Need assistance finding a cooler for my i7-6800k
Need assistance finding a cooler for my i7-6800k
Hi,
I am a noob in overclocking. I want to mildly overclock my i7-6800k to at most 4Ghz. (Maybe between 3.8-4.0Ghz). My priority is stability then next is speed.
I've read that you cannot just get any cooler for a CPU as it might hit the RAM modules during install or it won't fit your case due to the cooler size. I don't really know what cooler to get then which would fit in my case and not hit my RAM. I do prefer air cooler since I've never handled water cooling and it seems complicated but if water is really much better than air then I guess I can take a look at it.
My gear:
CPU - Intel i7-6800K Broadwell-E
RAM - 32GB Gskill Ripjaws 4 F4-2666C 15Q-32GRR (red) - 8GBx4pcs
Vcard - Asus Geforce 960 (soon to be 1070)
Mboard - Asus X99 Deluxe USB 3.1
Power Supply - Corsair AX 860i Power Supply
Case - Corsair Case 600T Mid-Tower Case (Max CPU Cooler Height - 170mm)
I have an open budget but if possible, I want something below $150.
By the way, I will mainly use this for Photoshop/Lightroom/Premiere/After Effects. Gaming will only be minimal at roughly 5% of the time (only starcraft2 and DOTA)
Please suggest me a solid cooler and not the cheap ones since I want this rig to be reliable for years to come.
Thank you in advance for the help.
A good water cooler fits your budget nicely, is straightforward to set up, doesn’t affect your memory cards, and will work better than any air cooler while being quieter. I favor the NZXT Kraken X61, though its 280mm radiator may not suit every situation. Corsair also offers solid all-in-one options.
A good water cooler fits your budget nicely, is straightforward to set up, doesn’t affect your memory cards, and will work better than any air cooler while being quieter. I favor the NZXT Kraken X61, though its 280mm radiator may not suit every situation. Corsair also offers solid all-in-one options.
It depends on your preference for air or liquid, and how important the colour scheme is to you.
Unfortunately, the Kraken X61 isn't compatible with your case according to leo2kp.
However, the Corsair H100i GTX (or H100i, or H100i v2) is a suitable liquid option.
I don't really mind the look, so any color works. Is liquid cooling really much better than air? Also, what if the liquid leaks? Would it completely ruin everything and cause a fire or short circuit? That's my concern. What are the disadvantages of using water cooling?
If you're worried about leaks, stick with air cooling. The NH-D15 stands out as one of the top air coolers. It's large, but it performs well against most premium liquid options. You might notice a slight temperature drop with some high-end liquid coolers, though the difference is minimal.
AIO liquid coolers, particularly the premium models, are generally reliable and unlikely to leak. If a leak does occur, it’s usually not a major issue—your system will likely remain functional. However, if leakage happens, there’s no real solution. The risk is higher with motherboards, as they could be affected. Your CPU, RAM, or GPU should stay safe.
The main drawback of an AIO liquid cooler is that it can be improved by certain air coolers, including the D15.
I believe the D15 would handle my mild overclocking and keep leaks under control. The main question is whether it will fit my case and affect my RAM. (Is my RAM standard size or larger in height?) My setup is Gskill Ripjaws 4 F4-2666C 15Q-32GRR (red) – 8GB across four units. Thanks a lot for your assistance.
I believe the D15 would handle the overclocking safely while preventing leaks. The main question is whether it will fit your case and affect your RAM. (Is your RAM standard size or larger in height?)
My current RAM is Gskill Ripjaws 4 F4-2666C 15Q-32GRR (red) – 8GB across 4 pieces.
Thanks a lot for the advice.
The D15 supports mild overclocking and could go further if you choose.
You’d likely benefit from using low-profile RAM with it. The G.Skill Ripjaws isn’t compatible (I own the cooler and RipjawsX RAM).
It should fit in your case. Raising the front fan a bit would help clear the RAM without affecting performance.
Not my photo, but it illustrates the idea of adjusting the front fan.
Thank you for the photo. Could you please tell me what type of RAM is visible in the picture? I want to make sure it’s compatible. I’m concerned that increasing the front fan might cause issues with my case. My current case has a maximum CPU cooler height of 170mm. The Noctua D15 without fan is 160mm, with fan it’s 165mm, and with a raised fan it would be higher. I hope the fan doesn’t exceed 170mm. I’ve measured my RAM to be around 39mm—do you think that’s too high?