Hi, I have an NZXT Vulcan Case, running an i5-3470, a 7770 in the first slot, 2x4GB of Gskill Ripjaws X, and an Asrock H77 mobo.
The stock HSF keeps my CPU very cool (45C in TF2, 50C in prime95), but its also incredibly loud and annoying. I'm looking for a good replacement, but I'm having a hard time finding a compatible cooler. The stock cooler is 90mm wide, and I have about 5mm of clearance from the edge of that to the RAM. The ram is also 42mm tall including the slot. My case only supports up to 135mm heatsinks. NZXT says that the case supports up to 170mm without the side fan. I have the 30mm thick side fan in, and it has rubber standoffs, which are a further couple of mm. So 135mm will be a tight fit.
For case cooling, I have the 200mm side fan, 2x120mm top exhausts, a 92mm back exhaust I have turned off, and a front 120mm intake.
Overall-lots of constraints:
-Cheap
-Quiet
-135mm
-Provides 42mm clearance for ram
-Tower vs Downdraft- I don't know. Tower coolers can either be crosswise, and I can turn the 92mm exhaust back on, or they can be up down, using the top exhausts to draw air out. Downdraft coolers will be assisted by the massive side intake.
Suggestions for coolers are greatly appreciated!
The stock HSF keeps my CPU very cool (45C in TF2, 50C in prime95), but its also incredibly loud and annoying. I'm looking for a good replacement, but I'm having a hard time finding a compatible cooler. The stock cooler is 90mm wide, and I have about 5mm of clearance from the edge of that to the RAM. The ram is also 42mm tall including the slot. My case only supports up to 135mm heatsinks. NZXT says that the case supports up to 170mm without the side fan. I have the 30mm thick side fan in, and it has rubber standoffs, which are a further couple of mm. So 135mm will be a tight fit.
For case cooling, I have the 200mm side fan, 2x120mm top exhausts, a 92mm back exhaust I have turned off, and a front 120mm intake.
Overall-lots of constraints:
-Cheap
-Quiet
-135mm
-Provides 42mm clearance for ram
-Tower vs Downdraft- I don't know. Tower coolers can either be crosswise, and I can turn the 92mm exhaust back on, or they can be up down, using the top exhausts to draw air out. Downdraft coolers will be assisted by the massive side intake.
Suggestions for coolers are greatly appreciated!