Choosing a cooler for my 4790k
Choosing a cooler for my 4790k
I've been diving into this subject for a month now, checking occasionally, and every time I feel confused and just give up... I ended up sharing here because there wasn't a dedicated cooling section on the forum.
I own a 4790k processor and a Thermaltake core v41 case, which offers plenty of space to fit various air or custom loop cooling solutions—space shouldn’t be an issue, at least not in my opinion. The case came with three 3-pin fans: two intakes and one exhaust. When I first bought my PC, the 212evo wasn't available, so I opted for a Raijintec Themis tower cooler. It worked well overall; I set it up in BIOS on silent mode to avoid noise during idle, but it increases significantly under load—especially when gaming (CS GO was the only game stressing my CPU enough to make the cooler work hard). I prefer a quiet PC, and I also record voiceovers sometimes, which makes the fan noise bothersome. That’s why I started searching for a better solution. Plus, it’s disappointing to have to place my PC under the desk just because it looks great on the surface.
My i7 4790k is overclocked to 4.5 GHz @ 1.230V. At idle, it runs around 33-35°C, and during an AIDA64 stability test, my CPU spikes to about 80°C (it jumps from 77-84 across all cores, as measured with HWmonitor).
I have a few questions:
1) Do all the pumps in an AIO setup really cause that rattling noise that many people complain about?
2) How much more efficient would a closed-loop system be in terms of temperature and noise?
I live in Serbia, so my options are limited. I have these coolers at a reasonable price (in euros).
Air:
- Noctua NH-D15 – 111e
- Noctua NH-D14 – 87e
- AIO:
- Cooler Master Nepton 140XL – 102e
- Arctic Cooling Liquid Freezer 240 – 81e
- Antec H2O 1250 – 94e
- Cooler Master Nepton 240M – 129e
- Custom Loop 120mm (single fan) kit from EKWB – 118e [link](https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-kit-l120)
What do you think? Would you recommend these options, considering I need a quiet PC with the best possible temperatures? Also, is the custom loop worth considering? Thanks in advance.
Stefan Petrovic shares his thoughts on the setup, mentioning the RAM height and compatibility of different coolers. He recommends the NH-D15 for its performance and quiet operation despite being heavier. He also notes that fans are usually the main source of noise in AIO systems, but suggests using a 240mm radiator for better cooling.
In terms of air coolers, both are excellent choices. But based on your RAM and the number of slots you're using, you might need to consider them as they have very limited space. What RAM do you have and how many modules are installed?
For the AIO water cooling setup, I would exclude the Cooler Master Nepton 140XL. If you have enough room, opt for a model with a bigger radiator. Stick with the 240mm options. The Arctic Cooling Liquid Freezer 240 has received positive feedback this year and is reportedly very quiet. Also, the Cooler Master Nepton 240M, though sometimes noisy, generally performs well in terms of quiet operation.
consider only the minimum temperatures needed, just enough to prevent core throttling. The difference between a CPU operating at 10 degrees versus 60 degrees is negligible when it starts to slow down cores. For complete quietness, choose extremely quiet fans that run slightly slower at full speed, and think about adding acoustic insulation for your case.
the quitest ones are mostly AIO and custom loop...no air cooler is going to give you better performance than liquid coolers...and it looks great too...
gud read...
http://www.corsair.com/en-in/blog/2014/a...iy_cooling
remembering this, i believe Cooler Master Nepton and Antec are your top options as they are excellent brands...