What cooling method would work best for my system?
What cooling method would work best for my system?
I'm trying to decide what cooling solution to choose for my new PC. I want to stay under 200 dollars and have enough cooling for my system. Noise isn't a big concern, and I plan to overclock my CPU. I'm just starting out in PC building and need some guidance. Here are my specs:
- Fractal design R5
- i5 6600k
- MSI 1070 gaming extreme
- 240gb HyperX Fury SSD
- Ripjaws V DDR4
- 2tb Seagate HDD
- Antec 650W gold supply
I'm leaning towards a closed loop water cooler, but some people say high-end air coolers can match or beat it. However, they mention the heat ends up inside the case, which isn't ideal.
I'm working on assembling a new PC and feeling unsure about the best cooling solution. I aim to stay under 200 dollars for sufficient cooling, and noise isn't a major concern. I also intend to overclock my CPU. Thanks for your help—I've been trying to understand this but am relatively new to building computers.
My system specs:
- Fractal design R5
- i5 6600K
- MSI 1070 Gaming Extreme
- 240GB HyperX Fury SSD
- RAM: Ripjaws V DDR4
- HDD: 2TB Seagate DDR4
- Power Supply: Antec 650W Gold
My preference is a closed-loop water cooling system. Many people say you can match or exceed performance with a premium air cooler, but with these coolers, the heat tends to build up inside the case. I experienced this firsthand; switching to a closed loop helped because all waste heat was expelled efficiently from the back. Cooler temperatures also reduced fan noise significantly.
The case design is ideal for cooling—mounting the PSU at the bottom allows heat to escape through vents. A good water cooler from Corsair would likely work well, offering both effective cooling and extra headroom for overclocking. Just be aware that a closed loop doesn't cool the motherboard itself, so you should ensure enough case fans are present to keep the VRM cool during overclocking. Quality boards usually include heat sinks on the VRMs to help with this.
I'm trying to decide what cooling solution to choose for my new PC. I want to stay under 200 dollars and have enough cooling for my system. Noise isn’t a big concern, and I plan to overclock the CPU. I’m fairly new to building PCs, so I’m looking into closed loop water coolers. Many people say you can get better or similar cooling with high-end air coolers, but with these coolers, the heat tends to build up inside the case.
I had problems with my current setup, even though it used a power-hungry AMD CPU. Switching to a closed loop system helped because all the waste heat was being expelled from the back. This made the system cooler and significantly reduced fan noise. The case design also helped by directing heat out through the vents under the PC.
For cooling the motherboard, I noticed that placing the PSU at the bottom allowed heat to escape through the vents. Using a good quality board with VRMs that have heat sinks would likely work well for overclocking.
If you’re considering a closed loop setup, remember it won’t cool the motherboard directly—make sure there are enough case fans to keep the VRM cool during overclocking. Overall, it seems like a solid choice for both cooling and performance.
Would you recommend upgrading your PSU to a higher wattage unit, or would 650W Gold be sufficient? Thanks again, this was really helpful.
The Noctua d15 model is priced at $89 USD. It features a design that enhances airflow, ensuring excellent cooling performance without any concerns about internal heat buildup. Maintenance is straightforward, and the case provides strong airflow for optimal operation.
Shenzi98 is exploring cooling options for a new PC build. They’re aiming for under 200 dollars and want to manage noise levels, with plans to overclock the CPU. The user shares their system details and expresses interest in closed-loop water cooling systems, noting past experiences with open-loop coolers and the benefits of better heat dissipation. They also mention considering PSU upgrades and future expansion possibilities.