4 ms·

Isn't AIO liquid cooling still a good solution for decent overclocks without emptying your wallet for a custom loop? To my knowledge, those $40 silent air cool

by sq_ 7y ago

Isn't AIO liquid cooling still a good solution for decent overclocks without emptying your wallet for a custom loop? To my knowledge, those $40 silent air coolers perform well but still can't match a big liquid radiator.

sbov 7y ago
I can't find the link but a youtuber tested various AOIs and air coolers and a Noctua air cooler did the best job cooling. Unless you like AOIs for some other reason (e.g. some people don't like all the space air coolers take), if you aren't running a custom loop you're probably wasting your money when water cooling.
- sq_ 7y ago
  Interesting. Do you have any idea as to which Noctua cooler it was? Their highest end ones run really close in price to the lower end AIOs.
  - sbov 7y ago
    NH-U12A. And yeah, it's fairly expensive for an air cooler.
    - sq_ 7y ago
      Thanks! Been a couple years since I built a new PC, and it's helpful to have that info for anything I might build soonish.
      - Klathmon 7y ago
        If you don't know about it, pcpartpicker.com is a fantastic resource for building a new system. It makes researching and comparing a bunch of brands and parts as well as waiting for the best times to buy a breeze.
        sq_ 7y ago
        Yeah, I know about PCPP, used it to research/design my last build. The reason I was asking sbov questions is that I've kinda fallen off the wagon in terms of keeping up with hardware news since I did my last build. Thanks for the recommendation, though; it really is an awesome resource.
- klingonopera 7y ago
  Add to that the extra hassle and maintenance you have to invest in water-cooling (plus the danger of leaks!), air cooling really starts to shine.
- arthurfm 7y ago
  Was it the following video by Optimum Tech? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxcDeq4SQII https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxcDeq4SQII I recently purchased an NH-U12A and can confirm it is excellent.
  - jdietrich 7y ago
    Linus Tech Tips recently published a video called "why you shouldn't water cool your PC"; they found that a Noctua NH-U12A ran cooler and quieter than an AIO liquid cooler. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23vjWtUpItk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23vjWtUpItk
Someone1234 7y ago
> To my knowledge, those $40 silent air coolers perform well but still can't match a big liquid radiator. The best air coolers can match AIOs. Specifically Noctua's air coolers can go toe to toe with most commercial AIOs, with one fewer point of failure (pump). At least according to Gamer's Nexus and similar sites. The biggest arguments for AIOs is: - Appearance/aesthetics - Space around the CPU block (air coolers in this league are HUGE) - Improved small form factor build flexibility In terms of raw performance, only custom loops really challenge high end air cooling. With air cooling you typically save some money (even a high end Noctua is often 40% or more cheaper than a branded AIO). No leak issues. Fewer points of failure.
deleted 7y ago
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by sq_ 7y ago

sbov 7y ago

I can't find the link but a youtuber tested various AOIs and air coolers and a Noctua air cooler did the best job cooling. Unless you like AOIs for some other reason (e.g. some people don't like all the space air coolers take), if you aren't running a custom loop you're probably wasting your money when water cooling.

sq_ 7y ago
Interesting. Do you have any idea as to which Noctua cooler it was? Their highest end ones run really close in price to the lower end AIOs.
- sbov 7y ago
  NH-U12A. And yeah, it's fairly expensive for an air cooler.
  - sq_ 7y ago
    Thanks! Been a couple years since I built a new PC, and it's helpful to have that info for anything I might build soonish.
    - Klathmon 7y ago
      If you don't know about it, pcpartpicker.com is a fantastic resource for building a new system. It makes researching and comparing a bunch of brands and parts as well as waiting for the best times to buy a breeze.
      - sq_ 7y ago
        Yeah, I know about PCPP, used it to research/design my last build. The reason I was asking sbov questions is that I've kinda fallen off the wagon in terms of keeping up with hardware news since I did my last build. Thanks for the recommendation, though; it really is an awesome resource.
klingonopera 7y ago
Add to that the extra hassle and maintenance you have to invest in water-cooling (plus the danger of leaks!), air cooling really starts to shine.
arthurfm 7y ago
Was it the following video by Optimum Tech? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxcDeq4SQII https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxcDeq4SQII I recently purchased an NH-U12A and can confirm it is excellent.
- jdietrich 7y ago
  Linus Tech Tips recently published a video called "why you shouldn't water cool your PC"; they found that a Noctua NH-U12A ran cooler and quieter than an AIO liquid cooler. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23vjWtUpItk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23vjWtUpItk

Someone1234 7y ago

> To my knowledge, those $40 silent air coolers perform well but still can't match a big liquid radiator. The best air coolers can match AIOs. Specifically Noctua's air coolers can go toe to toe with most commercial AIOs, with one fewer point of failure (pump). At least according to Gamer's Nexus and similar sites. The biggest arguments for AIOs is: - Appearance/aesthetics - Space around the CPU block (air coolers in this league are HUGE) - Improved small form factor build flexibility In terms of raw performance, only custom loops really challenge high end air cooling. With air cooling you typically save some money (even a high end Noctua is often 40% or more cheaper than a branded AIO). No leak issues. Fewer points of failure.

deleted 7y ago

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