I'm building a new system in a BitFenix Pandora Core case and wanted some advice about the CPU heatsink. The case is already purchased; I got it because if its fairly unique size, which is a blessing and a curse.
As the SPCR review mentioned, the clearance for the CPU heatsink is very limited, at 134mm. So, I'm wondering if it makes sense to stick with air cooling (probably using a Noctua NH-C12P, like the one used in the review), or go by the review's suggestion in the Conclusion and go with a 240mm liquid cooling all-in-one system... I'm leaning towards Corsair H100i. This would be my first time using liquid cooling, though, and I'm skeptical, but I see its appeal for this particular case.
Other relevant parts that will be in the system:
- Motherboard: X99 mATX motherboard
- CPU: Quad Core Haswell-E Xeon (135W TDP... should be fairly hot in real-life but probably not nearly as hot as a 6- or 8-core Haswell-E)
- Video card: GTX 750 Ti (will probably upgrade to a GTX 970 or similar in the future)
- Storage: 1 SSD and 1 HDD (both 2.5")
What would be the best CPU cooling options for my system?
My top contenders now are Corsair H100i or a Noctua NH-C12P, and I'm leaning towards the former. Let's say that price is not a big issue and I can spend up to around $100.
Thanks for your suggestions!