CPU Cooler Comparision

[BrownCoat40]

I really wonder about the different classes for air cooled CPU coolers. Will a cooler with four heat pipes to keep an i7-4790 from thermal throttling? What's necessary to keep it below 70degC? 4 heat pipes? 6 heat pipes? Will a low profile cooler with the same radiator size have the same cooling efficiency? I'd love to see a new "workshop" video where you take something like a i7-4790K (not overclocked to keep coolers as the only variable), and strap a couple different classes of coolers on them in order to see how different classes of coolers perform.  For Cooler Master's lineup, you could compare the Hyper 612, Hyper 212 Evo, T2, T4, Vortex V400, GeminII S524 and M4. Or on Noctua's line, NH-D15, NH-U12S, NH-D9L, NH-C14S, NH-L12, and NH-L9A. Of course, the bigger ones will do better, but how much better are we talking? If a NH-D15 is only 2 degrees cooler than an NH-D9L, then I know which one I'd go for. And if I'm saving up for a water-cooling kit, will a 212 Evo throttle my i7-4790?

   Potentially, you could throw in the Intel stock cooler and something like an h80i an H100i. But you probably covered those comparisons sufficiently in "Is Aftermarket CPU Cooling Worth it?", where you compared stock, a T4, and 240mm rad.

[Matty2hatty]

The NH u14s would do well but if you want to save space the L9/12 series will still keep your CPU cool, look into a Cryorig C7 for really LP cooling

[aisle9]

There's a pretty good comparison test here, but it's not the be-all end-all. The best answer to your question, unfortunately, is, "It depends."

 

That said, a 4790K running at stock speeds should have no throttling problems with a Hyper 212 EVO.

[WoodenMarker]

A cooler like the Hyper T2 or NH-L12 would already be more than enough--no point bringing in more overkill coolers into the picture. 
The number or heatpipes or whatnot is important but not comparable across different coolers--look at benchmarks instead.

[LogicalDrm]

For non-K CPU you usually don't even need aftermarket coolers. I admit that I would still pick something for i7, just because its used to heavier tasks and stock cooler isn't that good in performance. As for thermal throttling, you won't see it that fast with Intel CPUs. Stock cooler will keep it under 90C which is kinda danger levels. Throttling comes somewhere closer to 100C.