CPU cooling on a new Core i7 build

esuhl

I'm just about to buy a load of components for a new Core i7 920 PC. Previously, my PCs have always used the standard AMD/Intel CPU coolers, but it looks like there's a fair bit of room for overclocking the i7 chips.

I've never overclocked before, and was wondering whether it's worth spending about £60 on the Corsair H50 sealed watercooler? Is it quite easy (and safe!) to overclock these days?

And does anyone know anywhere that has the H50 in stock? Everywhere I've looked they're on back order.

Thanks in advance :-)

JasX

Well found the review below that the H50 is pretty damn efficient performance wise compared to the stock cooler:

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=128815.msg970144

tbh was suprised to see such good results from such a small self contained water system.

Overclocking is certainly 'safer' than it used to be but in my limited overclocking experience I have noticed it shortening the life of things so tend not to do it unless I need to.

(read: i have a i7-950 and think it'll handle anything I ask of it for the next 4 years very acceptably without needing to 'fiddle' with it -if someone wanted me to me to build them a mid range / cheap computer or help them upgrade and there was a very cheap processor around that could be easily clocked up I'd probably seriously consider it).

But thats just my opinion, if you go ahead and get some good results would like to hear about it

JasX

As for stock, this company:

http://www.awd-it.co.uk/

seems to have some on ebay for a £20 markup on RRP

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Corsair-Hydro-H50-High-Performance-Water-CPU-Cooler_W0QQitemZ330338533892QQcmdZViewItemQQptZComputing_ComputerComponents_Fans_Heatsinks_SR?hash=item4ce9b60204&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Seems to be mentioned on their direct website but not currently listed for sale, might be worth a phone call for a better price?

RobTang

the corsair unit is supposed to be very good.

Ive got a similar system, runs my i7 at 36deg idle, and about 40-50deg overclocked to 4ghz, its quite close to the upper limit when running prime 95 tho. i7 systems seem to run very hot tho, make sure any case you buy has got some nice fans.

You *may* want to wait if you havn't bought the 920 yet as theres a rumor that inter are going to drop the price of the 920 when they bring out the i5 boards.

esuhl

Cheers Jas/Rob. Apparently Novatech are expecting a couple of H50s in a few days, so I have one on backorder now.

That and the nicely ventilated Antec P193 case I'm getting should keep everything pretty cool, so I'm confident that I should be able to make a few minor tweaks without a meltdown!

I certainly don't want to push things too far though, particularly if it's going to shorten the life of a £200 CPU!

RobTang wrote: »

You *may* want to wait if you havn't bought the 920 yet as theres a rumor that inter are going to drop the price of the 920 when they bring out the i5 boards.

D'oh! I did a web search and found an article suggesting that the i7 would be withdrawn when the i5 was released in a week or so's time. For once, I let impatience get the better of me and got an OEM chip for £193-ish from eBuyer. Fingers crossed the price doesn't drop too much in the coming weeks! Thanks for letting me know, though.

JasX wrote: »

...if you go ahead and get some good results would like to hear about it

No worries - it might be a few weeks till I get round to it, but I'll try to remember to come back and let you know the results of my first foray into overclocking.