liquid vs noctua vs silent
liquid vs noctua vs silent
Hi everyone
I built my PC using an i7 7700k, an OC OCR270 rog maximus ix hero cooler, a Maker 5 case, and an Evga Supernova G2 gold 750w. I was thinking about switching to a liquid cooling system but want something that keeps everything fresh and silent.
I read a comparison article from Tomshow where the Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme S matched the Noctua in performance and noise level. It would still be around 12dB at max speed, but swapping the fans on the Thermaltake radiator with Noctua 120mm could help reduce the noise.
Since I'm new to water cooling, I'm looking for top-tier radiators that don't get too loud. If you have any recommendations, please let me know.
I might even consider building a liquid cooling system myself, but I need guidance right away.
don't compare high end air coolers to crap liquid coolers.
take a look at Swiftech H220 X2 (or any other size of the rad) or EK Predator 240 (again any other side).
With larger the rad surface, it is possible to run fans at lower RPM.
From my experience, 240 or 280 or 320 rad is more than enough to keep the system both quite and cool.
I guess you understnd that there is a trade off between performance and noise. If you don't try to achieve the lowest possible temperature, but instead going for cool enough to feel comfortable with, you can lower the fans RPM. for CPU only (overclocked to whatever running stress test) 240 radiator can do the job with decent fans (noctua NF-F12) under 1000 RPM - which is barely audible from less than meter...
don't judge high-end air coolers against cheap liquid coolers.
Check out the Swiftech H220 X2 (or any other size) or EK Predator 240 (any other configuration).
With a bigger radiator surface, it's feasible to run fans at lower speeds.
Based on my observations, a 240, 280, or 320 radiator provides ample cooling without excessive noise.
You'll likely notice a balance between performance and sound.
If you aim for comfort rather than the absolute lowest temps, reducing fan speed is possible—especially for the CPU when overclocked.
For example, a 240 radiator with decent fans (like Noctua NF-F12) can handle under 1000 RPM and stay barely audible in a small room.
If silence is your goal, consider using DC fans instead of PWM ones, as they reduce clicking noise.
Regarding adding Noctua fans to a TT cooler, it can improve both noise and performance, but it will increase the cost compared to simpler liquid coolers.
Skorpovita :
it has to be good as I want to overclock and keep everything completely fresh but it needs even to be quiet.
The Noctua d15 probably outside mostruous overcloking is more silent than the 99% of the AIO water coolers.
If you want to go the silent route, as far as I know, you should take the DIY path. The reasons are:
- The pump usually makes a lot of noise on silent systems. You have some premium pumps, usually PWM controlled, which let you precise control of the flow depending on temperatures, thus reducing the sound coming from the pump.
- I believe no single AIO water cooler can stop the fans at low temperatures, but with a 360mm radiator you get enough cooling power through convection for almost any CPU load, without heavy weight or strain, if you use a temperature sensor on the water and connect it to a fan control, then you can achieve almost silent PC operation.
Then you just need a Gtx 10xx with fans stopped under 60º, a PSU that supports semi-passive operation at low-medium loads (like under 300w), and you’ll have a completely silent PC outside the pump and during heavy load.