AM3+ CPU Cooler

[Rolfejc]

Hi everyone. So my brother wants to build a gaming PC, but he doesn't really know much about PC hardware in general. I know a good bit about PC hardware though, and after searching eBay for a bit I decided it would be best if we bought him something like an Athlon II X4 620 and then upgrade the processor to an FX 8xxx or something like that when Zen hits the market to hopefully get better performance in CPU intensive titles. Anyways I did some research though and I found some helpful info on Overclockers about motherboard VRMs. I learned there that I want a CPU cooler blowing downwards onto the VRMs to provide better cooling to the motherboard overall to have a better lifespan. However there doesn't really seem to be a lot of decent coolers that blow downwards for sale out there. There are a bunch of really cheap ones on PCPP, but those sketchy coolers don't seem like they can handle a 125 watt FX 8xxx CPU in the future. There is also the CM Vortex Plus which seems like a decent option but for $25 it does seem a bit pricey considering the X4 620 itself cost like $30. Anyways I was wondering if there are any other CPU coolers out there that are capable of handling an FX 8xxx CPU with a 125 watt TDP for possibly cheaper. I might be stretching my luck but this is supposed to be a very cheap budget build that can handle some gaming. Thanks for any help. Also off topic but what do you think of the Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ motherboard for $60 or so with a MIRB? I am also looking for a quality AM3+ motherboard for the build that will last awhile. 

[Stardar1]

1 minute ago, Rolfejc said:

Hi everyone. So my brother wants to build a gaming PC, but he doesn't really know much about PC hardware in general. I know a good bit about PC hardware though, and after searching eBay for a bit I decided it would be best if we bought him something like an Athlon II X4 620 and then upgrade the processor to an FX 8xxx or something like that when Zen hits the market to hopefully get better performance in CPU intensive titles. Anyways I did some research though and I found some helpful info on Overclockers about motherboard VRMs. I learned there that I want a CPU cooler blowing downwards onto the VRMs to provide better cooling to the motherboard overall to have a better lifespan. However there doesn't really seem to be a lot of decent coolers that blow downwards for sale out there. There are a bunch of really cheap ones on PCPP, but those sketchy coolers don't seem like they can handle a 125 watt FX 8xxx CPU in the future. There is also the CM Vortex Plus which seems like a decent option but for $25 it does seem a bit pricey considering the X4 620 itself cost like $30. Anyways I was wondering if there are any other CPU coolers out there that are capable of handling an FX 8xxx CPU with a 125 watt TDP for possibly cheaper. I might be stretching my luck but this is supposed to be a very cheap budget build that can handle some gaming. Thanks for any help. Also off topic but what do you think of the Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ motherboard for $60 or so with a MIRB? I am also looking for a quality AM3+ motherboard for the build that will last awhile. 

I'll get you a cooler recommendation in a second, but that aside:

 

have you bought anything yet?

What's your total budget?

[PlayStation 2]

Why not a Cryorig H7?

If not, there's the M5i or whatever it is.

[Rolfejc]

Just now, Stardar1 said:

I'll get you a cooler recommendation in a second, but that aside:

 

have you bought anything yet?

What's your total budget?

I haven't bought anything yet. Also I am hoping to maybe get the build for like $400 with just the PC parts. There is a cheap Philips monitor that my brother got his hands on that will work for awhile and we have a spare keyboard and mouse. 

[Rolfejc]

2 minutes ago, Dan Castellaneta said:

Why not a Cryorig H7?

If not, there's the M5i or whatever it is.

I don't think those can blow down onto the VRMs which can get hot. 

[Jer45]

7 minutes ago, Rolfejc said:

Hi everyone. So my brother wants to build a gaming PC, but he doesn't really know much about PC hardware in general. I know a good bit about PC hardware though, and after searching eBay for a bit I decided it would be best if we bought him something like an Athlon II X4 620 and then upgrade the processor to an FX 8xxx or something like that when Zen hits the market to hopefully get better performance in CPU intensive titles. Anyways I did some research though and I found some helpful info on Overclockers about motherboard VRMs. I learned there that I want a CPU cooler blowing downwards onto the VRMs to provide better cooling to the motherboard overall to have a better lifespan. However there doesn't really seem to be a lot of decent coolers that blow downwards for sale out there. There are a bunch of really cheap ones on PCPP, but those sketchy coolers don't seem like they can handle a 125 watt FX 8xxx CPU in the future. There is also the CM Vortex Plus which seems like a decent option but for $25 it does seem a bit pricey considering the X4 620 itself cost like $30. Anyways I was wondering if there are any other CPU coolers out there that are capable of handling an FX 8xxx CPU with a 125 watt TDP for possibly cheaper. I might be stretching my luck but this is supposed to be a very cheap budget build that can handle some gaming. Thanks for any help. Also off topic but what do you think of the Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ motherboard for $60 or so with a MIRB? I am also looking for a quality AM3+ motherboard for the build that will last awhile. 

the cryorig A40 can handle the fx 8xxx and is the only water cooler on the maket at the moment hat has a fan just for the vrms, but it costs 100 ish dollars Also: the difference between the ultimate version of the A40 and the regular is the rad thickness

2 minutes ago, Dan Castellaneta said:

Why not a Cryorig H7?

If not, there's the M5i or whatever it is.

its actually the M9i

[Stardar1]

11 minutes ago, Rolfejc said:

Hi everyone. So my brother wants to build a gaming PC, but he doesn't really know much about PC hardware in general. I know a good bit about PC hardware though, and after searching eBay for a bit I decided it would be best if we bought him something like an Athlon II X4 620 and then upgrade the processor to an FX 8xxx or something like that when Zen hits the market to hopefully get better performance in CPU intensive titles. Anyways I did some research though and I found some helpful info on Overclockers about motherboard VRMs. I learned there that I want a CPU cooler blowing downwards onto the VRMs to provide better cooling to the motherboard overall to have a better lifespan. However there doesn't really seem to be a lot of decent coolers that blow downwards for sale out there. There are a bunch of really cheap ones on PCPP, but those sketchy coolers don't seem like they can handle a 125 watt FX 8xxx CPU in the future. There is also the CM Vortex Plus which seems like a decent option but for $25 it does seem a bit pricey considering the X4 620 itself cost like $30. Anyways I was wondering if there are any other CPU coolers out there that are capable of handling an FX 8xxx CPU with a 125 watt TDP for possibly cheaper. I might be stretching my luck but this is supposed to be a very cheap budget build that can handle some gaming. Thanks for any help. Also off topic but what do you think of the Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ motherboard for $60 or so with a MIRB? I am also looking for a quality AM3+ motherboard for the build that will last awhile. 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/X42vzy
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/X42vzy/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD A10-7700K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($104.95 @ Amazon) 
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($28.99 @ Newegg) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-D3H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($68.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Memory: Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($27.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($48.85 @ OutletPC) 
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case  ($55.11 @ Mac Mall) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($63.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Total: $398.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-27 17:10 EDT-0400

 

The 212 EVO pushes air across the VRMs, rather than right on them. this airflow is optimal for both CPU and VRM cooling. 

[Rolfejc]

4 minutes ago, Jer45 said:

the cryorig A40 can handle the fx 8xxx and is the only water cooler on the maket at the moment hat has a fan just for the vrms, but it costs 100 ish dollars Also: the difference between the ultimate version of the A40 and the regular is the rad thickness

its actually the M9i

That is like $115 though which would probably cost as much of the GPU. 

[Rolfejc]

3 minutes ago, Stardar1 said:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/X42vzy
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/X42vzy/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD A10-7700K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($104.95 @ Amazon) 
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($28.99 @ Newegg) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-D3H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($68.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Memory: Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($27.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($48.85 @ OutletPC) 
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case  ($55.11 @ Mac Mall) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($63.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Total: $398.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-27 17:10 EDT-0400

 

The 212 EVO pushes air across the VRMs, rather than right on them. this airflow is optimal for both CPU and VRM cooling. 

I was thinking maybe trying to go used to try and get better performance for the price. I plan to get something like an HD 7870 for $100 or cheaper for example. I have seen people recommend coolers that blow downwards though for AM3+ builds but after looking at the motherboard I plan to use I think something like a M9I for cheap would work. 

[Stardar1]

1 minute ago, Rolfejc said:

I was thinking maybe trying to go used to try and get better performance for the price. I plan to get something like an HD 7870 for $100 or cheaper for example. I have seen people recommend coolers that blow downwards though for AM3+ builds but after looking at the motherboard I plan to use I think something like a M9I for cheap would work. 

Your call, though I'd be careful with used CPUs and Mobos...

[Rolfejc]

1 minute ago, Stardar1 said:

Your call, though I'd be careful with used CPUs and Mobos...

The X4 620 I saw on eBay does look like it's in good shape. I was thinking about used motherboards but I can't really find a lot of AM3+ stuff at decent prices with decent quality.