Mini ITX build CPU cooler.

[FeilDOW]

So I just built a mini-ITX portable VR/gaming rig, specs are as follows,

Thermaltake Core V1
8700k (not delided yet, but will be)
beQuiet! Dark Rock TF
ASUS z370-i
16gb 2800MHz RAM
EVGA 1080 ti SC2
500gb SSD
850w G3

My issue is the dark rock tf is just a little too big and doesn't allow me to put my 2 80mm bequiet fans in the back so I have zero exhaust.

I'm now considering going with a AIO so I can actually get airflow going through the case to get the 1080 ti's heat it dumps out in the case. I have 2 new ML140's I bought for my x62 but never used so I was thinking if I picked up a h90 and used the ML's as push/pull setup would it be better than a h80i v2 or a x42? Has anyone tried a h90 with push/pull and did it perfom much better?

I'm open to any suggestions, here is a list of compatible coolers for the Core V1...
https://pcpartpicker.com/products/cpu-cooler/?compatible_with=fGvRsY

[FeilDOW]

The h80i v2 is a 120mm rad that comes with push/pull setup

The Kraken x42 is a 140mm rad with a single fan same as the h90 but like I said I have 2 ml140 fans sitting that could set these coolers up in push/pull.

Basically, will a thick 120mm rad beat a thinner 140mm rad with push/pull setups, I also want the best air flow through the case as well since it's my only intake.

[Arya]

A thin radiator like the H90 won't benefit much from push/pull. It's small enough to work perfectly with a single fan.

Even with a de-lidded CPU, you're going to need more cooling power than a 120 or 140 can provide. Could you possibly mount a 240 somewhere? A front 240 acting as Intake would heat the inside of the case somewhat, but it'd work well on the COu and that's ulktimate what matters.

Front rads aren't the performance disaster people make them out to be, they do increase internal temps but only by a degree or two. It's perfectly safe, and having higher internal air temps is preferable to high CPU temps.

Radiators work best when the entire core is getting good airflow. Anything past that makes limited difference. Thick radiators produce a lot of aerodynamic drag, sometimes airflow can stall deep in the core and that causes heat to pool and build up. Running push/pull can solve that problem.

Smaller radiators don't suffer from that, below 45mm you should have no trouble at all. Lightweight rads like the H90 are so thin that virtually any fan will give enough airflow.

Brass tax: would push/pull increase your performance? I doubt it. You'll pick up a couple of degrees at best. A 120 isn't enouigh to cool an 8700K, even when de-lidded and setup for low temps.

[FeilDOW]

With any ITX builds cooling is restricted and a 140mm rad is the biggest that will fit.

The 8700k will be delidded as soon as I make sure all is well with it, I know I won't be pushing 1.4v with a small AIO but between my 2 8700k's I would be happy with a solid 4.7GHz after delid.

It makes sense that a thin rad wouldn't benefit from push/pull, I think I might try the h80i since I can get a refurb cheap to try it out while the x42 is just expensive and I'm not a fan of the CAM software.

[Arya]

Originally posted by FeilDOW:

It makes sense that a thin rad wouldn't benefit from push/pull, I think I might try the h80i since I can get a refurb cheap to try it out while the x42 is just expensive and I'm not a fan of the CAM software.

Another factor against the Kraken is the size. I don't know of many 140 fans that work well in a radiator, most 140s are slow-turning irflow models and they tend not to work well on a radiator.

[Monk]

Which case are you using ?

[FeilDOW]

Originally posted by Monk:

Which case are you using ?

Thermaltake Core V1

[Arya]

Originally posted by Monk:

Which case are you using ?

One of these: https://www.mwave.com.au/product/thermaltake-black-core-v1-miniitx-case-ab56136?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy8u2jJWP3AIV2A0rCh0d3gdOEAQYASABEgLb7vD_BwE

A more expensive option would be a small custom loop, with a mini-sized pump/res combo. This would let you run a 120 X 60 radiator. They're a weird looking contraption, but running in push/pull it would give the most cooling you can jam into a 120 formfactor.

Then again, that would take a lot of internal space. Thick radiators are somewhat tricky to work with, they take space in weird ways that case designs normally don't think about. The only case I've run that really works with a super-thick rad is the Phantek Enthoo range. And they're not ITX.

[FeilDOW]

I got it all built last night and I really like the dark rock tf if it just had an extra 1/8 inch so I could fit my 2 80mm fans without hitting it.

I'm going to play with oc'ing today with the dark rock to see what this 8700k is made of but without exhaust fans I think heat build-up might be too bad, or maybe the dark rock will be enough to push the hot air out of the case. I have some tinkering to do.

I will have to take a look at the cost of a little custom loop and if I would have the room for the pump and res, if all other options fall short.

[Arya]

Originally posted by FeilDOW:

I got it all built last night and I really like the dark rock tf if it just had an extra 1/8 inch so I could fit my 2 80mm fans with out hitting it.

I'm going to play with oc'ing today with the dark rock to see what this 8700k is made of but without exhaust fans Inthink heat build up might be too bad, or maybe the dark rock will be enough to push the hot air out of the case. I have some tinkering to do.

I will have to take a look at the cost of a little custom loop and if I would have the room for the pump and res, if all other options fall short.

Heat buildup isn't a huge problem, at least from my experience. I was running my EVGA DG87 without exhausts all yesterday and it worked just fine. It's running a 1080 paired with a Noctua-Cooled 8700K.

It does increase your case temperatures, but from my experience(admitedly with a much larger case) it shouldn't cause a problem.

[InfinityJosh]

CRYORIG M9i if you will do a moderate OC.
If you would push it harder maybe is too weak.

[Monk]

i think i would go a little crazy, mount a 240mm - or 2 on the outside of the case, hehe, it wouldn't make it much bigger, but will let you oc it as if it were a proper desktop, i think the sc2 card is a refernce pcb, so should be doable with the fluid aluminium kit to keep costs reasonable and it will cover both cpu and gpu, which, in a portable lan machine is sooo much cooler than air hehe

[anrkyuk]

Evercool make some 15mm thick 80mm fans...
https://www.kustompcs.co.uk/cooling/fans/case-fans/evercool-slim-80mm-case-fan-15mm-depth/
* Max. Air Flow: 28.49 CFM.
* Noise: <23 dBA.

[FeilDOW]

I'm not sure if I want to go crazy with cooling outside the case because I want to be able to travel with it and my Vive. I have a full size desktop that the best binned chip will go in to for max OC but this VR Beasty will be happy with just a decent OC.

I did some OC'ing with it before I took it out to delid and it will do 4.7GHz at 1.25v with a temp of 85c with prime95 26.6 running for about 20min. I might have been able to get the voltage down a bit I didn't really tweak too much, i'm interested to see how it does when it goes back in delidded.

I did look briefly for slim 80mm fans and couldn't find any but newegg does have the Evercools, they're kinda expensive but I might grab 2 of them along with a h80i V2 just to see what setup works better and the other cooler can go in my daughters rig.

[OLDMAN🎅]

Use "air conditioner" my PC runs 10 degrees over room temperature and it will drive my room temperature up.

The warmest month in Blythe Airport, Blythe, California is July with an average high temperature of 108.9°F. The hottest day on record was July 9 1985 when the temperature hit 125.1°F. During December the overnight temperature drops to an average of 41.8°F with the lowest temperature of 19.0°F being recorded on January

[Aliquis Freedom & Ethnopluralism]

Phantek Evolv Shift X + 280 mm AIO is what I would had done.