AIO Advice

[Areola Grande]

Howzit okies,

So I want to get an AIO for my 3700X - she gets a bit toasty with the stock Wraith prism. This is to fit in my Phanteks P400A Digital whcih does not support top-mounted rads, only front or rear.

There are a ton of options and watching reviews hasn't really helped my make up my mind, so I want some advice.

I imagine a 240/280 would be ideal. The case theoretically does support a 360 in the front, but it's tight and I'm not all that confident about that usage. Maybe someone else has done this and can comment?

Otherwise suggestions please. Also, resellers, this is your cue.

@Senshi @Techfox

 

[Dom]

Howzit okies,

So I want to get an AIO for my 3700X - she gets a bit toasty with the stock Wraith prism. This is to fit in my Phanteks P400A Digital whcih does not support top-mounted rads, only front or rear.

There are a ton of options and watching reviews hasn't really helped my make up my mind, so I want some advice.

I imagine a 240/280 would be ideal. The case theoretically does support a 360 in the front, but it's tight and I'm not all that confident about that usage. Maybe someone else has done this and can comment?

Otherwise suggestions please. Also, resellers, this is your cue.

IMO - go for the 360 & brand is your choice (the EK AIO does look dope).

 

[∀Z‾soʇɐuɐɥ┴]

Howzit okies,

So I want to get an AIO for my 3700X - she gets a bit toasty with the stock Wraith prism. This is to fit in my Phanteks P400A Digital whcih does not support top-mounted rads, only front or rear.

There are a ton of options and watching reviews hasn't really helped my make up my mind, so I want some advice.

I imagine a 240/280 would be ideal. The case theoretically does support a 360 in the front, but it's tight and I'm not all that confident about that usage. Maybe someone else has done this and can comment?

Otherwise suggestions please. Also, resellers, this is your cue.

a 360mm is only ever needed if you are cooling both cpu and gpu together in a loop imo, just ignore I the fact I that I am running 2x360mm for that setup however.

A 280mm should be more than sufficient to cool your 3700x.
However, what I would suggest you try first is dropping the voltage of the cpu in the bios.
If it's anything like the 3950x then your stock voltage is around 1.4v which is insanely high for a non-oc setup, even when OC'ing thats pretty high.

So play around with your voltage and see if you can get it down to around 1.2v or so, which should drastically drop your temps.

 

[Dom]

a 360mm is only ever needed if you are cooling both cpu and gpu together in a loop imo, just ignore I the fact I that I am running 2x360mm for that setup however.

A 280mm should be more than sufficient to cool your 3700x.
However, what I would suggest you try first is dropping the voltage of the cpu in the bios.
If it's anything like the 3950x then your stock voltage is around 1.4v which is insanely high for a non-oc setup, even when OC'ing thats pretty high.

So play around with your voltage and see if you can get it down to around 1.2v or so, which should drastically drop your temps.

Join the toetie club

@UrBaN - try disabling SMT & PBO. Sharing temps can also help!

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

I'd say 240/280 unless you can get a 360 with very long tubes so that it can reach from the bottom right to the block.

 

[RumMum]

Got a 280 Fractal Dynamic. Whisper, whisper quite. The two 140 fans never( till now) spins up fully and makes a noise. CPU temp max and only for a second or two, up to 80C on a 3900x.

 

[Star_22]

360 is not all that much better than a 280 nor is it worth the extra price. I have also seen some reviews where the 280mm version of the same model AIOs outperform the 360mm models. Brand wise I would advise Corsair, Great support and warranty in SA. If you using PBO from what I have experienced with a 3800X do note that regardless of what cooler you have it will get up to 70-80 and that is by design. I had a BeQuiet DRP4 and it would get to 75-80 with PBO enabled and would max out at 55-60 with everything on default (no PBO, all core @ 3.9Ghz)

 

[D3TTOL]

Here is a story

A long long time 3 months ago, I bought a new Antec 240 AIO.
A month later the pump decided to go on permanent strike causing my CPU to hit 100 degrees.
I now have a air cooler again and I won't be going back to a AIO.

 

[Dom]

I'd say 240/280 unless you can get a 360 with very long tubes so that it can reach from the bottom right to the block.

Will tube length really be an issue - the case is only 46cm high & that is not factoring in the mobo placement & CPU socket.

 

[Nyt Ryda]

Corsair is the only AIO brand I trust.

I'd get a 240mm or 280mm. The 360 doesn't have much benefit.
I find the 140mm fans quieter than 120mm too.

Also its important the top of your rad when installed is higher than the top of your cpu block, because if the cpu is higher you will get crap performance.

And yeah, follow the Ryzen guys advice above. Stock auto voltages are usually very generous and you can get by with less.

 

[Areola Grande]

Okay sweet so basically:

Buy a 120mm
Set voltage to 1.7V and enable PBO.

 

[Star_22]

Okay sweet so basically:

Buy a 120mm
Set voltage to 1.7V and enable PBO.

Also take out CMOS battery, lighter PC runs faster.

 

[Areola Grande]

I kid.

I've been looking at the Fractal Design Celcius+ S28 Prisma and Corsair H115i RGB Platinum.

Any other suggestions?
And yes, I will play with voltages, but I want one, stop telling me logical suggestions and sell me something dammit.

 

[Dom]

Okay sweet so basically:

Buy a 120mm
Set voltage to 1.7V and enable PBO.

Okay sweet so basically:

Buy a 120mm
Set voltage to 1.7V and enable PBO.

10-4 Good Buddy GIF - 104 Good Buddy Scream - Discover & Share GIFs

Click to view the GIF

tenor.com

 

[Areola Grande]

Okay I've just come across this.

Lian-Li Galahad 240mm AIO Closed Loop White Liquid CPU Cooler | CPU Coolers | Dreamware Technology

CLOSED-LOOP AIO LIQUID CPU COOLER. COOLING SOLUTION FEATURING PREMIUM MATERIALS

www.dreamwaretech.co.za

Any reason not to go for this sexy beast?

 

[HolyCowImAnoOb]

IMO, if you cant mount your AIO above your cpu cooler go Air.

 

[Nyt Ryda]

Okay I've just come across this.

Lian-Li Galahad 240mm AIO Closed Loop White Liquid CPU Cooler | CPU Coolers | Dreamware Technology

CLOSED-LOOP AIO LIQUID CPU COOLER. COOLING SOLUTION FEATURING PREMIUM MATERIALS

www.dreamwaretech.co.za

Any reason not to go for this sexy beast?

Pump reliability. Corsair and the like didn't get there overnight, why would you trust some other company's first attempt ?

I wouldn't put a Lian Li/ASUS/MSI/InWin AIO anywhere near my parts.
Corsair ftw. Antec is up there too, Thermaltake is a bit behind those two. Cooler Master is good value but reliability isn't quite there yet.

 

[Areola Grande]

Pump reliability. Corsair and the like didn't get there overnight, why would you trust some other company's first attempt ?

I wouldn't put a Lian Li/ASUS/MSI/InWin AIO anywhere near my parts.
Corsair ftw. Antec is up there too, Thermaltake is a bit behind those two. Cooler Master is good value but reliability isn't quite there yet.

So you would go for this then?

Corsair iCUE H115i PRO XT AIO Liquid Cooler, 280mm

The CORSAIR iCUE H115i RGB PRO XT is an all-in-one liquid CPU cooler built for both low noise operation and extreme CPU cooling, with a 280mm radiator, two CORSAIR ML140 PWM fans, and 16 RGB LEDs.

progenix.co.za

 

[goldfritter]

Okay I've just come across this.

Lian-Li Galahad 240mm AIO Closed Loop White Liquid CPU Cooler | CPU Coolers | Dreamware Technology

CLOSED-LOOP AIO LIQUID CPU COOLER. COOLING SOLUTION FEATURING PREMIUM MATERIALS

www.dreamwaretech.co.za

Any reason not to go for this sexy beast?

Three words - Corsair Elite Capellix.

@Oj0 has confirmed stock will be coming in Dec or Jan.

As to size - I agree that 360 doesn't provide much benefit over 280. I'd argue that since a 3700X is a 65W part, a 240 will actually be more than enough. The 280 will perform very well but the wider rad can cause compatibility issues if you ever get another case. 240 is pretty much universally compatible.

That said... Front mounting the rad can cause other components (GPU, RAM, VRM etc.) to run hotter. It's not a huge impact, and adding pull fans can mitigate this somewhat. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[durimotara]

Pump reliability. Corsair and the like didn't get there overnight, why would you trust some other company's first attempt ?

I wouldn't put a Lian Li/ASUS/MSI/InWin AIO anywhere near my parts.
Corsair ftw. Antec is up there too, Thermaltake is a bit behind those two. Cooler Master is good value but reliability isn't quite there yet.

Dont like 90% of AIO`s use the same Asetek patented design? How would that make Corsair or the like better than Lian Li etc

 

[PandaAttack1]

Air Cooler > AIO.

 

[Areola Grande]

Three words - Corsair Elite Capellix.

@Oj0 has confirmed stock will be coming in Dec or Jan.

As to size - I agree that 360 doesn't provide much benefit over 280. I'd argue that since a 3700X is a 65W part, a 240 will actually be more than enough. The 280 will perform very well but the wider rad can cause compatibility issues if you ever get another case. 240 is pretty much universally compatible.

That said... Front mounting the rad can cause other components (GPU, RAM, VRM etc.) to run hotter. It's not a huge impact, and adding pull fans can mitigate this somewhat. Just something to keep in mind.

I currently have 3 front intakes, 1 rear exhaust and two top exhausts, so i think I should be okay for general airflow.

 

[∀Z‾soʇɐuɐɥ┴]

I kid.

I've been looking at the Fractal Design Celcius+ S28 Prisma and Corsair H115i RGB Platinum.

Any other suggestions?
And yes, I will play with voltages, but I want one, stop telling me logical suggestions and sell me something dammit.

I had the normal S36 Fractal AIO.
It performed ok, but the build quality of it and it's included fans were beyond shit.
Not sure if I just got a bad unit, but shortly after installing and turning it on one of the blades decided to loose a fin all randomly.

I still use the radiator from that AIO though, that was about the only good thing it had going for it.

 

[noa]

Dont like 90% of AIO`s use the same Asetek patented design? How would that make Corsair or the like better than Lian Li etc

Muh brand

 

[∀Z‾soʇɐuɐɥ┴]

Dont like 90% of AIO`s use the same Asetek patented design? How would that make Corsair or the like better than Lian Li etc

If the pumps are the same it comes down to 2 things.
1. Fan blade design
2. Radiator fin design.

 

[Nyt Ryda]

Dont like 90% of AIO`s use the same Asetek patented design? How would that make Corsair or the like better than Lian Li etc

There's a lot more than just the pump. System permeation, fitings, tubing degradation over time, track record.

Also not all of them all of them go with Asetek/Coolit.

Source : Lian Li Galahad 240 AIO Review - Good Performance, Exceptional Looks

Today's review focuses on the Galahad 240 AIO, which is Lian Li's first all-in-one liquid cooler. As such, expectations are quite high, even more so because it's not a reskinned Asetek or Coolit unit. Instead, the Galahad 240 uses a triple chamber pump design, and we have a liquid cooler with a unique appearance instead of just a brushed aluminium housing on the radiator.

 

[Nyt Ryda]

it's included fans were beyond shit.

Same with my Corsair H105, not because it wasn't reliable but because they were loud AF.

The key to a quiet/cool AIO is replacing the fans with something that has a high static pressure but that can be connected to your motherboard for a custom fan profile.

 

[PancakesZA]

I had the normal S36 Fractal AIO.
It performed ok, but the build quality of it and it's included fans were beyond shit.
Not sure if I just got a bad unit, but shortly after installing and turning it on one of the blades decided to loose a fin all randomly.

I still use the radiator from that AIO though, that was about the only good thing it had going for it.

You definitely got a bad unit. My S36+ Prisma oozes quality and I adore it. So glad I skipped the usual Corsair trash with their bloated software and leaky radiators.

 

[goldfritter]

I currently have 3 front intakes, 1 rear exhaust and two top exhausts, so i think I should be okay for general airflow.

Fair enough, but when the AIO rad is in front, it's not really an "intake" any more as the air is both hotter and slower than with fans there.

I'd suggest getting the H100i Elite Capellix, because then you can mount the 240mm rad plus one 120mm fan in front, so there is at least some clean air coming in

 

[goldfritter]

Same with my Corsair H105, not because it wasn't reliable but because they were loud AF.

The key to a quiet/cool AIO is replacing the fans with something that has a high static pressure but that can be connected to your motherboard for a custom fan profile.

With the newer Corsair AIOs you can set fan profiles in Windows with iCUE. The Elite Capellix ones even come with a 6-fan hub so you can control case fans in Windows as well.