Upgrade H60 to? 5820k in a Antec 302 case

[bfromcolo]

I recently upgraded to a 5820k, I am using my existing case an Antec 302, and I have an H60 with two fans in a push pull exhaust configuration. I am investigating upgrading my cooling, the H60 is OK at stock (temps ~60C loaded), but it is not going to support much in the way of overclocks. The Antec 302 supports one 120mm radiator on the rear but I don't see any options for anything larger without tearing out the drive cage or mounting something outside the case on top. The 140mm fan on top is already crowded by the motherboard so I can't see mounting anything there. Just curious what my options are with this case besides buying a thicker 120mm radiator or getting a giant air cooler. Will a thicker 120mm radiator like a H80 or something else make a significant difference?

Thanks

 

[PhIlLy ChEeSe]

No,
You'll need custom cooling, the pre built unit really are not made to push a 4/8 core CPU. There more for the2/4 core. I'd suggest getting a 320 Rad running the tubes out the back side of the case and attach it with an old fan shroud to the rear of the case. Some new tubing and a nice hefty pump.

 

[pj-]

Custom seems like it would be overkill for any sane OC

From TH forums:
"BTW i have 5820K with NH-D14 and get some very decent temps. Ambient 20°-22°. Idle around 28-30°. OCCT gives following MAX CORE temps:

stock: mid to high 50's.
4,0G (100x40 @ 1.050v): mid to high 60's
4,5G (100x45 @ 1.220v): 75°"

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Custom seems like it would be overkill for any sane OC

From TH forums:
"BTW i have 5820K with NH-D14 and get some very decent temps. Ambient 20°-22°. Idle around 28-30°. OCCT gives following MAX CORE temps:

stock: mid to high 50's.
4,0G (100x40 @ 1.050v): mid to high 60's
4,5G (100x45 @ 1.220v): 75°"

I'd looked at comparison reviews for the i7 5960X, 5930K and 5820K. They all have the same TDP, or about 140W. I also took note of the cooling solutions used in the tests.

I'd think that a D14, D15 and a handful of other heatpipe towers are "adequate" for that processor, but you would get only so far as you raise the clockspeed and voltage. Similarly, the AiO coolers would offer marginally better cooling, but a lot of folks are using that solution for the Haswell-E's, too.

You quote these temperatures and clockspeeds, but it isn't clear how the processor is being stressed to take those readings, whether the clocks are TRULY stable or just "benchmarking" clock settings.

There ARE some one or two air-coolers the outperform the Noctua's, and it appears that Noctua performance has established a myth and a prevailing assumption.

I'm personally looking at a custom-water solution, but it has to fit in one of the cases I already own -- ideally. Figure any sort of overclock will increase the thermal power under severe load beyond the 140W default. If the thermal wattage scales similarly to what I see with my 137W Sandy Bridge overclock, there could be in excess of 200W of heat to dissipate.

Put it another way. You can most certainly build a decent Haswell-E rig with any of those coolers. You can get some overclocks in the mix. You could tell yourself "that's enough" -- in which case, it probably is.

 

[bfromcolo]

I already had the H60, but it sounds pretty comparable to the D14/D15/212 EVO level air coolers, so I can't see spending money for a side grade. An AIO using a thicker 120mm rad appears to be the only option if I don't do something custom and modify the case. I get high 50s loading all 12 threads using BOINC or F@H with an ambient temperature around 21C, I have not tried any of the traditional OC validation tools yet. I haven't tried any overclocking yet since I just got the system set up over the weekend, but it seems likely I will need better cooling if I want to go much higher.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I tried to find the Antec 302, and it has "limited prospects." With that in mind, if you can make enough mods to it so you have at least three or four 140mm (120's would do) fans for intake, you could install an H80 (H80i ?) in the rear exhaust with a decently beefy case exhaust fan and matched or slightly weaker fan on the H80 intake. You could add a 38mm-wide cannibalized fan-shroud/frame to duct the rear fan and the radiator, mounting them both to the case rear-panel. The trick to it involves keeping at least one fan at a little distance from the radiator fins, increasing airflow by removing the dead-spot of the fan-hub. Doing it for both fans would be even better.

That was WGusler's prescription for a 4790K system in a C70 case. You can find his thread for the keyword search, especially "C70." OC'd load temperatures for that processor were just over 70C, I think.

Howsoever adequate that would be for the 5820K, I have no certainty. But it would be better than the Noctua's in their stock installations. And I just have to say it: my EVGA ACX (once named "SuperClock") would match the H80 in that configuration (if the numbers are correct), or so I've some confidence it would. But the ACX will trump the D14 by 6C and the D15 by maybe 3C, even if all cooler comparisons are done with the same ducting mods, which will improve cooling by 5C +/- across the board.

One could also secure the fan on the case exterior, but then you'd likely only have a pusher fan on the inside with a similar ducted gap.