Are All GHZ Created Equal on CPU's in Gaming

[EarthDog]

Well aware... again, depends on the user, the budget, their uses, etc. Some, read: many, people are after those couple of C... and in general they are quieter while cooling higher heatloads at a higher monetary cost and potential less reliability (which can be mitigated).

All I am trying to say is that it will depend on may factors to determine what is best for the user asking the question. Your stance is clear for your uses...but there are other people with other needs.

 

[ZweiGaming]

i only care if it keeps it cool and doesnt get in the way of anything

 

[FordGT90Concept]

The HSF depends on how much clearance your case has. I'd recommend Scythe Kotetsu but my super-wide case barely has enough room for it. If your case can fit a 120mm fan on the HSF, I'd recommend one that has a 120mm. I'd also recommend getting one that uses standard fans that are easily replaceable instead of proprietary designed fans.


Edit: Looking at that case, I think I would just go with the stock HSF for now. You can measure it and make sure you don't get one too big that way.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

my hearing may not be the best, but with my computer tower only 2' or so from my ears, I can only hear the 200 mm case fans of my case, turn those down, and my tower is silent with the two fan Assassin

 

[FordGT90Concept]

The bigger the heatsink, the slower the fans will run.

 

[EarthDog]

i only care if it keeps it cool and doesnt get in the way of anything

Good luck with a massive two fan tower not getting in the way of things! That is one drawback of air versus an AIO is fitment around the socket. While there is nearly ZERO chance of an AIO getting in the way of things, large towers you should always check first.

 

[ZweiGaming]

Now im stuck on what to do. Water cooling or air cooling?

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Good luck with a massive two fan tower not getting in the way of things! That is one drawback of air versus an AIO is fitment around the socket. While there is nearly ZERO chance of an AIO getting in the way of things, large towers you should always check first.

what would it get in the way of? the RAM suggested is low profile. The only issue that I can possibly see is the OP may have to use a lower PCIe slot for the GPU. PC Partpicker is showing zero compatibility issues with my suggestion

 

[EarthDog]

I am speaking in general about tower air coolers...as I said, they can get in the way of ram... and Oy if I have to move PCIe slots because of one? Water seems better and better to me, LOL!

Sorry, it seems I am speaking in too general of terms and not helping the OP, so i will leave it at that.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Now im stuck on what to do. Water cooling or air cooling?

AIO and water cooling isn't worth it, IMO. Air with as big of heatsink as reasonable is what I always go for. I regret not having bigger cases rather than not having a big enough heatsink.

I am speaking in general about tower air coolers...as I said, they can get in the way of ram... and Oy if I have to move PCIe slots because of one?

Only if the RAM has silly fins on top of the heatsinks. Usually the fan mounts high enough above the motherboard that it doesn't hit the RAM. The only problem is that you may have to remove the fan from the heatsink in order to access the RAM slots under it.

I haven't encountered a motherboard where the HSF got in the way of the expansion slots.

 

[ZweiGaming]

I am speaking in general about tower air coolers...as I said, they can get in the way of ram... and Oy if I have to move PCIe slots because of one? Water seems better and better to me, LOL!

Sorry, it seems I am speaking in too general of terms and not helping the OP, so i will leave it at that.

i understand where your coming from and i thank you for your input none the less

 

[BarbaricSoul]

I am speaking in general about tower air coolers...as I said, they can get in the way of ram... and Oy if I have to move PCIe slots because of one? Water seems better and better to me, LOL!

Sorry, it seems I am speaking in too general of terms and not helping the OP, so i will leave it at that.

I agree with you about having to account for the size of a large air cooler, but that should be properly handled in this situation. I don't think the Lucifer heatsink will be an issue with the PCIe slots, but it will be close. If there is clearance issues with the GPU, like I mentioned earlier, the OP can just use a lower PCIe slot. RAM slots will be covered with the Lucifer (not the 212 EVO though), but with low profile RAM, the slots will still be usable as low profile RAM fits under the heatsink.

And if the OP is really concerned, a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO would keep the CPU cool for a modest 4.2-4.5 GHz OC, take a lot less room, and only cost $25 compared to $55 of the Lucifer. Keep in mind the Lucifer is a better, more capable heatsink.

Clearance is always an issue with m-ATX builds, which is why I prefer ATX. More room, more air circulation, better cooling. But the OP seems to want m-ATX, so it is what it is.

 

[ZweiGaming]

I agree with you about having to account for the size of a large air cooler, but that should be properly handled in this situation. I don't think the Lucifer heatsink will be an issue with the PCIe slots, but it will be close. If there is clearance issues with the GPU, like I mentioned earlier, the OP can just use a lower PCIe slot. RAM slots will be covered with the Lucifer (not the 212 EVO though), but with low profile RAM, the slots will still be usable as low profile RAM fits under the heatsink.

And if the OP is really concerned, a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO would keep the CPU cool for a modest 4.2-4.5 GHz OC, take a lot less room, and only cost $25 compared to $55 of the Lucifer. Keep in mind the Lucifer is a better, more capable heatsink.

Clearance is always an issue with m-ATX builds, which is why I prefer ATX. More room, more air circulation, better cooling. But the OP seems to want m-ATX, so it is what it is.

The M-atx is so its easier to go to friends places and have my computer. i apologize if that makes this difficult

 

[BarbaricSoul]

m-ATX over mid-tower ATX isn't going to matter much when you still have to carry all the other components (monitor, KB, Mouse, ect). If mobility is a concern, you should be looking at laptops IMHO, but they are a lot more expensive and not as powerful.

 

[ZweiGaming]

m-ATX over mid-tower ATX isn't going to matter much when you still have to carry all the other components (monitor, KB, Mouse, ect). If mobility is a concern, you should be looking at laptops IMHO, but they are a lot more expensive and not as powerful.

im more than willing to go up to a mid tower if need be

 

[BarbaricSoul]

it's not needed, go with whichever you prefer

 

[BarbaricSoul]

mid tower ATX suggestion- http://pcpartpicker.com/p/B6z7Lk

 

[ZweiGaming]

any specific reason for that case?

 

[BarbaricSoul]

highly reviewed, good lay out to promote good air flow, wider design for better cable management and better fitting of the 140mm tall Lucifer heatsink (case is 170 mm wide) solid black design to match the betfix cases you were looking at

 

[ZweiGaming]

Okay that will be one of the possible builds i go with

 

[Atomic77]

Ok now to answer the question of are all GHZ equal on cpus? The answer is no. lets say you have a 3.0ghz intel processor and a 3.0 processor from AMD. The one from Intel may run a bit faster or slower then the one from AMD. That is just how it is.

 

[rtwjunkie]

mid tower ATX suggestion- http://pcpartpicker.com/p/B6z7Lk

The Define R4, any color, are my absolute favorite cases! Excellent build quality and airflow.

 

[ZweiGaming]

I will prolly end up going with either the NZXT noctis 450 or the Corsair 500r. if i do end up going with a mid tower build

 

[rtwjunkie]

I will prolly end up going with either the NZXT noctis 450 or the Corsair 500r. if i do end up going with a mid tower build

Please consider the Fractal Define R4 or R5. I've had ALOT of cases, and none actually just grabbed me as outstanding due to superb build quality, excellent airflow, lots of space and HDD/SSD slots, wider than normal cases, including alot of space behind the motherboard for cable routing without having to cram them in there, and sound dampening inside.

As fo NZXT, make sure to check out the Source 530, which really is an impressive case!

 

[ZweiGaming]

Please consider the Fractal Define R4 or R5. I've had ALOT of cases, and none actually just grabbed me as outstanding due to superb build quality, excellent airflow, lots of space and HDD/SSD slots, wider than normal cases, including alot of space behind the motherboard for cable routing without having to cram them in there, and sound dampening inside.

As fo NZXT, make sure to check out the Source 530, which really is an impressive case!

I will check it out, my interest in the noctis is slowly going down, im not that big of a fan of a red black cases. im more interested in something that gives good airflow and i can put white led fans on in the future. The fractal define R4 or R5 is prolly 3rd on my list of possible cases