Help with a not so tall air cooler

PG81

PG81

PG81

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I need a cpu cooler that has a maximum height of around 130mm. This is due to the limitations of my case. It has to be an air cooler as the case only has 80mm exhaust fans (x2) and an 120mm intake.

I'm planning on OCing an i5 6600k an on a GA-z170 Gaming 7 which I think is a good combo but don't want to be let down by my choice of cooling. I cannot afford to replace my case as well.

I've found the Noctua NH C14s but is this the best? Was hoping to not have to spend more than £35.

Any ideas or experiences? With this combo am I better off with a lesser CPU and M/B?
 
The thing with Noctua is that the premium is worth it. Product quality, terrific support etc.

A slightly cheaper option is this:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/prolimatech-samuel-17-cpu-cooler-hs-021-pl.html

With a fan of your choosing.

I believe performance-wise, it will be very close to the Noctua NH C14S, but I haven't seen any test results comparing them. Not easy, because the Samuel 17 doesn't have a fan, and performance will also depend on the fan you add.

You say your case has a 120mm intake. Is a 120mm liquid AIO out of the question there?

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £39.95

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The H600 is pretty ideal for Skylake, even with an overclocked i7-6700K.
 
Possible. I'll have a look at the space it has to fit. I wasn't sure if you could put the radiator and fan on the intake. Would this not send hot air into the case? Or are you suggesting using the front as an exhaust and having the intakes on the rear?
 
PG81 said:
Possible. I'll have a look at the space it has to fit. I wasn't sure if you could put the radiator and fan on the intake. Would this not send hot air into the case? Or are you suggesting using the front as an exhaust and having the intakes on the rear?
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I can't suggest as you haven't said which case you have. ;)

Just wondered if a 120mm AIO would fit, is all.
 
From my own experience the Samuel 17 isn't up to overclocking a 6600k, it's a decent solution to a specific problem but it's use is limited in my experience. I would either stump up for the Noctua or (through gritted teeth) suggest an AIO as when height is limited there really isn't an air option that can compete.
 
So I'll assume even the cheapest AIO is more effective than any air cooler. Can I use it on the case intake (assuming pipes are long enough)? I'm just thinking about airflow and cooling if I'm pumping pre-heated air in.
 
I have a BeQuiet Dark Rock TF In a Corsair Air 240 which has similar 130mm clearance. I've removed the top fan to make it fit but it's perfect and silent. Removing the extra fan actually made temperatures lower as it was pressed up against the side window.

Keeps a 6 core Xeon at 3.6GHz below 65c while stress testing so cooling a 14nm quad core should be a breeze.
 
Looks good. I think the noctua looks like it may have slightly better clearance above RAM modules though and similar price. Thansk for bringing it to my attention though. I'll look at reviews all the same.

Anyone any thoughts on the airflow issue of AIO rad at the intake?
 
PG81 said:
So I'll assume even the cheapest AIO is more effective than any air cooler.
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Not exactly. It's just that Antec have gone for the jugular with that cooler's performance and price-point. And for that money, there's a good chance it outperforms most air coolers selling for same price or under, especially the low-ish-profile ones. I'd like to see some proper tests and comparisons but that's my current impression.


PG81 said:
Can I use it on the case intake (assuming pipes are long enough)? I'm just thinking about airflow and cooling if I'm pumping pre-heated air in.
Click to expand...

I've had a look at the case pics and it's not clear to me if (a) there's enough width for the rad and fan, and (b) even if there was, that you could use the fan mount screwholes for the screws. A little bit of modding could end up being necessary there. Wouldn't have to be a work of art, just a means of holding it in place somehow.

Can you take some measurements at all?


Telecaster said:
From my own experience the Samuel 17 isn't up to overclocking a 6600k, it's a decent solution to a specific problem but it's use is limited in my experience.
Click to expand...

Not saying you're wrong as I haven't used the Samuel 17, but I'm not sure you actually tried it with a 6600K or another chip? The Skylakes generally run a good 10-15C cooler than previous, i.e. for a 4.5GHz overclock with the average Vcore required (1.25-1.28v), they'll be 10-15C cooler than Haswell. But I also think a liquid AIO might be the best solution for this, if it would fit.
 
Thanks. I'll measure it when I get home. Another consideration is whether the tubes are long enough to reach the front of the case. The tubes on the H600 are only 315mm so that one won't.
 
PG81 said:
Thanks. I'll measure it when I get home. Another consideration is whether the tubes are long enough to reach the front of the case. The tubes on the H600 are only 315mm so that one won't.
Click to expand...


Good shout, hadn't thought of that yet. Another place I was thinking of was the side panel (where the air tube/shroud is). Not the usual place for a rad but it has been done before. Just have to be more careful whenever removing the panel. Are the screwholes there for 80mm, 120mm, other?
 
Danny75 said:
Not saying you're wrong as I haven't used the Samuel 17, but I'm not sure you actually tried it with a 6600K or another chip? The Skylakes generally run a good 10-15C cooler than previous, i.e. for a 4.5GHz overclock with the average Vcore required (1.25-1.28v), they'll be 10-15C cooler than Haswell. But I also think a liquid AIO might be the best solution for this, if it would fit.
Click to expand...

Two different chips - 2500k stock and OC'd and a Pentium K stock and OC'd. I'd say something like the Pentium is it's limit.
 
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