Recommended first CPU water cooler.

trawetSluaP

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Hi guys,

I'm looking to purchase a water/liquid cooler for my CPU - an i7-4770K. My motherboard is an MSI MPower Max Z87.

I'm looking for some advice and recommendations for a 1150 socket cooler. I'm new to water cooling as I'm currently using a Phanteks PH-TC14PE air cooler and wondered if switching to water/liquid will provide a noticeable reduction in temperatures.

I must point out that as I am new to this sort of cooling I am looking for a ready made cooler like the Corsair H series. My case is the Corsair 730T - http://www.corsair.com/en-gb/graphite-series-730t-full-tower-case

Any help is appreciated.

Paul
 
Solution
The Corsair H100i is an excellent closed loop system that will be compatible with your setup. The NZXT Kraken x60 is slightly better, but sold out virtually everywhere. I've read that the Kraken is a little quieter as well.

Personally, I have the H100i, and I love it. The software that comes with it is great, where you can monitor everything and modify your cooler's fan speeds. The NZXT one has software, too, but I've read that it isn't as user friendly... yet. Upgrades are always possible.

Unless you're doing some crazy over clocking, either of these 2 will be perfect for you.

FYI, the H100i is 240mm (120mm x2), and the Kraken x60 is 280mm (140mm x2)

Calvin3200

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The Corsair H100i is an excellent closed loop system that will be compatible with your setup. The NZXT Kraken x60 is slightly better, but sold out virtually everywhere. I've read that the Kraken is a little quieter as well.

Personally, I have the H100i, and I love it. The software that comes with it is great, where you can monitor everything and modify your cooler's fan speeds. The NZXT one has software, too, but I've read that it isn't as user friendly... yet. Upgrades are always possible.

Unless you're doing some crazy over clocking, either of these 2 will be perfect for you.

FYI, the H100i is 240mm (120mm x2), and the Kraken x60 is 280mm (140mm x2)
 
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trawetSluaP

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Will getting a larger radiator provide large benefits over say, a H80i?
 

trawetSluaP

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I already have a very good air cooler.

I want to change to liquid cooled to save space around my motherboard and (hopefully) have a quieter PC.
 

FunkyFeatures

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Noctua air coolers beats almost everything when it is about quiet operation.
Maybe slapping some noctua fans on a h105 will be a great setup.
 

trawetSluaP

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I like your thinking! I have been looking at the H105. I also have just realised I have 2 x 120mm be quiet! Silent Wings 2 PWM fans I can replace the stock ones with. This seems to be the way to go for me.

With regards to mounting, what is the best way to attach the radiator and fans? I was thinking of mounting the radiator directly to my case and having the fans underneath sucking air into the radiator and out of the case. Is that ok, or a bad idea?
 

FunkyFeatures

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Isnt intake bad? Pulls air through rad, making it hot, and then into the case. Right?
 

ElMoIsEviL

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I would get the Swiftech H220 available HERE.

It gives you the ability to replace the coolant as well as add to the waterloop. You can add more radiators, blocks, pumps etc. So its a simple closed loop system to start with but then can be the beginning of a full custom water loop as you upgrade and become more adept and knowledgeable. Just a suggestion.
 

Deuce65

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Used as an intake, the "hot" air coming out of the rad is maybe 3 degrees warmer than it was before it went through the rad. The difference is negligible. As someone else alluded to, this is the problem with this advice section, people give advice not based on what they know or have done but based on something they think they may have heard from a someone somewhere, and pass it off as fact.

 

FunkyFeatures

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I know we are on the intake/exhaust right now, but i think it will end soon hopefully :)
http://forum.corsair.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100675
Not really much difference. I guess it is most personal preference.



You asked if it was ok or a bad idea to do exhaust. There is no real answer to it(although i still am on the exhaust team), and you would probably be fine with either intake or exhaust.
 

trawetSluaP

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Right guys! I have reached a decision. I am going for a Corsair H110 and am gonna get 4 Akasa Viper 140mm fans for it to use in a push-pull configuration. I've read these fans are brilliant and will go nicely with the Black/Yellow system colour I am implicating. I will definitely be mounting the cooler in an exhaust position as this seems more logical to me.

Thanks for everyone's help!!!
 

Deuce65

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There is a real answer, and your answer is wrong. This is not an opinion based thing, the air is either hot or it's not.
 

Calvin3200

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Funky, please do not take this the wrong way, but you are very inaccurate in your statements. In this particular case, your opinion is leading someone to make a purchase and configuration based upon what you think, and not what is accurate.

TrawetSluaP, you want your radiatior fans set as intake to pull cool air into your case and thusly cool your radiatior. If you are going to use different fans than what come with the cooler, make sure they are very high in static pressure, so that they are capable of pushing or pulling the air through obstructions (such as a radiator in this case). If you go with high airflow, but low pressure, the fans will not be productive and you will have much higher CPU temperatures.

These are facts.