Assistance with air cooling for overclocking Ryzen 1700x!
Assistance with air cooling for overclocking Ryzen 1700x!
Hello! I'm looking for assistance with a new build setup.
The full list of parts includes:
Motherboard: ASUS ROG Croshair v Hero
Power Supply: EVGA P2 1000W
CPU: Ryzen 1700x
GPU: MSI GTX 1080
Case: PHANTHEKS Envolv ATX
RAM: 16 GB G.Skill (4 modules * 4GB) Flare X 3200 MHz
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Airmaker 8
I plan to purchase the Cooler Master Airmaker 8 and aim to overclock the Ryzen 1700x to 4.1 GHz. My concern is whether to replace the existing fans (140mm, 1800rpm, 0.24–2.2 mmH₂O) with a Nuctua industrial cooler that offers two 120mm, 3000rpm units and a static pressure of 7.63 mm H₂O.
Regarding the cooler choice, can I achieve lower temperatures by swapping the stock fans, or would it be better to opt for another heatsink such as the Nuctua D15, Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro 3, or Cryorig R1 Ultimate?
I own the H5 ultimate and can upgrade my i7 7700k to 4.8 while keeping temperatures well under the safe range. It does block one RAM slot, but I only need two and it doesn't interfere with the first slot you're supposed to use. Dual channel performance is better than I thought from what I've read.
Another issue arises in my country where room temperature basics usually range from 27°C to 33°C. The climate is tropical, so I believe overclocking won’t be effective beyond around 3.8 to 4.0 GHz. You’re completely right, the PSU seems a bit too small for this kind of overclock. An 850W unit would be the best choice. For temperature control, using an air heatsink makes sense. I think placing a 120mm front fan for better airflow would help—something like a Cougar CFD 120 with 109cfm and 1300rpm, plus another 4 fan for exhaust, with 3 on top and 1 at the exhaust position, just like other similar models. However, the main concern is the CPU’s air heatsink; I’m not sure what else I can do. I don’t want to risk liquid cooling because of the possibility of leaks.
I suggest NH-D15S. It's a great cooler and it's a bit more affordable than Cryorig R1 because it includes only one fan, is more compact, has shorter dimensions, and offers excellent DIMM slot compatibility (up to 65mm high RAM). Its performance matches the R1 well. You can purchase it directly from Noctua on Newegg, where they offer fast shipping at reasonable prices.
According to what I know, Ryzen overclocking is restricted by its own power ceiling rather than voltage or temperature. The best air coolers like NH-D15S or R1 can manage even smaller form factors such as the old FX-9590, so Ryzen remains a viable option. They perform similarly to top-tier 240mm AIO coolers.
I'm going to be honest with you: you're unlikely to reach 4.1. It's uncommon, and if you do, it'll require extremely high voltage and will produce a lot of heat.
I'm managing a 1700X that's clocked at 3950 at 1.375v using the standard Corsair H60 with an aftermarket 120mm fan. When under load with Prime 95, temperatures are quite high. They stabilize around 85.6c (actual core temperature), not the +20°C reading you've probably heard about. During a stress test in Realbench, it stays below 76, which is a solid outcome.
I discovered that increasing the voltage from 3.95 to 4.0 caused temperatures to rise rapidly above 90°C under load, so I settled on keeping it at 3.95 long-term. A more efficient cooler or a better CPU would likely help, but temperatures will significantly increase if you raise voltage closer to 1.45. The room temperature is around 21-22°C on average.
Marko55 shares his experience: the target temperature is unlikely to reach 4.1. It's uncommon, and if achieved it would require very high voltage, producing a lot of heat. I'm managing a 1700X clocked at 3950 at 1.375v with a decent Corsair H60 and an aftermarket 120mm fan. When under load using Prime 95, temperatures rise significantly. They stabilize around 85.6°C (core temperature), not the higher reading you've heard about. During stress tests in Realbench, it stays below 76°C, which is a good result. To move from 3.95 to 4.0, I increased voltage to about 1.43, causing temperatures to spike above 90°C quickly under load. For long-term stability, I chose 3.95. A better cooler or CPU would help, but temps will climb noticeably once voltage nears 1.45. The room temperature is around 21-22°C. You're correct about the room temps being in that range. It seems the best approach is to skip overclocking and stick with stock CPU and turbo mode—power for coding and 3D work is sufficient. Consider upgrading to a Bequiet Dark Rock Pro 3 or another heatsink if needed. Thanks for your advice.
I own the H5 ultimate and can upgrade my i7 7700k to 4.8 while keeping temperatures well under the safe range. It does block one RAM slot, but I only need two and it doesn't interfere with the first slot you're supposed to use. Dual channel performance is better than I thought from what I've read.