Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

Enthoo Pro - Watercooling vs. Air cooling, noise factor

Tags:
  • Overclocking
  • noise
  • Water Cooling
  • aircooling
  • Cooling
Last response: in Overclocking
Share
September 27, 2014 6:27:01 AM

My current setup (i5-4690k, R9 290, Asrock Z97 Extreme4 in an Phanteks Enthoo Pro case) is running on stock cooling. Because I had some heat problems under certain conditions, I want to invest in a proper cooling system.
While I obviously want it to be, well, *cool*, noise is also a major concern for me. I want my PC to run *quiet*.

However, my research whether water or air cooling allows quieter results has produced some conflicting information. Some say that water cooling runs quieter and vastly reduces temperature, others think the effects are negligible and cost too much money.
As someone relatively new to the whole topic, I ask you, the pros.

As far as my understanding goes, the best water cooling results are achieved with the largest possible radiator, and the Enthoo Pro seems to have lots of space for one (http://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-Pro.html). On the other hand, I seem to have enough space for a pretty elaborate air cooling system, too.

So... recommendations? Please note that I mostly want to know whether I should go for water or air cooling, not specific parts - although a push in the right direction is more than welcome.
Furthermore I'm not afraid of tackling a custom built water cooling loop, as long as the price does not skyrocket.
The rig is likely to be overclocked in the future.

edit: Oh, and I put this into the "Overclocking" subsection, because that's the only one that mentions "cooling" on the main page. This is mainly about the cooling, not the overclocking, although I figure that (you) overclockers know most about it. If this belongs somewhere else, feel free to move it (if you are a mod).

More about : enthoo pro watercooling air cooling noise factor

September 27, 2014 11:32:19 AM

Custom watercooling is the way go if you are going to but it is not cheap. With watercooling at medium to high speeds you can easily cause noise louder than many air coolers. Noise from the fans and the pump. There are more than a few air coolers that will be quitter and do the job.
Here is one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
m
0
l
a c 337 K Overclocking
September 29, 2014 6:41:23 AM

Watercooling implies a more powerful, custom loop. Liquid coolers like those from Corsair, etc operate on the same principles but do not perform as well due to having a smaller, less powerful pump and using aluminum radiators, instead of brass and copper.
m
0
l
Related resources
Can't find your answer ? Ask !
September 29, 2014 5:38:35 PM

So unless you have special needs or you real just want to liquid cool and have the extra bucks then Air Cooling wil do it.
Lime the Noctua I recommended. It does the job and is definitely on the quiet side.
m
0
l
a b K Overclocking
September 29, 2014 9:28:11 PM

Personally I prefer air cooling, I don't like the idea of water in my PC when I could get high overclocks with a noctua dh 15 or phanteks high end offerings. If I were to go liquid I would go with a swiftech h220
m
0
l
September 29, 2014 11:50:39 PM

_vetinari said:
My current setup (i5-4690k, R9 290, Asrock Z97 Extreme4 in an Phanteks Enthoo Pro case) is running on stock cooling. Because I had some heat problems under certain conditions, I want to invest in a proper cooling system.
While I obviously want it to be, well, *cool*, noise is also a major concern for me. I want my PC to run *quiet*.

However, my research whether water or air cooling allows quieter results has produced some conflicting information. Some say that water cooling runs quieter and vastly reduces temperature, others think the effects are negligible and cost too much money.
As someone relatively new to the whole topic, I ask you, the pros.


As far as my understanding goes, the best water cooling results are achieved with the largest possible radiator, and the Enthoo Pro seems to have lots of space for one (http://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-Pro.html). On the other hand, I seem to have enough space for a pretty elaborate air cooling system, too.

So... recommendations? Please note that I mostly want to know whether I should go for water or air cooling, not specific parts - although a push in the right direction is more than welcome.
Furthermore I'm not afraid of tackling a custom built water cooling loop, as long as the price does not skyrocket.
The rig is likely to be overclocked in the future.

edit: Oh, and I put this into the "Overclocking" subsection, because that's the only one that mentions "cooling" on the main page. This is mainly about the cooling, not the overclocking, although I figure that (you) overclockers know most about it. If this belongs somewhere else, feel free to move it (if you are a mod).


The Noctua DH- D14 will do fine.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


m
0
l
a c 248 K Overclocking
September 30, 2014 2:17:09 AM

Phantek case, Phantek CPU Cooler Problem solved>

http://www.phanteks.com/PH-TC14PE.html

For the record Toms is going nuts today for some reason many software malfunctions! :pfff: 
m
0
l
October 3, 2014 4:32:46 AM

Alright, sorry for the late response, I can't log in anymore for some reason and couldn't reply, so I created this new account...

Thanks for all these answers! I read about that Noctua before and it looks like the way to go, however, if I wanted to gather some additional information by myself about fans, where do you recommend looking?
I mean, tomshardware has great news and everything, but there has to be a better way to get information about cooling than an archive binge of news tagged "cooling". (I also like to do informed decisions rather than taking the first advice, nothing personal.)
Case in point: The stock chassis fans are too loud, I want to find quieter ones.
m
0
l
October 5, 2014 1:33:25 AM

Hi.I bought recently a FX4300 3.8 w/ MSI 970G43 M/B.I bought a ZALMAN CNPS5X PERFORMA cooler.Very quiet and it gave temps after 10 days(says that after 200hrs paste works better) 30c on AIDA stress test oc to 4.1
Bought coolermaster seidon 120v for 39.90euros.
OMG the noise!!!!To keep cool fan worked at 2600 rpms.I made several test using different fans and cable speed reducers plus some rubber dampers for the chassis mount.NADA!!!
Conlusion:To keep it cool ,small fans have to work on high rpms hence the noise.If you do not go for major oc ,then air cooler does the work.
If you do opt for watercooling make sure you buy one over 100$.
Unfortunatelly money talks....I will buy again watercooler but this time i will go for a more pricey one
m
0
l
!