AIO - 120mm cpu cooler?

[soundzen]

i have the intel i5 / 12600 @3,7ghz cpu with a bulky double-fans air cooler tower of an unknown brand...

i want to try an aio liquid cooler instead, but my cooler master Q300 micro atx case, doesnt have clearance at the top panel (psu cables passing nearby) for the radiator + fan thickness (unless its mounted outside the case LOL)

since i want to keep my 2 front case 120mm fans, bringing fresh air trough my components then expelling out the back, through unused 120mm case grid... thats where im thinking of putting the cpu aio single fan radiator.

looking for a all white / no rgb / no lcd screen temp sensor for under 150€ pls...

 

[Toothless]

A 120mm wouldn't be worth it. You're better off getting an Assassin or similar or throwing fans on the current one.

120mm does the same or worse as your current.

 

[soundzen]

hi and thx @Toothless - i mentioned aio for noise reason and wider airflow in the case, but if the cpu cooling temps will be worse than any bulky tower, then ok - i can improve the tower + 1 new fan at back, sucking from tower.

 

[Waldorf]

@soundzen
its better than any air cooler, a s long as you have fans on the top for case flow.
one thing many forget, dumping the (cpu) heat outside the case, will lower case/gpu/pwm/vrm/drive temps by a lot.

i have done a couple builds for myself an others, using 120/140mm aio, and they worked just fine.
if you can, mount another fan to the rad for push/pull, maybe even on the outside.

 

[Toothless]

@soundzen
its better than any air cooler, a s long as you have fans on the top for case flow.
one thing many forget, dumping the (cpu) heat outside the case, will lower case/gpu/pwm/vrm/drive temps by a lot.

i have done a couple builds for myself an others, using 120/140mm aio, and they worked just fine.
if you can, mount another fan to the rad for push/pull, maybe even on the outside.

There are tower coolers doing better than 360mm AIOs. A 120mm is not going to out perform a lot of them.

 

[soundzen]

heres my cpu tower and the unused grid at the back of case

i asked about aio vs tower, bc i see so many pc with aio 240 and 360mm radiators... estetics have big role, i recon.

speaking of estetics... do you have advice for my other post please? (psu cable) thanks!

modding cables - PSU

hi moders, [ PIC ] - my modular psu white cables, come wrapped in a net and held by tape at their extremities, which are rigid to bend, near their connectors. my question is: - can i carefully cut off the tape and net, by loosen up each of the wires? (knowing it will terminate my June 2024...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[_roman_]

A bad case - that is not mesh. there is a lot of metall in front of those front fans which blocks too much air. Really bad case for the single picture provided in #6


I watched only a few minutes yesterday for the gamers nexus fan testing video on youtube. please pay attention there for the mesh plates he shows and explains there. Should be in the first 10 minutes.

You most likely do not want to hear that.

Pick another case with proper ventilation and proper cpu cooler. You could try to fit a 240mm aio in the front but I doubt it will help.
If you want a quiet box. Go for the https://www.arctic.de/en/Liquid-Freezer-III-420/ACFRE00137A and than choose a proper mesh case and other parts.

 

[Toothless]

heres my cpu tower and the unused grid at the back of case

View attachment 385574

i asked about aio vs tower, bc i see so many pc with aio 240 and 360mm radiators... estetics have big role, i recon.

speaking of estetics... do you have advice for my other post please? (psu cable) thanks!

modding cables - PSU

hi moders, [ PIC ] - my modular psu white cables, come wrapped in a net and held by tape at their extremities, which are rigid to bend, near their connectors. my question is: - can i carefully cut off the tape and net, by loosen up each of the wires? (knowing it will terminate my June 2024...

www.techpowerup.com

I had the one that could fit ATX boards. Stick a fan on the heatsink and check the temps.

As for cables, nothing you can do. Case is horrible for management so either deal with it or get a new case.

 

[nomdeplume]

Very easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing or losing focus of what is the best set of choices for your current situation. It does seem you are inexperienced at dealing with PC building issues or how to mitigate them. Thus asking for advice in numerous directions in numerous places that never properly relay the full situation.

My feeling is you will be best served by calmly learning and slowly finding the best compromises with only the most necessary changes being purchased. Adapt a new aesthetic where yours cannot meet your currently held ideal. Well matched cpu air cooler and getting every single fan optimized for position (single and within the whole) could be the answer here. Finesse your cables into their highest state of functional mess and enjoy your pc for as many years at it serves your needs.

 

[Waldorf]

@Toothless
and where did i say it outperforms air coolers?
the biggest problem with air coolers is the heat is dumped inside the case, period.
no "matching" case flow will magically fix it, and the big difference in case and all other temps anytime ppl are installing LC for the cpu shows it.

ignoring advice about mounting a rad to the front, to needlessly shave off a few degrees in cpu temps, while heating up everything else (like an air cooler would), ok.

 

[soundzen]

so bigger ATX case to accommodate a 240mm cpu aio kit at the top, to replace my cpu "tower" cooler... sorry, i need drawings to understand better

PC NOW --- (only 1 new 80mm fan at back)

____

NEW CASE --- (with 240mm AIO cpu cooler)

Thus asking for advice in numerous directions in numerous places that never properly relay the full situation.

sorry @nomdeplume for adding another link to another topic, i want to edit my OP post above but cant find a button

 

[Onasi]

and where did i say it outperforms air coolers?
the biggest problem with air coolers is the heat is dumped inside the case, period.
no "matching" case flow will magically fix it, and the big difference in case and all other temps anytime ppl are installing LC for the cpu shows it.

That problem is easily solved by adding a fan in the back for exhaust, which, like, every semi-decent case has a mounting point for. I suppose theoretically an AIO that works as a top exhaust will be better for this particular application, but I wouldn’t consider this a serious issue, IMO. Especially not with a reasonable cpu like the OPs 12600. Not like he’s running a 14900KS full throttle and has 300W of heat dumped into the system.

 

[Waldorf]

@soundzen
yeah, pretty much the optimal way.

@Onasi
except it doesnt have same amount of fans for intake and exhaust, so you will have hot air circling around in the case.

and as long as its not a 45w mobile chip, heat is heat, no matter if its 100 or 300w.

ignoring i also have better heat transfer with water, or lower fan speed/less noise.
there is a reason why many are using LC, and its not just to squeeze out more mhz or lowering cpu temps.

 

[Bobaganoosh]

Minor correction: the GPU fans pretty much always blow upwards (speaking in the orientation you have yours and drew it), blowing air into the heatsink, which will cause, on that design, the hot air out of the sides of the GPU towards the side-panel and towards the motherboard to some extent (some possibly going out the back I/O panel on most GPUs). So those fans being intake fans, you'd want that bottom case-fan to be an intake to provide more cool air to the GPU and case. So cool air intake on front and bottom, hot air exhaust top and back.

 

[Vya Domus]

If you want lower temps and noise a 240mm AIO in the front as intake will be the best option.

 

[Waldorf]

@Vya Domus
unless your chasing top clocks, putting a rad into the front and/or blowing the exhaust heat in the case, your not gaining much.
unless you have a case that allows for side mounting the rad (with front fans for case flow), its better to mount it to the top, and many brands will also list it as best install.

 

[soundzen]

Minor correction: the GPU fans pretty much always blow upwards (speaking in the orientation you have yours and drew it), blowing air into the heatsink, which will cause, on that design, the hot air out of the sides of the GPU towards the side-panel and towards the motherboard to some extent (some possibly going out the back I/O panel on most GPUs). So those fans being intake fans, you'd want that bottom case-fan to be an intake to provide more cool air to the GPU and case. So cool air intake on front and bottom, hot air exhaust top and back.

ooppss, thanks for alert !!! i will correct my drawing (red arrows become green)
gpu fans are pulling cool air and my bottom case panel, is blocked by psu.
i need to rethink this new case choice, carefully (..."and wisely" says my wallet LOL)

@Vya Domus
unless your chasing top clocks, putting a rad into the front and/or blowing the exhaust heat in the case, your not gaining much.
unless you have a case that allows for side mounting the rad (with front fans for case flow), its better to mount it to the top, and many brands will also list it as best install.

yes i agree with AIO on top of case - leaving the front case fans to bring cool air to the AIO and GPU... so many cases choice, so many configurations and prices

 

[Shrek]

so bigger ATX case to accommodate a 240mm cpu aio kit at the top, to replace my cpu "tower" cooler... sorry, i need drawings to understand better

PC NOW --- (only 1 new 80mm fan at back)

View attachment 385762

____

NEW CASE --- (with 240mm AIO cpu cooler)

View attachment 385763


sorry @nomdeplume for adding another link to another topic, i want to edit my OP post above but cant find a button

Your video card is blowing air away from itself?

 

[soundzen]

gpu corrected

 

[Shrek]

so bigger ATX case to accommodate a 240mm cpu aio kit at the top, to replace my cpu "tower" cooler... sorry, i need drawings to understand better

PC NOW --- (only 1 new 80mm fan at back)

View attachment 385762

____

NEW CASE --- (with 240mm AIO cpu cooler)

View attachment 385763


sorry @nomdeplume for adding another link to another topic, i want to edit my OP post above but cant find a button

Your previous case has 4 fans in-series which seems a waste; i.e. I am not sure much is gained by in-series fans.

 

[soundzen]

im sorry @Shrek , im a noob in pc jargon...
by "in series", you mean their alignment ???
[ 1 front panel / 2 & 3 cpu tower / 4 back case ]
if i opt for a 240mm AIO, those 2 tower fans are gone

 

[Shrek]

One followed by another is series

At some point 4 fans (one following the other) won't help much, but you are removing two, so that seems good.

Those holes in the case seem rather obstructive for the case fans.