Budget Air/AIO Cooler
Budget Air/AIO Cooler
I’m still working with an i5-3470 but after my H77 motherboard stopped working, I acquired a used Z77 model (still in transit). I intend to run it at full multiplier (40) without adjusting the Base Clock, and I’m looking for a cooler that will keep temperatures low now while also offering better performance than any stock solution from Intel or AMD when I upgrade in the next couple of years.
The pricing and availability vary by country, so the budget suggestions in USD may not be directly applicable. For example, I’ve chosen the Antec C400 as my primary choice, with other options listed as relative factors. These are the locally available products, meaning alternatives like Cryorig aren’t viable due to cost constraints.
My comfort range for spending is about a factor of 1.5. Based on this, I’d like to decide whether to stick with the C400 or invest more in another model.
You have a variety of them with various setups and features, and even the most affordable ones would be sufficient and superior to OEM coolers since you won't be pushing overclocks. For future (1-2 years) scenarios, things will shift significantly depending on the platform and CPU you select then. In your case, I’d opt for a more budget-friendly air cooler with three heat pipes and a 120mm fan would suffice right now.
You have a variety of them with various settings and features, and even the most affordable ones would be sufficient and superior to OEM coolers since you won't be pushing overclocks. For future (1-2 years) scenarios, things will shift significantly depending on the platform and CPU you select then. In your case, I’d opt for a more budget-friendly air cooler with three heat pipes and a 120mm fan would suffice right now.
Below the C400, there are just a few choices worth looking at—the Antec A40 Pro and the Deepcool Gammaxx 300. I began my search with the A40 Pro because it matched my needs, but later realized that investing in something cooler might be better for the future. I’m planning to stick mostly to a 65/77W TDP processor for the next upgrade, which should last a long time given the age of my 3470. I’ve updated the list with the current pricing for these two coolers and would love more feedback on them.
SkyNetRising :
g33ksama :
intends to run it at full capacity (40) without adjusting the Base Clock
i5-3470 has a locked multiplier, so the highest achievable value is 36. 40 isn't feasible with this CPU.
All non-K processors from Ivy Bridge have locked multipliers that are four bins above their max turbo frequency. For the 3470, it's 40 because the stock multiplier is 32 and the turbo is 36. Even the original review by Anandtech addresses this.