Well, Vic's comment that he has NEVER had a leak while I thank him for his reply doesn't mean too much.  I'm thinking hard about best possible parts inc GTX Titan (or the current nV 6gb card), 512Gb SSD, maybe even an E processor of the X variety so leaks really have to be virtually exceedingly rare.   I can cope w/ tight memory and can of course find something that works great and doesn't have big heat spreaders.  Keeping the case ambient is easy for me so that doesn't bother me on an air cooler.

 

I'll post a poll here and see how many people admit to a leak w/ their closed loop water cooler--though some enthusiasts for either side may be tempted to skew the poll!

Yikes, I think if I had budget parts I'd consider it, but this I find is enough to have me look elsewhere for cooling, as in air cooling.  I also may not necessarily need the big D14 cooler as I can still use my ultra-ventilated and air conditioned system and maybe get by with something decent but not ginormous.  I use a stock retail HSF on my Q9650 and see temps in FSX when I run the A/C around 52C, with volts up from 1.25 to 1.352.  Back when I had a QX version and killed it w/ high volts I was at 4.2Ghz on a retail HSF because of my thru-the-wall A/C--temps believe me were not the issue.  It was the 1.45v over time I'm quite convinced since temps never ever went over 69C, and usually hovered around 62.

 

Any other coolers that aren't so huge, somewhere between D14 & stock?

 

 

Martin -

 

Yes I have a DH-14. Altho I did no empriical testing, it appeared to me that the Noctua was noisier than the Corsair. Considering that the Corsair had almost imperceptible noise the Noctua was VERY quiet for an air cool. The fan on my GTX480 is the noisiest.

 

My main reason for getting the corsair was that I didnt want to deal with fitting it in with memory, etc. Sheer laziness as I am completely satisfied with it in my 980X system..

The original D14, like mine, isn't PWM though, so running full speed. [but quiet when it does] The Corsair, doers vary it's fan speed, so perhaps it was ramping down, thus quiet?

 

Anyway, the tests in the review I linked to were conducted properly it seems, and quite definitive.

 

The New D14 does have PWM fans now.

 

 

I also may not necessarily need the big D14 cooler as I can still use my ultra-ventilated and air conditioned system

 

To be honest Noel, I think because you have never installed a big air cooler, you are a bit wary.

 

If you had, then I don't think you would be so nervous. Personally, when I built my new system, I had absolutely no hesitation in fitting the D14. Same applies to my next system, unless something substantially better comes along, it will be the D14 again.

 

You are just hesitant about the unknown probably.

@@Noel

 

You mentioned PSS installation in another post. Were you referring to PSU? Power Supply Unit.

 

If so, the Corsair Obsidian 650D has a bottom mounted PSU, as almost all modern cases do.

 

 

 

Any other coolers that aren't so huge, somewhere between D14 & stock?

 

There's an entire list of top coolers here, plus the temps. Check them out, check out the reviews. Check out the size. Having said that, it's about surface area, so any top notch cooler will be big.

 

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/corsair_h110_review,13.html

 

But why are you scared about big? Why not have the best?

I've had  a myriad of coolers over the years and am currently using the Cooler Master 212 Hyper EVO with 2 fans in a push pull arrangement. Very impressed considering its around $30. Keeps my Ivy Bridge @ 4.5 Ghz nice and cool.

What's RAM clearance like with the Cooler Master 212 Hyper EVO Adam. I've heard good things about that cooler.

 

 

 

The Hyper 212 EVO now features four Cooler Master patented Continuous Direct Contact™ (CDC) heat pipes that are tightly packed into a flat array on the CPU Cooler base. This acts as a virtual vapor chamber that dissipates a large amount of heat.

 

Sounds very innovative.

 

 

Would be a fantastic option for Noel, as it's so much smaller.

If you had, then I don't think you would be so nervous.

 

Thanks Martin, but I don't think it's nervousness per se.  It's thinking thru whether or not I want to live w/ needing to remove fins, the cooler itself when I need to change memory, versus leaks and pump failures, etc.  Very minor concerns but I am one to try to learn fully what I'm getting in to when I spend the $$.  I enjoy doing the research and learning what I can. 

What's RAM clearance like with the Cooler Master 212 Hyper EVO Adam. I've heard good things about that cooler.

 

 

 

 

Sounds very innovative.

 

 

Would be a fantastic option for Noel, as it's so much smaller.

Alright I'll check it out ;o)

Interesting!  And the H110 is supposed to outperform H100!  Pretty good perf though on the EVO:

 

 

Sorry about the last post!  I think in light of the fact I have control over ambient temp the little guy will be perfect!

 

Cheers and many thanks!

 

 

Would be a fantastic option for Noel, as it's so much smaller.

 

I'm not sure yet the even the lil guy will work for the ASUS Rampage IV Extreme w/ Dominator Platinum.  It looks like more all of the highest end ram will be iffy w/ any high-perf air cooler ;o(   

Depends which is more important for you. Fancy heat sinks that aren't actually required, or an awesomely efficient cooler. :biggrin:

 

I must admit though, those Dominator Platinum's do look pretty awesome.

Thanks Martin, but I don't think it's nervousness per se.  It's thinking thru whether or not I want to live w/ needing to remove fins, the cooler itself when I need to change memory, versus leaks and pump failures, etc.  Very minor concerns but I am one to try to learn fully what I'm getting in to when I spend the $$.  I enjoy doing the research and learning what I can. 

Alright I'll check it out ;o)

Interesting!  And the H110 is supposed to outperform H100!  Pretty good perf though on the EVO:

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Sorry about the last post!  I think in light of the fact I have control over ambient temp the little guy will be perfect!

 

Cheers and many thanks!

Regarding question about RAM clearance with the CM 212 EVO. I'm using RAM slots 2 and 4 with Corsair Vengeance RAM with no issues. Slot 1 might be an issue though. The performance chart regarding the 212 EVO and the Corsair H100 speaks for itself. A 4.8 degree C difference during burn test does not justify the price difference IMO.