Best heatsink for 3930k

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I have just got a 3930k, I now need to get some cooling for it. Firstly, I am currently at university and I do go to LAN parties a few times a year on the university campus and I have to move out during the holidays (so I move m system around a bit). I am looking for a heatsink that isn't too expensive, one that is able to be moved around and one that isn't risky that will leak and short out my system.

I have done a fair bit of research on the matter and it seems that the best air cooler is the Noctua-D14, but there is also closed loop water cooler system such as the H100. I currently have a Antec 900 and it seems that it is possible to use a H100 within a Antec 900 by mounting it on the front.

However, there are not a lot of benchmarks out there that truly compare heatsinks. The only ones that I have found compare them with the stocks fans. For example, the H100 is better then the D14, however that might just be due to the higher static pressure and not the actual heatsink. I have been trying to figure out which one would be better.

Currently I am thinking that if I got the D14 I would get some plastic piping to vent air from the front of my case to the D14 then out the back, with 2 extra fans. From the research I have done, multiple fans in series would combine the static pressure, so by using the piping with extra fans I could achieve a static pressure of about 8.

With the H100 I would do something similar, I would place the radiator in the front of my case with fans (such as the Noctuas) in front and behind the radiator in a push pull configuration. From benchmarks this alone would give lower temperatures then the stock fans. In addition to this I would again get some piping to vent air from the side case panel for the bottom section of the radiator and the back of the case for the top section of the radiator. This would in theory not only triple the static pressure to higher then the stock fans at only about 29db vs the stock's 42db, but also vent cool air from outside the case

What I am unsure of is the effects of increased static pressure on the two heatsink, I've seem some people suggest that the H100 wouldn't benefit from higher pressure due the the small radiator, as much as the D14. Without benchmarks comparing the two heatsink with the same static pressure I am unsure which one would be better.

So, which heatsink would be better, if you have any other recommendations I would very much like to hear them.

Finally, I am right in saying that two equal fan in an enclosure would combine the static pressure while keeping the air flow unchanged. Also, I am right in saying that if you had two equal noise sources the combined level of noise be approximately 3db higher then a single source.

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance.
 
You can add Thermalright Silver Arrow SB-E and Silver Arrow SB-E Extreme to the top group as well.

jump in to 3:40 for results

i7 3820 @4.75GHz
Temperature is delta.

H100 . . . . . . . . 41c 2500rpm. . . . . . . . 55dBA 2
SA SB-E . . . . . . 42c 1000rpm & 1300rpm 38dBA TY-150 & TY-141
SA SB-E Extreme 34c 2500rpm. . . . . . . . 56dBA 2x TY-143
 
lol I enjoyed it :D

Unless you're looking to go nuts with OTT OC's, any of the top air coolers will do a great job at low volumes with zero maintenance. Most of the decent low-mid range too more than likely.
There are only a few mostly irrelevant degrees in it or less, so I'd say stop obsessing and pick the one you really really like the look of, make sure it fits, sort your airflow and go party :)
 
lol I enjoyed it :D

Unless you're looking to go nuts with OTT OC's, any of the top air coolers will do a great job at low volumes with zero maintenance. Most of the decent low-mid range too more than likely.
There are only a few mostly irrelevant degrees in it or less, so I'd say stop obsessing and pick the one you really really like the look of, make sure it fits, sort your airflow and go party :)

I am wanting to do a moderate OC with low noise and temps, so about 4.5Ghz with temps of about 70'C with less then 30db max.

I'm also thinking about a ultra low noise system, my PSU is already passive while under like 400W, so I'm thinking about a almost silent system at about 10db.
 
Not sure how much heat my i7 920 @ 3.5GHz makes but can run CPU at 100% @ 1000rpm @ 70c... almost silent...

CPU at 70% I can turn off cooler fans and stay below 63c
 
I am wanting to do a moderate OC with low noise and temps, so about 4.5Ghz with temps of about 70'C with less then 30db max.

I should think that any of the top 4 will suit you perfectly in that case.

Here's my 2500k @4.5 with a K2 running 2x120mm+1x140mm @1000rpm on Prime95 blend (ambient 25C):

OCload1000rpm.png


It's virtually 'silent'.
The intake fans on the case make more noise as they produce intake whoosh through the grills.

In real world stuff like gaming etc, I doubt you'll be producing those kind of temps. (I stand ready to be corrected :D)
 
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Not sure how much heat my i7 920 @ 3.5GHz makes but can run CPU at 100% @ 1000rpm @ 70c... almost silent...

CPU at 70% I can turn off cooler fans and stay below 63c
At 4ghz on an i7 920 under a k2, (1.3200 vcore), im seeing load temps of 77c on the highest core with LinX. This is in a case with pretty bad airflow, 7c less in my old case. Gaming it hits the mid 60's now after adding a few extra case fans.
 
I've had everything haha. I just use the K2 because it looked the best and allows me to use RipJawZ. The Phanteks is still better.

Saying that, I was the first to start recommending the NH-D14, then the Silver Arrow, then the Phanteks and finally the K2 because I was always first to be sent these coolers in the world /endbrag :p

You can't go wrong with any of these, and each have their own plus point. The NH-D14 is a good all-rounder, the Silver Arrow the quietest, the Phanteks the best performer, and the K2 the best looker.
 
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