which cooler?

paradisiac · 14 Jul 2011 at 13:06

Thermalright Silver Arrow CPU Cooler or Antec Kúhler H2O 620 CPU Watercooler?
not restricted by size, and noise isnt really a factor. just want the temps to be the lowest possible. i know the SA is very highly rated, but would the space created by the Antec allow the case fans to lower the overall temps of the pc?

Tephnos · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:06

If you want the lowest temps regardless of the size, get the SA. It's a lot cooler and quiter than the 620. I got a 920 before the SA and the noise + fact it didn't do as well put me off, so I returned it and got the SA.

Now I'm getting max load temps of high 40s to low 50s at 4.5ghz with 1.280v. PC is near silent too. Perfect.

munz · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:10

silver arrow or noctua nh - D14

these "basic water cooling" products have'nt been all that impressive tbh,
only really good when tight on space

The cpu cooler will have greater impact on cpu temps than case fans.

I've got same haf 912 case, grab 200mm for top and your set tbh,
maybe switch the stock exhaust fan for something more powerful like Akasa viper 120mm.

Im running with hyper 212 plus cpu cooler [email protected] nice mild overclock, imo only worth going for high cpu cooler if you are gonna push the overclock to like 4.8ghz+.

Lowering load cpu temps from 60C down to 55C? doesnt really improve any PC performance or increase longevity of components, it just lets to attempt at a higher overclock.

paradisiac · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:14

i have the Freezer 7 Rev 2 and @ 4.2GHz+ my load temps hit mid 80s to high 90s depending on how high the clock is, so something needs to be done.

Tephnos · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:14

paradisiac said:
i have the Freezer 7 Rev 2 and @ 4.2GHz+ my load temps hit mid 80s to high 90s depending on how high the clock is, so something needs to be done.

Still, get the SA. I think it's cheaper than the 620 too so you save some change.

paradisiac · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:17

the 620 is normally £1 cheaper, but both are same price in the 'this week only' deals

Tephnos · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:22

paradisiac said:
the 620 is normally £1 cheaper, but both are same price in the 'this week only' deals

Ah, I see.

SA > 620.

paradisiac · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:23

munz said:
I've got same haf 912 case, grab 200mm for top and your set tbh,
maybe switch the stock exhaust fan for something more powerful like Akasa viper 120mm.

i dont have any issue with fans in the case (clicky) as mobo normally sits around 26-28c unless ambient temp gets hot and then can go to 30-31c.
i just thought, maybe with the extra space with the watercooler unit would offer, might then also improve the case airflow to get the hot air generate by the mobo and gfx cards ciruclated quicker.

gazzaman2k · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:28

ive had both, the h620 is not in the same league as the SA/noctura go for the SA is on offer this week

munz · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:28

paradisiac said:
i just thought, maybe with the extra space with the watercooler unit would offer, might then also improve the case airflow to get the hot air generate by the mobo and gfx cards ciruclated quicker.

would'nt have thought so, they keep making cpu coolers bigger and chunkier seen that one with liek 4x120mm fans? lol

Silver arrow is tops

Budget water cooling bit gimmicky, but some people read "water cooling" and get giddy

my mobo sits round 26-28 also

gazzaman2k · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:30

better to use air cooling on the sandybridge as the fans not only cool the cpu they cool the heatsyncs where the mosfets are, the silver arrow has about 20c more cooling power compared to the h620

paradisiac · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:31

munz said:
would'nt have thought so, they keep making cpu coolers bigger and chunkier seen that one with liek 4x120mm fans? lol

Silver arrow is tops

Budget water cooling bit gimmicky, but some people read "water cooling" and get giddy

my mobo sits round 26-28 also

ok awesome. now this weeks deals started today and end next weds right?

Plec · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:32

paradisiac said:
i just thought, maybe with the extra space with the watercooler unit would offer, might then also improve the case airflow to get the hot air generate by the mobo and gfx cards ciruclated quicker.

The speed and efficiency in which the SA will get rid of the CPU heat should outweigh any/slight benefit of extra air flow/space.

paradisiac · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:34

Plec said:
The speed and efficiency in which the SA will get rid of the CPU heat should outweigh any/slight benefit of extra air flow/space.

i know you love the SA, and recommended it last time. i just thought with them both being the same price i would check. as everyone bangs on about cable tidying gives better airflower, therefore lower temps. so thought this might apply to the space around the motherboard, ie NO huge heatsink.
one thing that has made me a bit warey of the SA is people saying the bottom isnt flat so temps vary between the cores quite a bit. well i get this now with my Freezer 7, so will this be exhagerated even more with a SA?

Plec · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:42

paradisiac said:
i know you love the SA, and recommended it last time.

It's more a value for money thing - the hardware that you get coupled with its cooling capabilities is very hard to beat. It's just great bang for buck at the moment (when compared to top end coolers)...

paradisiac said:
as everyone bangs on about cable tidying gives better airflower, therefore lower temps. so thought this might apply to the space around the motherboard, ie NO huge heatsink.

Sensible to check - it may be you will prefer the compactness of the 620 - each to their own is my motto. There really is no right or wrong choice here as long as your happy with your end purchase - as both will adequately cool your CPU.

paradisiac said:
one thing that has made me a bit warey of the SA is people saying the bottom isnt flat so temps vary between the cores quite a bit.

The slight convex bottom on some of the HS is not a problem - it will/should even out when the HS is tightened to the bracket (and if you use the pressure vault).

A couple of reviews have mentioned the curve and have not noticed any performance drop.

paradisiac · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:46

ok awesome. will try to order on sat for a monday delivery (thats if DPD can work out where cornwall is :rolleyes:

) the would mind the noctua nh - D14 either, but its a bit pricey for me.
i dont care for looks myself, i have no clear panels so i cant see the inside, i just want the best for my hardware, within budget restraints

after the cooler upgrade, next to do is sell my gfx cards and get a single one.

Plec · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:51

paradisiac said:
othats if DPD can work out where cornwall is )

I know what you mean they seem to find Devon hard enough...

BTW, you may want ot consider buying the Akasa AK-CB002 PWM Fan Splitter Cable at the same time if you haven't got two CPU headers on you MB.

It will enable one CPU header to control both fans via the PWM.

paradisiac · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:55

Plec said:
I know what you mean they seem to find Devon hard enough...

BTW, you may want ot consider buying the Akasa AK-CB002 PWM Fan Splitter Cable at the same time if you haven't got two CPU headers on you MB.

It will enable one CPU header to control both fans via the PWM.

my last order (my 2500k) i made sure i ordered before 2pm on sat, phoned ocuk to make sure it would be here monday, dpd collected it, and sent it to norwhich :rolleyes:

obviously thats very close to cornwall

i have many fan connectors on the mobo, including 1x4 pin and 1x3 pin cpu headers.

Plec · 14 Jul 2011 at 15:38

paradisiac said:
i have many fan connectors on the mobo, including 1x4 pin and 1x3 pin cpu headers.

You will benefit from the AKASA adapter then as the 4 Pin CPU connector is the only one that is PWM controlled (same as my MB).

The adapter will enable you to run both HS fans off the one 4 pin PWM header (CPU header) - giving you more control and more importantly silence...

paradisiac · 14 Jul 2011 at 15:39

Plec said:
You will benefit from the AKASA adapter then as the 4 Pin CPU connector is the only one that is PWM controlled (same as my MB).

The adapter will enable you to run both HS fans off the one 4 pin PWM header (CPU header) - giving you more control and more importantly silence...

i have another 4 pin connector on the mobo which i can adjust speed in bios and windows