Water or Air Cooling?

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Is it true that air cooling can be just as effective as water cooling?

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Yes, when considering price/performance there are some air coolers that offer better value and nearly the same performance vs. closed loop coolers. The H100i and similar double-radiator closed loop coolers are going to yield a few degrees better temps than the Noctua, but the liquid coolers also louder with the stock fans.

Tom's evaluated a few air and liquid coolers together: LINK

If you want to push your overclock, you're going to need every bit of thermal performance you can get with these Haswell chips. But you'll be sacrificing quietness. I think the H100i and the like are in the 38db range.

I always go with water coolers since the look and fit much better than air coolers.

Swiftech h220x is the only way to go for a closed loop.

I'd look at the phanteks cooler if you're going air cooled.

I love the corsair cpu water cooling systems., but I see most pumping the 212. So maybe just stick with that. That thing is a monster.