Largest cpu coolers for m-ITX Motherboard

SaintsEnd · Jan 30, 2016

I was wanting to use the Corsair 380T

with MSI Z170I Pro

And am looking for the largest air cooler, with the highest TDP rating I can get.

I would like to go with DARK ROCK TF but I'm not sure if it will interfere for my ram/ pci-e slot

Any suggestions, or does anyone know if the Dark rock Top flow work with my parts?

DonkeyOatie · Feb 1, 2016

Why? Even a 6700K will hit the voltage limit before it hits the thermal limit, so a huge air cooler is probably not needed. With mITX boards you need to be concerned about memory clearance and GPU clearance, and possibly VRM heatsink clearance. (Been there, done that, healed the scars)

The Noctua NH C14S will fit in that case, on that motherboard, clear most memory, and the PCI-e and will cool any overclocked Skylake.

The CPU cooler clearance in that case is only 150mm, right??

What PSU are you planning to fit?

sancho_mic · Feb 1, 2016

+1 donkeyoatie

I was going to recommend nh d15s but that one is taller and will not clear the 150mm CPU Cooler allowance of the case (d15s is 160-162 mm)

Another option is to use cryorig c1 and replace the stock fan on C1 with a noctua 140mm, 25mm deep, for a cooler CPU.
Although this is not tallest cooler, it's designed for mitx and offers very good clearance on the RAM (i believe 44mm) and GPU.

DonkeyOatie · Feb 1, 2016

The C14S has 67mm RAM clearance without the bottom fan and still cools great (and 40mm with the fan). I too was thinking of a NH15S (I use one myself) and was surprised that it did not fit in a case that large

sancho_mic · Feb 1, 2016

My thoughts on that case:
1) it's meant to be portable (hence the handle)
2) a horizontal layout of the motherboard offers good protection to the components and cpu socket/cooler e.g. less force applied to the components when transporting the case in vertical position. But is this the best position to transport? I personally would prefer for the case to be laid on the side while transporting
3) it means the width had to increase; height as well, to add PSUheight and components chamber
4) I totally agree that for mitx it is huge!
5) So considering the current height: why corsair didn't increase by 10 or 15 mm the height of the case to allow almost the tallest cpu air coolers on the market?
I guess that when/if they will start selling also air coolers, they would consider also this need...

I own a raijintek styx - with dimensions like 210×360×335 mm - W×D×H. It's smaller than the corsair 380T, but it allows CPU Cooler up to 180mm, PSU length up to 180mm (or even more), can fit a m-atx mobo, and can also host a slotin odd.
OK it does not have a handle to be portable, but still...
-s

DonkeyOatie · Feb 1, 2016

And I use a Thermaltake Core V21. Not particularly portable either.

Portability is one of the GOOD reasons for liquid cooling.

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Largest cpu coolers for m-ITX Motherboard

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