Low Profile CPU Coolers

As I'm going to build a slim ITX PC, I want to try and get a pretty decent CPU cooler, not that I'm looking to OC or anything, but having the one of the best/better coolers available would be nice. I've heard and seen a lot of people write/say a lot of good things about the Noctua NH-L9i cooler, and I know that Noctua are endlessly famous for quality cooling.

I was going to build in the Node 202, but I've decided to go for the RVZ02, simply because of 2 options.

  • I've heard that it's a little easier to build in.
  • I watch a lot of old DVD's so having the optical drive option is nice.
    -- I also like the fact that I won't need an external optical drive. (Less clutter on the desk).

I love the looks of both cases, for 100% looks, I actually prefer the Node 202 to be perfectly honest, but I do prefer functionality over just cosmetics. I could even consider the ML08 as it's pretty much 100% the same as the RVZ02, but it looks ever so slightly different to the RVZ02. But I prefer the RVZ02 over the Node 202 and the ML08 as it doesn't have a badge/logo on the front that's more bias to the horizontal position.

I may also consider the RVZ01-E simply because I think that it offers better cooling than any of the other cases I've mentioned above, but I'm not 100% on that one. Either way, I plan on using a pretty basic but modest system, I haven't set my heart on any of the specs that I'm going to mention, but here's my main/raw/fundamental idea for the system:

  • Case : Silverstone RVZ02
  • CPU : Intel core i7 6700 (Non K cause temps)
  • RAM : Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 2133MHz
  • GPU : My current GPU (GTX 780 Super JetStream)
  • Mobo : H110I PLUS (No need for anything super fancy for me)
  • PSU : Corsair SF Series 600W
  • CPU Heatsink : Noctua NH-L9i
  • Storage : Samsung 500GB 750 EVO SSD (x2)
  • Optical Drive : LG BU20N 3D Ultra Slim (If you really care)
  • OS : Windows 10

  • Potential Mods : White painted panels & Orange LED strips to mach the front led on the case.

best low profile cooler to date:

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Is that one of those new as hell coolers? - Do they call them something like kinetic coolers? Correct me if I'm wrong, I remember seeing a video on YouTube of Linus or someone seeing them at some show or something, my memory is very blurry.

They perform really well, not really for overclocking but for general use yep.

Well that's fine by me, as I don't plan on overclocking at all, and that's one thing I do recall, they perform incredibly well, whilst remaining very quiet. I'm sure I at least remember that much...

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are my go to low profile cooler for performance and price.

That's true. They are kindof an interesting design but it works really nice and for $50 it's a good enough deal.
Also it's really easy to fit on most motherboards

I am partial to the NcaseM1 if you have the $$$ I got one and have been waiting for Zen to build in it.

Only issue with those, they're a bit too high for the cases I'm looking at... I did consider them because they have bigger fans, but sadly, they're too tall.

Get the Node 605 I have one and its really quiet and high build quality

Edit:
Probably to big but if you want small and are willing to pay the premium then Ncase M1 is the top imo

Look at the noctua coolers. Thats all I can really say. Maybe look at a deepcool IceBlade 200M. See if that will fit. Kept my phenom at 32 C. Push pull too. Small and handy.

I would, hell, if space wasn't an issue, I'd be getting a full tower and an EATX motherboard, but sadly, I can't emphasise how much of an issue space has become for me. The biggest issue is the width of a case, hence why I'm going for the slim mini itx style case, if steam machines weren't targeted to mostly gamer's, I'd just buy a steam machine, I need something that's only slightly bigger than a console, if not the same size.

I would like the Ncase M1 as it looks beautiful, but I do feel a little .... 'Unsure' when it comes to paying that much for a case to say the least, purely due to my current financial situation, long story short, I'm a student. If money wasn't as much of an issue, I'd say to hell with it and just go all out, maybe not overkill, but definitely all out.

Just looking at a picture of it, I instantly know it's too tall, I mean to be fair though, there's such a lack of clearance that a lot of people that build in these cases just say screw it and end up sticking with stock coolers, which is actually kinda fair enough. It's actually quite hard to find a CPU cooler that's less than 60 mm in height.

That cooler was in my MATX case and did way better than the other 4 coolers I have tried out since... If it fits I highly recommend it.

You might be able to get away with the RAIJINTEK PALLAS, if you can mount the fan between the plate and the top fin array, it looks do able.

Is that actually possible though? - From looking at the pictures, that doesn't look like it would be possible, or to say the least, it doesn't look like it would be the easiest or most simplistic thing to do... But I could be totally wrong, I'm making that assumption based on the pictures of it.

Do you have any data to back that claim up? I've not found any proper reviews of the "Engine 27" and it reeks of hype and snake oil.

it's about double to triple the cooling of a stock intel cooler so it's not ... terrible? obv not the best thing ever but someone bought it here on the forum a while back and that's the perf that they got. Acceptable but not super awesome.

....
i would have to dig around to find it lol

I may see if i can't get one in to review for myself here, i can see

if the 120mm slim line fan doesnt work below you could get a 72mm slim line and attach with paper clips hooks. Similar to how the NH L12 has

Now that makes more sense, I can imagine that working, although I'll have to find out more about the cooler, find out how tall it is without any fans attached.