Keep it Cool. Heatsinks for a High-End Build?

[QwertyMusicMan]

Hello Tom's Hardware-type-folks, I need some advice on three simple things:

1) Will air-cooling cut it in this build? Or, do I need water-cooling?

2) What heatsink should I use for my processor? I've come up with this. Anything better for around $50? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

3) Anything else to cool my case? Does a GPU/Mobo cooler exist?


Build:

i7 2600k, overclocked to 4.2Ghz+

NZXT Phantom; 5-7 fans (depending on which can fit) all around the case

2x GTX 580 SLI

8GB RAM, (G.Skill 1600 Ripjaws) but I may want to upgrade to 16GB later and max out my RAM slots

ASUS Sabertooth P67 1155 mobo

 

[wintermint]

If your build is pure gaming, the 2600k isn't necessary. The 2500k will be enough. A good cooler around $50 would be: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185168 Hopefully someone can come up with better alternatives. You should also have some side fans set up as exhaust to push the hot air out. I would put the rest as intake.

 

[spentshells]

To 4.2 air will be fine

 

[inzone]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103057
Cpu heatsink.

If you went with water cooling I would cool the cpu and video cards. If you do go with water cooling and do decide to water cool the video caeds I would get the Evga Hydro Copper 2 cards , they are expensive but when you consider that they come with the water block installed it works out almost the same as buying the card and the block seperate and putting it on yourself. You never have to worry about over heating issues.

I don't know of any Gpu/Mobo cooler , unless you are refering to water cooling ? To my knowledge there is no water block for the Sabertooth. There is a large selection for video cards.

 

[or-ex]

Hi, when i was looking for a cpu cooler it was very difficult because i could not find a comparison between a lot of brands that used the same configuration, until a very nice member of tomshardware gave me this link http://rwlabs.com/article.php?cat=&id=454&pagenumber=6

I recommend spending 10$ extra and getting a Antec Kuhler H2O 620 because it beats the h50 and h60, and comes pretty close to the NH-D14 and the Silverarrow which only beats it by 2c on the chart.

But if your really stuck to the budget, get a COOLER MASTER V6 GT. Evan though the v6gt only loses to the kulher h2o 650 by 1c, the v6gt in none expandable, but you can put a extra fan on the kulher h2o 650 which i supposed would give it a advantage by like 3c or more.

Just remember, if your not planning to overclock hard you could even go with a hyper 212, but i'm pretty sure your going to end up like me and just want to see how far you can push that cpu. I hit 5.2GHz with the kulher h2o 650 stock, which you could not do with a hyper 212. So the kulher h2o 650 handles higher OC's better.
But as i said, if your really stuck the budget, the v6gt is the way to go, but i would put 10$ on that and get a kulher h2o 650.

 

[spentshells]

Cooler master hyper 612 or scythe mugen 2 or 3 they should all be within the same range of cooling. The scythe mugen 3 might be a lil betterbut I have not seen a review comparing the two and they are decent amount

 

[or-ex]

Cooler master hyper 612 or scythe mugen 2 or 3 they should all be within the same range of cooling. The scythe mugen 3 might be a lil betterbut I have not seen a review comparing the two and they are decent amount

If you went through the coolers on the list you would not say that, the scythe mugen 3 gives the same performance as the scythe mugen 2 except for .2c, that's POINT .2c.

As i said the V6 GT is your best bet because the scythe mugen 3 hits 55c and the V6 GT hits 51c on the list. So the V6 GT will give you ten times better performance at higher overclocks then any other cooler i have seen for 50$

 

[QwertyMusicMan]

Hi, when i was looking for a cpu cooler it was very difficult because i could not find a comparison between a lot of brands that used the same configuration, until a very nice member of tomshardware gave me this link http://rwlabs.com/article.php?cat=&id=454&pagenumber=6

I recommend spending 10$ extra and getting a Antec Kuhler H2O 620 because it beats the h50 and h60, and comes pretty close to the NH-D14 and the Silverarrow which only beats it by 2c on the chart.

But if your really stuck to the budget, get a COOLER MASTER V6 GT. Evan though the v6gt only loses to the kulher h2o 650 by 1c, the v6gt in none expandable, but you can put a extra fan on the kulher h2o 650 which i supposed would give it a advantage by like 3c or more.

Just remember, if your not planning to overclock hard you could even go with a hyper 212, but i'm pretty sure your going to end up like me and just want to see how far you can push that cpu. I hit 5.2GHz with the kulher h2o 650 stock, which you could not do with a hyper 212. So the kulher h2o 650 handles higher OC's better.
But as i said, if your really stuck the budget, the v6gt is the way to go, but i would put 10$ on that and get a kulher h2o 650.

How, exactly, does that water-cooling work? It says no-maintenance, does that mean I never have to fill it up?

 

[QwertyMusicMan]

If you went through the coolers on the list you would not say that, the scythe mugen 3 gives the same performance as the scythe mugen 2 except for .2c, that's POINT .2c.

As i said the V6 GT is your best bet because the scythe mugen 3 hits 55c and the V6 GT hits 51c on the list. So the V6 GT will give you ten times better performance at higher overclocks then any other cooler i have seen for 50$

Wow... that looks HOT!

Only one thing: would it disable 2 RAM slots on the Sabertooth P67?

 

[or-ex]

Well, as i said the list is just a comparison between all the coolers. Because even though they said the antec kühler h2o 620 will make your cpu 50c mine is running at 46c max on prime95 right now, and it's a 2500k. So the chart basically shows you the performance increase over another cpu cooler. And their cpu was overclocked.

And yes, the V6 GT will most naturally will cover 2 dim slots, but this will only be a problem if you use dims with giant heat spreaders.

edit: And yes, the V6 GT looks REALLY nice! That is the one i was considering before i got the antec kühler h2o 620.

 

[QwertyMusicMan]

Well, as i said the list is just a comparison between all the coolers. Because even though they said the antec kühler h2o 620 will make your cpu 50c mine is running at 46c max on prime95 right now, and it's a 2500k. So the chart basically shows you the performance increase over another cpu cooler. And their cpu was overclocked.

And yes, the V6 GT will most naturally will cover 2 dim slots, but this will only be a problem if you use dims with giant heat spreaders.

edit: And yes, the V6 GT looks REALLY nice! That is the one i was considering before i got the antec kühler h2o 620.

Would I be able to install these?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231426

 

[or-ex]

Ok, so after a little research, i finally found a pic that may help. http://intoxgaming.com/forum/showthread.php?pid=331484
It's the third pic on the page going down. The V6 GT will not cover 2 slots. Maybe 1 slot the most, but in the pic it did not even look like it covered any of them.
And with my sabertooth, i use the 2nd and 4th dim slot. So if your using 2 dims, you will not have any problem. But, if you want to use 4 dims, you may have to take the heat spreaders off of the first dim, but i doubt it will even come in contact with it.

 

[QwertyMusicMan]

Ok, so after a little research, i finally found a pic that may help. http://intoxgaming.com/forum/showthread.php?pid=331484
It's the third pic on the page going down. The V6 GT will not cover 2 slots. Maybe 1 slot the most, but in the pic it did not even look like it covered any of them.
And with my sabertooth, i use the 2nd and 4th dim slot. So if your using 2 dims, you will not have any problem. But, if you want to use 4 dims, you may have to take the heat spreaders off of the first dim, but i doubt it will even come in contact with it.

Alright, thank you very much!

 

[spentshells]

Covering mem slots is bordering on retarded http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/cm_hyper612_s524/4.htm
there is alot to be said about thermal paste as well
just some additional suggestions a few in this review look good under 50 bucks

 

[QwertyMusicMan]

Best answer selected by QwertyMusicMan.

 

[or-ex]

And yes, i for got to say that with my antec kühler h2o 620 there is no maintenance, and it has a 3 year warranty.

Well, you may have to dust off the radiator every 4-6 months for optimal performance, but yes, it's maintenance free.

 

[or-ex]

Alright, thank you very much!

No problem, glad to help out.