Air or closed water!

[robert1]

Hey all

last year I upgraded my motherboard and CPU, I didn't get a new cooler as I thought I got a decent one, it'll be fine, anyway I only had the fitting in came with AND....didn't fit! so I've been running with stock cooler which on gaming isn't too bad but I've been rendering for uni and its been in the 90's nearly none stop, and my final year project ive chosen is...3D modelling so a lot of rendering ahead! so I need to upgrade from stock, and it would be nice to be cooler in gaming.

im running a Asus z97-K and Intel i7-4790K 4.0GHz

so do I go for air cooling, if so I need to make sure it clears the RAM which is quite close, I think closer than my old motherboard, or do I go closed liquid? (I don't want to go custom) im nervous of liquid though so may need convincing it wont drip all over my graphics card!

 

[NLxAROSA]

I have the same CPU and it's quite a hothead indeed. I swapped the stock cooler (which is crap for this CPU) for a Scythe Big Shuriken 2 rev. B. Went for that one because of the height. Swapped the fan of it (it has a swappable 120mm fan) for a Noctua IndustrialPPC-2000 PWM fan. Also upgraded my casefans to fans with more cfm. Runs like a dream (55 degrees under stress) and quiet too. 👍

Scythe also has different models (big ones), if you can fit them those are even more efficient.

 

[Grayfox]

I would always go water cooling after using a Corsair H50 a few years ago.
Now I run a custom water cooled loop.

 

[Luminis]

Got a 3770k and my CPU is running with a constant overclock (as stated in my sig). My be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 2 is keeping temperatures below 50° Celsius most of the time. Personally, I don't think liquid cooling is necessary unless you're going to push your CPU in terms of overclocking. Well, that, and from what I've read in tests, you need more than those entry-level off the shelf water cooling units to get an advantage over air cooling. Basically, a good air cooling setup shouldn't be much worse than a liquid cooling setup for a similar price - but it's going to be less hassle. Don't go judge air cooling based on the stock cooler's performance, those are crap indeed. A good one's going to be much, much better.

That's a test I found on Techspot. The Noctuas are fan/heatsink units, the Tundra and H75 are liquid cooling units. There's a bit of an advantage there, but it's not quite as pronounced as one would think.

I'll also second what @NLxAROSA said. Check your case's air flow. Some case fans and a tidy interior should ensure low temps on an air cooled CPU, I think.

 

[NLxAROSA]

That last statement is so true. I've replaced my case fans with a set of Scythe Slip Stream 120mm fans. They push twice the amount of air at half the RPM (1000) than the default ones in my case at full RPM (2000). And less RPM=less noise too. 👍 This means my case is shifting cold air in and hot air out twice as fast as the default setup (and I still have headroom to go further if I don't mind the noise).

 

[robert1]

i do love the look of that Dark Rock Pro 2 I will have to measure up to make sure it clears everything! should fit in my HAF 932 easy, just one I measured the other week would have went over 1 RAM slot, and im not sure how high it was

 

[Luminis]

@robert1, I just checked, the DRP2 does go over all of my RAM slots. It does, however, clear the modules due to its height. I'm inclined to say that it should fit a CM HAF932 if it clears Corsair Carbide 500R.

Also, the DRP3's already out, might want to check that one out 👍

 

[Sanji Himura]

I keep hearing the benefits of closed water cooling, but I never was actually convinced (leaks being my main concern). Has the technology truly improved so that it is actually more cost effective?

 

[Grayfox]

I keep hearing the benefits of closed water cooling, but I never was actually convinced (leaks being my main concern). Has the technology truly improved so that it is actually more cost effective?

You can get leaks from either sealed or non sealed water cooling systems.
Non sealed will have more leaks since you are putting it together, but if you take your time with your loop, you should have no issues.

These days you can get perspex piping so you will become a plumber in a way.

 

[robert1]

well, order placed, ill show an update when it all turns up! I also ordered a couple of better case fans, and I chickened out and went air

 

[Luminis]

I chickened out and went air

I'm curious, what cooler did you get?

Also, as I said, I personally don't see a reason to go water on anything less than a heavily OC'ed enthusiast-level system, so I'd call it a good choice, not chickening out. But that's just me.

 

[Grayfox]

II personally don't see a reason to go water on anything less than a heavily OC'ed enthusiast-level system

Noise is another and component life is another even if your not overclocking.

 

[Luminis]

I'm not sure about component life. I've yet to see my CPU reach 60° Celsius - given the safe maximum Intel is stating for the i7, I doubt it'll fry before it's time to replace it

You're definitely right about noise, though. Thorough air cooling can get quite loud.

 

[Grayfox]

I'm not sure about component life. I've yet to see my CPU reach 60° Celsius - given the safe maximum Intel is stating for the i7, I doubt it'll fry before it's time to replace it

You're definitely right about noise, though. Thorough air cooling can get quite loud.

Water cooling temps are lower under load which means the area around the CPU will be cooler, thus the caps, mofsets are going to last a little longer when you run water cooling.

 

[robert1]

Well its finally turned up! sadly cant install today as going to see the F1 show being filmed tonight so not got time, but tomorrow ill try and show a before and after

 

[robert1]

well, finally installed! just a quick test and at 100% load it hasn't gone over 61! a lot better than before

 

[Luminis]

Thought so 👍

 

[robert1]

so I finally had a full day running, with gaming, video watching etc, and min temps 25 and max 58! with stock I was min 34, and max I saw during rendering was 97/98 I think, but gaming would be high 70's / low 80's so im happy with these! first pic is with new cooler second is with stock, im not sure what the stock screen shot is from! as in I don't know what I was running or how long, just a random shot I found, but thank you everyone!