Top liquid cooler for i7 4790k (upgrading my Cryo H7)
Top liquid cooler for i7 4790k (upgrading my Cryo H7)
Hi, I'm using an i7 4790k with a 4.0 ghz 70c max clock speed instead of the usual 4.4 ghz to avoid reaching 85c or more. I'm considering switching to a liquid cooler and possibly overclocking it further than 4.4ghz. I have a Thermaltake N25 case and two radiator spaces above, but only supports 240mm or 120mm radiators. Would you recommend a specific liquid cooler for this setup? You can check their product page here: http://www.thermaltake.com/products-mode...C_00002891
All the 240mm coolers behave similarly when it comes to temperatures. With stock fans installed, any cooler you choose will still work well, but you'll notice a big difference in performance between those with strong fans like the swiftec h220x and those with weak fans such as the Corsair h100i.
Instead of relying on general advice, it's better to visit pcpartpicker.com. There, you can find several coolers that fit your case, location, and budget, then check their professional reviews online. This approach gives you a clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses—like quiet operation and reliability. Avoid reviews from Amazon or Newegg; they're usually unreliable. Stick to reputable sites such as frostytech, guru3d, realhardtechX, or overclockers for more accurate information.
to really push performance, you'd need at least a h100i paired with water cooling. even then temperatures can rise quickly. alternatively, a powerful dual tower cooler would work, but the h100i with push-pull fans should handle it well.
If you have a fear of water, consider the Noctua NH-D15 or D15S. Those powerful air coolers are impressive. I own the NH-D15S and it effectively keeps my CPU at a comfortable temperature. They are large coolers, so you'll need a case that can accommodate them. These are designed for overclocking.
All the 240mm coolers behave similarly when it comes to temperatures. With stock fans installed, any cooler you choose will still work well, but you'll notice a big difference in performance between those with strong fans like the swiftec h220x and those with weak fans such as the Corsair h100i.
Instead of relying on general advice, it's better to visit pcpartpicker.com. There, you can find several coolers that fit your case, location, and budget, then check their professional reviews online. This approach gives you a clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses—like quiet operation and reliability. Avoid reviews from Amazon or Newegg; they're usually unreliable. Stick to reputable sites such as frostytech, guru3d, realhardtechX, or overclockers for more accurate information.
Karadjgne:
All the 240mm coolers behave similarly when it comes to temperatures. With stock fans, any cooler you choose will work just fine, though you'll notice a big difference in performance between those with strong fans like the swiftec h220x and those with weak fans such as the Corsair h100i models.
Instead of relying on personal opinions, it's better to visit pcpartpicker.com and look at several options that fit your case, location, and budget. Then search for their professional reviews online. This gives you a clear picture of the advantages and disadvantages—like quiet operation and reliability. Avoid just checking Amazon or Newegg reviews; they're usually unreliable. Stick to trusted sites such as frostytech, guru3d, realhardtechX, overclockers, etc.
The swiftech model is excellent, but it tends to be on the higher end of the price range.
I'm really into the h105 but mostly own the enthusiast variants (3930k, 5820k and 6900k). It performs quite well with them, and I'd expect better with fewer cores. My 5820k is currently at 4439 at 1.28v, even during the toughest heat test with only 95% load, it stays in the low 70s and only works with two cores. Under all workloads it never exceeds the 60s mark.
I always swap out the original fans on these units—not for performance reasons, but because of noise issues.
I also like the h105, similar to the h100i series, mainly because of the Asetek pumps compared to the h100i's CoolIT design (the latter is round). It's much quieter and more reliable. My top choice is the nzxt Kraken series, though the x31 120mm rad and x41/x61 models are 140/280mm and wouldn't fit. The main problem with a smaller case and the h105 is the motherboard space it requires. Its thick radiator fits deeper, which can block the fans from reaching top side headers and possibly the EPS connector.