Noctua NH-D14 vs Liquid Cooling

[TIGR]

Anybody seen a recent (2010) test comparing the NH-D14 and other air cooling solutions to liquid cooling setups? I haven't seen such an air vs water comparison done for quite a while and am wondering what the state of things is. I understand the Noctua will match or even outperform Corsair's H50.

 

[johnnyfiive]

I had a NH-D14 on my i7 setup and it was the best air solution I've ever used, hands down. No clue how it would compare to water though, not on my setup at least.

 

[TIGR]

To the best of my knowledge, it is the best [unmodded] air cooling solution available.

 

[mstenholm]

None water-NH-D14 comparisons as far as I know besides the Corsair. I run 30-37 C above ambiente at 4 GHz in a open rig @ 8 treads/100% 24/7. I'm happy.

 

[assaulter_99]

I'd take the noctua any day, not too fond of water cooling (afraid of accidents). It is among the best but the looks are pretty meh lol. Maybe that's the price for excellent air cooling, besides its real price

 

[PaulieG]

High end air will never compete with anything but low to lo-mid water. It's simply impossible to create the temps produced with a solid custom loop. That's coming from experience, and why I'm back on water after running Mega's for months.

Thing is, you can put a good custom loop together with used parts for around $150, and i7's just beg for water to get the most out of them.

 

[mstenholm]

There is no doubt that a good custum water loop will out perform any retail air coolers. The problem for many beginners is to build the good WC for $150.

 

[assaulter_99]

Can you really get a good WC setup for ~$150?

 

[theonedub]

^ Thats what I'm thinking. Second hand surely, but new?

 

[PaulieG]

Can you really get a good WC setup for ~$150?

Yes.

^ Thats what I'm thinking. Second hand surely, but new?

With some used parts, and some new. Thing is, most used blocks, pumps and res' are as good as new. One of my loops actually cost $130, and the only thing I bought new was the Rad and tubing. That included a D4 pump, EK Rad and res, and an Enzotech block.

 

[TIGR]

Let's compare apples to apples here (new to new). Air cooling can be bought used as well. I've seen two TRUEs go for $45 (shipped) or less in the past two weeks.

 

[assaulter_99]

^^^ true and cheaper, I guess!

 

[PaulieG]

Let's compare apples to apples here (new to new). Air cooling can be bought used as well. I've seen two TRUEs go for $45 or less in the past two weeks.

But why do that? It's illogical when used water is better than new air.

 

[theonedub]

I got my Mega for $45

Im going to wait for another air cooler to come out and convince Paul to go back to air, then I will buy one of his 'budget' loops cheap

 

[TIGR]

But why do that? It's illogical when used water is better than new air.

Because you mentioned how inexpensively you could get a water cooling setup used. If you want to compare prices, you should compare used to used, not used to new.

It goes without saying that water can out-cool an air setup.

 

[assaulter_99]

interesting though, I never thought WC could be ~150. Might look into it. The only thing that's still keeping me out is the number of parts you need to get.

 

[PaulieG]

Because you mentioned how inexpensively you could get a water cooling setup used. If you want to compare prices, compare used to used, not used to new.

It goes without saying that water can out-cool an air setup.

I'm simply stating how to get the best cooling possible on the cheap. People avoid water thinking that it's crazy expensive, when it's really not.

 

[lemode]

i can't speak on water cooling as i do not want to deal with liquid (no matter how OCD and secure i think it is) near my components. i have used Noctura heatsinks for a few years. until a solution comes out that makes me trust water cooling (becasue i dont trust myself), i will stick to good air solutions.

 

[assaulter_99]

i can't speak on water cooling as i do not want to deal with liquid (no matter how OCD and secure i think it is) near my components. i have used Noctura heatsinks for a few years. until a solution comes out that makes me trust water cooling (becasue i dont trust myself), i will stick to good air solutions.

What about h50? seems to be easier to setup?

 

[TIGR]

One concern with the Noctua is that it is rather heavy. Some might not like that.

Paulie, "on the cheap," "crazy expensive," etc. are not really concrete enough to work with here. Personally, I wouldn't even bother with the Noctua for my personal rigs. I consider the best bang for buck to be my $25 Xigmatek S1283. Others consider a $300 cooling setup to be cheap. The OP was really about seeing how much performance difference there is, for the ultimate purpose of determining the cost of different levels of cooling performance. Naturally, I'd say a $150 liquid cooling setup had damn well better outperform an $80 air cooler; the question is, by how much?

I could also say phase change that can be had for only $500 used is not as "crazy expensive" as many people think and will outperform water.

 

[PaulieG]

i can't speak on water cooling as i do not want to deal with liquid (no matter how OCD and secure i think it is) near my components. i have used Noctura heatsinks for a few years. until a solution comes out that makes me trust water cooling (becasue i dont trust myself), i will stick to good air solutions.

Fair enough. This is the only potential downside. However, if you follow certain steps, the risk is minimal. I'm OCD about my loops, so I triple check that everything is sealed and tight, and I use plubers tape on all my barbs. Then I run my loop away from components for 12 hours before I install it.

One concern with the Noctua is that it is rather heavy. Some might not like that.

Paulie, "on the cheap," "crazy expensive," etc. are not really concrete enough to work with here. Personally, I wouldn't even bother with the Noctua. I consider the best bang for buck to be my $25 Xigmatek S1283. Others consider a $300 cooling setup to be cheap. The OP was really about seeing how much performance difference there is, for the ultimate purpose of determining the cost of different levels of cooling performance. Naturally, I'd say a $150 liquid cooling setup had damn well better outperform an $80 air cooler; the question is, by how much?

Everything is relative. I will say this. On water in an unheated garage, I idle in the teens, and never break 60c on a highly overclocked i7. My Mega could never come within 10c of that.

 

[assaulter_99]

One concern with the Noctua is that it is rather heavy. Some might not like that.

Naturally, I'd say a $150 liquid cooling setup had damn well better outperform an $80 air cooler; the question is, by how much?

Plus I think the noctua covers some ram slots.

Good question, is 5 - 10 degrees worth the risk and cost? Maybe it depends on your enthusiasm!

 

[TIGR]

Indeed, which leads us the the OP, where I'm looking for actual side-by-side tests.

All is relative, but some hard numbers would put them into perspective.

 

[Binge]

It'd be impossible to compare. Low end WC is a single 120mm rad. Once you go dual or triple then air cooling can't beat it not even the NH-D14

 

[TIGR]

It'd be impossible to compare. Low end WC is a single 120mm rad. Once you go dual or triple then air cooling can't beat it not even the NH-D14

....a $150 liquid cooling setup had damn well better outperform an $80 air cooler; the question is, by how much?

....which leads us the the OP, where I'm looking for actual side-by-side tests.

All is relative, but some hard numbers would put them into perspective.