Cooling Quiet CPU cooler recommendations

Hi,

I'm putting together a system for audio/visual use that needs to run cool and quiet under a desk.
The CPU will probably be an i5 6400 (65W) and I'm looking for a cooler (air or water) that will keep this happy and run as quiet as possible for less than £50. I'd also prefer something that won't obscure any RAM slots.

I've had lots of success with Noctua coolers in i7 systems, so my first thought was the NH-U12S but I'm wondering if there's anything as good or better for a bit less money?

Cheers.

 

If you want total DIMM slot freedom, you'd be best going down the AIO route.

I know that Parge is selling his Tundra 3 for £55. I was going to get it in December but I can give it up if you're interested.

 

Thanks for the heads up but I'm hoping to find something closer to £40 as I've been given a very tight budget. I'll keep this in mind though.

 

http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/...=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=products

 

Thanks, the Seidon 120V was another option I'd looked at but it seemed to be louder based on the reviews I looked at. Have you had any experience with this compared to the Noctua?

 

Most if not all CLCs have pump noise. A good air cooler can easily cool a 65w CPU with no fan at all.

Something like Thermalright Macho rev.B will give you RAM clearance and no noise. £42.90 FREE UK delivery It is 162mm tall, 140mm wide (7mm center CPU toward PCIe socket), and 102mm deep (25mm center CPU toward RAM without fan)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ThermalRigh...1447689373&sr=8-1&keywords=thermalright+macho

 

This. If noise is a concern on a low TDP system, LCLCs are immediately out of the question for me. It's an extra motor where there doesn't need to be one.

With that said, I've done a silent build with a custom loop in the past by hooking the pump to 5V only, but that was also with sound insulation mats on every panel, even the bottom.

 

Thanks, that was my initial feeling also but I wanted to keep an open mind to other possibilities.
Seen as I want to aim for maximum reliability I think I'll stick with an air cooler.

I'm not familiar with the Macho rev.B so I'll take a look. Thanks.

 

The Macho looks like a really good alternative but unfortunately it's slightly too tall to fit in the case I've been looking at. I've struggled to find a decent looking mini-ATX case around £30 mark that will fit tall coolers. The best I've found so far is the Cooler Master N200 but that will only accept coolers up to 160mm tall. The NH-U12S is 158mm. So even that is really pushing it with 2mm clearance.

 

As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the cooler the less airflow / air speed is needed to keep things cool. The Macho was originally designed as a passive cooler and the newer Macho Zero is also passive. The larger fin size /area radiates more heat and wider space between fins allows air to flow through easier.

I can't say for sure but it is very possible a 162mm cooler will fit in N200. Most cases have a few mm more clearance than their specs say they have.