Using older copper coolers with an i7-7700K (no OC)?

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NixieFreak

NixieFreak

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Hi guys, I am looking into building my first PC, based around a i7-7700K, the Asus STRIX Z270E motherboard, and a Gigabyte GTX 1080 G1. The case is an In Win 303 Mid Tower, with orange LEDs (I'll replace the standard blue ones for orange ones),

As for the CPU cooler: I do not want to OC the processor, so I am wondering if I could also use one of these coolers (they are oddballs somewhat, sure, but the copper just looks awesome):

CNPS9500A LED: http://www.zalman.com/contents/products/view.html?no=461
CNPS9900A LED: http://www.zalman.com/contents/products/view.html?no=403
Thermaltake V1 Max: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106102

Assuming I can find an adapter set for LGA1151, what do you think?

Cheers
Jens
 
Solution
synphul
Either of the zalman copper coolers should work, the zalman site lists they're compatible with 1150, 1155 etc. The mounting holes for 1151 (skylake/kabylake) are the same as 1150 and 1155.

Unfortunately a lot of the copper air coolers are more for older gen cpu's. They had some interesting designs almost steampunk or something with radial fins, heatpipes that went this way and that but many of them were more looks than performance. A lot of the air coolers being released now are similar in design, using a plain tower with one or more fans. Mostly because it works and it's efficient. Also the reason copper isn't used as much these days, it's quite heavy vs aluminum. Copper does technically transfer heat better but the materials cost is...
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HEXiT

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zalman coolers are decent mate. the 9500a is good for the money and kept my amd athlon x2 6000 cool and quiet for a good 5+ years. (it toped out at about 55'c)
although it was a bit of a dust magnet and would slice your fingers if you weren't careful with the install.

the 9900 wasnt great noise wise but had ok cooling on a oc'd q6600 (never went over 65'c while oc'd to 3.3ghz)
and the thermaltake cooler is a bad joke at best. (stay clear it really was poor)

as for getting the mountings. yeah they should be available as they all use zalmans interchangeable bracketing system. which is the same as on the cnps10flex im currently using.
 
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synphul

synphul

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Mar 11, 2011
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Either of the zalman copper coolers should work, the zalman site lists they're compatible with 1150, 1155 etc. The mounting holes for 1151 (skylake/kabylake) are the same as 1150 and 1155.

Unfortunately a lot of the copper air coolers are more for older gen cpu's. They had some interesting designs almost steampunk or something with radial fins, heatpipes that went this way and that but many of them were more looks than performance. A lot of the air coolers being released now are similar in design, using a plain tower with one or more fans. Mostly because it works and it's efficient. Also the reason copper isn't used as much these days, it's quite heavy vs aluminum. Copper does technically transfer heat better but the materials cost is high and the additional weight especially on already large coolers makes excessive copper something to avoid.

Agreed about the being careful with the install, all those exposed fins are razor sharp. I used to use the cnps 7000 alcu 'flower' style on my old p4's. Grasping the cooler by the fins to position it took being gentle and a bit of caution to avoid bandaids.

One potential downside, I'm not sure the fans can be replaced on those zalman coolers. Modern tower fans are just a plain standalone tower with a regular fan clipped to one or both sides. If the fan failed you can unclip it and replace with a fan of similar size/speed like a standard case fan. The zalman fans appear integrated so if they fail you'll probably have to replace the entire cooler. Either that or get creative as some people have by cutting the frame away from a standard case fan, drilling holes in what's left of the support struts to match the zalman cooler fan bracket mounting screws. Definitely a diy approach.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article284-page1.html
 
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Solution
NixieFreak

NixieFreak

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Apr 26, 2017
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@ HEXiT: Is there a reason the Thermaltake V1 Max is considered a bad joke? I thought Thermaltake was a respectable company, but I guess you never know?

@synphul: Thanks for pointing out the compatibility of the mounting holes. I am still new at this, so this was very helpful.

I think I will go ahead with one of the Zalmans then and just keep a close eye on the core temps. Thanks a lot!

//edit: Regarding the Thermaltake, the issue seems to be that the heatpipes are not always properly connected with the base, see one of the first reviews here: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106102

The resolution seems to be to open the base, add some thermal paste to fill the gaps, and then it works fine (the review I took this from is from 2015).

Cheers
Jens
 
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HEXiT

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thats the thing you shouldnt have to do stuff like that to get a cooler to work.
basically the review said poor build quality... but thats not the only thing. the cooler itself was ineffective often barely better than the stock solution intel was offering at the time...
 
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NixieFreak

NixieFreak

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Apr 26, 2017
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Yeah I know -- but the comment is from 2015, which is not too recent. Since I am definitely not going to OC the i7-7700K I was thinking I might just get away with it, provided I apply the "fix" mentioned in the review I referred to above (which I think most people giving bad reviews haven't done).

Of course, if it does not work, I can still try the Zalman 9900, and put a lightbulb into the Thermaltake turning it into some steampunk bedside lamp or something.
 
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