IVB H50 vs H100 (Verdict, they're probably not comparable). Phase 2: Indigo Xtreme

[Ferzerp]

The upgrade bug bit me, sadly. The driving force was mostly that I hated my old motherboard for SLI (no space between PCIe x16 slots, so cards had no breathing room).

So, as I see it, an H50 (which I currently have) should perform very close to an H100 with IVB because the issue isn't the amount of heat to dissipate, but instead is the transfer of heat from the proc to the cooler. In theory, the larger cooler would not benefit me really.

Does anyone see an issue with this view based on what we currently know about ivb? I considered going SB for higher clock speed, but I figured I'd give ivb a shot.

FOLLOW UP: Temps are pretty awful even with a low OC with the H50. I may try remounting before trading it out for something bigger.

Follow up2: I went with an H100, which dropped temps a bit. For true stability, I had to raise voltage up a bit more (had parity errors that were corrected, but still...). Now I have ordered Indigo Xtreme to see how that helps.

 

[Maximilian]

I would not have that much faith in the H50, mine was pretty meh at cooling my old i7 920. I shouldve went noctua D14 from day 1.

 

[jacktesterson]

I would honestly just go with with a NH-D14

The H100 will outperform a H50 though for sure.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

No comparison. H50 may lose even to 212 plus while h100 will beat noctua

 

[Ferzerp]

I don't think the repliers so far are addressing exactly what I am asking.

There are two components to cooling. Heat transfer and heat dissipation.

We know IVB needs less heat dissipation than my Nehalem that's running at 4.0Ghz in the 4.5Ghz range. The bottleneck is heat transfer to the block. the H50 block should be able to absorb the relatively small amount of heat and dissipate it as fast as it is moved.

What I'm saying is, from what we understand, bigger cooling should make very, very little difference with ivybridge.

 

[Puppies04]

I don't think the repliers so far are addressing exactly what I am asking.

There are two components to cooling. Heat transfer and heat dissipation.

We know IVB needs less heat dissipation than my Nehalem that's running at 4.0Ghz in the 4.5Ghz range. The bottleneck is heat transfer to the block. the H50 block should be able to absorb the relatively small amount of heat and dissipate it as fast as it is moved.

What I'm saying is, from what we understand, bigger cooling should make very, very little difference with ivybridge.

As far as I have seen you are correct, the H100 might stay slightly cooler as it can dissipate heat from its radiator slightly faster than the H50 but you would be talking somewhere around the 1-3C mark imho.

I wouldn't mind seeing this theory tested though.

 

[Ferzerp]

I'm planning on buying the OC insurance anyway, and just letting it run as hot as it does, and if it dies, it dies.

 

[greenhawk]

I don't think the repliers so far are addressing exactly what I am asking.

In a way they are. IIRC from when I looked at the range of those units, they all pretty much used the same cpu water block design, so getting extra performance (heat transfer from cpu to radiator) from one over another is not going to happen.

That being said, the original H50 and H70 where ment to have rather crappy mounting systems or something, so the H60 and H80 replaced them.

Interestingly, looking at a local supplier the H50 is no longer on offer, but they are selling a H40 unit, which at a glance appears to have a non-copper water block.

On a side note, a H100 would be better than a H50 for cooling in the heat transfer from cpu to radiator simply because the coolant in the H100 will be lower allowing better transfer of heat and not as much because of the design of the water block (heat moves fastest with a higher delta T).

 

[richierich1212]

Just change out the H50 fan for a Scythe Gentle Typhoon 1850RPM one, problem solved.

 

[Ferzerp]

Follow up:

My hypothesis is either false, or I need to remount. I'm hitting mid 80's in IBT at 4.4Ghz, 1.208V.

 

[Subyman]

Perhaps Ivy is the perfect chip to use the pricey indigo extreme on.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

H50 can't compete with h100. Period. Regardless of the chip

 

[HURRIC4NE]

you guys are comparing the h50 to the h100? are you serious? the h100 is way better than the h50.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

you guys are comparing the h50 to the h100? are you serious? the h100 is way better than the h50.

Yeah.

 

[Ferzerp]

you guys are comparing the h50 to the h100? are you serious? the h100 is way better than the h50.

My hypothesis was that since there was less heat to dissipate and that it's mostly an issue of tranferring the heat on to the block that beefier cooling probably wouldn't help.

My testing showed that hypothesis to be false.

Yes, I was completely serious prior to testing.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Less heat still doesn't mean no heat. And less heat per unit area is what matters anyway.

 

[songokussm]

another question is, why recommend the NH-D14 when then h100 is better and almost the same price?

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Nh 14 is about half the price

 

[RampantAndroid]

another question is, why recommend the NH-D14 when then h100 is better and almost the same price?

Because I've seen photos of corsair water coolers with the pumps blown out, leaking water. If the h100 fails, it takes stuff with it. If the moving parts on the DH14 fail...it becomes a passive cooler and still works. Just my thoughts, and why I don't get a corsair cooler...

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Because I've seen photos of corsair water coolers with the pumps blown out, leaking water. If the h100 fails, it takes stuff with it. If the moving parts on the DH14 fail...it becomes a passive cooler and still works. Just my thoughts, and why I don't get a corsair cooler...

Very rare

 

[RampantAndroid]

Very rare

And having CPUs fail, or motherboards fail, barring a manufacturing defect, is very rare. But it happens, and I'd NEVER bet against it happening. I would certainly NEVER bet against that pump failing. The pump failures I've seen resulted in the waterblock/pump's casing bulging, and rupturing.

And EVEN IF the pump doesn't fail in some spectacular way in the first year or two, it is a moving part that WILL FAIL at some point. I'll again say that when stuff goes horribly wrong and moving parts break, a good heatsink that can cool reasonably well passively will always beat out a watercooling loop. I'm more than willing to sacrifice 5C in temp to gain that reliability.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

It is also the space constraints in the mobo

 

[RampantAndroid]

It is also the space constraints in the mobo

Sure - I'm not making an argument for the DH14 here (I've got a Megahalems which is comparable) but rather an argument against systems that will fail in spectacular ways.

 

[Rvenger]

Time will tell on those water coolers.. Still too early to have catastrophic failures. Look at the Newegg reviews on the old CoolIT Ecos and it makes you wonder why Newegg stopped selling the CoolIT products. The H60, 80 and 100 are all CoolIT manufactured products. I would trust an Asetek over CoolIT any day.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Time will tell on those water coolers.. Still too early to have catastrophic failures. Look at the Newegg reviews on the old CoolIT Ecos and it makes you wonder why Newegg stopped selling the CoolIT products. The H60, 80 and 100 are all CoolIT manufactured products. I would trust an Asetek over CoolIT any day.

There were photos on HardForum.com that I cannot find, that showed an H100 that exploded, showering the videocard and motherboard in water. It looked pretty bad.