Upgrade to AIO or Air Cooler?
Upgrade to AIO or Air Cooler?
I've been testing the PC with stock frequencies across all components and noticed the CPU consistently reaches around 65-70°C during full load at 95% performance. I recorded core temperatures using Core Temp, tested on a 4.6GHz system with standard voltage, and performed a stress test lasting 2 to 3 hours. It seems the CPU is trying to push higher.
The 212X model tends to be quite loud and generates a lot of heat. Should I upgrade to something quieter like the Be Quiet Dark Pro 3 (similar but less noisy and slightly cooler) or opt for an AIO with CM Masterliquids ML240 RGB (though I'm concerned about potential leaks)?
Another idea is to purchase an additional fan and implement a push-pull setup, adding another fan at the front to draw cold air from the top and front while using the existing one at the back.
System specs:
i5 7600K with 212X at 4.6GHz
16GB RAM Corsair Vengeance 2400
Gigabyte GTX 1070
+25V on clock, +525V on memory
650W EVGA PSU (80+ Gold)
Z270X Ultra Gaming by Gigabyte
Phanteks P400
Your setup has 160mm available, which might cause issues with the DRP3 at 163mm.
The same applies to DRP4.
I could recommend the similarly priced noctua NH-D15s at 160mm.
Here are the TDP specifications:
https://noctua.at/en/tdp-guide
Beyond that, the new s variants have been redesigned for better compatibility.
They will handle RAM with tall heat spreaders.
They are slightly offset to clear graphics card backplates when installed in the first PCIe x16 slot.
Adding a second front intake fan is also a wise suggestion.
Any cooler or graphics card requires a strong supply of fresh air to function properly.
Whatever comes from the front will eventually exit, carrying parts heat with it.
And if I choose to upgrade to a 7700k, would it handle pushing that unit to its limits? Otherwise, I might need to upgrade the cooler again; the fan will definitely be active in the coming days. The 7700K does tend to run unusually warm, but that doesn't indicate a weak cooler. It can support the 7700K with overclocking. Which board corresponds to that?
The Gigabyte Z270X-Ultra Gaming cooler's specifications are visible at the top of the page.
Your setup has 160mm available, which might cause issues with the DRP3 at 163mm.
The same applies to DRP4.
I could recommend the similarly priced noctua NH-D15s at 160mm.
Here are the TDP specifications:
https://noctua.at/en/tdp-guide
Beyond that, the new s variants have been redesigned for better compatibility.
They will handle RAM with tall heat spreaders.
They are slightly offset to clear graphics card backplates when installed in the first PCIe x16 slot.
Adding a second front intake fan is also a wise suggestion.
Any cooler or graphics card requires a strong supply of fresh air to function properly.
Whatever comes from the front will eventually exit, carrying parts heat with it.