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Thinking of grabbing an AIO cooler, which is best?

930 views 18 replies 7 participants last post by  Imprezzion 
#1 ·
I've been using a Spire Thermax Eclipse II on my Phenom II X6 build, and loved it. I had planned to use it on my current build, but jumped on a CoolIT Eco for $10 and installed that just for fun. I fell in love with water loops right there. I love the way they look. Simple as that. The thing is, I cant justify spending $400 on a custom CPU loop. That's where AIOs come in. The coolIT Eco can't handle my 4770k past 4.2Ghz, so I'm going to need something better if I want to hit my goal of 4.6Ghz. Which AIO is best? One of my biggest pet peeves is noise (I might even go all water this winter to keep noise down). I was thinking the H110, but I'm worried the older pump technology might be louder than the new H100i. I've also heard a little (but not much) about the NZXT Kraken X60.
 
#2 ·
You will get the best cooling performance from the H110. I havent heard any issues with the pump. That is if you have room in your case for 2x140mm fans. Your next option is the H100i. If you change the stock fans with 2 or 4x120mm good rad fans you will achieve even better temps. But tbh if you want the best possible oc/temps out of your cpu your only option is to delid it. Because even with a high end wc setup you will also be limited by the crappy stock intel paste.
 
#4 ·
Swiftech H220 or H320, if you don't mind ordering out of the country.
 
#5 ·
The kraken x60 or the h110, by virtue of their large radiators, are probably the best CLCs that can be had. I believe they're both asetek based coolers and fairly similar. Of those two, I lean towards the kraken since i know it can be used without any special software (h110 maybe could too, just i don't know that for sure). The large 2x 140 rad might be hard to fit depending on your case.

Smaller CLCs with 2x120 rads worth looking at, the h100i (coolit based) and the thermaltake water extreme (asetek based).

Outside of the CLCs, there are at least two other AIO coolers composed of higher quality components (better rads/more power pumps) that are worth looking at. The swiftech h220 and the coolermaster eisberg prestige 240. These coolers have 2x 120 rads, but by virtue of better pumps and copper/brass rads, can be more effective than even the larger CLCs. Also these coolers can be cracked open for expansion or maintenance (refilling, bleeding). Of those two, I really want to lean towards the h220 since its got a pwm controllable pump, but there are concerns, not for sale in the US right now due to a patent dispute and many reported pump problems. The eisberg isn't as widely used and i've seen less info about it. I think the mounting system on the eisberg might not be as good as others (there's no backplate?), and i've read the eisberg pump can be quite loud at fullspeed.

For a little more more money, you can consider kits like swiftech's H20-x20.
http://www.swiftech.com/h2o-x20-elite.aspx
 
#6 ·
Yes your correct the Eisberg does not have a backplate but its still secures well. I don't think the pump is that noisy personally and I run it at full speed (3500-3600rpm). I have my comp located near my feet and i can't hear it while sitting in my computer chair. It does have a HUM to it but I can only hear it if i put my ear down to the case.

The pump doesn't have the PWM function but it does have an cable to decrease the voltage to the pump if its noisy for you. Overall though i like it
thumb.gif
 
#7 ·
#8 ·
H110 performs WORSE then a H100i and looks a lot worse as well..
I had both on my 2500K, and the H110 has much better fans on it, yet still the H100i beat it time after time by a degree or 3-4. With worse fans.
Both mounted on a lapped 2500K with CLU paste. Mount was spot on all 4 applications. (tested both twice).
The H110's pump just isn't powerful enough.

The best AIO solutions available now are the Eisberg Prestige 240L which is my personal fave.
Going to buy this soon to replace my failing H100i - dead RGB LED's which is a known issue and the SATA power connector broke due to it getting jammed between the side panel trying to close it
tongue.gif
It still works but...

Then there's the Kraken x60. Also a great option but not very well available here and I like the looks of the CM more.

And there's the Swiftech H220 but the Eisberg seems to best it in all area's even though the Swiftech is noticably cheaper.
 
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Imprezzion View Post

H110 performs WORSE then a H100i and looks a lot worse as well..
I had both on my 2500K, and the H110 has much better fans on it, yet still the H100i beat it time after time by a degree or 3-4. With worse fans.
Both mounted on a lapped 2500K with CLU paste. Mount was spot on all 4 applications. (tested both twice).
The H110's pump just isn't powerful enough.

The best AIO solutions available now are the Eisberg Prestige 240L which is my personal fave.
Going to buy this soon to replace my failing H100i - dead RGB LED's which is a known issue and the SATA power connector broke due to it getting jammed between the side panel trying to close it
tongue.gif
It still works but...

Then there's the Kraken x60. Also a great option but not very well available here and I like the looks of the CM more.

And there's the Swiftech H220 but the Eisberg seems to best it in all area's even though the Swiftech is noticably cheaper.
CLU as a heat paste? From what I've heard, you only want it between the IHS and the DIE, not between the IHS and the cooler

Woot, delidded!

Now I need a new cooler. I REALLY want that H220, but I'm not going to pay $70 shipping for it.
 
#11 ·
Might as well step up to H20-x20-edge/elite kit instead of spending money on shipping if the rad fits your case. I think that kit would handily beat any of the other AIOs / CLCs mentioned here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TehOnlyMITTENS View Post

Now I need a new cooler. I REALLY want that H220, but I'm not going to pay $70 shipping for it.
 
#13 ·
The stock fans are horribly loud at higher RPM's..

I use Enermax Apollish Vegas 120mm Blue's on it but also at half speed orso. 1700RPM< makes quite some noise in push-pull.

The RGB LED in the pump is known to die / drop channels in ~6 months like mine did as well
frown.gif
Corsair forums full of it and they accept RMA's for it but my H100i is far from complete in terms of box / accesories.. Lost half of it lol.
 
#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Imprezzion View Post

The stock fans are horribly loud at higher RPM's..

I use Enermax Apollish Vegas 120mm Blue's on it but also at half speed orso. 1700RPM< makes quite some noise in push-pull.

The RGB LED in the pump is known to die / drop channels in ~6 months like mine did as well
frown.gif
Corsair forums full of it and they accept RMA's for it but my H100i is far from complete in terms of box / accesories.. Lost half of it lol.
Corsair requires all accessories for RMAs?

I keep all my boxes nice and tidy, so its not a worry of mine.
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by TehOnlyMITTENS View Post

Corsair requires all accessories for RMAs?
I keep all my boxes nice and tidy, so its not a worry of mine.
I don't think Corsair cares all that much, but here in Holland we usually RMA through the original shop of purchase and they do
frown.gif


Maybe I'm going to contact Corsair straight away but I have no replacement cooler atm. Yeah stock but...
 
#16 ·
From a person who uses AIO coolers to cool his GPU's and CPU.... i think you should go with the NZXT AIO. The pumps are quieter than the Corsair AIOs. If you can afford an H220/320... then Swiftech will have a far superior product than all the others.
 
#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aesthethc View Post

2x EVGA 670 FTW 1293/1850/1.175
Are those everyday overclocks, just curious... and jealous, the 7400 on mem, my ftw can't touch that.
 
#18 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by michael-ocn View Post

Are those everyday overclocks, just curious... and jealous, the 7400 on mem, my ftw can't touch that.
Yes. they hit 1293 on stock voltage. Im able to bump my memory up to +800 but one of the cards can only do up to 7400 so yeah. Ive flashed my cards to a 1.21v and i was able to hit 1350 stable on heaven. The bios flash didnt really do much for my card performance wise (epeen wise... oh yes.....) so i just bumped it back down to stock voltage, so theyre down to 1293.

Both the card clock up to 1293 at full load though. Old picture, my streak is at 55 right now. hehehe
wink.gif

 
#19 ·
What a nub team you played against
biggrin.gif


It's such a shame i'm Euro and so the ping difference has to be ~120ms between USA CA and Holland.. 120+ms ping is getting difficult in terms of hitreg in BF3... But i'll see if I can get some time with OCN peeps on BF3.

Those EVGA's do pretty well realy. I had a Gigabyte GTX670 WF3 (golden) that did 1372mhz game stable @ 1.212v BIOS. Benched at 1411Mhz. I had the highest single GTX670 score in the Valley thread for months
tongue.gif
 
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