Case for 8700K + NZXT Kraken x62

Jun 13, 2018
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I own both Cooler Master HAF X and HAF 932. Those used to be the go to for air cooling back in the day. They are rugged and simply look cool. Buuuuut neither is physically compatible with the NZXT Kraken x62. I am heartbroken.
 

7664stefan

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Jul 18, 2013
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I have the Cooler Master H500P Mesh with 2 x 200mm fans up front and I have to admit, for me it is great. Really good airflow, tons of space to work with, AIO mounts up to 360mm in the front and top, though top is best. The new H500M also looks very, very good again with 2 x 200mm fans up front.
 
May I ask why you want to use a Kraken X62 for your 8700K?

I think your cases each have at least 160mm available for an air cooler.
You could use a Noctua NH-D15s instead and keep your two cases.
Your cases have sufficient front air intake to feed the NH-D15s.
You will actually cool better, be quieter, be more reliable, easier to install, be cheaper and will not leak.

In addition, using only front intakes that are filtered, you will preserve the cleaning properties of a positive airflow setup keeping your parts cleaner.

You will find that you are more likely to run into vcore limits when overclocking than you will thermal limits.
You could also have your 8700K professionally delidded if heat becomes an issue.
$39 at silicon lottery:
https://siliconlottery.com/collections/all
 
Jun 13, 2018
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At this point I'm pretty dead set on the Kraken x62. I may try and see if I can somehow zip tie the AIO to the top of the case. Then I'm worried about the zip ties melting from the heat.
 
Jun 13, 2018
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I'm thinking about setting up my new system outside of a case with the AIO installed and then simply transfer it into the case once I pick one I like. Would that be practical? I.e. can a easily transfer a my mobo with the AIO hooked to it into a case easily once it arrives? I really want to build and fire up my new PC as soon as it arrives to test and make sure everything is fine but I wont have a case for it yet.
 

7664stefan

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Jul 18, 2013
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I tried out NH-D15 on my own and was hoping to see better results than with my Prolimatech Genesis. The opposite was the case. NH-D15 was 1 Kelvin warmer under full load. For current K CPUs I would suggest to go for an 240mm AIO if fitting into a well ventilated case.
 


Yes, there are trade offs.
In return for a 1c. higher temperature, you increased your noise level.
In the case of the test above, from 45 DBa to 61 DBa.

In addition, a normal front intake that is filtered will keep your case cleaner by filtering all intake air.
That is difficult to do with a liquid cooler radiator.
If you mount such a radiator in front, you will be filtered, but at the expense of providing hot air to your motherboard and graphics card.

If you mount the radiator as exhaust, it will draw in unfiltered air from all other openings.

And... what do you gain??? 1c.
Intel processors are very tolerant of heat. They will operate up to 100c before throttling or shutting down to prevent damage.
Not that I advocate running anywhere near that hot.
How hot the 8700K chip gets will be determined by how high the OC is and how well it was binned.
Most will run out of safe vcore(about 1.4v) before running into heat limits.

Or... How about looks?
I can't argue that point, pretty is as pretty does.

 

7664stefan

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Jul 18, 2013
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geofolt: you got me wrong I feel. I was comparing NH-D15 with Genesis which is another air cooler and even more quiet. Thus I gained 1C for a similar priced air cooler. ;)
You are right to say that the Kraken in comparison only brings around 1.5C difference in OC and creates more noise.