cpu cooler for i5-6600k?

danlightbulb

danlightbulb

danlightbulb

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Hi guys,

Is there a recommended cooler for this processor? I will want to overclock it if I'm going to the trouble of getting the K processor, but I won't want to push the limits. 4.4Ghz would do me, which I'm hoping should be easily achievable.

Ideally no more than £30 for the CPU cooler.

Which is the best for that money? The case I'm looking at can take up to 160mm tall. I will have one intake fan and one exhaust fan on the case.

Thanks
 
What mickyflinn said.
212 was a good value cooler years ago, but key word is 'was'. Not there are many just as good at lower prices. Aidos is arguable a good as 212, but Themis reviews constantly show it being better.

If you have a fan to put on it, the Ereboss Core at £26.99 is better still.

Keep in mind, bigger coolers not only generally give better cooling, but cool quieter than smaller coolers. More pipes and fin area means slower airflow is needed to meet same temps and that means less fan speed and noise.
 
Hi again guys.

I'm still evaluating coolers.

I have become concerned about space in my chosen case. This is the case I was going to get:

My basket at Overclockers UK:

But there has been a review appear stating that the person couldn't fit the Evo 212 cooler in the case. The case states it will take 160mm height coolers, and the Evo 212 is 160mm high.

So I have been thinking I need to ensure I allow some headroom - but how much?

I was looking at the Alpenfohn Matterhorn (https://www.overclockers.co.uk/alpenfoehn-matterhorn-pure-edition-cpu-cooler-hs-037-al.html) but this is 158mm high and some of the reviews say it is a large cooler.

Then there is this more compact Alpenfohn Brocken Eco (https://www.overclockers.co.uk/alpenfoehn-brocken-eco-cpu-cooler-120-mm-hs-047-al.html) which is 150mm tall, but will it be as good?

Thanks
 
i think you will be fine with the pure as there are no heatpipes sticking out the top but if your unsure then the eco is a good budget cooler.
 
Do you think I have chosen a case that is too narrow (183mm width)? If it can only take a 160mm cooler and the pure is 158mm then it is going to be almost touching the case window.

CA220BX_118125_285x255.jpg
 
I would be buying a 2nd fan for the front. It can take 2 at the front, but only one (included ) at the rear.

I like it because it is sleek looking. Most cases at that price range are pretty garish.


Edit: I'm a little concerned now about the case. I'll have the 6600k which I'll be moderately overclocking (4.4GHz hopefully), some 3000Mhz ram (because its on offer here), a mid range GPU (eg new radeon 480). And the one rear and one front fan. Will I have heat problems?

How about this Zalman instead? It comes with 3x120mm fans. Shame no window though.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/zalman-z3-midi-tower-black-ca-070-za.html



Edit again - found the same case with a window and i think comes with 4 fans (1 rear, 2 top, 1 front). £39.99?


https://www.overclockers.co.uk/zalman-z3-plus-midi-tower-black-ca-071-za.html

It doesn't specify what height CPU cooler can be used.

Case is a little bit garish but not too bad. I'm not too keen on the top mounted USB connections either as the unit will sit just below a shelf.
 
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Generally top fans are not a good option. Front to back airflow is best because it moves heated air back while supplying cool air to components (GPU & CPU). Biggest problem is GPU cooler dumps it's heated air in all directions .. making it problematic to keep it's heated exhaust out of CPU cooler intake air. Smooth airflow is critical. Top and side venting (especially if intake) cause airflow turbulence which increases airflow mixing and resistance.
You might fine this guide interesting.
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=26159770&postcount=7

To me a good case as essential, and something I will be using for many years, usually for more than one build. Same applies to coolers. They are long term investments, and as such are worth spending more money on. Good cases start at abut £50.00 and will last many years. If you get build a new system every year or two and use case for two builds the better case more than pays for the added cost.

Have you looked at Clearance cases? The 'B' grade are usually open box items; sometimes returns and can be a lot cheaper.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/clearance/cases
 
doyll said:
Generally top fans are not a good option.
Click to expand...

Im confused by this post mate. All cases i have seen, cheap or expensive, only have 1 rear fan. So if top and side fans are not a good option then what other option is there?

If you could recommend what £50 case you would think is satisfactory i will be able to see what sort of thing would be suitable.
 
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Thanks. The p400 is nice aside from the top usbs. The other one is too big for the space its going in.

The p400 comes with one rear and one front fan. Would you buy more?
 
danlightbulb said:
Im confused by this post mate. All cases i have seen, cheap or expensive, only have 1 rear fan. So if top and side fans are not a good option then what other option is there?

If you could recommend what £50 case you would think is satisfactory i will be able to see what sort of thing would be suitable.
Click to expand...
There are all kinds of things designed for looks and marketing. But this does not make them the most functional designs.

Airflow should not be turning corners. Front intake to CPU cooler tower to back out .. straight through. Front /bottom in to GPU to back PCIE slots and vent over them .. as straight as GPU cooler will allow. Biggest problem is having GPU heated exhaust flow up around CPU cooler and raising the CPU cooler airflow temp. Using top vents as exhaust causes this to happen. Rear top exhaust is okay, but middle and front top vents as exhaust draw air up .. GPU exhaust. Using front or middle top as often as not causes airflow directional turbulence mixing heated air with cool air.

Did you read the guide in link I posted?

I'm not really up on £50-60.00 cases because I'm using £70+ cases. I have and use Define R2, Enthoo Luxe, Enthoo Evolv ATX and Enthoo Primo, as well as 2 Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 & 4

What mickyflinn said.
Fractal Design Arc are good too.

Setup your trust account and drop me a note.
 
I have read it thanks it was useful.

But i cannot fully follow its guidance. For example the phanteks p400 case that someone recommended above has 2 fans included but it doesnt say their flow rate. So i cannot work out whether im getting more case flow or not.

It has 1 rear exhaust and 1 front intake but room for more. I will probably buy the be quiet pure rock cpu cooler. And i will have an as yet un-speccd gpu.

How can i know if this is ok or not?
 
As a general rule a modern system needs 2x 120/140mm intake fans. 1x intake and 1x exhaust do not count as 2 fans. Stacking them like this increases their ability to overcome resistance, so if they are not good static pressure fans it helps airflow. But if the are good static pressure fans then exhaust fans are not needed. I point this out because as you said, most cases are designed to only use one rear exhaust fan. But many new cases have a vented grill in back above the PCIe slots. This venting combined with open PCIe slots give an area about the same as a 120mm vent .. sometimes a 140mm vent area. This area around and behind GPU gives better front to back flow and moves the GPU heated exhaust back and out of case. Keep in mind airflow is like water. What flow in must flow out .. what flows out must first flow in. Case airflow is the smaller of it's intake or exhaust flow. The case cannot flow the airflow potential of 5 intake fan out a single or even 2 vents. 2 vents flow what 2 vents will flow and that is all they will flow. The 5 intake will only flow into the case as much air ans the 2 vents flow out.
 
Im not suggesting i will install 5 intake fans. I could keep the 1 front and 1 rear as it comes with the case and buy an extra intake fan for the front, or an extra exhaust fan for the top rear, or both.
 
I'm not suggesting you do. I'm trying to explain how airflow works. You know, airflow, not airblow.

A good open back will allow good front intake fans to flow air front to back through the case.

I tryign to get an Eclipse P400 to test and evaluate. I looked images of the fans, and they appear to be something new. Phanteks does not list a fan like them.
 
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