What cooling solution should be selected?
What cooling solution should be selected?
True - most big air coolers allow movement if there’s extra space on the side. I prefer low-profile RAM and positioning the fan correctly, though that’s personal. The Noctua model would be ideal.
The PSU button is straightforward. 650w works fine but 750w is better.
Regarding the 960 Pro, it won’t feel much faster compared to 850 Pro models in regular use or gaming. I was a bit let down with my Evo from an 850 Pro.
I understand what you’re saying about fan placement. I’d choose a low-profile setup if it wasn’t too costly locally. It might still depend on how my build looks financially.
I’m not sure I’ve read much about the PSU, but I’ll keep that in mind.
I have been using AIOs since their release, mostly Corsair models, with my latest being the H110 for three years. It has never caused any issues and has consistently kept my CPU cool from a 4790K to my current i7-8700K.
I recently switched to a 360mm AIO from Antec called the Mercury 360, which is an affordable option. My 8700K overclock to 5GHz reached mid-70s under full load on Aida and Prime 95. On average during idle, I’m around the mid-20s to 30 degrees, and in games it rarely goes above 50 degrees. My main reasons are the aesthetic appeal and the space it provides around the CPU, plus the cooling performance when overclocked. No issues with RAM, GPU, or some NVMe drives placed just under the CPU for clearance.
Top air coolers such as Noctua would also perform well, but I didn’t want a large metal block covering the CPU area, especially after making changes or upgrades.
It’s definitely worth exploring good 240/280 and 360mm AIOs based on your budget—they’ll perform similarly to air coolers in most cases, and for my 8700K overclocking, a solid AIO will help maintain temperatures while allowing you to push the clock.