What would be the best choice?
What would be the best choice?
Hello,
My name is Erick and I’m reaching out with a question. I have a NZXT S340 case (black and blue) and inside it, I installed an ASUS M5A97 Evo R2.0 motherboard with an AMD FX 6300 CPU. My goal is to overclock the CPU to at least 4.5Ghz, so I’m searching for a quiet and stylish CPU cooler to achieve that. From what I’ve noticed, the CM 212evo is a decent air cooler, but I’m unsure if it can handle 4.5Ghz or more. The Noctua nh d15 is considered the best air cooler, though its appearance with brown circular fans and its large size make it less appealing. I’m also considering the water cooling option. Checking the NZXT S340 case specifications, it mentions the possibility of adding a large cooler in front, but that would block the front filter and I already have two 140mm Corsair ML Pro fans installed as intake. The specs also indicate support for a rear radiator in the exhaust area, so I was thinking about installing a good performance water cooler there. I plan to replace the stock radiator fan with a Corsair ML 120mm model to match my existing setup. I’m trying to find the best option that won’t ruin my blue and black look, keeps things quiet, and delivers solid performance. Could you help me decide what to purchase?
Thank you,
Erick.
Erdit Mertiri:
It would be a good idea to buy the noctua nh d15 and swap out the fans. But can I replace them easily? Can the noctua fans be swapped for Corsair ML 140 models? I think so, they're standard 140mm fans. However, if you go that route, you'd be spending around $90 on an air cooler and $50 on fans, totaling $140. At that point, a water cooler would be more cost-effective. There are many cheaper 140mm fans that perform just as well.
A few things to note;
1) Air cooling can reach around 4.5GHz, though it varies with the chip design. The 212 Evo and Noctua are my top choices for air coolers.
2) You have the option to use different colored fans with the Noctua and 212 Evo, but you'd need to spend more for those upgrades.
3) Based on my own use, water coolers don’t offer enough performance to justify the cost.
4) In my experience, water coolers tend to be noisier than air coolers. I can’t hear my 212 Evo clearly, but I definitely heard the water pump spinning on my old H100. Maybe they’re quieter now, though that was three years ago.
It would be a good idea to purchase the noctua nh d15 and swap out the fans. Are the noctua fans easy to replace? Can the noctua fans be swapped for Corsair ML 140 models?
Erdit Mertiri:
It would be a good idea to buy the noctua nh d15 and swap out the fans. But can I replace them easily? Can the noctua fans be swapped for Corsair ML 140 models? I think so, they're standard 140mm fans. However, if you go that route, you'd be spending around $90 on an air cooler and $50 on fans, totaling $140. At that point, a water cooler would be more cost-effective. There are many cheaper 140mm fans that perform just as well.