Simon's i7-980X: Cooling Questions

[Simon]

Hi All

I wish to specify a top of the range rig (i7-980X) for future-proofed, general purpose (extensive and varied) use as well as HD video editing.

I have a number of questions, but I'm posting them by component/subject to try to keep the thread manageable.

This post concerns cooling.

Working from the configurator I first thought that if I picked the COOLIT FREEZONE ELITE CPU SUB AMBIENT COOLING UNIT then I'd be safe as houses, even if I ended up going for a 4.0GHz OC.

But, having read some reviews (see http://www.pureoverclock.com/review.php?id=752&page=10), I note that it fails to cope with a 3.8GHz OC on a quad core as the heat generated by the TECs running at full pelt (72W) when added to the heat required to be dissipated from the CPU (234W) exceeds the rated 250W capability of the cooler. Sure the rig survived, but the fans and TECs were at 100% power (and noise) and it was running much hotter than sub-ambient, even at idle.

So, here are some questions in respect of the cooling on this rig:

1. Am I right in thinking that the Freezone is the most powerful (as well as the most expensive) of the cooling options available in the configurator or is one of the cheaper options actually more up to the job? Can anyone place the Freezone, ALC and Fenrir cooling options in order of cooling effectiveness?
2. It appears that PCSpecialist would have considered an i7-980X 4.0MHz OC quite acceptable with either the Titan Fenrir or a Coolit ALC (or indeed with the Freezone) - this just doesn't seem to square with the Freezone review. Anyone have any thoughts on that one?
3. Does anyone know what power an i7-980X @ 4.0MHz would actually generate?

Thanks in anticipation ...

Simon

PS I'm a newbie at forums so will appreciate your tolerance if I inadvertently break any rules!

PPS Here is the full proposed build in case it helps!

COOLERMASTER COSMOS 1000 SILVER SILENT CASE (£159)
Intel® Core?i7 Processor Extreme Edition i7-980X (3.33GHz) 6.4GTs/12MB
ASUS® RAMPAGE III EXTREME: 3-Way SLI & CrossFireX, SATA 6.0GB/s, USB 3.0
12GB CORSAIR XMS3 TRI-DDR3 1600MHz (6 X 2GB)
1536MB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX480 GDDR5 PCI EXPRESS - DirectX® 11
240GB OCZ VERTEX 2 SATA II 2.5" SSD (upto 285MB/sR | 275MB/sW)
600GB WD VELOCIRAPTOR® SATA 6-Gb/s, 32MB CACHE (10,000rpm)
600GB WD VELOCIRAPTOR® SATA 6-Gb/s, 32MB CACHE (10,000rpm)
600GB WD VELOCIRAPTOR® SATA 6-Gb/s, 32MB CACHE (10,000rpm)
10x BLU-RAY RE-WRITER DRIVE, 16x DVD ±R/±RW (£99)
10x BLU-RAY RE-WRITER DRIVE, 16x DVD ±R/±RW (£99)
INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (READS XD, MS, CF, SD, etc)
CORSAIR 1000W MODULAR PSU (HX1000) 80+ ULTRA QUIET (£175)
COOLIT FREEZONE ELITE CPU SUB AMBIENT COOLING UNIT(£225)
ONBOARD 8 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD
1 x IEEE 1394a FIREWIRE PORT ONBOARD
Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£148)
Microsoft® Office Pro 2010 (Incl Disc & 1 License for 2 devices) (£339)
MICROSOFT SECURITY ESSENTIALS - Free Basic Protection
LOGITECH Z-5500 Digital 5.1 THX-certified digital surround (£252)
Logitech® Webcam Pro 9000 - 2.0Mp, AutoFocus and Carl Zeiss Optics (£55)
Logitech® ClearChat PC Wireless? Headset High-performance & wireless (£84)

 

[Gorman]

1. Am I right in thinking that the Freezone is the most powerful (as well as the most expensive) of the cooling options available in the configurator or is one of the cheaper options actually more up to the job? Can anyone place the Freezone, ALC and Fenrir cooling options in order of cooling effectiveness?

Without a doubt it is the Freezone, then the ALC then the Fenrir in my experience. Thats cooling performance, not suitability for your build. I will PM you.

2. It appears that PCSpecialist would have considered an i7-980X 4.0MHz OC quite acceptable with either the Titan Fenrir or a Coolit ALC (or indeed with the Freezone) - this just doesn't seem to square with the Freezone review. Anyone have any thoughts on that one?

We have had a stable and acceptable temp with a fenrir @ 4. Note i say acceptable temp, not wicked awesome low temp.

3. Does anyone know what power an i7-980X @ 4.0MHz would actually generate?

Heat wise if done properly its nothing a well seated ALC or Fenrir cant handle.

I will PM you.

 

[Simon]

So, just to close this one off following some very helpful PMs.

I have now placed my order having decided to forego an OC - I will do this myself if or when required with a possible cooling upgrade in the future if a more suitable product emerges - so for the time being I'm going to use an ECO ALC.

My conclusion was that when you factor in SpeedStep then the difference between 3.66MHz and 4.00MHz is not so great as to warrant (for the purposes to which this rig is being put) the possible shortening of the processor life, the hotter running temperatures (several other reviews suggest that even the Freezone will need to runs its fans and TECs at full power and still not maintain a sub-ambient coolant temperature), associated fan noise, possible condensation issues, higher electricity bills etc. But in the end it is personal preference ... and I'm not a gamer.

Thanks again to misterdave and, in particular, Gorman for some really helpful advice.

I think this thread too can now be safely closed, however that is done?

Simon