Should I get the CORSAIR Hydro series H50 or Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler?

Question

They are both in my price range on newegg because of the sales. I am currently using a Cooler Master 212 Evo. Which of the ones would you recommend above?

Answer 1

As long as your case has enough room, I would go with the D14 any day. Many people would say the H50 because it is a liquid cooling system but I'll explain my reasoning.



First, a little background on how liquid cooling works. In a nutshell, coolant is pumped through a waterblock, pulling heat away from the component then into a radiator where it is cooled again. The only reason that most liquid cooling loops get so much better performance than air coolers is because the radiators have so much more surface area for cooling than an air cooler could ever manage. With single 120mm thin radiator closed water-cooling loops like the H50, you only get the equivalent of having that same radiator as an air cooler. The D14 on the other hand has much more surface area because of the way that the heatsink has multiple layers with fans sandwiched between them.



Therefore the NH-D14 would get better performance and would probably be quieter than the H50.

Answer 2

Cooling performance is really all about surface area, and in this regard it's quite clear the D14 is larger than the H50.



Okay here's the D14: http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz58/shawn_sotto/464967_3127937516918_1219102615_32360195_907461070_o.jpg

And here's the H50: http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/hitman1985/Panzerschreck/IMG_3052.jpg



One thing is clear, with one of these coolers installed you CANNOT EVEN SEE YOUR MOTHERBOARD, with the other you can completely see it.





BUT! The Corsair H50 does have things over the D14, one of these being aesthetics. If you would rather have a clean looking all-black cooler rather than a giant brown poo cooler then some may prefer the H50, and not to mention if your RAM dies you need to remove the heatsink to get to the RAM.



For coolers, I would also look at:



Phanteks PH-TC14PE (comes in many colors)

Corsair H60i (the newer i series perform a LOT better due to their vastly superior fans)

Answer 3

Both are very good coolers. However, if you are not overclocking, then just get the nh-d14. Liquid cooling is not necessary if you are not overclocking.

Answer 4

confusing thing. try searching onto yahoo or google. that will can help!