Are PCS CPU Coolers good?

A

ainhoafawn

Member
Are PCS CPU Coolers good?

I called PCSpecialist support yesterday about an issue related to my order. Once that was solved the boy that was helping me with my order pointed out that I might need a stronger CPU cooler. The one I chose was the standard AMD CPU cooler 👵🏻 He suggested the PCS Frostflow 100 V3 Series. I’m not sure if his worry was real or if he was just trying to sell the PCS cooler to me, if you know what I mean. I’m new to PC’s and I’m scared about spending money on a cooler that isn’t that good compared to the standard one. What’s your experience with the PCS Frostflow coolers? Would it be better to just wait and see how the PC performs and then try to install a different cooler myself?
Here are my specs if you’re interested. I will use this PC for gaming mostly.

Case
PCS SPECTRUM RGB MID TOWER CASE
Change to: PCS SPECTRUM RGB MID TOWER CASE (WHITE)
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Six Core CPU (3.8GHz-4.4GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING B550-PLUS (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2060 - HDMI, DP - VR Ready!
1st Storage Drive
256GB PCS 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb (500MB/R, 400MB/W)
2nd Storage Drive
1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
256GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (1900 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 450W CV SERIES™ CV-450 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
STANDARD AMD CPU COOLER
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
 
S

Steveyg

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
ainhoafawn said:
Are PCS CPU Coolers good?

I called PCSpecialist support yesterday about an issue related to my order. Once that was solved the boy that was helping me with my order pointed out that I might need a stronger CPU cooler. The one I chose was the standard AMD CPU cooler 👵🏻 He suggested the PCS Frostflow 100 V3 Series. I’m not sure if his worry was real or if he was just trying to sell the PCS cooler to me, if you know what I mean. I’m new to PC’s and I’m scared about spending money on a cooler that isn’t that good compared to the standard one. What’s your experience with the PCS Frostflow coolers? Would it be better to just wait and see how the PC performs and then try to install a different cooler myself?
Here are my specs if you’re interested. I will use this PC for gaming mostly.

Case
PCS SPECTRUM RGB MID TOWER CASE
Change to: PCS SPECTRUM RGB MID TOWER CASE (WHITE)
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Six Core CPU (3.8GHz-4.4GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING B550-PLUS (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2060 - HDMI, DP - VR Ready!
1st Storage Drive
256GB PCS 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb (500MB/R, 400MB/W)
2nd Storage Drive
1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
256GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (1900 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 450W CV SERIES™ CV-450 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
STANDARD AMD CPU COOLER
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Click to expand...
Reading your spec mate I wouldn't worry too much about the AMD cooler, I'd say the PCS coolers are probably better but not by much. They aren't great by all accounts

I will say though looking at that build I'd be really concerned with the size of the PSU 450W would be really cutting it fine and you'd be running the PSU almost at 100% constantly when you want about 20% headroom as a rule, I would go with 650W minimum and usually 750W if I want to make a number of upgrades later down
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
As above, the cooler is absolutely fine for that chip, you don’t need an upgrade.

Very much agree on the PSU as well, you’d don’t configure it to your current needs, if the pc is configured correctly it should last 7 years or so with minor upgrades, those upgrades can only be done if there’s headroom on the PSU.

Having one overpowered for the build does no harm, the pc will only use what it requires.

I would also recommend a better case.
 
NoddyPirate

NoddyPirate

Grand Master
I've been looking at this topic for quite a bit now. The 3600X comes with the Wraith Spire - which is not a bad cooler as far as AMD stock coolers go. You could certainly wait and see how it performs and then decide what to do but I would be also be inclined to say it will be OK for you most likely. And I agree with the PSU recommendations above too - you don't want it running too close to it's rating.

FWIW - (all that follows is just my opinion and rookie understanding only)

Basic CPU coolers are simple conduction coolers - soaking heat from the CPU into a metal block which then releases the heat to the airflow via a finned heatsink. Tower coolers, like the Frostflow, use phase change to extract heat using a fluid within their heat pipes - which absorbs much more heat by comparison. The heat is then released into a finned heatsink system with a much larger surface area than a stock cooler.

This is why Tower Coolers - even the cheapest and most basic - outperform simple stock coolers in every test and comparison I have seen and read. And they don't just outperform them by a bit - they perform closer to liquid cooling than they do the stock setup - unless airflow is a major problem. (This is also why the AMD Wraith Prism cooler does so well - it has heat pipes in it's design - but the smaller surface area of it's heat sink means many tower cooler can still outperform it.)

So while I can only give a simple opinion, and have no evidence to back it up - I can not see how the PCS cooler wouldn't be a good bit better than stock. It would want to be built really really badly, with rubbish heat pipe design and awful heat transfer to it's heat sink for that to be the case. I haven't seen anything to suggest that....
 
MrWilson

MrWilson

Godlike
This covers the changes we would recommend. Had to substitute the CPU with the 3600 as 3600x isn't available on the config.

Case
CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW TEMPERED GLASS GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Six Core CPU (3.6GHz-4.2GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING B550-PLUS WiFi (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2060 - HDMI, DP - VR Ready!
1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 256MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
STANDARD AMD CPU COOLER
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 15 to 18 working days
Price: ÂŁ1,147.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/T0pHKBEc9g/
 
A

ainhoafawn

Member
SpyderTracks said:
As above, the cooler is absolutely fine for that chip, you don’t need an upgrade.

Very much agree on the PSU as well, you’d don’t configure it to your current needs, if the pc is configured correctly it should last 7 years or so with minor upgrades, those upgrades can only be done if there’s headroom on the PSU.

Having one overpowered for the build does no harm, the pc will only use what it requires.

I would also recommend a better case.
Click to expand...
Hi! Thanks for the suggestion. Would it be a good option to decide to upgrade my PSU in a couple of months? I would like to get a 750W one but can’t really afford to do big changes this month since I’m on a budget.
 
NoddyPirate

NoddyPirate

Grand Master
ainhoafawn said:
Hi! Thanks for the suggestion. Would it be a good option to decide to upgrade my PSU in a couple of months? I would like to get a 750W one but can’t really afford to do big changes this month since I’m on a budget.
Click to expand...
I was in the same boat - but I would try to get off the CV series if possible to something better. Changing it later - particularly from a non modular supply - will be a headache. And also a waste of money in the long run.....
 
A

ainhoafawn

Member
MrWilson said:
This covers the changes we would recommend. Had to substitute the CPU with the 3600 as 3600x isn't available on the config.

Case
CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW TEMPERED GLASS GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Six Core CPU (3.6GHz-4.2GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING B550-PLUS WiFi (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2060 - HDMI, DP - VR Ready!
1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 256MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
STANDARD AMD CPU COOLER
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 15 to 18 working days
Price: ÂŁ1,147.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/T0pHKBEc9g/
Click to expand...
hi! Thanks. So would you recommend to get rid of the M.2 SSD completely?
 
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