Corsair H50 Replacement - Air Cool and Self Contained Water Cool Recomendations

[jjdeltor]

OK, so basically I am in need of a replacement for my Corsair H50.

Here is the info on my current rig that I think would be pertinent.

Case: Antec 1200 (Original, not V2)
Mobo: Gigabyte Z77X-UP7
GPU: GTX670 in SLI Configuration
CPU: Intel 3770K (skt 1155)

So the deal is that I got a steal on the aforementioned UP7 motherboard and I am in the middle of the swap out. In order for me to properly have my SLI configuration work, I have to use the top most PCIEx16 slot. That being the case, the radiator for the Corsair H50 blocks this slot. I have tried numerous different ways to mount the H50 radiator, but there is no way to both mount the H50 radiator, use the top PCIEx16 slot, and properly close my case. So basically the path of least resistance I am facing right now is to replace my Corsair H50. I will note that I just tested a Corsair H55 to see if it happened to have a smaller footprint that would allow me to reach my goals, but the H55 uses the exact same radiator.

My goal is to overclock moderately (not looking for bleeding edge, but am going to be pushing into the 4GHZ range).

I am open to air cooling options and if someone happens to know of a self contained water cooling CPU cooler that uses a low profile 120mm radiator that will not block my top PCIEx16 slot than that would be cool too. I have been out of the heatsink loop (pardon the bad pun) as it were for a while as I have been running my Corsair H50 for damn near 2 years without any issue and have been happy. Just trying to whittle my options down.

I am interested in options from the medium price range on upward. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you can send my way.

- J

 

[BonzaiDuck]

OK, so basically I am in need of a replacement for my Corsair H50.

Here is the info on my current rig that I think would be pertinent.

Case: Antec 1200 (Original, not V2)
Mobo: Gigabyte Z77X-UP7
GPU: GTX670 in SLI Configuration
CPU: Intel 3770K (skt 1155)

So the deal is that I got a steal on the aforementioned UP7 motherboard and I am in the middle of the swap out. In order for me to properly have my SLI configuration work, I have to use the top most PCIEx16 slot. That being the case, the radiator for the Corsair H50 blocks this slot. I have tried numerous different ways to mount the H50 radiator, but there is no way to both mount the H50 radiator, use the top PCIEx16 slot, and properly close my case. So basically the path of least resistance I am facing right now is to replace my Corsair H50. I will note that I just tested a Corsair H55 to see if it happened to have a smaller footprint that would allow me to reach my goals, but the H55 uses the exact same radiator.

My goal is to overclock moderately (not looking for bleeding edge, but am going to be pushing into the 4GHZ range).

I am open to air cooling options and if someone happens to know of a self contained water cooling CPU cooler that uses a low profile 120mm radiator that will not block my top PCIEx16 slot than that would be cool too. I have been out of the heatsink loop (pardon the bad pun) as it were for a while as I have been running my Corsair H50 for damn near 2 years without any issue and have been happy. Just trying to whittle my options down.

I am interested in options from the medium price range on upward. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you can send my way.

- J

Here's a link I've cited here in recent weeks, followed by another for a different socket testbed:

http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2752&page=6

http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2752&page=5

I've periodically studied the comparison tests for heatpipe coolers at various times. New entrants come into this very competitive market frequently. There are probably other comparison reviews just as recent as these from Frosty Tech.

I'm personally at a crossroads over "air versus water." With custom water-cooling or the more traditional kits, you may have 15C lower load temperatures compared to many of the air-coolers, and still quite a margin over the CLC coolers such as the Corsair H100i or the Nepton. On the other hand, that margin may not yield any voltage reduction for better overclocks, and only reduces thermal stress which might already be minimal and within spec for carefully chosen OC goals.

Right now, the interim successor for the massive Noctua NH-D14 (which I have) is the NH-U14S. Note from the comparison that this model sports a load temperature statistic only some 7C higher than the Nepton 280L water-cooler. From my own experience, I know I can improve my D14 temperatures by 5C just by replacing the stock fans with an Akasa single. I don't know what fan is bundled with the U14S, but I imagine its test result could also be improved. The reviewers always use the stock fans, probably the stock TIM etc. with their testbeds.

The U14S has a fin design and shape that resembles a double-tower model to be released before mid-summer. Some intelligence suggests April. The unique thing about the "D15" replacement for the D14 is its heatsink base, made from a composite of copper and nano-diamond. The manufacturer boasts that this improves the heat conductivity of the base by 25%. We don't know how much of an improvement this will represent over either the Nepton water-cooler or the NH-U14S. But we expect it could be enough to trounce the Nepton cooler, or come very close.

I would be quite certain that the U14S would trounce your H50 cooler in a comparison test, since it bests the H60 or H80i. Lapping, diamond paste and fan replacement might widen the gap.

Your other option would be to wait for the D15's release, but you likely cannot wait.

I personally wouldn't know off the bat which closed-loop water cooler would resolve your case-obstruction issues. And I can only guess that you would have no trouble even using a double-tower like the D14 or "D15." Further, you can even change the orientation of the single-tower coolers by 90-degrees, and still achieve the same or better cooling levels with minor ducting mods using foam artboard or other materials.

Many folks just want something they can drop in the case and fah-get-about-it, which is easily understood. If I like a cooler or some other part, but think some minor effort can improve, I embrace the extra trouble or expense.

 

[Essence_of_War]

I am interested in options from the medium price range on upward. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you can send my way.

Can you nail that a down a little more? If medium means ~the price of an H55, (~$65 or so?) then my recommendation would be switch to air cooling and moreover, to concur with BonzaiDuck's recommendation of the NH-U12S, and if you want to stretch $10 or so, I'd go for the NH-U14S. Both are nearly inaudible, doubly so if you're using their low-noise-adapters.

That antec case doesn't look like it has a very convenient mount for a 240+mm radiator, and it's IMHO hard to justify a 120mm rad CLC when comparably priced air coolers perform so well in both thermals and acoustics.