Air vs closed loop vs kit?

[Land]

Right now I have an aging Swiftech H20-320 Edge HD kit (with a few tweaks of my own like distilled water and different fans). I was going to re-use it for my new 6700K build (CPU only loop), but it won't fit comfortably in many of the cases I want, and it would be significantly easier to leave it in place in its current system (which I'm re-using more or less whole minus a GPU).

I've been leaning towards going back to air or a closed loop system mostly due to budgetary concerns and easier setup/maintenance. Don't want to spend much more than $150. I was considering another kit (this time in a 240 size) around my price range but both the EK and new Swiftech kits seem to have major problems considering their abysmal reviews.

I don't think I want to go full-on custom even if I could fit everything into my budget, so in that case am I best off going with a NH-D15 or Kraken X61/H115i or have the problems with the kits been mostly resolved?

 

[XavierMace]

I've been 100% happy with my X61 (with Noctua iPPC fans) and they just released the X62 with a new pump design and new fans.

 

[Land]

I've been 100% happy with my X61 (with Noctua iPPC fans) and they just released the X62 with a new pump design and new fans.

Any idea if the X62 is available in the US? Not on Amazon or Newegg yet - can't wait too terribly long. Have to see what I can find in reviews as well.

 

[XavierMace]

Looks like it's still preorder directly from NZXT, eta 11/18.

 

[Land]

Dang. That's a bit far out for me. I mean it's only a few weeks but I've already put this build off for a month or two longer than I really needed to.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Should I describe my air-cooler Skylake success? 4.7 Ghz LinX 74C maximum package temperature? All of those AiOs discussed here are good coolers, with pros and cons.

It all depends on what you're willing to pay for (versus how much you're willing to pay) and which risks and inconveniences you're willing to suffer. I just concluded that if I can beat a retail-box 6700K with water-cooling by 5 or 6C degrees with an air-cooler that is more compact than a D15 or similarly designed, then why bother with the hoses, fittings, front-panel access space, failing pumps and leaks? If there were some clever way to install side-panel-sized radiators in a midtower without cramping it, and that includes the 2x, 4x or even 9x fans, then you could run your system in a range below 45C, load or idle. But those considerations are really integral, either to choosing air versus water, or choosing which water kit or radiator, which pump or pumps, and which reservoir. And which case.

 

[WhiteNoise]

I ran custom loops for many years. Still have all the kit collecting dust. I started using all in one water kits from Corsair about three years ago. I now have two corsair kits in gaming rigs and one new kit (the best one they have atm) sitting new on the shelf for my next build. I love them. I can overclock all I want and they are compact. I love them. I'll most likely never do a custom loop again.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

That all makes sense -- there are some very good AiO coolers. the drawback would seem to be the amount of side-panel, front-panel and top-panel space they absorb. This was the overriding thought I had about water-cooling as I prepared my case originally for either an EKWB Predator or a Swiftech H240 X2. When I saw that I could actually beat the EKWB with a CLU-relid and a top-end aircooler more compact for its size than those competing in its class, I changed course and went "dry."