Checking the NZXT H2 case and Ryzen 9 9900x, is it an AIO or Air model?
Checking the NZXT H2 case and Ryzen 9 9900x, is it an AIO or Air model?
I really enjoy this case. It's very helpful for my HD swapping work, especially having the port on top.
That's why I plan to keep using it.
I'm setting up a new rig and my i7 7700k is no longer sufficient.
Switching to R9 9900x means I need better CPU cooling.
This case offers space for a single 1 fan AIO either at the back or on top.
I also like its quiet operation; I prefer not to use airflow and don't plan to overclock.
I expect the system will handle the 1 click OC automatically after a couple of weeks off.
You can find the specs here: here
Also, the motherboard I'm using is an ASRock X870e Nova wifi, so you can see where the CPU and two RAM sticks will fit.
There could be room for a 2 fan AIO in front, but it would require a long hose run. Modifying the case might be necessary, which isn't a big issue.
I'd rather avoid air cooling since they look bad and take up too much space. They often block the motherboard and just get in the way.
But if that's all I can do, I'll go with this option.
I'm not a fan of RGB, just prefer black.
Would you have any recommendations for CPU cooling? Thanks.
It's a setback for a single fan AIO if a case can accommodate tower air coolers. Based on this previous review, there should be up to 170mm of space available – many tower air coolers will fit. Even when modifying the case to accommodate a dual fan AIO at the front, keeping the door closed can cause the AIO to struggle. They still require airflow to function effectively, so they perform best when the radiator is positioned against a mesh or open panel. You'll need to take out the optical drive cage and part of the HD storage; removing just the storage and placing a radiator there can lead to air pockets forming at the block above the CPU, resulting in poor thermal management. Air tends to pool at the highest point of the loop. I didn’t know this, but I still mentioned it. There are three pump locations (CPU block, radiator, in-line) in AIOs, and you should avoid air settling there. Even without your intervention, they manage automatically – dynamically, excluding motherboards with factory overclocking presets.
Intel, AMD, and Nvidia now push their products hard from the start, unlike earlier when users had more control. This likely increased the number of required resets...
TL;DR: An air cooler is a better choice in this scenario. AIOs are quite dependent on it.
I tried to find an AIO option but felt uncertain about the availability. I’m unsure if it’s worth asking. What’s the best air cooler for this situation? My calculations for clearance are unclear. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks again for your help.
Your case accommodates an air cooler up to 170 inches tall.
The thermalright models perform exceptionally well.
The cooling power of an aio or air cooler mainly depends on the radiator size.
A 240 aio will offer similar cooling capacity compared to the thermalright 120 twin tower units.
A 120 aio is not very effective.
From a visual perspective, your side panel design doesn’t matter much.
My opinion is that appearance should be secondary.