Dissatisfied With Current AIO - Buy a different one or go Air?

Mussels · Aug 5, 2023

freeagent said:
If the fans ramp doing simple things, then the cooler is having a hard time.

On my 5800x, single threaded load like shaking my mouse really fast would cause higher temps than R23 - because it runs higher voltages into one core, the heat density caused spikes since the temp readings are 'hotspot' rather than an average.

controlling the fan curves was the key there, keeping them more or less flat - hysteresis settings are the other method, with a spin up/down delay if the board has it.

Gmr_Chick · Aug 5, 2023

freeagent said:
If you have room for a small air cooler, I promise you will love the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120SE. It is 154mm tall, and will handle your CPU with ease. I promise you will love it. If not, I will pay for it so you are not out of cash because of my recommendation.. and you can turn around and flip it

Phantom Spirit 120 SE – Thermalright

Hmmm..... My only question is how come this one: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 CPU Cooler has a different top than the one in the link you gave me? I actually kinda prefer the one I linked (looks cleaner) but I'm just a bit confused as to why the one in my link has top covers, but the one listed on the web-site doesn't even though they are the same cooler.

maxfly · Aug 5, 2023

The 1st one is the SE the one you linked isn't (same heatsink on both). The tops and fans are the only differences iirc, too sleepy to double check again

No idea why Thermalright does the whole SE thing tbh. They're always priced the same for the most part.

AsRock · Aug 5, 2023

Mussels said:
On my 5800x, single threaded load like shaking my mouse really fast would cause higher temps than R23 - because it runs higher voltages into one core, the heat density caused spikes since the temp readings are 'hotspot' rather than an average.

controlling the fan curves was the key there, keeping them more or less flat - hysteresis settings are the other method, with a spin up/down delay if the board has it.

Or if it works for them, Fan Control.

tabascosauz · Aug 5, 2023

Gmr_Chick said:
Hmmm..... My only question is how come this one: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 CPU Cooler has a different top than the one in the link you gave me? I actually kinda prefer the one I linked (looks cleaner) but I'm just a bit confused as to why the one in my link has top covers, but the one listed on the web-site doesn't even though they are the same cooler.

The regular PS120 is brand new, haven't seen it before. Probably explains why specs are scarce. But it's related to the PS120SE the same way the PA120 and PA120SE are related - no top plate. I think there might be fan differences between PA120/PA120SE (SE lacks any rubber pads), but PS120/PS120SE have the same fans.

In either case, the top plate adds a few millimetres (~3mm) but for most cases it should be fine.

Phantom Spirit 120 – Thermalright

www.thermalright.com

Gmr_Chick · Aug 5, 2023

maxfly said:
The 1st one is the SE the one you linked isn't (same heatsink on both). The tops and fans are the only differences iirc, too sleepy to double check again

No idea why Thermalright does the whole SE thing tbh. They're always priced the same for the most part.

You're telling me! My head hurts just wading through all their coolers with minute differences.

tabascosauz said:
The regular PS120 is brand new, haven't seen it before. Probably explains why specs are scarce. But it's related to the PS120SE the same way the PA120 and PA120SE are related - no top plate. I think there might be fan differences between PA120/PA120SE (SE lacks any rubber pads), but PS120/PS120SE have the same fans.

In either case, the top plate adds a few millimetres (~3mm) but for most cases it should be fine.

Yeah, I'm so confused between the SE and non SE versions of their coolers. They maybe need to cool it with all the SKUs.

@freeagent - OK, ya twisted my arm. I'll give the Phantom Spirit a whirl. But I'm slapping a couple of their TL-S12 halo ARGB fans on it. Remember now, you gave your word that if I didn't like the cooler, you'd cough up the cost for it

tabascosauz · Aug 5, 2023

Gmr_Chick said:
You're telling me! My head hurts just wading through all their coolers with minute differences.

Yeah, I'm so confused between the SE and non SE versions of their coolers. They maybe need to cool it with all the SKUs.

@freeagent - OK, ya twisted my arm. I'll give the Phantom Spirit a whirl. But I'm slapping a couple of their TL-S12 halo ARGB fans on it. Remember now, you gave your word that if I didn't like the cooler, you'd cough up the cost for it

SE = cheap cost-optimization

But with the PS120 specifically it just looks more like a stylistic choice since the fans are the same. The PA120SE was cheap, but there's no real price savings to be had with the PS120SE.

Besides, in North America you have to wade through a dozen Amazon listings of varying price, all from thermalright, for just a single model of TR cooler, so pretty much all these coolers might as well be at the same MSRP.

freeagent · Aug 5, 2023

I am so sorry

Thanks guys

Mussels · Aug 5, 2023

AsRock said:
Or if it works for them, Fan Control.

I prefer a solid basis in the BIOS so the do what they should even without software - nothing makes an OS install more fun than fans making your ears bleed

Edit: what the hell did i mean by basis? Default? Basic? base, perhaps?

AusWolf · Aug 5, 2023

Mussels said:
I prefer a solid basis in the BIOS so the do what they should even without software - nothing makes an OS install more fun than fans making your ears bleed

Couldn't agree more - whatever you can do in the BIOS, do in the BIOS. Having rainbow puke RGB bollocks during a Windows reinstall is annoying enough.

Pictus · Aug 5, 2023

Mussels said:
I prefer a solid basis in the BIOS so the do what they should even without software - nothing makes an OS install more fun than fans making your ears bleed

The advantage of https://getfancontrol.com/ is that we can make the case fans react to both GPU and CPU temperature.

AusWolf · Aug 5, 2023

Pictus said:
The advantage of https://getfancontrol.com/ is that we can make the case fans react to both GPU and CPU temperature.

I do that by setting them to respond to "system" temperature. As my GPU dumps more heat into the chassis, the system temperature (whatever that means) rises.

Waldorf · Aug 5, 2023

@Mussels
didnt have a single AM4 board (all x570 tho), that required anything like defaults (etc), to flashback.
done multiple times, and most rigs didnt even power more than the usb port (until flashback was finished).
the Gb stuff sometimes didnt even clear any previous settings when using defaults, so it wouldnt even have helped, when i had overdone tuning.

@Gmr_Chick
if you looking to just get an aio, use it as is, the artic 280 is one of the best when looking cost/perf.
does come with AM5 (offset) mount, if its old stock from other sellers (not Artic), they will send you a mounting kit.

but on the long run, more options to fix/upgrade, i would get the alphacool 280 (not the extreme).
unlike most others it has a copper rad, and you can use it as aio (for now), but it allows for swapping stuff/refill/change of fluid etc.

only the rad and quick connect (hose) is left now..

slimy loop

Chrispy_ · Aug 5, 2023

Pictus said:
Never tested but people complain about AK620 fans having resonance.

https://www.google.com/search?q=AK620+resonance

Can confirm.
Resonance is a (mild) problem on most dual-fan coolers, but the Deepcool fans were particularly bad in the batch of six AK620s that I bought. They were likely all from the same batch but I have seen enough complaints to think that it's just normal for that fan design and nothing particular to the batch I bought.

FoulOnWhite · Aug 5, 2023

AusWolf said:
I do that by setting them to respond to "system" temperature. As my GPU dumps more heat into the chassis, the system temperature (whatever that means) rises.

I have all my fans connected to an AQ OCTO, linked to the water temp, works a treat.

Pictus · Aug 6, 2023

freeagent said:
If you have room for a small air cooler, I promise you will love the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120SE. It is 154mm tall, and will handle your CPU with ease. I promise you will love it. If not, I will pay for it so you are not out of cash because of my recommendation.. and you can turn around and flip it

Phantom Spirit 120 SE – Thermalright

Looks very good!
No resonance from the TL-C12B V2?

freeagent · Aug 6, 2023

Pictus said:
Looks very good!
No resonance from the TL-C12B V2?

Yup it’s a good cooler, better than PA120 and FC140 like I have said from the start

Even better when you use T30s..

No resonance on the stock fans..

tabascosauz · Aug 6, 2023

freeagent said:
Yup it’s a good cooler, better than PA120 and FC140 like I have said from the start

Even better when you use T30s..

No resonance on the stock fans..

T30 supremacy :toast:

These coolers are so friggin cheap, the cooler is an add-on to the fans, not the other way around lol

Vya Domus · Aug 6, 2023

Resonance is not caused by the fans themselves but rather by the fact that they all run at the exact or close to same RPM, it can solved by plugin them in different headers and use a slightly different fan curve so that the RPM never matches.

Pictus · Aug 6, 2023

freeagent said:
Yup it’s a good cooler, better than PA120 and FC140 like I have said from the start
Even better when you use T30s..
No resonance on the stock fans..

Here lapping the FC140 baseplate improved performance, a T30 too.

freeagent · Aug 6, 2023

Pictus said:
Here lapping the FC140 baseplate improved performance, a T30 too.

T30s on FC140 are pretty tiny, and don't even cover the pipes, but 2x 140s is going to be too much for some cases that have taller ram. I could run 2x NF-A14 3Ks and it is pretty good..

I felt no need to lap either of my FC140s. I have the Grey and the White. Both we awesome for me and my hardware. But PS120SE has their Gen4 heatpipes, and they are awesome imo.. cant wait to see what they do with them on a big cooler.

Space Lynx · Aug 6, 2023

freeagent said:
T30s on FC140 are pretty tiny, and don't even cover the pipes, but 2x 140s is going to be too much for some cases that have taller ram. I could run 2x NF-A14 3Ks and it is pretty good..

I felt no need to lap either of my FC140s. I have the Grey and the White. Both we awesome for me and my hardware. But PS120SE has their Gen4 heatpipes, and they are awesome imo.. cant wait to see what they do with them on a big cooler.

I feel no need to lap my FC140or use anything other than the two stock fans which are doing a great job. I just played God of War and shadow of tomb raider ultra 1440p no fps cap, and she didn't even break 62 Celsius, default fan curve. I let the x3d cache scream and the Frost Commander said, no baby here have some bubbletea while you chill

:toast:

kapone32 · Aug 6, 2023

Space Lynx said:
I feel no need to lap my FC140or use anything other than the two stock fans which are doing a great job. I just played God of War and shadow of tomb raider ultra 1440p no fps cap, and she didn't even break 62 Celsius, default fan curve. I let the x3d cache scream and the Frost Commander said, no baby here have some bubbletea while you chill

Honestly the fan that I think about when I see these Fans are the Scythe Kamikaze line. It served as a great way to chop vegetables lol.

Gmr_Chick · Aug 7, 2023

The PS120 + the 2 TL-S12's I ordered for it came in today. Positive experience thus far, as everything was properly protected in a thick layer of foam. I'll be putting this little dude in my rig tomorrow and then the experiment can begin!

Chrispy_ · Aug 7, 2023

Vya Domus said:
Resonance is not caused by the fans themselves but rather by the fact that they all run at the exact or close to same RPM, it can solved by plugin them in different headers and use a slightly different fan curve so that the RPM never matches.

Tried that, but it didn't help. I even tried removing the second fan altogether and just running the center fan and confirmed for me that it wasn't phasing resonance between the two fans for the AK620, but between the poorly-balanced fans running through the resonant frequency of the heatsink itself.

The heatpipes attaching each fin stack to the clamped baseplate have their own oscillation harmonics and unless you run a manual, fixed fan speed that doesn't pass through the troublesome RPM range, you'll always hear it as the fan speed varies up and down through the speed range.

It would probably be fine if Deepcool's AK-series fans weren't poorly-balanced, or if the heatpipes were staggered rather than in a neat line in the same plane as the oscillation of the imbalanced fans. I wanted to like the AK620 because it looks and feels like a good bit of hardware - the fans certainly feel premium enough, but their lack of balance was really very noticeable, something I discovered when re-using the AK620's fans on some Thermalright SI-100 coolers.

Gmr_Chick said:
The PS120 + the 2 TL-S12's I ordered for it came in today. Positive experience thus far, as everything was properly protected in a thick layer of foam. I'll be putting this little dude in my rig tomorrow and then the experiment can begin!

For such cheap coolers, the Thermalright stuff of late has been impressive - both in terms of performance, and in quality of packaging.

I don't know if it's the same company as I used to be but prior to the last few years, Thermalright used to be very high-end air cooling that I last used in the mid 00's (Ultra 120 and XP-90).

System Name	Rainbow Sparkles (Power efficient, <350W gaming load)
Processor	Ryzen R7 5800x3D (Undervolted, 4.45GHz all core)
Motherboard	Asus x570-F (BIOS Modded)
Cooling	Alphacool Apex UV - Alphacool Eisblock XPX Aurora + EK Quantum ARGB 3090 w/ active backplate
Memory	2x32GB DDR4 3600 Corsair Vengeance RGB @3866 C18-22-22-22-42 TRFC704 (1.4V Hynix MJR - SoC 1.15V)
Video Card(s)	Galax RTX 3090 SG 24GB: Underclocked to 1700Mhz 0.750v (375W down to 250W))
Storage	2TB WD SN850 NVME + 1TB Sasmsung 970 Pro NVME + 1TB Intel 6000P NVME USB 3.2
Display(s)	Phillips 32 32M1N5800A (4k144), LG 32" (4K60) \| Gigabyte G32QC (2k165) \| Phillips 328m6fjrmb (2K144)
Case	Fractal Design R6
Audio Device(s)	Logitech G560 \| Corsair Void pro RGB \|Blue Yeti mic
Power Supply	Fractal Ion+ 2 860W (Platinum) (This thing is God-tier. Silent and TINY)
Mouse	Logitech G Pro wireless + Steelseries Prisma XL
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman TE ( Sexy white keycaps)
VR HMD	Oculus Rift S + Quest 2
Software	Windows 11 pro x64 (Yes, it's genuinely a good OS) OpenRGB - ditch the branded bloatware!
Benchmark Scores	Nyooom.

System Name	The Captain (2.0)
Processor	Ryzen 7 7700X
Motherboard	Asus ROG Strix X670E-A
Cooling	280mm Arctic Liquid Freezer II, 4x Be Quiet! 140mm Silent Wings 4 (1x exhaust 3x intake)
Memory	32GB (2x16) Kingston Fury Beast CL30 6000MT/s
Video Card(s)	MSI GeForce RTX 3070 SUPRIM X
Storage	1x Crucial MX500 500GB SSD; 1x Crucial MX500 500GB M.2 SSD; 1x WD Blue HDD, 1x Crucial P5 Plus
Display(s)	Aorus CV27F 27" 1080p 165Hz
Case	Phanteks Evolv X (Anthracite Gray)
Power Supply	Corsair RMx (2021) 1000W 80-Plus Gold
Mouse	Varies based on mood/task; is currently Razer Basilisk V3 Pro or Razer Cobra Pro
Keyboard	Varies based on mood; currently Razer Blackwidow V4 75% and Hyper X Alloy 65

System Name	GrandadsBadAss
Processor	I7 13700k w/ HEATKILLER IV PRO Copper Nickel
Motherboard	MSI Z790 Tomahawk Wifi
Cooling	BarrowCH Boxfish 200mm-HWLabs SR2 420/GTS 360-BP Dual D5 MOD TOP- 2x Koolance PMP 450S
Memory	2x16gb G.SKILL Trident Z5 Neo RGB 6400
Video Card(s)	Asrock 6800xt PG D w/ Byski A-AR6900XT-X
Storage	WD SN850x 1TB NVME M.2/Samsung 980 Pro 1TB NVMe M.2
Display(s)	Acer XG270HU
Case	Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 Server Edition w/3 Noctua NF-A14 2000 IP67/4 be quiet! LIGHT WINGS LX 120mm
Audio Device(s)	Logitech z623 <---THE SUCK
Power Supply	FSP Hydro Ti PRO 1000w
Mouse	Logitech G502
Keyboard	Roccat Vulcan Aimo
Software	Win 10/11pro

System Name	ab┃ob
Processor	7800X3D┃5800X3D
Motherboard	B650E PG-ITX┃X570 Impact
Cooling	NH-U12A + T30┃AXP120-x67
Memory	64GB 6400CL32┃32GB 3600CL14
Video Card(s)	RTX 4070 Ti Eagle┃RTX A2000
Storage	8TB of SSDs┃1TB SN550
Case	Caselabs S3┃Lazer3D HT5

System Name	The Captain (2.0)
Processor	Ryzen 7 7700X
Motherboard	Asus ROG Strix X670E-A
Cooling	280mm Arctic Liquid Freezer II, 4x Be Quiet! 140mm Silent Wings 4 (1x exhaust 3x intake)
Memory	32GB (2x16) Kingston Fury Beast CL30 6000MT/s
Video Card(s)	MSI GeForce RTX 3070 SUPRIM X
Storage	1x Crucial MX500 500GB SSD; 1x Crucial MX500 500GB M.2 SSD; 1x WD Blue HDD, 1x Crucial P5 Plus
Display(s)	Aorus CV27F 27" 1080p 165Hz
Case	Phanteks Evolv X (Anthracite Gray)
Power Supply	Corsair RMx (2021) 1000W 80-Plus Gold
Mouse	Varies based on mood/task; is currently Razer Basilisk V3 Pro or Razer Cobra Pro
Keyboard	Varies based on mood; currently Razer Blackwidow V4 75% and Hyper X Alloy 65

Dissatisfied With Current AIO - Buy a different one or go Air?

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

Gmr_Chick

maxfly

AsRock

TPU addict

tabascosauz

Moderator

Phantom Spirit 120 – Thermalright

Gmr_Chick

tabascosauz

Moderator

freeagent

Moderator

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

AusWolf

Pictus

AusWolf

Waldorf

Chrispy_

FoulOnWhite

Pictus

freeagent

Moderator

tabascosauz

Moderator

Vya Domus

Pictus

freeagent

Moderator

Space Lynx

Astronaut

kapone32

Gmr_Chick

Chrispy_

Processor	AMD R7 5800X3D
Motherboard	Asus Crosshair VIII Dark Hero
Cooling	Thermalright Frozen Edge 360, 3x TL-B12 V2, 2x TL-B12 V1
Memory	2x8 G.Skill Trident Z Royal 3200C14, 2x8GB G.Skill Trident Z Black and White 3200 C14
Video Card(s)	Zotac 4070 Ti Trinity OC
Storage	WD SN850 1TB, SN850X 2TB, SN770 1TB
Display(s)	LG 50UP7100
Case	Fractal Torrent Compact
Audio Device(s)	JBL Bar 700
Power Supply	Seasonic Vertex GX-1000, Monster HDP1800
Mouse	Logitech G502 Hero
Keyboard	Logitech G213
VR HMD	Oculus 3
Software	Yes
Benchmark Scores	Yes

Processor	Various Intel and AMD CPUs
Motherboard	Micro-ATX and mini-ITX
Cooling	Yes
Memory	Overclocking is overrated
Video Card(s)	Various Nvidia and AMD GPUs
Storage	A lot
Display(s)	Monitors and TVs
Case	The smaller the better
Audio Device(s)	Speakers and headphones
Power Supply	300 to 750 W, bronze to gold
Mouse	Wireless
Keyboard	Mechanic
VR HMD	Not yet
Software	Linux gaming master race

Processor	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Motherboard	Asus TUF Gaming B550-Plus
Cooling	Thermalright Frost Commander 140
Memory	2x16 3200@3733 Crucial Ballistix
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte RX 5600 XT WindForce OC 6G (GV-R56XTWF2OC)
Storage	Some
Display(s)	Acer XV280K
Case	Cooler Master HAF XB EVO
Audio Device(s)	Moondrop Dawn Pro + FiiO FT1
Power Supply	Gamemax GX1050 Pro, 1050W, 80 Plus Platinum
Mouse	Logitech G502SE
Keyboard	Ajazz AK35i with AKKO CS Rose Red Switches and white YMDK PBT keys

System Name	Main
Processor	R7 5950x
Motherboard	MSI x570S Unify-X Max
Cooling	converted Eisbär 280, two F14 + three F12S intake, two P14S + two P14 + two F14 as exhaust
Memory	16 GB Corsair LPX bdie @3600/16 1.35v
Video Card(s)	GB 2080S WaterForce WB
Storage	six M.2 pcie gen 4
Display(s)	Sony 50X90J
Case	Tt Level 20 HT
Audio Device(s)	Asus Xonar AE, modded Sennheiser HD 558, Klipsch 2.1 THX
Power Supply	Corsair RMx 750w
Mouse	Logitech G903
Keyboard	GSKILL Ripjaws
VR HMD	NA
Software	win 10 pro x64
Benchmark Scores	TimeSpy score Fire Strike Ultra SuperPosition CB20

System Name	Bragging Rights
Processor	Atom Z3735F 1.33GHz
Motherboard	It has no markings but it's green
Cooling	No, it's a 2.2W processor
Memory	2GB DDR3L-1333
Video Card(s)	Gen7 Intel HD (4EU @ 311MHz)
Storage	32GB eMMC and 128GB Sandisk Extreme U3
Display(s)	10" IPS 1280x800 60Hz
Case	Veddha T2
Audio Device(s)	Apparently, yes
Power Supply	Samsung 18W 5V fast-charger
Mouse	MX Anywhere 2
Keyboard	Logitech MX Keys (not Cherry MX at all)
VR HMD	Samsung Oddyssey, not that I'd plug it into this though....
Software	W10 21H1, barely
Benchmark Scores	I once clocked a Celeron-300A to 564MHz on an Abit BE6 and it scored over 9000.

System Name	BigRed
Processor	I7 12700k
Motherboard	Asus Rog Strix z690-A WiFi D4
Cooling	Noctua D15S chromax black/MX6
Memory	TEAM GROUP 32GB DDR4 4000C16 B die
Video Card(s)	MSI RTX 3080 Gaming Trio X 10GB
Storage	M.2 drives WD SN850X 1TB 4x4 BOOT/WD SN850X 4TB 4x4 STEAM/USB3 4TB OTHER
Display(s)	Dell s3422dwg 34" 3440x1440p 144hz ultrawide
Case	Corsair 7000D
Audio Device(s)	Logitech Z5450/KEF uniQ speakers/Bowers and Wilkins P7 Headphones
Power Supply	Corsair RM850x 80% gold
Mouse	Logitech G604 lightspeed wireless
Keyboard	Logitech G915 TKL lightspeed wireless
Software	Windows 10 Pro X64
Benchmark Scores	Who cares

System Name	Good enough
Processor	AMD Ryzen R9 7900 - Alphacool Eisblock XPX Aurora Edge
Motherboard	ASRock B650 Pro RS
Cooling	2x 360mm NexXxoS ST30 X-Flow, 1x 360mm NexXxoS ST30, 1x 240mm NexXxoS ST30
Memory	32GB - FURY Beast RGB 5600 Mhz
Video Card(s)	Sapphire RX 7900 XT - Alphacool Eisblock Aurora
Storage	1x Kingston KC3000 1TB 1x Kingston A2000 1TB, 1x Samsung 850 EVO 250GB , 1x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB
Display(s)	LG UltraGear 32GN650-B + 4K Samsung TV
Case	Phanteks NV7
Power Supply	GPS-750C

Processor	7800X3D -25 all core
Motherboard	B650 Steel Legend
Cooling	Frost Commander 140
Video Card(s)	Merc 310 7900 XT @3100 core -.75v
Display(s)	Agon 27" QD-OLED Glossy 240hz 1440p
Case	NZXT H710 (Red/Black)
Audio Device(s)	Asgard 2, Modi 3, HD58X
Power Supply	Corsair RM850x Gold

System Name	Best AMD Computer
Processor	AMD 7900X3D
Motherboard	Asus X670E E Strix
Cooling	In Win SR36
Memory	GSKILL DDR5 32GB 5200 30
Video Card(s)	Sapphire Pulse 7900XT (Watercooled)
Storage	Corsair MP 700, Seagate 530 2Tb, Adata SX8200 2TBx2, Kingston 2 TBx2, Micron 8 TB, WD AN 1500
Display(s)	GIGABYTE FV43U
Case	Corsair 7000D Airflow
Audio Device(s)	Corsair Void Pro, Logitch Z523 5.1
Power Supply	Deepcool 1000M
Mouse	Logitech g7 gaming mouse
Keyboard	Logitech G510
Software	Windows 11 Pro 64 Steam. GOG, Uplay, Origin
Benchmark Scores	Firestrike: 46183 Time Spy: 25121