Best AIO cooler - is there a consensus?

Legend

Legend

Legend

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I'm looking at getting one for a new build in a Phanteks Evolv (when it's available). Seems like it will take most sorts, but I'm having trouble figuring out which is best. Is there a consensus on this? The many varieties of Corsair, NZXT, Cooler Master etc. or any upcoming products worth waiting for?

I would be using it on a Intel i5 2500k which I plan to OC. I currently have a Be Quiet! Dark Rock Advanced, which I know is a perfectly adequate cooler, but I would like a change if only for aesthetic reasons. I want to keep noise to a minimum though. I'm unsure also whether longer double fan variety would be overkill, or if a single would be more than enough.
 
I just went for a H110 after looking at 280 AIO coolers for ages. The Coolermaster Nepton also looked good, but have no idea if it would fit in my R4 and the H110 had a 22% discount. Im sure they will all be perfectly adequate.
 
radiator comparability is an issue i understand...size in general but corsair also has a specific issue..
Corsair use different spacing for their screws which only fit corsair cases..unless u want to do some light modding.
http://www.overclock.net/t/1144409/h80-h80i-h90-h100-h100i-h110-case-compatibility-thread-page-1-for-full-listings
From what ive read AIO coolers are not quieter or cooler than Big Air, the advantage is cited as less bulky when working around the case/dimm compatibility and more transportable as lighter/less stress on motherboard.
the reading ive done suggest H110 is the best cooling/Dba if your case supports, but a DH-15 would be cheaper and quieter still.
 
Yeah I know the AIOs aren't necessarily going to be quieter than air... I am looking at this more for aesthetics than anything else, as I will have a window in my case and the BeQuiet I currently have will be the only thing I see otherwise! These big air coolers dominate a bit much for my tastes. I'm not knocking their performance though, but that Noctua for example, I'm sorry but I just HATE the look of it!

I actually had a Corsair H50 in a previous build, and that's still going strong 4 years later as I gave that system to my dad.

The NZXT Kraken X61 seems to get some favourable reviews, although it's not cheap.
 
Is there an AIO cooler that is virtually silent in terms of pump noise.
I tried two H100i, but because my case is next to me on the desk I can hear it late at night when all noises are down to a minimum.

Here is a recording: http://clyp.it/ajfpgfld
Bear in mind this is highly amplified by the phone mic being next to the pump.
 
Get whichever cooler fits your case best and whack some decent fans on it. The stock ones that came with my H100 are godawful. Stuck a pair of nf-f12s on it and using motherboard pwm to control fans, its near silent.

You can always put better fans on whichever one you choose (although there are a couple that have fixed fans - the antec ones?) and they might better suit your build aesthetically too.
 
H100i user here and no complaints what so ever.

There is also nothing with the stock fans, you just need to know how to set them up correctly. I know the H100 doesnt run the fans off the pump, but they are ideal for those who aren't fussed on astheticts.

With a custom curve, they would idle at 450-500rpm and at 900 under load.
 
I would love to have a H220X for my cpu and a MCR140-X for a gpu think that would look pretty good in something like the Phanteks Enthoo Evolv :)
 
I like the H220-X .. as well as H140-X and H240-X

The H220-X and H240-X are the only AIO coolers that really match or beat top air coolers. ;)
 
chipping in here to say I'm on an old Antec Khuler 620 v4 with push/pull GT1850's and it's still going strong , keeps my 2700k below 70c with both GPU's kicking out heat into the case and that's a 120mm rad AIO!

So I would imagine any 240mm would be even better (h110/i, the new triton cooler, h105 etc)
 
I went with the Nepton 240M in the end, very happy with it and keeps my 5820k @ 4.4 mid 30's idle in an H440. I would have preferred the Swiftech if it was even available in the UK. No idea why they can't make them available here.
 
Legend said:
I went with the Nepton 240M in the end, very happy with it and keeps my 5820k @ 4.4 mid 30's idle in an H440. I would have preferred the Swiftech if it was even available in the UK. No idea why they can't make them available here.
Click to expand...

Probably because they can't keep up with demand in their market area now and don't want to expand sales area until they have product to sell.
 
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