CPU Cooling Help

[ChaoticFury09]

Hi everyone,

 

Looking for some help with a new build. I’m having trouble deciding on a CPU cooler. My objective is not to block my ram slots as I have purchased some trident z rgb memory and would like to show off the look. I have spent countless hours looking into AIO vs air cooling. Due to failures I was trying to complete an air cooling build but I keep running into issues where one of the slots become blocked by the fin stack or fan. Hoping you guys can help with some advice. Willing to go AIO if people think it’s a better way to go. 

 

Also so looking for advice on intake an exhaust case fans. Trying to decide between noctua and be quiet. Can’t determine which is the better buy. 

 

Some notes: 

Looking for as much silence as possible as the case right next to me on my desk. 

 

Asthetics are a bonus. 

 

 

Build:

Case: Fractal Design Meshify C

Motherboard: Asus Strix Z370-E

CPU: I5 8600K

Power Supply: EVGA Supernova G3 650

Ram: 16gb Trident Z DDR4

Graphics Card: Asus Strix GTX 1080

SSD: Samsung 960 Evo 500GB

 

Current Reviewed Options:

 

CPU Air

BeQuiet Dark Rock 3

Noctua U14S

Noctua D15S

 

CPU AIO

Kraken x42

Thanks in advance!

[johnukguy]

The new Dark Rock Pro 4 is likely something that will fit what you're looking for for cooling.

[Skiiwee29]

Never go with a 120mm AIO. They are generally regarded as pointless. Get a 240mm one, like the Kraken x52 instead. 

[seon123]

The U14S should allow the RAM to be visible. Just add the Chromax stuff, and it'll look nice. 

[ChaoticFury09]

I thought about the dark rock 4 but it’s not available until April. The build is already waiting for the remaining parts. 

 

In regards to the x52 I thought about it but it appears ram clearance with a top mounted AIO is an issue. I would mount it as intake but the gap between the gpu isn’t big enough as it’s a triple fan. 

 

I dont belheve Nocuta makes the chromax stuff for the U14. Only 15 or 12. 

 

Anyone have any advice on the case fans for nocuta or be quiet?

[brob]

It really comes down to how hard you wish to push the overclocking. Something like the Cryorig H7 will do a very good job cooling the cpu. But it will struggle to handle more than a modest oc. 

 

There are some good 120mm aio. They typically have two fans in a push/pull configuration. ARCTIC Liquid Freezer 120 offers better cooling than the NH-U14S.