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Hi I'm thinking of replacing my stock cooler I got with my i7-2700k processor and just wanted some advice on a cooler to get.

I've been looking at the H80 (With getting new fans for it, haven't decided which yet) but don't know if there anything better available, I want it to be cool enough for over clocking but quiet as well.

I'm using a HAF 222 case with the Asus p8z68-v progen3 motherboard if that helps.

Thanks :)
 
I would personally recommend a large heatsink over a sealed liquid cooler.

As you point out, the fans on the H80 need to be replaced - since they are too loud, which further adds to the price.

Also, there is the fact that the cooling performance of a cheaper, quieter heatsink cooler beats the H80 (see here).

Hence I would go with something like a Noctua NH-D14, Thermalright Archon, Thermalright silver arrow, Be Quiet Dark Rock Advanced or another one of the high-performance large heatsinks.
 
If you can find one, I would go for a Thermalright Silver Arrow - that is a real beast of a cooler and the 140mm fans it uses make it really quiet in operation.

Next to that it would probably be the Thermalright Archon, it uses one of the same 140mm fans as the Silver Arrow and looking at the above review (comparing it to the H80) it performs really well.
 
unless your gonna go for an all out wc system id stick to a decent air cooling option :) I have a kuhler 620 and the pump has started to get a bit noisy (only had it a few months). Looking around you will find there are many issues with all in one loops :( good idea tho lol
 
Noctua NH-D14-2011 Dual Radiator CPU Cooler with PWM Fans (Socket LGA2011) [NH-D14-2011] £72.98 (includes upgraded fans (PWM), just requires you request an NM-I3 mounting kit from Noctua free of charge, so it fits an LGA1155.

These new PWM Noctua fans have a min spin of 300 RPM.

2nd choice would be the K2 with some 120 Akasa Vipers.
 
thenewoc said:
Noctua NH-D14-2011 Dual Radiator CPU Cooler with PWM Fans (Socket LGA2011) [NH-D14-2011] £72.98 (includes upgraded fans (PWM), just requires you request an NM-I3 mounting kit from Noctua free of charge, so it fits an LGA1155.

These new PWM Noctua fans have a min spin of 300 RPM.

2nd choice would be the K2 with some 120 Akasa Vipers.
Click to expand...

Two very expensive solutions although not necessarily bad ones. The K2 with its stock fans is more than enough and doesn't require the fans to be changed. Plus the stock fans look much better :p.
 
No one said anything about a budget ;-)

I think my two solutions give some of the best air cooling performance whilst keeping noise to a minimum.
 
thenewoc said:
No one said anything about a budget ;-)

I think my two solutions give some of the best air cooling performance whilst keeping noise to a minimum.
Click to expand...

No but they don't offer anything over the stock K2 configuration. And unfortunately, OCUK's price of the Noctua is higher than it should be really.
 
The stock K2 fans are not PWM and don't shift as much air as the Vipers. The Noctua is the better choice imho as I think has better stock fans than the K2.

Shame the K2 doesn't come fanless though so you can choose your own as I think the Vipers would compliment it better.

Here's the fan stats;



Noctua NF-P12 PWM
- PWM auto speed control
- Dimension: 120 X 120 X 25mm
- Fan speed: 300 -1300 RPM
- Max airflow: 92.3 m3/h
- Max static air pressure: 1.68 mm H2O
- Noise level: <= 19.8 dB(A)

Noctua NF-P14 PWM
- PWM auto speed control
- Dimension: 140 X 140 X 25mm
- Fan speed: 300 -1200 RPM
- Max airflow: 110.3 m3/h
- Max static air pressure: ?
- Noise level: <= 19.6 dB(A)



K2 Stock fans
120mm Fan
- Fan Size: 120x120x25mm
- Fan Speed: 1500 rpm
- Airflow: 108 m³/h

140mm Fan
- Size: 140x140x25mm
- Fan Speed: 1100 rpm
- Airflow: 104,7 m³/h



Akasa AK-FN059 120mm Ultra Quiet Venom Viper Cool Fan - 3/4 Pin [AK-FN059]
- Super silent with PWM auto speed control
- Dimension: 120 X 120 X 25mm
- Fan speed: 600 -1900 RPM
- Max airflow: 83.63 CFM (141.75 m3/h)
- Max static air pressure: 2.98 mm H2O
- Noise level: 6.9 -28.9 dB(A)

Akasa AK-FN063 140mm Ultra Quiet Viper Cool Fan - 3/4 Pin [AK-FN063]
- Super silent with PWM auto speed control
- Dimension: 140 X 140 X 25mm
- Fan speed: 600 -1600 RPM
- Max airflow: 110.61 CFM
- Max static air pressure: 3.12 mm H2O
- Noise level: 12.5 - 26.01 dB(A)
 
thenewoc said:
The stock K2 fans are not PWM and don't shift as much air as the Vipers. The Noctua is the better choice imho as I think has better stock fans than the K2.

Shame the K2 doesn't come fanless though so you can choose your own as I think the Vipers would compliment it better.

Here's the fan stats;



Noctua NF-P12 PWM
- PWM auto speed control
- Dimension: 120 X 120 X 25mm
- Fan speed: 300 -1300 RPM
- Max airflow: 92.3 m3/h
- Max static air pressure: 1.68 mm H2O
- Noise level: <= 19.8 dB(A)

Noctua NF-P14 PWM
- PWM auto speed control
- Dimension: 140 X 140 X 25mm
- Fan speed: 300 -1200 RPM
- Max airflow: 110.3 m3/h
- Max static air pressure: ?
- Noise level: <= 19.6 dB(A)



K2 Stock fans
120mm Fan
- Fan Size: 120x120x25mm
- Fan Speed: 1500 rpm
- Airflow: 108 m³/h

140mm Fan
- Size: 140x140x25mm
- Fan Speed: 1100 rpm
- Airflow: 104,7 m³/h



Akasa AK-FN059 120mm Ultra Quiet Venom Viper Cool Fan - 3/4 Pin [AK-FN059]
- Super silent with PWM auto speed control
- Dimension: 120 X 120 X 25mm
- Fan speed: 600 -1900 RPM
- Max airflow: 83.63 CFM (141.75 m3/h)
- Max static air pressure: 2.98 mm H2O
- Noise level: 6.9 -28.9 dB(A)

Akasa AK-FN063 140mm Ultra Quiet Viper Cool Fan - 3/4 Pin [AK-FN063]
- Super silent with PWM auto speed control
- Dimension: 140 X 140 X 25mm
- Fan speed: 600 -1600 RPM
- Max airflow: 110.61 CFM
- Max static air pressure: 3.12 mm H2O
- Noise level: 12.5 - 26.01 dB(A)
Click to expand...

Firstly, the Alpenfohn fans do have PWM functionality. Secondly, despite fan ratings not really being comparable to each other, what you have shown is that the K2 fans are actually better than the Noctua's. Moreover if you look here, you'll see that there is little difference in performance between the two coolers and that the K2 is more efficient with a given fan configuration. The Noctua at £72 doesn't warrant its price when the K2 or Silver Arrow is much cheaper, although the latter is hard to get hold of these days.

The Vipers are also much louder. To get such performance as they are rated for, they need to operate at 1900RPM and given that they are mere 120mm fans, they aren't quiet. I'm not sure about the 140mm variants but if you look at the Viper review on Xbitlabs, it's mediocre at best. The only fan worth changing the stock K2 ones to are Thermalright's TR TY-140s/150s. But then why spend so much extra money when the difference or gains (debatable) will be only slight. Plus the K2 fans look superb as they are and if you really wanted better performance, you could just add a third fan.

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/alpenfoehn_k2_cpu_cooler_revisited,8.html
 
Having owned a prolimatech super mega with dual vipers, now on a k2. The vipers were very loud, the stock k2 fans are very quiet. Im seeing a 4-5c drop in load temps for a lot less noise. The k2 fans are gorgeous looking as well, though im changing the front one to a very pretty black and blue alpenfohn, same speed as the one supplied.
 
Had I known the K2 also has PWM fans then I would have reversed my #1 and #2 suggestions. There isn't any mention of the K2 PWM fans on OC's product page or Alpenfoehn website which is how I missed that. The K2 does indeed seem to offer better value for money in the top performing models.
 
thenewoc said:
Noctua NH-D14-2011 Dual Radiator CPU Cooler with PWM Fans (Socket LGA2011) [NH-D14-2011] £72.98 (includes upgraded fans (PWM), just requires you request an NM-I3 mounting kit from Noctua free of charge, so it fits an LGA1155.

These new PWM Noctua fans have a min spin of 300 RPM.

2nd choice would be the K2 with some 120 Akasa Vipers.
Click to expand...


Apologies for hijacking.. but just Iv'e recently bought a NH-D14 (yet to install) and after what you've said I'm a little worried that the incl fans aren't up the job (i7 920 OC) should I upgrade the fans..?
 
miseryguts said:
Apologies for hijacking.. but just Iv'e recently bought a NH-D14 (yet to install) and after what you've said I'm a little worried that the incl fans aren't up the job (i7 920 OC) should I upgrade the fans..?
Click to expand...

Dont be, before the DH-14 with socket 2011 only support came out, the other DH-14 was king of the hill, it suddenly doesnt just become rubbish overnight.
 
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