Cooling a i5 ITX

madcratebuilder · 19 Sep 2013

I'm working on a new build using the Lian Li train case and this is my first time building with the Intel i5 cpu. I have a ASUS P8H77-i mobo with the i5-3570k cpu. This is a 77 watt cpu and I would like some opinions on how well the oem Itel cpu cooler/fan does the job. How's the fan noise level? The oem cooler appears to be the equal of many of the aftermarket items I have looked at and I can't see spending $50 if it's not really needed. My main concern is the noise level as this well be in the main living room area. It well be used by my ball and chain for internet and light image processing so I don't think heat well be an issue. Thoughts?

fireberd · 19 Sep 2013

I have two builds in the last year, one with an i7 3770 and another with an i5 3550. The i7 is using a liquid cooler and very quiet (with aftermarket quiet fans). The i5 is in a large coolermaster case with good cooling and an after market Thermaltake cooling assembly (large with two fans). It doesn't do the cooling job I would like as the fans speed up with relatively small CPU loads. As this is a backup for my Recording Studio system (the i7) I'm considering installing a similar liquid cooler in it for both cooling and less fan noise.

madcratebuilder · 19 Sep 2013

So the oem Itel cpu fan is fairly load? This cpu well run at very low load levels. Not much room for anything other than the oem size on the cpu. I replaced the Lian Li case fan with a Noctua NF-S12A PWM. I'll look for a better cpu fan.

Boozad · 19 Sep 2013

I'd recommend a Noctua NH-D14. My cooler only has half of the heatpipes that cooler has and cools my 4670k brilliantly, plus it's extremely quiet.

linnemeyerhere · 19 Sep 2013

madcratebuilder said:

So the oem Itel cpu fan is fairly load? This cpu well run at very low load levels. Not much room for anything other than the oem size on the cpu. I replaced the Lian Li case fan with a Noctua NF-S12A PWM. I'll look for a better cpu fan.

Consider using the Noctua with this then:

CORSAIR Hydro Series H60 (CW-9060007-WW) Water Cooler - Newegg.com

If you can squeeze in a dbl. deep 120mm rad then look to the 80i.

madcratebuilder · 20 Sep 2013

If i had the room this would be very simple, but the case size I'm working with is 205x140x130 or 8x6x5 inches.
As you can see a Noctua NF-S12A-PWM replaces the Lian Li case fan, a 120mm barely fits!

Options.
Zalmam
Evercool
Generic
Akasa

How much improvement would one of the above be over the oem Itel?

Anything larger then these well have a adverse effect on interior air flow. Absolutely must be quiet and of course, cool the cpu/mobo.

linnemeyerhere · 20 Sep 2013

I see now it has zero room for the radiator. Measure the height in the case and still get the side panel on, heck that may be in the spec's that cam with the case and let us know and maybe we can find a good solution. Also I would make that fan an exhaust fan.

Maybe something like this?:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835608019