CPU Cooler Help! Need opinions!

welchriley332 · Jun 17, 2018

Hey everyone, so recently I got my hands on an i3 8350k for super cheap, around $100. I noticed it doesn't come with a cooler, so I ordered a Noctua NHl9i. On Noctuas website, it says it is not compatible, but it is compatible with other stronger processors that have similar TDP ratings. I don't plan to overclock, this thing is already power hungry and it comes clocked at 4ghz, so do you think it would be safe to use it or trust Nocutas word? I am stuck!

Here is the site saying so:
https://noctua.at/en/nh_l9i_tdp_guidelines

XxDarkMarioxX · Jun 17, 2018

To be honest the makers off Nocutas desgin these things and if they say that your cpu is not compatible then you have to go by there word because they are the makers off that cooler!

welchriley332 · Jun 17, 2018

XxDarkMarioxX :

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Do you recommend any coolers for the i3 8350k? I'm stuck, and a little frustarted because I read this cooler was good for this cpu on a couple sites and to see this from Noctua's site is a bit frustrating. I'm sure it would fit with my motherboard and everything, I just don't know if it will cool it enough, hard to say.

I was thinking about going with the Cool Master Hyper D92. Know anything about that?

XxDarkMarioxX · Jun 17, 2018

welchriley332 :

I think that one might work because the webite ticks everything on that cooler

http://www.coolermaster.com/tdp-and-socket-compatibility/

welchriley332 · Jun 17, 2018

XxDarkMarioxX :

welchriley332 :

Would the 212 EVO be a better option? Or is the D92 better overall? New to all this, always been a stock cooler guy

I think that one might work because the webite ticks everything on that cooler

http://www.coolermaster.com/tdp-and-socket-compatibility/

welchriley332 · Jun 17, 2018

XxDarkMarioxX :

welchriley332 :

I think that one might work because the webite ticks everything on that cooler

http://www.coolermaster.com/tdp-and-socket-compatibility/

Would the 212 EVO be a better option? Or is the D92 better overall? New to all this, always been a stock cooler guy

XxDarkMarioxX · Jun 17, 2018

.....

XxDarkMarioxX · Jun 17, 2018

welchriley332 :

XxDarkMarioxX :

Would the 212 EVO be a better option? Or is the D92 better overall? New to all this, always been a stock cooler guy

Yes that cooler will work to because Your Motherboard is an 1151 Socket because the cpu is 1151 so look for the coolers that works on 1151 socket motherboard

212 EVO

1150
1151
1155
1156
1366
2011
2011-3
2066
AM2
AM2+
AM3
AM3+
FM1

welchriley332 · Jun 17, 2018

XxDarkMarioxX :

welchriley332 :

Yes that cooler will work to because Your Motherboard is an 1151 Socket because the cpu is 1151 so look for the coolers that works on 1151 socket motherboard

212 EVO

1150
1151
1155
1156
1366
2011
2011-3
2066
AM2
AM2+
AM3
AM3+
FM1

Oh I know it will work, I am just wondering which is one is actually better.. I've been reading everywhere this processor is a crazy power hungry lil thing, so trying to find one that will do the best work for nothing too crazy.. Thank you for your help! Making this much easier

XxDarkMarioxX · Jun 17, 2018

welchriley332 :

XxDarkMarioxX :

Oh I know it will work, I am just wondering which is one is actually better.. I've been reading everywhere this processor is a crazy power hungry lil thing, so trying to find one that will do the best work for nothing too crazy.. Thank you for your help! Making this much easier

What about an be quiet Shadow Rock Top Flow TF 2 Compact Intel/AMD Cooler because there more the fan speed is the more the better if you worried about not being strong enough!

https://www.scan.co.uk/images/products/2855525-a.jpg

ko888 · Jun 17, 2018

The noctua NH-L9i isn't suitable for the i3-8350K because that processor can draw more than 65 Watts at its stock 4 GHz clock speed.

cryoburner · Jun 17, 2018

My guess is that the Noctua NH-L9i would probably work well enough at stock clocks, provided your case has adequate ventilation. Intel may officially rate the 8350K as having a 91 watt TDP, but based on reviews, it seems to draw far less than that under load, not drawing much more than 65 watts even when stress-tested. Oftentimes, the TDPs of CPUs won't accurately reflect their power use, and I suspect Intel is simply rounding up to their next higher TDP range, perhaps assuming many people will overclock a K-series CPU.

For comparison, the i5-8500 is rated by Intel as a 65 watt part, and it will boost up to the same 4.0 GHz on four cores, or 3.9 GHz on six cores. On a four-threaded workload, it should be putting out at least as much heat as an 8350K, and on a six-threaded workload it should be putting out significantly more heat, so if Intel considers that to be a 65 watt part, then there's not much reason that the 8350K at stock clocks shouldn't be considered one as well. I suppose it doesn't have the lower base clocks to fall back on in the event that temperatures get too high, but I kind of doubt temperatures would get high enough to be a problem in most systems.

I suspect Noctua didn't actually bother performing detailed tests with the new CPUs for a cooler that they released over five years ago, so they might have just made guesses for their recommendations based on the official TDPs of the processors.

That said, unless your case is small-form-factor and can't fit a larger cooler, a tower cooler would probably be better, even an inexpensive one costing less than that Noctua. You shouldn't need a high-end cooler for this CPU. Even a USD ~$30 tower cooler should be more than enough at stock clocks. Even if you don't overclock, a tower cooler will generally be quieter, and the option for overclocking the processor will be there, assuming you have an overclocking-capable motherboard.

welchriley332 · Jun 17, 2018

cryoburner :

My guess is that the Noctua NH-L9i would probably work well enough at stock clocks, provided your case has adequate ventilation. Intel may officially rate the 8350K as having a 91 watt TDP, but based on reviews, it seems to draw far less than that under load, not drawing much more than 65 watts even when stress-tested. Oftentimes, the TDPs of CPUs won't accurately reflect their power use, and I suspect Intel is simply rounding up to their next higher TDP range, perhaps assuming many people will overclock a K-series CPU.

For comparison, the i5-8500 is rated by Intel as a 65 watt part, and it will boost up to the same 4.0 GHz on four cores, or 3.9 GHz on six cores. On a four-threaded workload, it should be putting out at least as much heat as an 8350K, and on a six-threaded workload it should be putting out significantly more heat, so if Intel considers that to be a 65 watt part, then there's not much reason that the 8350K at stock clocks shouldn't be considered one as well. I suppose it doesn't have the lower base clocks to fall back on in the event that temperatures get too high, but I kind of doubt temperatures would get high enough to be a problem in most systems.

I suspect Noctua didn't actually bother performing detailed tests with the new CPUs for a cooler that they released over five years ago, so they might have just made guesses for their recommendations based on the official TDPs of the processors.

That said, unless your case is small-form-factor and can't fit a larger cooler, a tower cooler would probably be better, even an inexpensive one costing less than that Noctua. You shouldn't need a high-end cooler for this CPU. Even a USD ~$30 tower cooler should be more than enough at stock clocks. Even if you don't overclock, a tower cooler will generally be quieter, and the option for overclocking the processor will be there, assuming you have an overclocking-capable motherboard.

And are you sure of this?

cryoburner · Jun 17, 2018

I'm not sure that particular cooler would perform "well", as it might be getting pushed relatively hard due to its smaller size. It might depend on overall case temperatures, and I don't have any first-hand experience with that particular cooler. I suspect it might potentially work fine, given the other CPUs the cooler is supposed to work with, but I can't say for absolute certain. Personally, I would probably go with a lower-cost 120mm tower cooler if there was sufficient room in the case, such as something like a 212 Evo or a Cryorig H7.

welchriley332 · Jun 17, 2018

cryoburner :

I was gonna go with the Cryorig H7 instead.. You think that will be fine for the 8350k if I'm not overclocking.. I'm all over the place with opinions from reading things around.. Some are saying this processor needs a really expensive cooler and some say it doesn't even reach 95 watts TDP when its at stock.. I don't know whats right, wrong, or anything lol.. I just want a half inexpensive cooler that will keep this thing from exploding.

cryoburner · Jun 18, 2018

The Cryorig H7 should be a pretty good cooler for the money, and it is fairly quiet. It should certainly be capable of handing an i3-8350K, and even some overclocking, as Cryorig rates it as being able to handle up to 140 watts.

The tower cooler design tends to work well for air coolers, which is why you see most aftermarket coolers follow that design these days. A low-profile cooler like the Noctua NH-L9i is more for thin, small form-factor cases where there isn't room for tall coolers. If you have a normal-width case, a tower cooler like the H7 is probably a better option.

welchriley332 · Jun 18, 2018

cryoburner :

I went ahead and bought the H7. Thank you for your help!

CPU Cooler Help! Need opinions!

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