Need some help finding a decent air-cooler.

[Synomenon]

I'm looking for a good air cooler to replace my Corsair H70:
http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1038359391&postcount=786

I need a good air cooler that I can install two fans on (push/pull) w/o blocking any of my RAM slots AND still having the fans facing / blowing upwards towards the exhaust of the case (SilverStone FT03). It's going to be cooling a 3960X or 3930K.

I'm looking at the Xigmatek Prime SD1484, but it might be too big once I put 2x 120mm or 140mm fans on it.

Anyone have any recommendations?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

High end: the noctura one
Mid range : the 212 evo

 

[Doougin]

Im using the xigmatek gaia currently and its thinner than the 212 so it most likely wont block any ram. tho that fan blowin over the ram looks like its gonna be in the way of any tower cooler u put in there.

 

[tulx]

I'm looking for a good air cooler to replace my Corsair H70:
http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1038359391&postcount=786

I need a good air cooler that I can install two fans on (push/pull) w/o blocking any of my RAM slots AND still having the fans facing / blowing upwards towards the exhaust of the case (SilverStone FT03). It's going to be cooling a 3960X or 3930K.

I'm looking at the Xigmatek Prime SD1484, but it might be too big once I put 2x 120mm or 140mm fans on it.

Anyone have any recommendations?

I know the Noctua NH-D 14 fits in a Fortress 2. I don't think FT03 is any thinner, but you should check that. If a NH-D 14 fits, any air cooler will, I think. It doesn't get much bigger than that.
About blocking RAM slots, no high-end air cooler blocks RAM slots as long as the RAM is low-profile, as far as I know. Generally, low profile RAM is identical to the one with all those crazy red fins on top, only normal looking...

 

[Synomenon]

Ok, so after looking at all the good and popular heatsinks, I've come to the conclusion that I'm gonna have to dump the Rampage IV Gene and stick with my Maximus IV Gene-Z. I don't want to get rid of my 8GB Vengeance sticks (wish Corsair made low-profile versions of these 8GB sticks). The Maximum IV Gene-Z has all the RAM slots on the south side of the board so I'd still be able to use a Corsair H80 or Antec 920 up top.

Rampage IV Gene

Maximus IV Gene-Z

 

[fffblackmage]

edit: woops, nvm

 

[Synomenon]

Are the Corsair H60 or Antec Kuhler 620 good enough for a 3930K or 3960X? I could mount the radiator right up against the case wall and have the top fan on the outside (other side of the fan opening on the top). With that config., the whole assembly might clear the RAM.

Here's the same system with a Corsair H60:

 

[_Rick_]

*necro*

Not many FT03 threads around, and this one is kind of relevant to my question, so I might as well hop on board.

But first, to OP: If you still use the FT03, a bit of advice: use the small cut out (to the left) in the lower fan 'bracket' and the cut out in the rear to get the power cable through to the front. Pretty sure that's the way it's supposed to be. Might have to chip away a bit at the plug with a knife to get it through the hole, as it's a very tight not-quite-fit, but once through the case makes so much more sense, as that power cable is quite stiff and bothersome, the way it's routed when you open the box...

Aaaanyway, I'm currently considering improving cooling/noise ration a bit further. Current mods to the base case are:
swapped the lower fan for a Scythe GT 1800. Added a little bit of plastic under the graphics card, to improve prevent CPU/GPU air spaces from mixing.
Using a Gene-Z as well, and an MSI 560Ti Hawk.
Currently cooling the CPU with a Scythe Yasya, with the downside, that due to the placement of the intake fan below the cooler, I mounted the Scythe fan on the top side of the heat sink. This places it very close to the exhaust fan, and I am pretty sure that the two fans actually interfere, in a way that is no ideal (increasing rpm on the scythe actually reduces air pressure - that's at least the way it feels when I hold my hand near the exhaust). So I was thinking of either removing one of the fans, or actually switching to one of those all-in-one water solutions, and get rid of the CPU fan (using the Scythe fan to exhaust through the radiator, and dumping the SilverStone fan altogether).

Considering that it's not practical to invert airflow in this case, impossible to mount the radiator to the bottom fan bracket, how efficient are those "budget" all-in-ones? (H70 core is probably what I am looking at?) I'm only running a mild overclock (single-core turbo to 4.6, all-core turbo to 4) with a very mild increase in turbo voltages on a 2500K, and temperature-wise the Yasya does it- I'd just like it to be a bit more efficient during high cpu loads.

I don't think air-ducting between CPU and exhaust is a good idea, as PWM temps will probably suffer. Maybe I should dump the intake fan, and see if I can mount the HS fan above the RAM...

Suggestions? Especially OP's continued experience with the Z interests me

 

[Synomenon]

I had the Gene-Z in the FT03 for awhile, but ended up selling it. The FT03 is a nice case (one of the best I've ever used), but it was still bigger than what I really wanted.

Anyway, I ended up dumping the H70 for a Zalman CNPS9900Max. It worked really well in the FT03.

Hardforum has a nice, long thread dedicated to the FT03.

 

[_Rick_]

That Zalman does look pretty interesting, from a space-conservation point of view.
One downside is that it looks like the fan is not replaceable (neither are pumps for the all-in-one water coolers though).
Cooling performance appears to be reasonable, but the fan seems to prefer highish RPMs from what I'm seeing. PWM should keep that in check though.
It is cheaper than an H70 core, that's for sure, and it does place the fan into a very opportune location. Looking into it, thanks.

 

[Synomenon]

The fan is replaceable, but only with the same fan (which you'd have to order from Zalman). I ordered a replacement one from them in case the one in the heatsink ever went bad.

It's quiet as well since I have it hooked up to the PWM CPU fan header on the board and have set it to quiet mode in the BIOS.

 

[xxthe_remedyxx]

Rampage IV Gene here with Corsair Vengeance LP RAM kit. I'm using the Noctua NH-L12 HSF. It does an amazing job keeping the CPU cool and the low profile stance of the unit leaves room to spare, check it out...

 

[_Rick_]

I suspect that coolers with vertically oriented fans are probably more effective. Plus, I'm trying to reduce the number of fans, so a two-fan solution doesn't look very promising. Plus, Noctua warn that the fan should not be used on overclocked CPU's. Not sure how serious they are.

The heat pipe orientation isn't that great for the FT03 either (not recommended by SilverStone). And having to unmount the cooler every time I want to change RAM is a bit extreme.

So I don't think the L12 is for me. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[xxthe_remedyxx]

I suspect that coolers with vertically oriented fans are probably more effective. Plus, I'm trying to reduce the number of fans, so a two-fan solution doesn't look very promising. Plus, Noctua warn that the fan should not be used on overclocked CPU's. Not sure how serious they are.

The heat pipe orientation isn't that great for the FT03 either (not recommended by SilverStone). And having to unmount the cooler every time I want to change RAM is a bit extreme.

So I don't think the L12 is for me. Thanks for the suggestion though.

My pleasure. I have my 3820 OC'ed to 4.2 with no issues whatsoever. The HSF does a pretty good job of keeping the 3820 cool.