Tips for cooling the CPU and GPU.
Tips for cooling the CPU and GPU.
Hey everyone. I’m thinking about overclocking my new rig once it’s ready.
The GPU and CPU will get an OC.
I have an i7 6950X with G.Skill Trident Z.
My motherboard is an Asus Rog Strix 1080Ti with triple fans.
I’ve bought a cooler for the CPU and plan to install a new case with three front intakes, two superior exhausts and one back exhaust.
This is my first time planning an OC. I’m checking if this level of cooling will be sufficient, especially for someone just starting out. I won’t push it too hard—probably a medium setting, mainly for the CPU.
The hyper H411R falls short completely.
Suitable only for testing purposes, not under any real stress.
Especially when you plan to overclock.
If your case offers 160mm space for an air cooler,
I recommend the noctua NH-D15s, priced around $80.
If that seems too costly, the scythe kotetsu at $35 provides a decent cooler with a 120mm fan.
What should your case be?
If it includes at least two 120/140mm front intakes, you're in good shape.
Regarding overclocking your graphics card,
manufacturers release their chips in different configurations and sell the better ones as factory-optimized versions for higher prices. You might achieve more overclocking, but it could also be limited.
They often differentiate through cosmetic upgrades and premium coolers that are also available at a similar price.
It would be a good idea to ensure the CPU stays cooler, even if it means covering the case fans.
The hyper H411R falls short completely.
Suitable only for testing purposes, not under any real stress.
Especially if you plan to push it overclock.
With a case that offers 160mm space for an air cooler,
I recommend the noctua NH-D15s as a solid choice around $80.
If that seems too costly, the scythe kotetsu at $35 is a decent option with a 120mm fan.
What should your case be like?
If it includes at least two 120/140mm front intakes, you’ll be fine.
Regarding overclocking your graphics card,
Manufacturers release their chips in different grades and sell the better ones in factory-optimized versions for higher prices. You might achieve more overclocking, but it’s not guaranteed.
They often differentiate through cosmetic upgrades and premium coolers that also command higher prices.
I believe you’ll get good value with a modestly overclocked factory card.
For greater performance, they typically opt for a higher-tier card from the start.
Geofelt says the hyper H411R is far from sufficient. It works just fine for testing purposes but not under heavy stress. Especially if you plan to overclock. If your case offers 160mm for an air cooler, I recommend the noctua NH-D15s, which is a solid choice around $80. If that seems too costly, the scythe kotetsu at $35 offers a decent option with a 120mm fan. What’s your case? If it has at least two 120/140mm front intakes, you’re in good shape. Regarding overclocking your graphics card, manufacturers often release better chips in factory-optimized versions that sell for more. You might get more performance, but it could also be limited. They usually differentiate themselves with cosmetic upgrades and premium coolers that cost more. I believe a modestly overclocked stock card still provides good value. If you need extra speed, they typically upgrade to a higher-tier card initially. Unfortunately, I had to compromise on the CPU cooler because the rest of the components are pricey. Since I already use an Intel stock cooler and manage around 74°C under load, I thought an aftermarket cooler would suffice. Also, I’ve purchased a cooler before, so I’m confident it will perform well. The case I have is a DT3 Andromeda, which is from my country. You might not recognize the brand. Here’s the spec link: https://tinyurl.com/yccyw3xv
"Go Cheap" and "highest overclocks" seldom align. This conversation is similar to what I have about watercooling, where people seek the "best" coolers that also offer the "lowest price" for top clock speeds. Such setups are uncommon.
I don’t plan on doing the highest overclocks. My goal is simply for the CPU to run at 4.0Hz or higher. Is that regarded as high?
If the CPU cooler isn’t sufficient (must be better than stock), can I compensate with additional case fans?
My setup includes three front intakes, two upper exhausts, and one back exhaust. Each would have a 1000 rpm fan running at full speed, all connected to the PSU.
1000 rpm isn't extremely quick, it's roughly half the maximum speeds of most 120mm fans. You're also aiming for a 1.0 Ghz boost above the base clock on a 10-core processor... that will create significant heat under normal factory power limits, and you'll need to adjust vCore settings to hit around 4.0 Ghz.
I was recommended a R1 Cryorig Universal. Looks like a solid cooler. I was planning to get the Noctua D15, but the second fan bars one of the ram slots and tweaking the fan causes the cooler height to exceed the case limit, so I’ll go with the R1 Universal instead. I’m hoping it will perform well with an OC'd 6950X...