Please recommend a cooler for my Threadripper system

[anandtechreader]

Hello, I am considering to build a high-end Threadripper system. I plan to use ASUS ROS Zenith Extreme, Be Quiet Dark Base Pro 900 and possibly several high-end Nvidia GPU 1080Ti or higher up. RAM could be G.Skill Trident Z RBG DDR4-3200 but not finalized due to possible compatibility issue (not listed in QVL). I guess if I use DDR4-3200, it will be called Over clocking? Being silent is very important as I am very sensitive to noise. Which cooler do you recommend? I have seen people using: the Enermax Liqtech TR 360mm AIO, Noctua NH-U14S TR4-SP3, etc. I know that the NH-U14S blocks the 1st GPU slot of the Zenith Extreme. As for the NH-U12S, some reviewers suggested staying away from it as it cannot cool the Threadripper effectively so I am consideriing the Enermax Liqtech TR 360mm. I am a bit concerned about possible leakage and damage all these expensive components.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Not sure what reviews you were reading that had issues with the NH-U12S-TR4-SP3. I saw reviews that had it working fine on an 4.0GHz overclocked 1950X and keeping the temps around 85C, which is before thermal throttling (90C I believe), and did it while keeping the DBA to 38. Non-overclocked DBA was 34 at load (Prime95), and 57C.

To top it off, nothing prevents you from putting a second fan on the U12S in push/pull, for just another 3 DBA rise in noise if you think 57C is too hot...

 

[Jimie]

Maybe you need to do a custom water cooling loop. No brand seems to have one that is recommended for TR4.

 

[Christopher Bohling]

Maybe you need to do a custom water cooling loop. No brand seems to have one that is recommended for TR4.

The Enermax cooler the OP listed is actually really quite close to a custom cooling loop in performance:

https://www.tomshardware.com/review...oc-threadripper-tr4-liquid-cooler,5545-2.html

@anandtechreader this is already a very expensive build, it makes no sense to me to cheap out on the cooler. Just buy the Liqtech 360, get great temperatures, and don't worry about RAM/GPU clearance.

 

[StefanR5R]

possibly several high-end Nvidia GPU 1080Ti or higher up. [...] Being silent is very important as I am very sensitive to noise.

It won't be the CPU cooler making the noise, it will be the GPU coolers.

You can build a quiet* system

• with one 250 W GPU with an aftermarket 4-slot air cooler on it,
• with two 250 W GPUs with a custom water loop and ample radiator surface.

A triple GPU system can be built with quiet fans too, given enough radiator surface, but it will have an audible pump.

NH-U12S can cool a Threadripper, but it may be a little bit louder than NH-U14S. That's at least according to numbers in reviews. Though in my experience, 120 mm fans can run at considerably higher RPM than 140 mm fans before getting as loud as the latter. (OTOH, NH-U14's radiator surface is somewhat larger, hence needs less air volume flow for the same heat dissipation.)
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*) Granted, everybody has their own standards.