Air or AIO liquid for stock i7-4790k?

[BonzaiDuck]

I don't think open-chassis testing is useful either.

If it's a matter of a heatpipe-cooler with ported exhaust, the overall airflow in the case is an important factor. Further, this had been proven by another member -- but not just for heatpipes. He had built his system mindful of air-intake for an h80i with ported exhaust. Removal of the side-panel resulted in an increased load temperature 2C higher than with the case closed.

A need to choose the case to fit the cooler adds to the burden of choosing it for case intake. I think there is more of this complication than with heatpipes, but it is only a factor -- not so much a limitation.

Even so, the AiOs are neck-and-neck with only the best heatpipe coolers -- whoops! -- correction! --- neck-and-neck with some DIY refinements and user-TLC.

 

[Nec_V20]

I have no interest in overclocking anymore. I want something quiet, but that will keep the CPU cool enough for the maximum turbo frequency to be maintained.

Are the AIO coolers pretty much leak proof these days? That is my main concern regarding them. I think that they would be quieter.

Would a 280mm x 140mm be overkill? It would line up nicely with the case (Corsair 350D) that I like.

My reason for implementing an AIO cooler for my 1366 system a few years ago was that I could put the weight of the business end of the cooler (the radiator) where it deserved to be, namely attached to the chassis, instead of having a great lump of weight hanging off the motherboard at right angles.

To this day I have not regretted that decision.

My newest system has an H100i which performs admirably. I still have the 4770K which runs a bit hotter than the 4790. Even with all cores running on turbo (3.9 GHz) the temperatures stay acceptable (running OCCT for 12 hours).

 

[BonzaiDuck]

My reason for implementing an AIO cooler for my 1366 system a few years ago was that I could put the weight of the business end of the cooler (the radiator) where it deserved to be, namely attached to the chassis, instead of having a great lump of weight hanging off the motherboard at right angles.

To this day I have not regretted that decision.

My newest system has an H100i which performs admirably. I still have the 4770K which runs a bit hotter than the 4790. Even with all cores running on turbo (3.9 GHz) the temperatures stay acceptable (running OCCT for 12 hours).

No question that yours is a good decision for you. But I think there's a semi-myth about the weight of these heatpipe coolers. Much of the weight is in the base, so there's no torque on the motherboard from that end. The weight arises by adding fans of ~ 7oz each. Of course, there are ways to have the fans without hanging them on the cooler.

 

[Ramses]

There is a ton of mechanical flex in those big coolers, plus they are really pretty light.
I often put more stress on a motherboard trying to insert RAM by far than those things ever do unless you're dropping the thing from several feet up maybe. I'd like to play with an AIO again, but none of them work better-enough than my D15 to even remotely justify swapping them out. If it ain't broke as the saying goes..