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Best AIO Cooler for 7700K

36K views 65 replies 19 participants last post by  doyll 
#1 ·
I purchased a 7700K and need a cooler. I could stick with the Noctua I bought, but it seems that it would look better and perform better to get an all in one closed water cooler. Looking for something with decent performance, but also quiet. And easy to install.

Price range around $100 and mild overclocking.

I should also mention this is a new build including the case which is a Phantex Enthoo Evlov ATX with Tempered Glass.

Suggestions?
 
#4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by SOCOM_HERO View Post

EK has a great selection of pre-selected parts kits that you can easily do yourself. If you really want an AIO, go with a 240 as it doesn't require you have a lot of case space.
$200 is a lot more than I want to spend. Plus I'm looking for easy maintenance.
 
#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by RoddimusPrime View Post

$200 is a lot more than I want to spend. Plus I'm looking for easy maintenance.
Then the thermaltake i linked would be the better fit for you. Provided your case can accommodate the 360 mm rad.

Just looked up your case and it will not fit. H100i would probably be your best bet for the 100 dollar price point.
 
#6 ·
Using your D14 and a 240 AIO wont be much of a difference.
It could be worse temps from AIO, as 7700k is already higher temps.
AIO are not quiet, to achieve that the fans has to run a lower speed. The rads already quiet poor to dissipate heat.

Stick with your D14 till you can actually go for a custom loop or pre-built like Swiftech, EK or Alphacool.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sp33d Junki3 View Post

Using your D14 and a 240 AIO wont be much of a difference.
It could be worse temps from AIO, as 7700k is already higher temps.
AIO are not quiet, to achieve that the fans has to run a lower speed. The rads already quiet poor to dissipate heat.

Stick with your D14 till you can actually go for a custom loop or pre-built like Swiftech, EK or Alphacool.
Agreed. Swapping a D14 to a CLC will do nothing but result in more noise and lower reliability. Why throw $100 out to downgrade your cooling?
 
#8 ·
There are a few AIO worth considering; Swiftech, 240, 280, 320 X2 and X2 Prodigy, EK Predator and a couple Alphacool OEM AIOs the best being be quiet! Silent Loop. Make sure the Alphacool OEM has copper radiator.

I would never use a CLC if I had even a mid level air cooler I could use instead .. and I have tried a fair few of them when testing and reviewing them over the years. I couldn't get them out of my systems fast enough! I got the be quiet! Silent Loop 280mm and am amazed at how well it performs! It cools very and is as quiet as the best top tier air coolers.

Like others have said, why change NH-D14 for a CLC? It's a giant step backwards. D14 is as good as new D15 if it has same fans on it.
wink.gif
But even that is only 2-3c improvement. Only thing I might do with a D14 is change the fans to PWM fans, but even that isn't necesarry.

I do not trust anything Tt markets any farther than I can throw them. Too many copies of others and unbelievably poor customer support.
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by doyll View Post

There are a few AIO worth considering; Swiftech, 240, 280, 320 X2 and X2 Prodigy, EK Predator and a couple Alphacool OEM AIOs the best being be quiet! Silent Loop. Make sure the Alphacool OEM has copper radiator.

I would never use a CLC if I had even a mid level air cooler I could use instead .. and I have tried a fair few of them when testing and reviewing them over the years. I couldn't get them out of my systems fast enough! I got the be quiet! Silent Loop 280mm and am amazed at how well it performs! It cools very and is as quiet as the best top tier air coolers.

Like others have said, why change NH-D14 for a CLC? It's a giant step backwards. D14 is as good as new D15 if it has same fans on it.
wink.gif
But even that is only 2-3c improvement. Only thing I might do with a D14 is change the fans to PWM fans, but even that isn't necesarry.

I do not trust anything Tt markets any farther than I can throw them. Too many copies of others and unbelievably poor customer support.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ciarlatano View Post

Agreed. Swapping a D14 to a CLC will do nothing but result in more noise and lower reliability. Why throw $100 out to downgrade your cooling?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sp33d Junki3 View Post

Using your D14 and a 240 AIO wont be much of a difference.
It could be worse temps from AIO, as 7700k is already higher temps.
AIO are not quiet, to achieve that the fans has to run a lower speed. The rads already quiet poor to dissipate heat.

Stick with your D14 till you can actually go for a custom loop or pre-built like Swiftech, EK or Alphacool.
The Noctua I bought is the D Type NF NH-A15 (didn't want RAM trouble). I should also mention this is a new build including the case which is a Phantex Enthoo Evlov ATX with Tempered Glass. Seems it has decent water cooling options.

I'm willing to look to something nicer that is still easy to put together and maintain. The mild overclock will probably be 4.5 or so so I can keep it all quiet. Still want it all to look nice as well given the tempered glass side panels of the new case.

Thanks for all the information.

So which of these kits are the best? Trying to keep things easy to use, install, and maintain (and quiet). Also what will I have to do for maintenance once installed?
 
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by RoddimusPrime View Post

The Noctua I bought is the D Type NF A15 (didn't want RAM trouble). I should also mention this is a new build including the case which is a Phantex Enthoo Evlov ATX with Tempered Glass. Seems it has decent water cooling options.

I'm willing to look to something nicer that is still easy to put together and maintain. The mild overclock will probably be 4.5 or so so I can keep it all quiet. Still want it all to look nice as well given the tempered glass side panels of the new case.

Thanks for all the information.

So which of these kits are the best? Trying to keep things easy to use, install, and maintain (and quiet). Also what will I have to do for maintenance once installed?
Normal NH-D15 is over 75mm center CPU toward PCIe sockets .. and often closest PCIe sockets are about 70mm .. meaning they cannot be used.
mad.gif
While the cooler fins will clear tall RAM, it is not uncommon for 140mm fan to not fit between between tall RAM and case.
wink.gif

NH-D15S is only 68mm center CPU toward PCIe sockets.

Enthoo Evolv ATX has good enough front venting, but the top needs any unused openings in the fan/radiator mounting tray blocked to airflow through fans/radiators cannot leak back into motherboard compartment. In my Evolv ATX (not TG) I took out the screw holding top on, unclipped top and set it on without being clipped in. This adds over twice as much vent ara to top.
wink.gif

http://www.overclock.net/t/1418637/official-case-phanteks-case-club-for-lovers-owners/13700_20#post_25268315
http://www.overclock.net/t/1418637/official-case-phanteks-case-club-for-lovers-owners/13240_20#post_25198233

I spaced my front cover out 15mm. This improved front airflow area, but a huge difference.. I found electrical socket / switch mounting screws are same thread and were about right length. I filed a little off of them so they didn't bottom out, but not much.
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by doyll View Post

Normal NH-D15 is over 75mm center CPU toward PCIe sockets .. and often closest PCIe sockets are about 70mm .. meaning they cannot be used.
mad.gif
While the cooler fins will clear tall RAM, it is not uncommon for 140mm fan to not fit between between tall RAM and case.
wink.gif

NH-D15S is only 68mm center CPU toward PCIe sockets.

Enthoo Evolv ATX has good enough front venting, but the top needs any unused openings in the fan/radiator mounting tray blocked to airflow through fans/radiators cannot leak back into motherboard compartment. In my Evolv ATX (not TG) I took out the screw holding top on, unclipped top and set it on without being clipped in. This adds over twice as much vent ara to top.
wink.gif

http://www.overclock.net/t/1418637/official-case-phanteks-case-club-for-lovers-owners/13700_20#post_25268315
http://www.overclock.net/t/1418637/official-case-phanteks-case-club-for-lovers-owners/13240_20#post_25198233

I spaced my front cover out 15mm. This improved front airflow area, but a huge difference.. I found electrical socket / switch mounting screws are same thread and were about right length. I filed a little off of them so they didn't bottom out, but not much.
Sounds like the case could be annoying. Wish they just had open vents like Fractal, Corsair, or my old Lian Li.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by RoddimusPrime View Post

Sounds like the case could be annoying. Wish they just had open vents like Fractal, Corsair, or my old Lian Li.
LOL. I modify every case I use long term. If a case is worth keeping it's worth modifying to improve it's airflow .. and I have not found a case yet that did not need some airflow modifications except Enthoo Primo, and it's too big a beast for my liking
tongue.gif
 
#13 ·
My h110i was 7-8 degrees cooler on my old 6700k than my truespirit power 140 rev a which coincides with the reviews I read fwiw. Being a 280mm cooler I can run the fans on a custom quiet curve with minimal impacts on temp. Now with how hot my new 7700k runs I'll take anything I can get cooling wise. I was tempted to with the swiftech h240 x2, but getting the corsair for $95 sealed the deal.
 
#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by spddmn24 View Post

My h110i was 7-8 degrees cooler on my old 6700k than my truespirit power 140 rev a which coincides with the reviews I read fwiw. Being a 280mm cooler I can run the fans on a custom quiet curve with minimal impacts on temp. Now with how hot my new 7700k runs I'll take anything I can get cooling wise. I was tempted to with the swiftech h240 x2, but getting the corsair for $95 sealed the deal.
Sorry but it's not worth anything without knowing db levels and cooler intake air temps.

All you have shown is that most likely the airflow into H110i was likely 7-8c cooler..
And how much louder was the H110i? I'm guessing it was significantly louder .. like about 57dB compared to TRUE Spirit 140 Power's 40-41dB.
I'll bet you dollars to your donuts that both with same intake airflow temperature they are within about 3c of each other .. at most.
If you put a TY-143 fan on the TRUE Spirit 140 Power will be about 6c cooler at same maximum nouse level as H110i. But to use TY-143 on TRUE Spirit you would need to increase case airflow about 70cfm more than needed with stock fan.
tongue.gif
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by doyll View Post

Sorry but it's not worth anything without knowing db levels and cooler intake air temps.

All you have shown is that most likely the airflow into H110i was likely 7-8c cooler..
And how much louder was the H110i? I'm guessing it was significantly louder .. like about 57dB compared to TRUE Spirit 140 Power's 40-41dB.
I'll bet you dollars to your donuts that both with same intake airflow temperature they are within about 3c of each other .. at most.
If you put a TY-143 fan on the TRUE Spirit 140 Power will be about 6c cooler at same maximum nouse level as H110i. But to use TY-143 on TRUE Spirit you would need to increase case airflow about 70cfm more than needed with stock fan.
tongue.gif
I don't have a db meter but sound levels are similar. Fans only hit 1100-1300 rpm on my custom curve and the noise wasn't much more than my truespirit at 1300 rpm. It's on the roof of my case as exhaust, so intake air temps should be roughly the same. Case temps are good, phanteks enthoo pro m with 2 140mm intake fans on the front and a 140mm rear exhaust fan. There's definitely a place for air coolers, but I saw pretty impressive gains with my aio. I would have a harder choice picking a 240mm cooler over an air cooler since the fans would probably have to be run quite a bit faster.

I'm not up to date on what review sites are to be trusted, but on this one it was almost 4 degrees cooler than the nh-u14s on low, and almost 8 degrees cooler on high. Keep in mind my temps were hitting upper 80's with the truespirit so the delta was bigger for me.

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2015/03/11/corsair_hydro_h110i_gt_ext_perf_aio_cpu_cooler_review/3

Good air coolers definitely do have their place, and if I wasn't trying to squeeze the last 100 mhz out of my cpu I would still have one. I actually kept mine in case my corsair dies on me. The fact that the truespirit did as good of a job as it did for $55 is a feat in its own.
 
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by spddmn24 View Post

I don't have a db meter but sound levels are similar. Fans only hit 1100-1300 rpm on my custom curve and the noise wasn't much more than my truespirit at 1300 rpm. It's on the roof of my case as exhaust, so intake air temps should be roughly the same. Case temps are good, phanteks enthoo pro m with 2 140mm intake fans on the front and a 140mm rear exhaust fan. There's definitely a place for air coolers, but I saw pretty impressive gains with my aio. I would have a harder choice picking a 240mm cooler over an air cooler since the fans would probably have to be run quite a bit faster.

I'm not up to date on what review sites are to be trusted, but on this one it was almost 4 degrees cooler than the nh-u14s on low, and almost 8 degrees cooler on high. Keep in mind my temps were hitting upper 80's with the truespirit so the delta was bigger for me.

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2015/03/11/corsair_hydro_h110i_gt_ext_perf_aio_cpu_cooler_review/3

Good air coolers definitely do have their place, and if I wasn't trying to squeeze the last 100 mhz out of my cpu I would still have one. I actually kept mine in case my corsair dies on me. The fact that the truespirit did as good of a job as it did for $55 is a feat in its own.
I have no idea how you are determining how loud they are compared to each to each other, but according to sound level experts a 10db increase sounds twice as loud to a normal human ear. 15 db increase is 3 times as loud to normal human ear. Sound level of TRUE Spirit 140 Power is about 40-41db in all kinds of reviews, an H110i is 55-57db. That means H100i is 15-17dB louder than TRUE Spirit 140 Power, meaning it sounds 3 times as loud.

Delta temperature of a cooler is determined by subtracting the cooler intake air temperature from the CPU temperature. If they are using room temperature then the temperature difference is not comparing coolers are performing against each other, but instead comparing how their specific system performs with different coolers in it,
To compare how different cooler perform we have to use the air temperature going into the coolers, not room temperature.
wink.gif
 
#17 ·
#18 ·
We are on the same boat I'm currently looking an AIO cooler to replace my CM Hyper 212X. Honestly this cooler is good but it's ugly in my upcoming case that's why I want to switch to an AIO. I don't care if there's not much difference, I just want to give my rig a better look. I'm thinking of getting NZXT Kraken X62 or H100i
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by doyll View Post

I have no idea how you are determining how loud they are compared to each to each other, but according to sound level experts a 10db increase sounds twice as loud to a normal human ear. 15 db increase is 3 times as loud to normal human ear. Sound level of TRUE Spirit 140 Power is about 40-41db in all kinds of reviews, an H110i is 55-57db. That means H100i is 15-17dB louder than TRUE Spirit 140 Power, meaning it sounds 3 times as loud.

Delta temperature of a cooler is determined by subtracting the cooler intake air temperature from the CPU temperature. If they are using room temperature then the temperature difference is not comparing coolers are performing against each other, but instead comparing how their specific system performs with different coolers in it,
To compare how different cooler perform we have to use the air temperature going into the coolers, not room temperature.
wink.gif
Again I'm not running the fans at full speed or performance mode, i'm running a custom curve. I'm not sure why anyone would run them that loud as the gains are minimal. My fans only hit 1100-1300 rpm depending on the situation, not 2000+ when they are 55-57 db. You can see in that review they are 40.1db in quiet mode, quieter than the noctua coolers. The cooler isn't any louder than my case fans, and it actually got quieter when I switched them to pull instead of push. In my specific situation it was 7-8 degrees cooler in handbrake, and it made the difference between crashing almost immediately to finishing the run. This was in the summer where my thermostat was always set at 77 degrees so while it wasn't a scientific test it was close enough for me to draw a conclusion.

And I'm not knocking Air coolers, they are cheaper and more reliable, and make more sense in the vast majority of situations.
 
#20 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by claes View Post

At 1300rpm it certainly won't hit 60dB, but a decent reviewer shows that at100% you're only looking at a ~2* gain with a 16dB increase when comparing the h110i to a decent air cooler... You can imagine how well it maintains that lead when normalized for noise.
wink.gif


http://thermalbench.com/2015/02/10/corsair-hydro-series-h110i-gt-aio-cpu-cooler/7/

I really don't understand cooler tests at such a low vcore. They need to up it to up the load on them.

16070549121l.jpg


 
#21 ·
According to the image provided @ post #20, the D15 is ~3 C worse than the (quiet) H110i.
AIO can go wrong in many way (pump, loop, etc.). OK they're reliable but not nearly as much as a conventional air cooler. The only real advantage IMO is that the hardware look better with no huge tower on the motherboard. Pretty sure the D15 is much quieter than all of those AIO also.
 
#23 ·
#24 ·
Corsair aio's get a lot of grief on this board by wc purists but the truth is they run fine, look great compared to air cooling (you can actually see your motherboard if that matters) and are very reliable.

I've owned many over the years with only a single defective unit.

An H100i on a 7700k at 4.5 will provide excellent temps with minimal noise.

I came from the days of lapping TRUE's and have no interest in going back.
 
#25 ·
I have an h100i at 1000rpm on a table 2 feet away from me and i can't ever hear it. You put any of these coolers in a case and i doubt you would ever hear the fans.

And ya on any of them you can buy better fans, i dont know if this is fact but i would think you could buy higher presure fans that push more air through it at low rpm if you really wanted lower sound, you can also go push/pull at alot lower rpm also.

The ek predator coolers are also top notch but they are very high in price and i think only worth it if you planned to later use it to add in a GPU block.

Just my 2 cents, good luck on your purchase.

Quote:
Originally Posted by RoddimusPrime View Post

You think different fans would help the noise? And what if just running 4.7 or lower? Is that something that would help much in terms of noise?
 
#26 ·
I looked into the EK aio's. Their 240 model has the same performance as an h100i for a third of the price.

Also unless they have changed it, you have to remove the cpu mounting plate on my board to install it.
 
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