Best air cooler for LGA 1155 without backplate.

MaxAwesome · May 4, 2014

Hi guys,

Currently, my 2600k is being cooled by Cooler Master TX3 with double fans. It's a nice little cooler, but with it I can only OC until around 4.6ghz, beyond that the temps completely overwhelm the cooler and the CPU starts to throttle.

I'm looking for a new CPU cooler, that can help me reach 5ghz.

Preferably, no backplate. I really don't want to go through the hassle of removing the motherboard to mount it

Vario · May 4, 2014

there arent any good ones that don't have a backplate, backplate is necessary to get a tight enough connection.

Next time you remove the motherboard, cut a whole in the back panel so you can change coolers without removing the board in the future.

MxPhenom 216 · May 4, 2014

Just use a backplate. Doesnt take very much time to disconnect a few cables and unscrew a few screws.

All the worthwhile coolers have backplates.

MaxAwesome · May 4, 2014

Thanks guys, I see that using a backplate is the way to go

Still, could anyone point me to a few coolers that don't need a backplate so I can research them to see if they're better than my TX3?

I really don't know what to look for, because I haven't researched coolers ever since I bought my 2600k in 2011.

TRWOV · May 4, 2014

I was precicely going to suggest a TX3 with 2 fans. I don't think it gets much better than that.

Maybe upgrade to 2 92x38mm fans? http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g36...lt_Fans_-_PWM-92mm_x_38mm_PWM_Fans-Page1.html

Kursah · May 4, 2014

To reach your OC goals you'll need a better cooler which means backplate...that or get a 92mm sized cooler that can accept dual fans. I don't think you can bet the TX3.

I highly recommend looking at the Noctua U14S...mine has been a pleasure to work with, super easy. Why not take your mainboard out, and mod your case so you can install and remove coolers without removing the MB? Wouldn't take long if you had access to a dremel, some masking tape and maybe a hole saw.

Honestly if you want to reach your OC goals, you need a good cooler to do the job. Maybe go with one of the All in One water cooling kits? But I think most of those need backplates too don't they? I know the smaller ones I've dealt with don't. That might be the next route for you to go if you really don't want to be hassled with removing your mainboard.

:toast:

Devon68 · May 4, 2014

Google is your friend:
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/t...t-doesnt-require-removing-motherboard.145032/
but here are some you could look at: (doesn't mean they are better than tx3 I just don't know)
1. cooler master hyper 101
2. ZALMAN CNPS5X SZ
3. DEEPCOOL ICEWIND
4. DEEPCOOL ICEWIND FS

None of these will get you to 5 GHZ but good luck in your search.

legion1capone · May 4, 2014

My choices always come back to the Noctua NH-D15 or the Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro 3.

TC-man · May 5, 2014

Hi,

Perhaps try out Scythe Katana 4 which makes use of push pins (no backplate!). Techpowerup has a review of this cooler and it scores pretty well: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Scythe/Katana4/9.html

According to the test it performs very similar Cooler Master's Hyper 212 Evo.

LAN_deRf_HA · May 5, 2014

The problem is mass. More metal is needed for big performance gains which makes coolers too heavy for push pins.

Naito · May 5, 2014

Perhaps a CoolerMaster Hyper 212X/Evo in push-pull configuration? Although, 5GHz seems quite an ask for an air cooler...

System Name	Games for Breakfast
Processor	i7 2600k @ 4.3ghz
Motherboard	ASRrock Z77 extreme6
Cooling	Cooler Master TX3 Dual Fan
Memory	16GB DDR3 - RipjawsX 1600 1.5v @ 8-8-8-22 1T
Video Card(s)	Asus AMD R9 290 4GB Reference PCB
Storage	Samsung F3 Spinpoint 1TB
Display(s)	HP 22vx IPS LED
Case	Cooler Master Elite 331
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Corsair TX650 V1
Keyboard	CM Storm Devastator
Software	Windows 10 64bit

System Name	Computer of Theseus
Processor	Intel i9-12900KS: 50x Pcore multi @ 1.18Vcore (target 1.275V -100mv offset)
Motherboard	EVGA Z690 Classified
Cooling	Noctua NH-D15S, 2xThermalRight TY-143, 4xNoctua NF-A12x25,3xNF-A12x15, 2xAquacomputer Splitty9Active
Memory	G-Skill Trident Z5 (32GB) DDR5-6000 C36 F5-6000J3636F16GX2-TZ5RK
Video Card(s)	EVGA Geforce 3060 XC Black Gaming 12GB
Storage	1x Samsung 970 Pro 512GB NVMe (OS), 2x Samsung 970 Evo Plus 2TB (data 1 and 2), ASUS BW-16D1HT
Display(s)	Dell S3220DGF 32" 2560x1440 165Hz Primary, Dell P2017H 19.5" 1600x900 Secondary, Ergotron LX arms.
Case	Lian Li O11 Air Mini
Audio Device(s)	Audiotechnica ATR2100X-USB, El Gato Wave XLR Mic Preamp, ATH M50X Headphones, Behringer 302USB Mixer
Power Supply	Super Flower Leadex Platinum SE 1000W 80+ Platinum White
Mouse	Zowie EC3-C
Keyboard	Vortex Multix 87 Winter TKL (Gateron G Pro Yellow)
Software	Win 10 LTSC 21H2

System Name	Ryzen Reflection
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 5900x
Motherboard	Gigabyte X570S Aorus Master
Cooling	2x EK PE360 \| TechN AM4 AMD Block Black \| EK Quantum Vector Trinity GPU Nickel + Plexi
Memory	Teamgroup T-Force Xtreem 2x16GB B-Die 3600 @ 14-14-14-28-42-288-2T 1.45v
Video Card(s)	Zotac AMP HoloBlack RTX 3080Ti 12G \| 950mV 1950Mhz
Storage	WD SN850 500GB (OS) \| Samsung 980 Pro 1TB (Games_1) \| Samsung 970 Evo 1TB (Games_2)
Display(s)	Asus XG27AQM 240Hz G-Sync Fast-IPS \| Gigabyte M27Q-P 165Hz 1440P IPS \| Asus 24" IPS (portrait mode)
Case	Lian Li PC-011D XL \| Custom cables by Cablemodz
Audio Device(s)	FiiO K7 \| Sennheiser HD650 + Beyerdynamic FOX Mic
Power Supply	Seasonic Prime Ultra Platinum 850
Mouse	Razer Viper v2 Pro
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
Software	Windows 11 Pro 64-Bit

System Name	Games for Breakfast
Processor	i7 2600k @ 4.3ghz
Motherboard	ASRrock Z77 extreme6
Cooling	Cooler Master TX3 Dual Fan
Memory	16GB DDR3 - RipjawsX 1600 1.5v @ 8-8-8-22 1T
Video Card(s)	Asus AMD R9 290 4GB Reference PCB
Storage	Samsung F3 Spinpoint 1TB
Display(s)	HP 22vx IPS LED
Case	Cooler Master Elite 331
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Corsair TX650 V1
Keyboard	CM Storm Devastator
Software	Windows 10 64bit

System Name	Dell-y Driver
Processor	Core i5-10400
Motherboard	Asrock H410M-HVS
Cooling	Intel 95w stock cooler
Memory	2x8 A-DATA 2999Mhz DDR4
Video Card(s)	UHD 630
Storage	1TB WD Green M.2 - 4TB Seagate Barracuda
Display(s)	Asus PA248 1920x1200 IPS
Case	Dell Vostro 270S case
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Dell 220w
Software	Windows 10 64bit

Best air cooler for LGA 1155 without backplate.

MaxAwesome

Vario

MxPhenom 216

ASIC Engineer

MaxAwesome

TRWOV

Kursah

Super Moderator

Devon68

legion1capone

TC-man

LAN_deRf_HA

Naito

System Name	Kursah's Gaming Rig 2018 (2022 Upgrade) - Ryzen+ Edition \| Gaming Laptop (Lenovo Legion 5i Pro 2022)
Processor	R7 5800X @ Stock \| i7 12700H @ Stock
Motherboard	Asus ROG Strix X370-F Gaming BIOS 6203\| Legion 5i Pro NM-E231
Cooling	Noctua NH-U14S Push-Pull + NT-H1 \| Stock Cooling
Memory	TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 32GB (2x16) DDR4 4000 @ 3600 18-20-20-42 1.35v \| 32GB DDR5 4800 (2x16)
Video Card(s)	Palit GeForce RTX 4070 JetStream 12GB \| CPU-based Intel Iris XE + RTX 3070 8GB 150W
Storage	4TB SP UD90 NVME, 960GB SATA SSD, 2TB HDD \| 1TB Samsung OEM NVME SSD + 4TB Crucial P3 Plus NVME SSD
Display(s)	Acer 28" 4K VG280K x2 \| 16" 2560x1600 built-in
Case	Corsair 600C - Stock Fans on Low \| Stock Metal/Plastic
Audio Device(s)	Aune T1 mk1 > AKG K553 Pro + JVC HA-RX 700 (Equalizer APO + PeaceUI) \| Bluetooth Earbuds (BX29)
Power Supply	EVGA 750G2 Modular + APC Back-UPS Pro 1500 \| 300W OEM (heavy use) or Lenovo Legion C135W GAN (light)
Mouse	Logitech G502 \| Logitech M330
Keyboard	HyperX Alloy Core RGB \| Built in Keyboard (Lenovo laptop KB FTW)
Software	Windows 11 Pro x64 \| Windows 11 Home x64

System Name	Ryzen 2023
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 7700
Motherboard	Asrock B650E Steel Legend Wifi
Cooling	Noctua NH-D15
Memory	G Skill Flare X5 2x16gb cl32@6000 MHz
Video Card(s)	Sapphire Radeon RX 6950 XT Nitro + gaming Oc
Storage	WESTERN DIGITAL 1TB 64MB 7k SATA600 Blue WD10EZEX, WD Black SN850X 1Tb nvme
Display(s)	LG 27GP850P-B
Case	Corsair 5000D airflow tempered glass
Power Supply	Seasonic Prime GX-850W
Mouse	A4Tech V7M bloody
Keyboard	Genius KB-G255
Software	Windows 10 64bit

System Name	Function over Form
Processor	i5 3570K
Motherboard	Asus P8Z77-V pro
Cooling	Coolermaster hyper 212 evo + with one 140mm BitFenix Spectre pro
Memory	G Skill 8gb of ram 7-8-8-24
Video Card(s)	Asus strix OC 1080 ti
Storage	Corsair neutron GTX SSD boot drive and WD black 1tb
Display(s)	Asus PA248Q 1920X1200 IPS and LG 24GM77 1920x1080 144hz TN
Case	Rosewill THOR V2
Audio Device(s)	Focusrite 2i2, schiit magni 2 uber headphone amp, Hifiman HE400i headphones, M Audio AV40 speakers
Power Supply	Rosewill Tachyon 1000w
Software	Windows 10 64 bit

Processor	Core i5 4690K @ 3.5 GHz \\ C2Q Q6600 @ 3.4 GHz
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 3 SLI \\ Asus P5K Deluxe
Cooling	Thermaltake Water 3.0 Performer \\ Xigmatek Dark Knight
Memory	Crucial Ballistix Sport 2x 4GB \\ Corsair XMS2 2x 2 GB
Video Card(s)	GIGABYTE GTX 970 G1 Gaming v1.1 (Hynix) \\ Sapphire HD 6850
Storage	Kingston SV200, 3 TB Seagate 7200.14 \\ 2x 320 GB WD Blue
Display(s)	LG 24MP56HQ
Case	Corsair Carbide 200R Windowed \\ CM 690
Audio Device(s)	Realtek ALC1150 \\ Audigy 2 ZS
Power Supply	Adata HM850 \\ Corsair HX520
Mouse	Logitech G602, SteelSeries Sensei Raw Frostblue, Corsair M65
Keyboard	Logitech Media Keyboard Elite
Software	Windows 10 Pro x64 \\ Windows 7 Ultimate x64

System Name	Obelisc
Processor	i7 3770k @ 4.8 GHz
Motherboard	Asus P8Z77-V
Cooling	H110
Memory	16GB(4x4) @ 2400 MHz 9-11-11-31
Video Card(s)	GTX 780 Ti
Storage	850 EVO 1TB, 2x 5TB Toshiba
Case	T81
Audio Device(s)	X-Fi Titanium HD
Power Supply	EVGA 850 T2 80+ TITANIUM
Software	Win10 64bit

System Name	Desktop \| Laptop
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D \| Intel Core i7 7700HQ
Motherboard	MAG X570S Torpedo Max\| Neptune KLS HM175
Cooling	Corsair H100x \| Twin fan, fin stack & heat pipes
Memory	32GB G.Skill F4-3600C16-8GVK @ 3600MHz / 16-16-16-36-1T \| 16GB DDR4 @ 2400MHz / 17-17-17-39-2T
Video Card(s)	EVGA RTX 3080 Ti FTW3 Ultra \| GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
Storage	Kingston KC3000 1TB + Kingston KC3000 2TB + Samsung 860 EVO 1TB \| 970 Evo 500GB
Display(s)	32" Dell G3223Q (2160p @ 144Hz) \| 17" IPS 1920x1080P
Case	Fractal Meshify 2 Compact \| Aspire V Nitro BE
Audio Device(s)	ifi Audio ZEN DAC V2 + Focal Radiance / HyperX Solocast
Power Supply	Super Flower Leadex V Platinum Pro 1000W \| 150W
Mouse	Razer Viper Ultimate \| Logitech MX Anywhere 2
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman V2 Optical (Linear Red)
Software	Windows 11 Pro x64