i5 9600k e MSI Mag Z390 Tomahawk
i5 9600k e MSI Mag Z390 Tomahawk
What is your situation with the fan setup?
A solid case is essential for good CPU cooling.
In a well-chosen case, a noctua NH-D15s performs just as well as a 280mm AIO.
The noctua offers better value, quieter operation, greater reliability, no maintenance needed, and it won’t leak.
If you own a 212 EVO, feel free to use it and see the results.
It’s pointless to try fixing something you might not have.
I own a coolermaster h500p mesh.
I’m planning to try Noctua fans first, as they’ve received great reviews, though I’ll gradually test them alongside the 212 evo to compare temperatures.
For fans, I’ll use the front 200mm case fans and the existing 140mm exhaust fan.
I also have six 120mm deepcool fans from my previous setup available.
The case should accommodate a 360mm radiator at the front and top, so even if the fans don’t work perfectly, I’m confident I can fit a substantial AIO.
An outstanding situation.
A 200mm intake will cover all the cooling requirements for a hot CPU and graphics card.
One 140mm exhaust should suffice.
For additional cooling, a quality twin tower air cooler will be sufficient.
If you invest heavily in a 360mm radiator at the front, the CPU will be well-cooled, but the heat will escape through the motherboard, resulting in warmer air for your graphics card.
I use the same case but with a Kraken X72.
I haven’t noticed the heating problem that @geofelt pointed out for the motherboard or GPU after switching from Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 50.5 CFM CPU Cooler. I’m still seeing around 50°C underload when playing games on both AIO and air coolers.
AIOs don’t leak unless you’re very unlucky, so if you’re interested in one, you can go for it (I like their appearance).
They’re also completely silent—I’ve had my PC next to me and turned up the fans; I barely hear them. Personally, based on experience, I never felt a difference with my Dark Rock Pro compared to the X72, though I did notice quieter performance from my old 212 Evo model.
I changed my cooler because I wanted better CPU cooling, so I got the X72. I’m not very comfortable with custom loops and I’m too lazy to maintain something that complex, so an AIO is the best option for me.
Yes, the Noctua NH-D15s are top-notch and can handle your CPU even after overclocking.
I feel the same about custom cooling. I’m not too concerned about noise since I use a headset, but if I don’t get good temperatures and I can still hear the fans through my headset, I’ll go with the Kraken. I’d consider Noctua, though I think it would be just as loud or louder than the 212 Evo, so I’d play it by ear. As for fans at the top of the case, I know they’re usually exhausts, but some people suggest adding one intake there too to prevent front intakes from being sucked out before reaching the heatsinks. Do you have any experience with this?
DRP4 and NH-D15s offer excellent value, matching the price of a X72. Their performance appears similar. The visual aspects, however, differ.
for me i rely on three fans at the top as exhaust, i haven't experimented with unusual configurations. hot air rises so i followed that approach and i've never faced any problems. temperatures can only be checked by my gpu (51c under full load), since i don't have a reliable tool to measure my vrm temps. the cpu isn't much affected because i placed the radiator in front with three pull fans plus two big 200mm fans.
yes, noctua is your top choice nh-d15s with two fans is what air cooling can achieve, though you'd be amazed at how powerful it is but it's also surprisingly quiet for its size.
i haven't had any issues with the drp4 actually. i still have it installed in my ryzen 2600 pc. i first tried my friends' x72, then i was impressed by its appearance and cooling performance. i did notice a slight improvement from 78c under aida64t to 82c with the drp4.