Danger Den kit VS High end air

[onewildbill]

I am fixing to buy a E8400 processer and I was wondering how much improvement in OCing water cooling has over Air. I know water is better but I am a bit wary of paying another $100 or $150 more if I am just gaining a few Hz.

Thanks in advance

 

[Thanatos421]

On the new 45nm cores, you probably won't notice a huge difference water cooling.

You might water cool your NB to help with high FSB speeds if you go over 450ish, but the CPU will be humming along happily with a nice air cooler. In other words, if you try to clock it to 4.5GHz (9x500) then you will want to get some active cooling on the NB and VRM, but honestly the CPU will probably still be within spec. These things run exceptionally cool. Remember that the 45nm chips use considerably less voltage to reach the same speeds, so there went your biggest reason to move heat. A nice TRUE-120 should do the trick. I really think with the Wolfies, you'll reach the FSB wall long before you hit the CPU thermal limits.

 

[onewildbill]

If i went the E8500, I only build every 2 or 3 years. Are they any way I could push 5GHz or more? I would not mind paying $150 - $200 for cooling if i can use it on my next build.
Thanks

 

[Evilonigiri]

If i went the E8500, I only build every 2 or 3 years. Are they any way I could push 5GHz or more? I would not mind paying $150 - $200 for cooling if i can use it on my next build.
Thanks

That will be quite difficult.

Perhaps 4.5GHz would be the highest you can go.

 

[Thanatos421]

Aye, 4.5GHz will be only with boards that have active NB cooling. You'd be pushing 500 FSB which only the top tier P35/X38/X48/(780i?) motherboards would handle WITH some nice NB, VRM cooling. Preferably water, just to keep the NB happy.

I think 5GHz would be impossible with current chipsets. I haven't seen many boards push over 500 FSB setting. You'd need ~555 FSB to hit 5GHz. No way unless you freeze the NB with L2N or something....then I'm still not sure it's possible. I could be wrong tho.... I'm sure someone will do it!