Running out of options

[bamanec]

Tomorrow morning I will be ordering my CPU, Motherboard and my CPU Heat sink. I was originally going with the Corsair H50 but after weeks of review I decided to go with Air Cooling instead (mostly because they run cheaper then an expensive water cooling system)

Anyways my problem is this, I use a APEVIA X-Plorer ATX-Mid Tower case and my power supply is at the top and I also have 2 Corsair Vengeance (with huge heat sinks). Now I have been looking into both the ZALMAN CNPS9900MAX and COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus. According to many reviews and me actually trying to figure out the exact width of my case. I do not see either of the two fitting.

Are there any coolers that are similar in performance but smaller in dimension? I will be over clocking but I won't be going all the way to 4ghz maybe stay around 3.8 or so.

EDIT : The width of the case is 7.75 which in mm is 196mm

Thanks in advance.

 

[lowjack989]

Does that case have a 120mm fan on the back? If it does I suggest going with a H50 or H60...If you can't fit big air, then go small water....I believe it to be a better option than going with a lesser air cooler than a Hyper 212+ or one of the Noctuas...

 

[bamanec]

It does not come with a 120mm fan but that is what I am ordering together with the CPU Mobo and CPU Cooler, Many people on here dislike the H50 and H70. Do you like that cooler yourself? I will be buying a Phenom II x6 1090T

 

[lowjack989]

I use a H50/X4 965@4.1Ghz-->1.5v 53c@100% and an H60/X4 965@4.1 -->1.49v 54c@100% and I have a 212+/X4 940@3.58GHz-->1.47v 51c@100%.....Lots of people don't like it because they haven't used it...the H50/H60 is as good as the 212+ they just cost $30.00 more..I use an Antec 900 case on the 940 rig and Lian-Li cases on the two 965's. BTW..in my experience a bottom mounted PSU is the way to go it tends to keep the MOBO/CPU/RAM cooler...You would have to get another case for that so thats out the window

 

[lowjack989]

The H50/H60 comes with one 120mm fan...I use two fans on them push/pull...I use Cooler Master Excalibers...They are loud but they sure move the air...Fans are crazy expensive so choose wisely

 

[bamanec]

Yeah I kinda shoot myself in the foot with buying a top mounted PSU case, but I can't go out and buy a new one just yet. My woman will kill me, I already went way over budget.

 

[lowjack989]

Me too...I always go way above budget...you only live once...Hell, this last time around I built two identical rigs just to see how different the same hardware would react during OCing...Plus it gives me redundacy to a certain point...I told my girl that I was selling it...Its not a lie as I am going to sell it when I get done playing with it..lol

 

[lowjack989]

BTW..Welcome to Toms....I just noticed this is your first thread.

 

[bamanec]

Yes it is, and thank you very much. I have been on this site for years looking through Benchmarks and reviews of different things and so on. Finally decided to actually sign up.

So you are dead set on the H50? I have just been hearing so many bad things, that even though I heard better things in greater quantity, the bad things just seem to outweigh the good.

 

[lowjack989]

I had my doubts to they have been running quite well in the 5 months I have had them..I like the H60 a little better as it mounts easier..For your set-up and budget constraint yes I would recommend the H50/60..as they have a fairly small footprint, cool decently, and cost $60.00 less than the XSPC RASA 240..Yet the RASA does whip some serious ass.

Heres the real deal entry level LCS's:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11743/ex-wat-159/XSPC_Rasa_750_RS240_Universal_CPU_Water_Cooling_Kit_-HOT.html

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12222/ex-wat-162/XSPC_Rasa_750_RS360_Universal_CPU_Triple_Radiator_Water_Cooling_Kit-_HOT.html

 

[bamanec]

I am gonna take your advice, thank you!

 

[lowjack989]

Good Luck and Happy Building...You will be able to OC at will with confidence in your cooling.

 

[bamanec]

Best answer selected by bamanec.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The H50 isn't particularly expensive as self contained water coolers are a far cry from what might be considered expensive component water cooling systems .... SB has just about made those obsolete.

The h50 isn't a bad cooler but a bit expensive for its performance. The Antec Kuhler 620 OTOH performs substantially above the H50 beating it by 7.2C

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=694&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=4

In the $40 range the top dog would be the Scythe Mugen 2 which beats the Hyper 21 by 7C

At the $80 range, the Thermalright SIlver Arrow comes real real close to matching the Antec 920 and CM V6 GT but is dead silent

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=721&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=5

Corsair H70 (high) 65.3 +4.7
Thermalright Venomous X 63.0 +2.4
Thermalright Silver Arrow 61.8 +1.2
Cooler Master V6 GT 61.2 +0.6
Antec Kühler H2O 920 60.6 +0.0

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=674&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=4

With both of its 140mm fans connected directly to the computer's power supply and running at full speed, the Silver Arrow turns in amazing performance, edged out by less than 1 degree by the Cooler Master V6 GT. The minimal performance difference here is probably due to the V6 GT's high-speed fans, each of which is rated at 90CFM, as compared to the Silver Arrow's 69CFM fans. It's worth noting here that the V6 GT's fans are quite loud at full speed, whereas the Silver Arrow's fans are very quiet..... I think the Silver Arrow represents the ultimate air cooler than can be built and still fit within the constraints of an ATX motherboard and a standard computer case.

 

[bamanec]

Thank you for the reply JackNaylorPE, but I ended up purchasing the H60 earlier this morning. I will test and see how good it will run my system. But I will keep your post in mind. As you shown me there are more viable options out there that may just fit my system.