Worth upgrading to a H100i from air?

Aug 30, 2012
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I've never ever used water cooling but I've been fiddling a lot lately with fans/temps/voltages and delidded.

Although my temps are actually quite good I wonder if they would be better with something like a H100i.

I'm using a Thermalright True Spirit 140 with MX-4 which is a damn good cooler but is it worth the jump to water?
 
Aug 30, 2012
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You might be right but I thought there might of been someone here who went through the same thing who could advise.
 

Bubbleawsome

Diamond Member
Apr 14, 2013
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It's now always needing to, but wanting to...
I'm sigging that now actually, I'm not the first to say it.
 

Face2Face

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Jun 6, 2001
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I've never ever used water cooling but I've been fiddling a lot lately with fans/temps/voltages and delidded.

Although my temps are actually quite good I wonder if they would be better with something like a H100i.

I'm using a Thermalright True Spirit 140 with MX-4 which is a damn good cooler but is it worth the jump to water?

Yes, I would. The TS 140 is barley better than the TS 120

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011...e_spirit_cpu_air_cooler_review/4#.UbHjEvnVDEo

Then compare the TS 120 to the H100i below.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Corsair-H100i-CPU-Cooler-Review/1719/6
 
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Topweasel

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Oct 19, 2000
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I don't know. I usually try to talk people out of the H100i if they aren't willing to do a full 4 fan push/pull. That's where the real advantage is over the lets say the H80i and having more placement options like blowing out the back instead of the top.

That said looking at the numbers in the link above. I don't know if the answer for you is a water cooler but those numbers looked worrisome. I would spend $50-$100 if I knew I could safely lower my core temp by 20 at load.
 

Face2Face

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Jun 6, 2001
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I don't know. I usually try to talk people out of the H100i if they aren't willing to do a full 4 fan push/pull. That's where the real advantage is over the lets say the H80i and having more placement options like blowing out the back instead of the top.

That said looking at the numbers in the link above. I don't know if the answer for you is a water cooler but those numbers looked worrisome. I would spend $50-$100 if I knew I could safely lower my core temp by 20 at load.

P/P on a H100i doesn't lower you temps that much. May be more noise than it's worth?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWvhNEKd9r0
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
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I don't know. I usually try to talk people out of the H100i if they aren't willing to do a full 4 fan push/pull. That's where the real advantage is over the lets say the H80i and having more placement options like blowing out the back instead of the top.


While I agree a push/pull arrangement would be ideal for any rad setup, I always wonder why people insist upon setting up these water cooling rigs with the fans being used as exhaust instead of intakes.

That's one of the advantages of water cooling, you can give the rad fresh, cool air (at least compared to air inside the case that's heated by the other components inside the case---gpu, vrm's on the mb, hd's, etc.). I just am curious why anyone would want to hinder the performance of water cooling by treating the setup as exhaust.
 

Z15CAM

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Nov 20, 2010
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If your thinking of an AIO Unit, I recommend the Corsair H110 or NZXT 60 with the 280x30x140 rads - That is providing your case can accommodate the Wider Rad.

I mounted an H110 in an ARC Midi R2 on the TOP with minor modification and can do push pull with plenty of clearance with the main board.

I run an i7 2700K 24/7 at 4.6G's - Idles at .996v/29C and tops out under extreme load running Prime95 at 1.376v/67C. Running the CPU at 1.5v/5 or 5+Ghz under extreme load temp top out around 73C.
 
Aug 30, 2012
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Thanks for the links.

According to one of those reviews the H100 is 20Db louder than mine!! my load temps with prime95 LargeFFT is between 59 and 61 which seems better than the h100 as well.

Looks like there is no point in me buying one really, it would just make my rig louder and hotter :eek:
 

Face2Face

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Jun 6, 2001
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Thanks for the links.

According to one of those reviews the H100 is 20Db louder than mine!! my load temps with prime95 LargeFFT is between 59 and 61 which seems better than the h100 as well.

Looks like there is no point in me buying one really, it would just make my rig louder and hotter :eek:

You are looking at the DB from the maximum fan speeds. At the quiet setting, which most people run - it's nearly the same DB. They are also testing the same CPU (2500K @ 4.0 with 1.3v) with different coolers. But looking at your temps now with your delid you are fine. No need unless you want to push the volts and clock speed.
 

lehtv

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Dec 8, 2010
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If the temps are fine, the noise levels are fine, and you have no intention to push the OC - then there's zero point in upgrading. None at all except the excitement of a new piece of kit. Lower temperatures have no practical value at all if the temperatures are fine to begin with. Better spend your money on something that gives you the same feeling of having a new toy to play with and has practical value.
 

Z15CAM

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I can of wish they made an AIO with a 280x60x140 rad or at least a 240x60x120.

But if a 280x30x140 rad does it, them rads probably are not required and they are quiet with the additional Rad Area and Big Slow PRM 140 Fans - Products by Corsair H110 and NZXT 60 cools the CPU much better then a loud H100i that is providing you can mount the Rad or are willing to Modify the case.

As I mentioned the Corsair H110 sufficiently cools my i7 2700K at over 5 Ghz's very quietly, voltage at them speeds when Ramped is another matter for 24/7.
 
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Topweasel

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Oct 19, 2000
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While I agree a push/pull arrangement would be ideal for any rad setup, I always wonder why people insist upon setting up these water cooling rigs with the fans being used as exhaust instead of intakes.

That's one of the advantages of water cooling, you can give the rad fresh, cool air (at least compared to air inside the case that's heated by the other components inside the case---gpu, vrm's on the mb, hd's, etc.). I just am curious why anyone would want to hinder the performance of water cooling by treating the setup as exhaust.

Well if we are theory crafting the first major reason would be to not increase ambient temperature in the case. Also getting slightly warmer air that ran over an HDD is better then recycling air that came out of the PSU and Video card depending on cooler and orientation. Another reason would be filters. 4 fans pulling air into the case is going to cause a major dust issue if you don't have proper filters.

I have mine exhaust out because ambient inside my case is only 2-3 degrees greater than outside the case. It would end up causing my video card to increase in temp a lot more than pulling cooler air from outside would help my CPU. Add onto that, for the most part in a gaming system, keeping GPU temps down is more important than CPU.
 

Face2Face

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24601

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Jun 10, 2007
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Where are the corsair products?? Nice link for air though.

Swiftech H2O-320 and H2O-220 is current king in almost every metric.

Including the other ones is pointless, but I'll try to find it on the site as I know he's done the tests on them.

Edit: Here you go
Temps:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/nzxt-kraken-x60_4.html#sect0
Noise:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/nzxt-kraken-x60_5.html#sect0

Edit2: Here are some more
Temps:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/co...air-thermaltake-zalman-roundup-2_7.html#sect0
Noise:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/co...air-thermaltake-zalman-roundup-2_8.html#sect0

Xbitlab's charts are already gigantic, so there's no room for losers :p.
 
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Face2Face

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2001
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Swiftech H2O-320 and H2O-220 is current king in almost every metric.

Including the other ones is pointless, but I'll try to find it on the site as I know he's done the tests on them.

Edit: Here you go
Temps:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/nzxt-kraken-x60_4.html#sect0
Noise:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/nzxt-kraken-x60_5.html#sect0

Edit2: Here are some more
Temps:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/co...air-thermaltake-zalman-roundup-2_7.html#sect0
Noise:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/co...air-thermaltake-zalman-roundup-2_8.html#sect0

Xbitlab's charts are already gigantic, so there's no room for losers :p.

Thanks for the links.

EDIT: Nevermind - Going with the H220 - Thanks Communism
 
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24601

Golden Member
Jun 10, 2007
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Thanks for the links. I don't mean to hi-jack the OP's thread or maybe I do :sneaky: but QQ

If you had the choice what would you go with between these three

Corsair H110 with NH-14's installed
Corsair H100i with SP120's installed (I currenty own them)
Swiftech H220 (Finally back in stock)

I am leaning towards the H220 from everything I read.

H220. The Swiftech stuff seems like the only unique AIO coolers on the market, and they happen to be the best at the same time.

Personally I'm a cheapo on the CPU cooling though, so I just go with my Tried and True Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme I mean Thermalright True Spirit 140 :awe:

If I want to overclock higher, I'd de-lid first before anything else.
 
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Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
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EDIT: Nevermind - Going with the H220 - Thanks Communism

Just to make sure there's no confusion, keep in mind that the H220 and the H2O-220 that Communism mentioned are two completely different products from Swiftech! :)