Searching for reliable closed liquid coolers suitable for overclocking tasks.
Searching for reliable closed liquid coolers suitable for overclocking tasks.
Hi, I'm upgrading my PC from an Intel Core i3-6100 to either a Core i5-6600k or i5-7600k. Since I plan to overclock to at least 4GHz, I'm considering a cooler around $100. I was thinking about the closed liquid cooler options you mentioned: LEPA AquaChanger 240mm, Corsair 105, and NZXT Kraken X61.
You'd be much more advantageous financially in the long term by choosing a locked i7 or a 6700k with an affordable cooler instead of an i5 paired with a costly cooling solution.
I’d pick one of these three for myself:
- Corsair H100i GTX
- Cryorig A40 Ultimate
- Captain 360 EX liquid cooler (if you have space for a triple radiator)
A Hyper 212 works fine but is a budget option, while a Cooler Master Captain 360 EX would be powerful and cost more. If you’re okay with an air cooler around $40, a Cryorig H7 is a solid choice.
I would choose one of these three personally:
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/MBmxFT/...w9060021ww
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/rwzZxr/...40ultimate
< Cryorig A40 Ultimate
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/7TYWGX/...ptain360ex
A Hyper 212 is a decent budget air cooler, but these would outperform it and cost nearly twice as much... If you prefer not to overclock a good Cryorig or Noctua cooler for about $50, that's fine.
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The i3-6100 performs well when overclocked. At 4.7Ghz single-core speed, it outperformed the i7-6700k. For upgrades I recommend: moving from Pentium to i5, and from i3 to i7. Switching directly from i3 to i5 doesn't offer much improvement since you're not doubling performance by adding cores. Increasing from 6100 to 6700k brings significant benefits.