CPU cooler: AIO vs 92mm tower?

Ronald · 21 Dec 2014 at 14:42

I have just build myself a system in a Corsair 250D. The main components are Asus Impact VII, Core i7 4790I, Asus Stric 970 GTX, Kingston HyperX Savage memory (Low profile).

Unfortunately the intended heatsink, Raijintek, Pallas didn't clear the VRM daughterboard so I'm on the boxed cooler, which is so poor Intel do deserve quite a lot of slack.

There is about 145mm clearance above the socket, and any option needs to clear the VRM, which is about 10mm higher than the memory modules. No issue if any cooler overhangs the memory, but there is only 90mm clearance from the socket due to the Blu ray.

I'd prefer an aircooler, and the Noctua NH-U9S looks to be the best candidate as it stays within the 95mm square around the socket.

Another option is a Corair H100i or Raijintek Triton (the latter would need no more than 15mm fans, due to space constraints. Prolimatek's seem to have among the highest static pressure on slim fans). I'm concerned on pump noise as this seems to be a frequent complaint of AIO's.

Would be glad to hear any opinions or alternative options.

Thanks!

doyll · 21 Dec 2014 at 15:41

Technical data Macho 90:

Length w/ fan: approx. 102 mm
Width /w fan: approx. 127 mm
Height /w fan: approx. 135 mm
Weight /w fan: approx. 552 Grams
Material: Hybrid
Heatpipes: 4 x 6 mm
Rotation speed: 800 - 2,000 RPM
Air Flow: 26.8 - 66.9 m³/h
Noise level: 21 - 27 dB(a)
Connector: 4-Pin PWM

Both pump noise and failures are the most common problem with CLCs. Not sure what to suggest other than stay with air. Thermalright just released a new Macho 90 that might fit.

reviews
http://ht4u.net/reviews/2014/thermalright_macho_90_test/index9.php

http://www.nikktech.com/main/articl...t-macho-90-cpu-cooler-review?showall=&start=5

http://www.technic3d.com/review/kuehler/1754-thermalright-macho-90/5.htm

murah · 21 Dec 2014 at 16:04

been running an AIO solid for 2 years now, no pump noise audible over fans even when fans are turned to their lowest. They provide excellent space to work around and are less of a fiddle to clean dust out of, depending on your airflow within your case they can be just as good as air coolers for example my ageing antec 620 (120mm rad version) keeps my 2700k clocked @ 4.8ghz at 70c or below with both GPU's active kicking out heat into the case make of that what you will

I chose to use a push/pull set up with some Scythe GT1850s but you could easily get away with good temps on slim fans

Ronald · 21 Dec 2014 at 17:08

doyll said:
Both pump noise and failures are the most common problem with CLCs. Not sure what to suggest other than stay with air. Thermalright just released a new Macho 90 that might fit.

Great looking cooler, which performs better than the Noctua U9S (Based on the comparison with Antec Kuhler on Niktech) that would fit a good number of ITX boards. But I'm fairly confident it won't clear the VRM board on the Impact.

doyll · 21 Dec 2014 at 21:04

What is the distance from mounting back plate holes to VRM board?

Macho 90 is 51mm from center CPU to sides. 1150 mounting holes are 75mm square or 37.5mm from centerline. This means we need 14mm from mounting hole to VRM.

Ronald · 21 Dec 2014 at 22:19

The board with 10mm grid overlay:

I think there is 15mm from centre hole, so it may squeeze beside the VRM.
It will also push against the Sata/power cabling of the Blu ray drive.

I think the problem is the fan will not clear the Audio daughterboard (Just above the word Asus on the black heatsink at the bottom) if mounted PCI-E side, and I suspect it wouldn't clear the USB headers if mounted back side.

doyll · 22 Dec 2014 at 00:15

I overlayed the cooler with fan. You can check the scaling of cooler as102x102mm I did fan 102x25mm, but it is actually 92x25mm

Ronald · 22 Dec 2014 at 12:46

I appreciate your efforts to help, but I didn't suggest to mount the fan on that side as I have the blu ray there. The fan would clear the drive in your drawing (Which reaches about to the A in the red start button, 90mm above the socket), but not the cabling even if I were to use angled connectors.

Helios1234 · 23 Dec 2014 at 23:21

All contained liquid coolers are good in restricted cases so get the H100 if it fits. It will be a lot better than coolers using 92mm fans.

Ronald · 24 Dec 2014 at 18:04

Case is tailored to fit H100i, so that is not the issue (No suprise really, both made by Corsair!)

I do have reliability and (Pump) noise concerns... wether the H100i or the Triton. These units seem build to a price point, with pumps for custom loops costing as much or more than the whole AIO.

Raijintek fans are definately a compromise, all sleeve bearings. That covers a large part of the price difference between Triton and H100i... so what about the pump?