I'm dreaming of a low-profile air cooler

[Ken g6]

Just yesterday I installed an i7 (non-K) in the rig in my sig. It's working well except that it can't run PrimeGrid at full power because it overheats with a stock-but-copper-core Intel cooler. So I need a new cooler, but I'm not sure which kind to get.

I suppose that, in its current case, I could add a tower cooler and be done with the issue. But I keep thinking I might like to put my computer in a smaller, ITX case, like a Cooler Master Elite 110. That would require either water cooling or a low-profile air cooler. I don't like the idea of water cooling because too many things can go wrong - the pump can fail or it could spring a water leak, aside from the usual potential for fan failure.

So, that leaves me dreaming of a low-profile air cooler. But is there one that would be effective in cooling my system if it were in an ITX case? With the video card running full speed too? Or do I need to wake up to reality and get either water cooling for an ITX case, or give up on the ITX case entirely and get a tower cooler? And any particular coolers you'd like to recommend?

 

[Crono]

It's not a low-profile cooler, but I've been meaning to get a Cooler Master MasterLiquid Maker 92 (try saying that 5x fast) for a future ITX system, likely using a BitFenix Portal case. It's a "hybrid" liquid cooler with a 92mm swivel fan, so it will fit in mini-ITX cases with ~120mm cooler clearance, but not some of the tinier ones with minimal clearance.

For a low-profile traditional HSF that will fit in low-profile cases, Scythe seems to make some of the better ones (Big Shuriken 2, Kozuti, Kodati).

EDIT: comparisons of a few other low-profile coolers:
http://minimalisticpc.com/blog/hardware/test-5-low-profile-coolers/

https://smallformfactor.net/reviews/high-end-downdraft-how-does-the-noctua-nh-l12-compare

 

[EXCellR8]

Noctua makes some great low profile coolers; I ended up using one in the i3-3220 HTPC and keeps it very cool in that confined space. I can't see an i7 being too much more for it to handle if you aren't overclocking...

EDIT: pretty sure this is the one I picked up... well worth the price

https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-Low-P...1492452321&sr=8-1&keywords=noctua+low+profile

 

[BonzaiDuck]

If it isn't an overclocked i7-6700 -- the OP seemed specific that it was a "6700" and not a "6700K" and now I see he says so -- Anything that performs within a few degrees either way of a CM 212 +/EVO/[whatever] should be fine with that system. So try and find reviews of the low profile coolers that offer comparison with the 212. Then find the one that shows the widest improvement in performance over the 212, and consider what you want for other reasons.

Also, there are ways to duct a "flat" cooler such as those made by Noctua so that you could use the case rear-exhaust fan as a "puller" if the fan on top of the cooler is a "pusher." I had always assumed that coolers with that type of design have airflow similar to an Intel stock cooler -- downward. But you could actually eliminate the cooler's own fan deployment by ducting it to pull air up from the motherboard. Several ways to do it.

 

[Hendrickson]

Noctua makes some great low profile coolers; I ended up using one in the i3-3220 HTPC and keeps it very cool in that confined space. I can't see an i7 being too much more for it to handle if you aren't overclocking...

EDIT: pretty sure this is the one I picked up... well worth the price

https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-Low-P...1492452321&sr=8-1&keywords=noctua+low+profile

I have this same cooler running in a mini ITX build cooling a 4690k which is an 88w processor. It never sees 80c unless I'm running stress tests or something of the sort, and even then just barely over 80c, and I don't see throttling. I don't have it OC'ed at the moment though.

 

[bigboxes]

I use a Thermalright AXP-200R in my HTPC. It's a large case though, but the low profile of that HSF will easily fit in an ITX box. I have it cooling an i7 920.

 

[EXCellR8]

I have this same cooler running in a mini ITX build cooling a 4690k which is an 88w processor. It never sees 80c unless I'm running stress tests or something of the sort, and even then just barely over 80c, and I don't see throttling. I don't have it OC'ed at the moment though.

i wouldn't run it with a heavily OC'd K processor but the regular locked i5/i7 should be just fine with the TIM that they provide.

I use a Thermalright AXP-200R in my HTPC. It's a large case though, but the low profile of that HSF will easily fit in an ITX box. I have it cooling an i7 920.

That's a hot chip regardless, so that's pretty legit. I have a similar style cooler installed on a LGA775 board but with 2 less heat pipes.

 

[ClockHound]

That little squished CM case supports a cooler max height of 66mm - so eliminates the big Noctua and Cryorig pancake coolers. As well as the Thermalright AXP-200R.

That leaves the Thermalright AXP-100H or Noctua NH-L9x65 at 65mm - which means they'll fit, but be starved for air in the remaining 1mm space. ;-)

Cryorig C7 at 47mm would likely be the best compromise of size, temps and noise. The Noc NH-L9i at 37mm would be fine, but the temps will be on the edge of acceptable to me.

If it were me, I'd consider other (better to me) itx cases, from Jonsbo to Ncase. Or for low cost, the Thermaltake V1. But that's me.

 

[Ken g6]

A small case is the whole point of ITX for me.

Some of these coolers are larger than the CPU area. Would they run into my RAM? https://m.newegg.com/products/20-231-969

 

[EXCellR8]

I think Noctua has a compatibility list that includes information on memory clearance

 

[XavierMace]

Scythe Kozuti (40mm high), it's had no problem handing a Xeon E3-1230 with a GTX960 in an HTPC case.

 

[Ken g6]

Scythe Kozuti (40mm high), it's had no problem handing a Xeon E3-1230 with a GTX960 in an HTPC case.

80mm fan? Sounds small, whiny, and ineffective. I think I'd prefer the Noctua L9I.

 

[XavierMace]

Did you read the review you just linked to?

We've tested several smallish heatsinks over the past couple of years but the Kozuti proved to be, pound-for-pound, and inch-for-inch, the most efficient model yet. Its thermal performance below 20 dBA@1m is outstanding for its size, besting much larger heatsinks like the Arctic Cooling Alpine 64, and two versions of the AMD stock heatpipe cooler.

Tom's Hardware shows it beating out the L9I as well. Your choice though. Brother is running a Cryorig C7 on his 6600K with a GTX1070 in an ITX case.

 

[lehtv]

If only you could buy the Wraith Spire (Ryzen stock cooler) for Intel platforms...

 

[PianoMan]

Cryorig C7 is pretty good. Have one on my Sandy Bridge and it does 70's, but in a Node 202 case (not good mobo airflow) in a media cabinet; not bad.


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[StefanR5R]

So, that leaves me dreaming of a low-profile air cooler. But is there one that would be effective in cooling my system if it were in an ITX case? With the video card running full speed too?

Make sure that CPU and GPU coolers maintain separate air streams. (Also no aerodynamic short-circuit outside the case.)

 

[Ed1]

Noctua makes 2 flat type low profile, NH-C14S and NH-L12

https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-Premi...sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=noctua+low+profile+C14S

https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NH-L1...rd_wg=AOouO&psc=1&refRID=92WRHMP3GVVSAC1K9RJC

If not OC then the smaller one be plenty, CM 212evo would work fine too and cheaper.

 

[davidm71]

I would stay away from the Thermalright muscle Axp-100. I have two and not impressed.


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[pcslookout]

Not to hijack this thread but what would be better Cryorig C7, Thermalright AXP-200 Muscle, Cryorig C1, or Reeven Steropes RC-1206b for a i7 7700k ?

I have 75 mm to work with. Maybe 88.5 mm.