Advice for first time PC builder - Desktop PC / AIO Cooler Radiator

concento on 28/10/2018 - 17:42

Hi Ozbargain Brain Trust,

I am looking to build my first PC and I am after some advice from people who have done it before.

  1. I am looking to use a Fractal Design R6 case which still has a 5.25" Drive Bay at the top.
    https://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/define-ser…

  2. I am currently looking at installing a Coolmaster ML360R at the front of the case as that configuration appears to give optimal cooling.
    http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-liquid-cooler/master…

My question is, do any of you who have this case know if you install a 360mm radaitor and cooler at the front, will the 5.25" drive bay still be usable?

In terms of the rest of the components, I am planning to use:

  • Intel 8700K CPU
  • MSI MPG Z390 GAMING PRO CARBON AC Motherboard
  • Kingston HyperX Predator 16GB 2X8GB DDR4 3200MHz Gaming Desktop Memory
  • Corsair RM750i PSU

Thanks so much for your help.

Computing

Comments

  • p1 ama on 28/10/2018 - 18:20

    No, if you install a 360mm radiator, you won't be able to use that 5.25" bay. What are you thinking of putting in there anyway? If you really need it, go with a 240mm radiator instead. Cooling performance will be basically the same.

    Also, if you're getting an 8700K, you should consider getting a 9700K for only a little extra instead. Right now, the 9700K is around $50 more, but once the "new tax" wears off, you'd probably be looking at a much smaller difference. You lose Hyper-Threading for 2 extra cores and I'd take that any day.

    • Diji1 on 28/10/2018 - 19:30

      From what I can see when I was looking at this for myself AIO's under 360mm aren't competitive with Noctua air cooling for noise (and sometimes cost) because the pump has to run harder.

      I have same case and I was considering an AIO CPU cooler, still might at the right price, but I'm more leaning towards using modular systems (which are expensive but use pre-filled pieces that you can just link together and add to at will without filling eg. Eisbaer or EK) or custom loop (which is a PITA) now because I want to water cool my next GPU later on.

      Presumably you can use the top slot which fits a 420mm radiator to fit a 360mm right? It's the best place for it (provided you are not using GPU water cooling in which case get the GPU heat out the top instead) although the difference between mounting the radiator at front or top isn't large for dissapating CPU heat.

      You will want to match or over the pressure with input fans so dust only hits the dust filters and isn't sucked in at all open places in the case.

      You can fit 4x 140mm input at front and bottom which should be ample to match/exceed the radiator exhaust pressure and be quiet and dust filtered. I use this fan config atm for cooling CPU and GPU with air, all fans being regulated by CPU PWM header using the R6 integrated fan controller.

      • p1 ama on 28/10/2018 - 20:26
        +1

        I agree, I've used 240mm AIO's in the past and also had full custom loops, but I'm using a Noctua NH-D15 now and it's generally a better cooler. It's quieter, temperatures are lower and there's less things that can fail. It's also cheaper.

        If you play around with your hardware regularly, like I used to do (e.g. changing out CPUs, RAM…etc.), then the Noctua cooler is actually quite annoying because it takes longer to mount than an AIO and you can't access the RAM slots when it's installed.

      • concento on 28/10/2018 - 23:05

        Hi Diji1, so do you reckon a 360mm radiator placed at the front of the case would obstruct with the 5.25" drive bay?

        It's my first build so I am thinking of sticking to something simple for now hence why I am thinking of AIO.

    • concento on 28/10/2018 - 23:00

      @p1 ama, thanks for the advice, about the 360 mm radiator conflicting with the 5.25" drive bay, is that based on your personal experience? I am just a little confused because the specs say the front of the case can house 360 mm radiators, just don't mention if that cuts into the 5.25" bay.

      In terms of 8700K vs. 9700K, the price of the 9700K is still much higher than $50, and several online reviews have mentioned the 9700K gets very hot but there isn't all that much real world performance gain so that is why I am also a little hesitant about it.

  • Richardc on 28/10/2018 - 18:48

    Go for corsair 750D?

    • concento on 28/10/2018 - 23:01

      Looks like a great case, just too big for me that's all, and I like the USB C support in the Fractal Design R6

  • AdosHouse on 28/10/2018 - 19:45

    My question is, why do you want an AIO to start with?

    I have the older R5 and with all air cooling, I can't hear my computer from 0.5m away, until I start pushing it.

    • Richardc on 29/10/2018 - 07:55

      I think because of the 8700k.

      • AdosHouse on 29/10/2018 - 20:37

        I'm thinking it's more for the looks, and that is completely fine if that's what the OP is going for, their choice.

        An i7-8700k even OC'd isn't that hard to keep cool. And my recommended cooler is the Noctua NH-D15.

        https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Cooler_Master/MasterLiqu… , they are pretty much on par with each other. Just that the Noctua is $50 cheaper and no risk of a water leak.

        • Richardc on 29/10/2018 - 22:12

          Yes, I agree, also if you do some cpu setting depending on your tasks, you can lower the max temp.

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