- Joined
- Oct 18, 2005
- Location
- Chicago Burbs
If you're feeling like TLDR, all I want to know is: what are the best looking CPU heatsinks out there?
Read below if so inclined
Basically I'm looking for your ideas about the best looking heatsinks out there to use for a 7700k. They don't have to be the strongest, but they can't be weak either. Mid, or mid-high tier is preferred for performance potential. Bonus points for not blocking view of RAM (the light up RGB Corsair Vengeance DDR4). If I get heavy into 24/7 OCing I will probably delid-re-tim, which should compensate for (or be absolutely necessary no matter what) relative heatsink weakness.
Stuff to keep in mind:
1. I don't think I'll feel particularly compelled to absolutely maximize the overclock I get on air. If I can just get a nice big chunk without too much voltage raise, I'm fine with missing out on the last bits of potential. If the 80/20 rule applies here, that would be fine with me.
2. Ideally, I don't want to block the view or even worse, use, of any RAM slots, which are pretty close to the CPU socket. However, I might be willing to block the view of a slot or two, if a big HS looks good enough (the potential for strapping a light up 120mm fan might be included in this looks category, but it also has to look relatively good regardless).
3. A heatsink that will never reach the RAM slots, even with a fan on that side, will likely be weaker. This can be compensated for with the delid/tim-replacement solution, I suppose, which is something I'll likely do later when I get a serious case of OC fever.
4. Either style heatsink has a tendency to be quite ugly on whichever sides it is uncovered by fans, especially the top. Noctua is particularly guilty of this
5. Unusual configurations will be considered, such as the old fan blowing down toward motherboard heatsink style, etc. If they aren't too weak. I actually really like that particular style since it has the fan facing out toward the case window. Not sure if it would be too wide though for the RAM slots.
6. I eventually plan to have all 4 RAM slots on the motherboard filled up, and a large style heatsink will almost certainly either prevent their use, or at the very least block the view of 1 or more of the sticks. This can sometimes be solved by things such as not putting a fan on the RAM side, but this can lead to other problems like lowered cooling potential, especially if any other fans aren't pushing air into the heatsink. If the fan by the rear of the case is pushing, then this would introduce case flow issues as I prefer the ones in the front by the HDDs to be intakes.
7. In some cases a large HS can be oriented to have fans pushing/pulling on the top/bottom instead, but they often have an even bigger footprint when turned sideways like that (but sometimes not).
8. In light of 6/7 I'm definitely willing to consider trying unusual/modified orientation/fan setups if they are effective enough not to gimp the cooling to all hell
Read below if so inclined
Basically I'm looking for your ideas about the best looking heatsinks out there to use for a 7700k. They don't have to be the strongest, but they can't be weak either. Mid, or mid-high tier is preferred for performance potential. Bonus points for not blocking view of RAM (the light up RGB Corsair Vengeance DDR4). If I get heavy into 24/7 OCing I will probably delid-re-tim, which should compensate for (or be absolutely necessary no matter what) relative heatsink weakness.
Stuff to keep in mind:
1. I don't think I'll feel particularly compelled to absolutely maximize the overclock I get on air. If I can just get a nice big chunk without too much voltage raise, I'm fine with missing out on the last bits of potential. If the 80/20 rule applies here, that would be fine with me.
2. Ideally, I don't want to block the view or even worse, use, of any RAM slots, which are pretty close to the CPU socket. However, I might be willing to block the view of a slot or two, if a big HS looks good enough (the potential for strapping a light up 120mm fan might be included in this looks category, but it also has to look relatively good regardless).
3. A heatsink that will never reach the RAM slots, even with a fan on that side, will likely be weaker. This can be compensated for with the delid/tim-replacement solution, I suppose, which is something I'll likely do later when I get a serious case of OC fever.
4. Either style heatsink has a tendency to be quite ugly on whichever sides it is uncovered by fans, especially the top. Noctua is particularly guilty of this
5. Unusual configurations will be considered, such as the old fan blowing down toward motherboard heatsink style, etc. If they aren't too weak. I actually really like that particular style since it has the fan facing out toward the case window. Not sure if it would be too wide though for the RAM slots.
6. I eventually plan to have all 4 RAM slots on the motherboard filled up, and a large style heatsink will almost certainly either prevent their use, or at the very least block the view of 1 or more of the sticks. This can sometimes be solved by things such as not putting a fan on the RAM side, but this can lead to other problems like lowered cooling potential, especially if any other fans aren't pushing air into the heatsink. If the fan by the rear of the case is pushing, then this would introduce case flow issues as I prefer the ones in the front by the HDDs to be intakes.
7. In some cases a large HS can be oriented to have fans pushing/pulling on the top/bottom instead, but they often have an even bigger footprint when turned sideways like that (but sometimes not).
8. In light of 6/7 I'm definitely willing to consider trying unusual/modified orientation/fan setups if they are effective enough not to gimp the cooling to all hell
Last edited:
