Entry-level water cooler

[birthdaymonkey]

I'm working on an ITX rig in a Bitfenix Prodigy, using a Gigabyte Z77N WIFI. The CPU socket is close to the PCI-E slot, so I can't use an air cooler unless I go with a 92mm one. The motherboard only supports modest overclocking anyway, so I'm just looking for an entry-level closed loop water cooler. What would be the one to get?

EDIT: Or maybe I should just save money and get a CM Hyper TX3?

 

[aigomorla]

The prodigy can natively take a 120x2 radiator up top.
It can also natively take a 200mm radiator up front.

Theres a lot of options u can do to watercool a prodigy.

How much were u thinking of spending?

Entry lvl is still roughly ~ 300-450 dollars for a LC system.
AIO is not what i call entry watercooling.
AIO = All in One... like a Corsair H#O

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Swiftech H220 AIO is a good choice for a simple yet affective unit. Just don't buy from Newegg right now, they are $10 higher.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

I just meant AIO. As I mentioned, the board I'm using is not a big overclocker, so I don't need anything fancy and a real WC system would be a waste.

 

[TY-1]

The prodigy can natively take a 120x2 radiator up top.
It can also natively take a 200mm radiator up front.

Theres a lot of options u can do to watercool a prodigy.

How much were u thinking of spending?

Entry lvl is still roughly ~ 300-450 dollars for a LC system.
AIO is not what i call entry watercooling.
AIO = All in One... like a Corsair H#O

I'm echoing aigomorla a bit on this, but it would help to know what your budget is for this purchase. It would also help to know what other pieces of hardware you are including in the build. This is mainly because if you are including an optical drive (DVD or Blu-ray) in the build then you will not be able to mount anything bigger than a 120mm rad up top with fans.

Here are a few examples of builds on PCPartPicker that use the Bitfenix Prodigy case and AIO Water Coolers:

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/BFL

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/Bqg

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/Bi9

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/ATE

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/AKz

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/ArW

From the look of things it seems like you want to build something similar to them.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

Ended up going with an Antec Kuhler 620 for $45. It was down to either that or the tried and true Noctua U9B-SE2 for a few dollars more. I've never tried an AIO before, so this will be my first experience with one.

 

[aigomorla]

should of went with the noctuna.. :X

U9 is a great sink...

That isnt the best AIO to start your venture off on.
Id go with Corsair H6O at least.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

should of went with the noctuna.. :X

U9 is a great sink...

That isnt the best AIO to start your venture off on.
Id go with Corsair H6O at least.

It's too late!

I've had the U9B before in a mATX build, and it was good. But I wanted to try something new. If I hate it, I can probably sell it for $30... and I've got a decent Scythe FDB fan that I'll be replacing the stock one with.

I'll report back on my experience with this thing.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

Eugh... I hate this thing. What a pain in the ass to install! And now all I can hear when my lovely little new computer is idling is a rattling pump noise.

You're right, aigomorla. Shoulda gone with the Noctua. The whole time I was installing the Kuhler I was wishing it was a SecuFirm.

 

[TY-1]

Eugh... I hate this thing. What a pain in the ass to install! And now all I can hear when my lovely little new computer is idling is a rattling pump noise.

You're right, aigomorla. Shoulda gone with the Noctua. The whole time I was installing the Kuhler I was wishing it was a SecuFirm.

That pump rattle is one of the reasons I don't use Kuhler AIO's for builds. If I'm installing an AIO for someone I generally use a Corsair AIO unless they have already purchased the AIO themselves. I think out of the 20 or so Corsair AIO's I've installed (ranging form the H110 to the H60) there have been only 2 that have had any real defects when it came to the pump.

 

[MrK6]

A pump is potentially the noisiest part in a watercooled system, and the aim should be to isolate it from contacting anything solid where it can transmit vibrations. This is difficult to do with the typical AIO design of mounting it right over the CPU, and a reason I recommend staying away from the AIO kits. I agree with aigomorla, the U9B is a fantastic heatsink.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

Yep, lesson learned. Now to try and convince the retailer to allow me to return it, or barring that see if I can sell it for a few bucks to recoup my losses. Is there any chance that the rattle is a defect, or is any replacement I get likely to do the same thing?