The H100i produces 60+ dbA, that's about as loud as a modern vacuum cleaner tho grandma's will hit 70..... with it's fan spinning at 2700 rpm it will edge out Big 3 Air Coolers by a degree or so. Th 100i and 105 don't have much to distinguish them from one another.
The H110 ties the Noctua DH-14 thermally and acoustically. Both are audible but not annoyingly so.
There is no 120/144 mm CLC that can match air coolers. The only reason that vendors put 2700 rpm fans on the 240mm/280mm CLCs is because the fact is, unless they spin that fast, that simply don't can't cool as well as the air coolers. Buy a 100i ($100) and swap out the fans ($30 - $55) for a slower set and you basically have the same cooling ability as a $25 Hyper 212.
The "Big 3" air coolers are, in order of thermal performance, The Phanteks PH-TC14-PE ($60-65), the Thermalright SIlver Arrow (Getting hard to find) and Noctua DH-14 ($75). Two new players on the block are the Cryorig R1 Ultimate forthcoming DH-15 which surpass the Big 3.
As the better air coolers all easily surpass every 120/140mm CLC, I really don't see the point. As any 240/280 CLC that can top the air coolers runs at noise levels most would find intolerable, I really don't see their point. However, since Swiftech released the H220-X, it makes all 240/280 CLCs irrelevant:
The H220-X is :
1. An assemblage of parts with an established performance history in custom water loops.
2. All copper construction, whereas the CLCs are aluminum
3. Not a CLC; it is an open loop cooler meaning you can add water blocks for GFX cards, MoBo, RAM, whatever strikes ya fancy just by adding more tuning and fittings.
4. Equipped with a pump strong enough to add the above
5. Equipped with a reservoir and coolant level monitor.
6. Able to outperform every CLC and air cooler on the market
7. Able to provide that performance at less than 1/4 the sound level of the H100i.
http://www.swiftech.com/H220-X.aspx
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Swiftech/H220-X/9.html
http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/cooling/liquid/40870-swiftech-h220-x-open-loop-240mm-cpu-cooler-review
http://www.overclock.net/products/swiftech-h220-x-cpu-liquid-cooling-kit/reviews/6819
Widespread availability on newegg and other sources is expected on 09/26. Swiftech runs out about every week or so.
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