gfx card for the cpu temps. Looks like I'm choosing the Hyper 212X then, unless you guys have another alternative? Is the 212X/Evo enough if I OC my processor up to 4.0 or 4.1 ghz? Would a 2nd fan in a push-pull config help significantly or just slightly?

 

the 212X/evo is a solid budget choice for a cooler, along with the alternative of the silverstone AR01 or the enermax ets t40. the phanteks ph tc12 is a wider cooler, but it might fit and has better cooling, yet it does come at a slightly higher cost.