Do you guys think this would fit in an ASUS Maximus VII Gene with the first PCIe slot populated by a 780ti? It's the highest end air cooler I can avail of here. I'm currently using an NH-U12S and it just won't cut it temp-wise when overclocking. I'm also trying to avoid using an AIO.
I can understand this plight, and tried to allude to how much of a PITA this cooler would be to use in a lot of situations in my June post...it's just freaking huge to the point of not being practical for many, and for minimal gain. Noctua says it will work on that board if you turn it 90 degrees though, although that could have it's own set of issues.
While I understand the temptation to go huge (with a 15 model) or an AIO (which can be more expensive and/or have it's own set of noise/practicality/space issues), let me assure you I have built a few systems with the C14 and D14, and while it may seem crappy they are only slightly cheaper, they are not at all bad options for builds using smaller boards (or in my case, case) and/or if you'd actually like to be able to use the rest of the motherboard. They allow overclocking just fine, are still quiet, and still an upgrade over an S. The Phantek in this comparison may not be a bad option either (Phantek is a slightly cheaper knock-off of Noctua for all intents and purposes), and should also be compatible...as far as I can tell.
Be (potentially)
mindful of the clips if you go that route, but I imagine it shouldn't be an issue to make it work in one orientation or another (especially if you choose a card carefully). If that doesn't work for you though, and are alright with their own set of interesting realities, AIOs are indeed a decent option.
