Is the noise normal for iCUE H100i?

Broomfundel

New member
For over a year now I have hardly used my PC as when it gets hot, it sounds like a jet engine. I have spent ages playing with the settings in the iCUE app and its clear I cant push the machine without needing the fans. Does anyone know if this is normal? The spec is

CaseFRACTAL DEFINE 7 XL BLACK QUIET TOWER CASE
Processor (CPU)Intel® Core™ i9 16-Core Processor i9-12900KF (3.2GHz) 30MB Cache
MotherboardASUS® ROG STRIX Z690-F GAMING WIFI (LGA1700, USB 3.2, PCIe 5.0) - ARGB Ready
Memory (RAM)32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 5600MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card12GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3080 - HDMI, DP, LHR
1st M.2 SSD Drive1TB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 530 GEN 4 PCIe NVMe (up to 7300MB/R, 6000MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY DriveNOT REQUIRED
Power SupplyCORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor CoolingCorsair iCUE H100i ELITE CAPELLIX RGB Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler

Can anyone answer if I would be better off swapping out the fans or switching to a block style cooler.

I'm torn between the changing the radiator fans to SILENT WINGS PRO 4 120mm PWM fans
or just swapping the whole lot out for something like the Noctua NH-15DS which seems to be about the best that will fit on that motherboard.

Can anyone with any experience help?

Thanks
 

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
For over a year now I have hardly used my PC as when it gets hot, it sounds like a jet engine. I have spent ages playing with the settings in the iCUE app and its clear I cant push the machine without needing the fans. Does anyone know if this is normal? The spec is

CaseFRACTAL DEFINE 7 XL BLACK QUIET TOWER CASE
Processor (CPU)Intel® Core™ i9 16-Core Processor i9-12900KF (3.2GHz) 30MB Cache
MotherboardASUS® ROG STRIX Z690-F GAMING WIFI (LGA1700, USB 3.2, PCIe 5.0) - ARGB Ready
Memory (RAM)32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 5600MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card12GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3080 - HDMI, DP, LHR
1st M.2 SSD Drive1TB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 530 GEN 4 PCIe NVMe (up to 7300MB/R, 6000MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY DriveNOT REQUIRED
Power SupplyCORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor CoolingCorsair iCUE H100i ELITE CAPELLIX RGB Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler

Can anyone answer if I would be better off swapping out the fans or switching to a block style cooler.

I'm torn between the changing the radiator fans to SILENT WINGS PRO 4 120mm PWM fans
or just swapping the whole lot out for something like the Noctua NH-15DS which seems to be about the best that will fit on that motherboard.

Can anyone with any experience help?

Thanks
The H100 is not enough for that CPU which is why it will be running hard. But are you sure it's the cooler making the noise and not the case fans? If it is, it's because it's not suitable for the CPU, not related to noisy fans as such.
 

sck451

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
It could be the case fans, the cooler, or the graphics card. That's a whole lot of heat in a case that, while good, is not the most airflowy. It's not wholly surprising if it's struggling to stay cool inside and working very hard at it.

An air cooler in the Define 7 will almost certainly perform worse because of that lack of natural airflow -- and I'm saying that as the proud owner of a NH-D15S!
 

Broomfundel

New member
OK, Thanks, so my mistake was going for a 240mm not a 360mm radiator? In which case any recommendations for a reasonable quiet cooler to get instead.

Thanks again
 

B4zookaw

VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
I agree with sck, not a optimal setup of aio, case, fans etc. The 12900 would be a toasty CPU if you're running it at 100% load, although load would be lower if gaming at 1440. I'd say the GPU is probably a source of noise when gaming, so worth checking fan curves for it and case fans to get a good balance of thermals and acoustics.
 

Broomfundel

New member
Most of the noise is from the h100i. I can recreate it at 0 load by setting the fans to 100% in the software. With all this in mind I'm now thinking of swapping the h100i for the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 420. Anyone got any experience with this AIO? Or other recommendations.
 

sck451

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Most of the noise is from the h100i. I can recreate it at 0 load by setting the fans to 100% in the software. With all this in mind I'm now thinking of swapping the h100i for the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 420. Anyone got any experience with this AIO? Or other recommendations.
Not familiar with it, but it's probably very good: Arctic is a very solid brand. Given that you're trying to cool the 12900K, it may be worth also getting a contact frame like the Thermalright one, which tends to improve mounting pressure and can cool the CPU by several degrees (disclaimer: I haven't actually tried this either). You have to be careful, of course, as you can damage your motherboard installing it, but if you take your time and follow the video tutorial, it shouldn't be hard and may be beneficial.
 

TonyCarter

VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Can that case be run with the front cover open/off to help with airflow?

...but of course, it will only be a sticking plaster and the combination of toasty CPU and small AIO will still be the major factor.

The alternative is to modify the fan profile so that it never goes to a speed that become obtrusive...but then you'd have to contend with the CPU being throttled when it gets too hot :unsure:
 
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Broomfundel

New member
It can, Might look at removing the front cover as well. But I think the pull of air is OK, as the front vents are fairly large, and some of the case fans are their. Ill have to test and see if it makes a difference. Thx
 

B4zookaw

VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
I have a liquid freezer II 360, very happy with it, found it quieter that the Corsair H150i it replaced, particularly the pump. Will a 420 fit that case? NM, the XL is a big boi and will happily take a 420 or even a 480 rad it seems
 

sck451

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
I have a liquid freezer II 360, very happy with it, found it quieter that the Corsair H150i it replaced, particularly the pump. Will a 420 fit that case?
Yes, the Define 7 will take a 420mm radiator/three 140mm fans in the roof of the case.
 
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