Hi guys,

Can someone recommend a good cooler that is available in the market for my planned new system? My previous system (very old) was using oversized Zalman and it was really good. Even I pull out the power for the fan, the temperature can remain below 50 degree without air-con.

However, I noticed Zalman air cooling seems no longer popular...

Any suggestion? Budget is flexible...

Requirements;

(1) Lowest temperature
(2) Easy to clean the fins. Expecting to clean every 3 months.
(3) If possible, low noise + long reliability

I have no experience in water cooling and wonder the reliability (pipe, pump)...

Do hope the gurus here can share some lights.

This post has been edited by chanhin: Apr 27 2016, 11:30 PM

Guys, any advise on cooler?

No budget issue? Noctua D15S

NH-C14 BURGER CPU COOLER RM365
NH-D14 SANDWICH CPU COOLER RM375
NH-D15 CPU COOLER RM415

I actually do not know which one is actually better as I did not see any web site with direct comparison with same processor for its temperature.

The D14 maybe easier to clean?

Grab a cheap AIO water cooling for your PC.
Easier to work inside the PC instead of having a giant block of metal obstructing your RAM and fan slots/etc.
On another note, you don't need to worry if the large heatsink cracks your motherboard when transporting it somewhere else.
ID Cooling 240L is around RM 240 ~ RM299.
For noise issue, just set the RPM to constant 50~60%

This post has been edited by asunakirito: Apr 30 2016, 12:11 PM

I owned both D14 and D15.
D14 has these sharp triangle fins which can easily scratch your skin especially when installing in a ATX case (not E-ATX case).
D15 on the other hand removes these sharp triangle fins, however, its width is slightly longer, making it not quite suitable use in motherboard such as X99 as its too close to the graphic card in the first slot.
For regular Z77/Z87/Z97/Z170 motherboard, it will also be quite close (1 finger width of space) to press the PCIE graphic card lock to remove the graphic card.

I would highly recommend you to go with Phanteks PH-TC14PЕ (if you are going with air cooling), it's overall much better than the Noctua D14 and D15 in terms of the fin design, color scheme, and accessories.
Plus, its much cheaper/affordable pricing around RM200-250. Save some cash. Difference between these 2 performance is 1~2 degree Celsius.

This post has been edited by asunakirito: Apr 30 2016, 12:17 PM

choose your mobo & cpu first before worrying about cpu cooler

Yeah... I have the same concern. And also worry about the heavy weight of cooler. Okay cooler is usually around 1kg by itself. Top cooler even weight more (IMO crazy), which bring real concerns to me.

And you are right about large heatsink blocking internal components and create accessibility issue.

I like water cooling for its 'clean' look inside casing. However, I read many forums that water cooling suffer leaking and spoilted pump issue. Well, I guess it is just the same thing like car version.

Is lowyat really selling Phanteks PH-TC14PЕ ? Btw, the brand design looks like just copy D14 and other models... very similar.. Maybe no more room for creativity...

For motherboard, I am thinking of Z170X, which I like the Gigabyte Gaming 3 as it is very beautiful. I likes its use extra stronger material for the slots. And not to mention having 2x PCIe M.2 slot.

While for processor, I am looking at the plain i7 6700 with K since I never overclock my processor.

Guys, any suggestion on water cooler that is known to be realible and easy to clean? Or i7 6700 stock cooler actually sufficient?

This post has been edited by chanhin: Apr 30 2016, 10:22 PM

It depends on your usage though, as for me, the stock cooler is doing fine

Next questions, normal usage... stocket cooler how much higher temperature than aftermarket? 10 degree only? Not sure worth or not...

Or any other suggestion that is not over kill in term of weight? But still way better than intel stock? And also easy for cleaning

I wouldn't dare to place an SSD at the m2 slot below the graphics card.

My i5 6500 (non-overclocked) is cooled by the stock cooler. It's quiet enough for me (my Corsair PSU is louder), even when gaming with the onboard graphics. Since you have no intention to oc your 6700, I suggest you stick with the stock cooler.


Cryorig M9i is the budget champ.
IMO, Intel stock cooler is the easiest to clean due to the least amount of fins.

This post has been edited by Skylinestar: Apr 30 2016, 11:19 PM

lol, my normal temp is around 32-36 degree. So basically if you're going to use your rig normally, just go with the stock cooler especially if you're going with i7 6700

Wait a minute... you mean you using i7 6700 stock cooler and normal temperature is only between 32-36 degree? In air-con room?

It sound like I should use stock cooler?

yes bro, no need to get aftermarket cooler if you're a normal user. If you are not satisfied with the temp only you get an aftermarket cooler. Use the stock cooler 1st bro. Save money

If u run ur pc for normal, just use the stock cooler
It is good enough, unless u run on extreme speed

Ok.. Thanks guy. Looks like I can save abour RM400 then....

I do not see any problem your system as it is not overheating for your previous system.

Your old system is using which socket? You have to be sure that your cooler still got the brackets ready if it is a socket 775 unit.

You should save that money as buying another new one does not give much of a difference.

My old system is socket 775 with huge zalman copper cooler, which I love.. However, I doubt if it has the bracket for 1151....

maybe you can ask some sifu here to see if any work around is possible or not. Otherwise, just have to retire together with the old system.

Well, I plan to retire with the old system. Its been many years already.

Well, i mean that maybe you can somehow find a way to make some adjustment to fit the socket 1151 or have to retire along it.

From what i know, some CPU cooler can make some small adjustment to make it compatible to socket 1155.

If i am not mistaken, socket 1155 can fit into the socket 1150. Not sure if it can do the same for the skylake socket.

I see...

But... My desktop already 9 years old. So does the excellent cooler... Well....

Hi,

For buying a cpu cooler for your new system, determine you cpu, your casing and it's clearance, the number of fans and your room. Good cpu cooler with bad airflow case wouldn't be that efficient. In my case, im using hyper 612S cooler with 2 fans on it, my case has 2 intake and 1 exhaust. Room ambient temp about 32-34. It's quite hot here. No aircond. My cpu temp usually about 39C ideal and about 50C gaming.

My suggestion would be to look around for a cooler that will fit in your case, then look for static pressure rated fans for your cpu cooler and air flow based fans for intake and exhaust. You could probably get all of them for 400 or under.

Else, there is always AIO liquid cooler. They aren't overkill even if you are not overclocking.

It's either pay for what you want or try to maximize the efficiency using the lowest budget possible.

Well, I read a lot of negative stories on liquid cooler... Mostly on realiblity issue.

If you are looking for durability, do check out Asus Sabertooth series or TUF series.

After selecting your mobo, then only look at cooler.

If you are not going for Asus Sabertooth, then i would recommend you Be Quiet! Dark Rock 3.

You will run into clearance issue if you use Asus Sabertooth + Dark Rock3. However, you can mod it yourself. Not sure about the gigabyte mobo you mention. Do check it out.

Well that's because people only talk about it if / when shit happens. When all things good, no one says anything.

I have so many AIO coolers around, active and non-active ones. So far only 1 case where it leak but it's a minor leak, nothing damaged.

Water cooling is less stressful on the motherboard when moving the pc around since the bigger air cooled heatsinks can be heavy. Performance isn't enough of a reason for me since the the relatively cheap air cooled DarkRock3 is RM320(gbros) and its performance is close to the H100.

If you don't have any experience with WC and are more concerned with long term reliability and are not going to be fiddling around with your pc frequently, then stick with air cooling. Leaks do happen even with AIO. The lower end AIO WC like the Corsair H55/60 are only somewhere around the performance of an 212evo air cooled heatsink and more expensive(2x) and may leak so they are quite pointless so only the better more expensive WC make sense.

True there are many negative stories but i think that's just a fraction of people who uses AIO cooler. It's just like a harddisk. Some complain it died within a year, some last several years. You can't really tell how or what may go but you can make some approximation based on how you handle things.

You going to OC, you can opt for bigger air cooler or AIO cooler. AIO cooler have potential to leak, yes, but it's compact and light weighted. Air cooler. No leakage issues but bigger cooler are much much heavier. It might or might not pop off. My friend's cooler fell off but how many people have experience it? Rare. It just happens.

I say, you look at your cpu and whether you going to oc it or not, case clearance and mainly budget, then, look for a cooler that isn't too heavy or too expensive yet it gives sufficient cooling As far as I know (correct me if im wrong), for budget aftermarket cooler, CM Hyper212 is the one always recommended.

It's really personal preference in the end, we can only recommend stuffs, it's ultimately up to you which you going to get

Processor I am basically stick to i7 6700 without k as no plans to overclock. I see the 6700 as best processor without OC.

Good cooler weight around 1kg. While best cooler is more than 1kg... Example: 1.3 to 1.5kg, which IMO is crazy. No wonder people said bent motherboard

Since I am just buying 6700 without K, for cooler, now I am thinking of either stock cooler or CM Hyper 212 as it is only about 500 grams. Make sense to you guys?

If you're going for the locked i7-6700, just stick with the stock cooler.

If it is just meant for some occasionally gaming (not very long hours), i would use stock cooler.

Otherwise, it is better to invest in the cooler master cpu fan to ensure that the desktop does not overheat.

Ok.. I finally bought it.

I wanted the stock cooler... But when I look at its size especially fitted on other actual system, I cannot help but really feel like a joke with its tiny heatsink.

I really cannot use the stock cooler. I felt too unsecure with the tiny size. Thus I end up topping up my budget by getting the Hyper 212X, which at least the size make me feel more comfortable. And the weight of 500 gram should not harm the board as well.

I saw someone with D14 and D15. The size is over kill...

lol, so the size doesnt matter though, still with the stock cooler + normal usage just reach 32-36 celsius, in the end, its your money anyway

It is not a bad choice after all.

After all, one of the desktop advantage over desktop is that it should be able to endure longer in heavy usage circumstances and one of the critical factor is having a good cooling system.

100% agreed