So my PC is being redone. Going 4770k, Asus Maximus vii formula, 1TB SSD, and several other things. One of the things I want to add is the h105. Does anyone have one of these in a define r4? I love this case so much, i'm not going to be changing it out anytime soon.
Hoping it will fit in the top, but if it needs to it can go in the front.
also, all that back-plate crap. I've heard people saying the h105 fixed the issues the h100i was having, but i've heard others say that with a h105 their 5770k-4790k etc jumps up to 95c within seconds of starting prime95 with these coolers.
would I be better off getting a high end air cooler? like a noctua? I currently have a 212 EVO on my 8350 which works fine, but i honestly want something better.
Yeah your new CPU will be easier to cool unless you plan to go for higher voltage overclocks. If you would like to build something very quiet and still overclock quite a bit, then it might be worth looking to the largest Noctua's. Otherwise the more reasonably sized ones will do practically just as well. Also connect the case fans to the motherboard and control them with ASUS' software.
4790k should be about the same price as the 4770k. With it you get 4.4 GHz without even overclocking, and that's not bad. On the other hand considering the budget (that mobo) you're getting pretty close to an X99 based build with the entry six core 4820K. Unless you are building with lots of RAM, where DDR4 could make it quite a lot more expensive.
I have a 4790K and the H105 (top mounted) with 2 X Noctua NF-F12's (In push running at 60%) in a define R4 Blackout with otherwise stock (2 X 140mm) fans (running at 7 volts). At stock clock it idles at around 29C depending on ambients. When gaming or rendering (with the CPU @ 100% in renders) the highest I have ever seen it go is 52C after a few hours of 4K file renders. Using the Asus Fan Xpert 3 software I have the H105 pump set to 100% at all times and the Noctuas set to run at 60% until 40C and then to ramp up to 100% until 70C. This setup is nearly silent in combination with my 770 (ACX cooler) which actually ends up being louder in games than the fans and pump of the H105. I don't plan on overclocking as 4.4ghz is more than adequate for the work I do and the games I play. If you look at benchmark hierarchies of CPU coolers the H105 places around the D14 & D15 when both are running at stock speed but at max the H105 has a slight edge (and that is with stock fans which are horrid). I'd go for the H105 in a heartbeat unless you really need to save money, then go with a Noctua or a Dark Rock...
I have a 4770k with an H100i and at first it worked very well, that said the H105 is a better cooler then a H100i. The thing I would say is the following, unless you got lucky you are going to have to delid that shitty Intel TIM and redo it if you want any meaningful stable overclocks. From experience my 4770k lasted about 2 months before the paste on the die dried out and the chipset started hitting insane temps at load. otherwise either of those coolers really do perform well.
I would have to double check but I fairly confident that the Define R4 supports either a 240mm radiator or a 280mm radiator on the top. As such considering you will be unable to get fans in push/pull (no clearance) you may be better off with a larger unit like an H110 or a Cooler Master Nepton 280L, as they are only like 10$ USD more and perform a bit better. Also consider the hose length of the AIO unit you want to use, a H105 won't reach the front of the case it will only fit on the top. If you don't want to bother with all that a Noctua NH-D15 performs almost the same as an H100i and its less money.
At the end of the day the non refreshed Haswell chipsets thermal interface material will fail, just a matter of time. If you haven't bought the CPU yet save yourself the hassle and get the 4790k. Final thought the H105 is a thick radiator with the fans added to it, its going to be sitting on your motherboard or very close, if you want the best performance and a easier install buy a 280mm system, if you want everything to just work with the side effect of saving some money get a air cooler.
i could go 4790k, i just don't know if i need it. i have 16GB of vengeance pro 2400mhz i plan on using with the mobo. might get another kit and take it up to 32gb, but i can't justify it in my current situation.
think i'll stick with the h105, the h110 works in the define r4, but only in the front i think.
money isn't really an issue for me right now, making way too much at my new job.
i don't plan on overclocking too heavily, but some for sure. i just like how sleek the watercoolers look and leave so much of the mobo ram etc exposed