I7: TRUE ---> WC worth it?

[darren700]

I just pulled the trigger on my i7setup (see sig)
I bought a TRUE air cooler and plan to use a push-pull config
I was wondering for all you I7 watercoolers what are you average OC's?
from what ive seen it seems like the TRUE ---> WC only equals a couple hundred extra mhz..
Seeing as a decent WC setup costs around $230 to build, would it really be worth
the extra cash over the TRUE? Do you think that $230 would be better spent on a
second GTX260 for SLI (1440x900 ---> 19" mon and 1920x1080 ---> 50" HDTV used)


thanks for any advice...

 

[Elledan]

HardOCP did some testing on this subject: http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTU4MSwsLGhlbnRodXNpYXN0

Apparently air is pretty darn good

 

[darren700]

doh!, forgot about that article...thanks.. i just wonder, will my true in the antec 1200 with push-pull from front to back of case will preform as well as kyle's in an open air environment.... man i cant wait to get my hands on this I7

 

[Elledan]

Well, Kyle notes that in a closed case the air cooler will perform probably a tad worse than with an open bench configuration, but if you just ensure that there's proper airflow in the case, it shouldn't make a huge difference.

 

[jfreund]

I've got the TRUE Black in an Antec Twelve Hundred with dual Arctic Cooling fans on the TRUE. I overclock, but I want my system to be quiet. My X58 is from eVGA, so I checked out the quick overclocking guide in their forums. Their settings got my 920 to 4 GHz right off the bat, but stressing all 8 virtual cores with Prime 95 took the temps to 100 C and the CPU started throttling the multiplier down.

I think I've settled on 18*200 with the vCore set to 1.2375 without VDroop. Stressing all 8 virtual cores with Prime 95's large FFTs, the temps stay under 70 C.

I've watercooled several rigs before, and I'm considering doing it on this i7. I don't know if I want to lay out the cost to get the performance and noise level I would want out of it. Even if I did watercool this chip, I don't know if I'd be comfortable running the volts through it to keep it at 4 GHz day in and day out.

Anyway, here's where I am:

 

[darren700]

thanks for that info jfreund, it really helps, i have one question: with the true mounted did u run into any problems with the side window fan clearance? I heard of several people having this issue... also does the true still look "giant" in the1200?? thanks

 

[jfreund]

Pic=1000 words, so here's a couple more





With the positioning of the CPU socket on the eVGA board, the fan on the bottom of the TRUE is about 5/8" away from the corner of the fan mounted on the side panel. On a board where the CPU socket is centered on the DIMM slots, that side fan may collide with the fan on the TRUE. With the heatsink mounted, the only part of the board I had trouble reaching was the 8 pin aux CPU power connector.

 

[darren700]

thanks for the pics, hmm i may have to clear some plastic off my side fan.. well see.. noticed you had the msi gtx260.. how is it clocking for you? are you satisfied with it?

 

[DWade]

Tough Question. I think watercooling with your set up is only worth it if you go all the way.
Nothing less than a Feser 480 Rad, Apogee GTZ, Swiftech 655 pump, Full coverage
VGA block, NB/SB/mosfet waterblocks. Bigger Rad means low rpm fans which means
you got a rig that can OC well without turning the fans up to airplane noise level. Also by
wcing if you configure your rad correctly you are effectively disspating the majority of the
heat out of the case as opposed to air cooling / passive cooling on the MB
chipsets / mosfets.

Regardless Cooling your VGA card by Wcing is a huge advantagel, as both the
GTX260/GTX280/4870x2 sound like airplanes when you turn the fan up.

However a WC set up like that runs you about $350-$400. But you can always sell the TRUE to minimize the expense. So it all boils down to you and what suits your budget.

 

[jfreund]

I actually haven't upped the clocks on the GTX260. With the airflow in this case it is hitting about 60 C under load with the fan set to 40%, so I should have some headroom to try. The card has been exactly what it should be. At the current price I've considered going for SLI, but there really haven't been enough high-spec games that interest me lately to justify it.

I have done water on SLI (7900GTX) and the low noise level was great, but at $180 a pop for VGA blocks plus another radiator+fan, it was damn pricey. Getting the cards down to a single slot was a bonus.

 

[old skool]

The biggest disadvantage to air-cooling would be the CPU throttling when you get into 3.6ghz and beyond. The CPU reduces its multiplier to keep the temperature under 100°C and would typically run slower on air all things being equal.

I find my Core i7 will reduce to 950mhz when overclocked to 4000mhz at 1.475 volts (stock Intel cooler).


When you get your new rig put together you'll want to test that heatsink by running a good stress tester.

 

[DWade]

I actually haven't upped the clocks on the GTX260. With the airflow in this case it is hitting about 60 C under load with the fan set to 40%, so I should have some headroom to try. The card has been exactly what it should be. At the current price I've considered going for SLI, but there really haven't been enough high-spec games that interest me lately to justify it.

I have done water on SLI (7900GTX) and the low noise level was great, but at $180 a pop for VGA blocks plus another radiator+fan, it was damn pricey. Getting the cards down to a single slot was a bonus.

60c load at 40% even in Crysis? That's not bad. I'm sure the fan will eventually throttle
up though after an hour or so of gaming. Some people aren't that sensitive to noise
though and some good speakers/headphones will drown it out any way.