comments you write, we respond
LETTERS
WE TACKLE TOUGH READER QUESTIONS ON...
> Air vs water cooli
> Bored with gam
> 12VHPWR confusion
Blowing hot air
In regards to the cover build in the August 2023 issue of Maximum PC—the pairing of an overclockable Intel Core i5 13600K CPU and Z790 motherboard in conjunction with an Intel stock CPU cooler just doesn’t make sense. You're paying a $30-$50 premium per part for OC capability, yet you lack sufficient cooling for the task. Furthermore, one of the top features of the Corsair 2000D case is that it can fit a full-size GPU in conjunction with a 360mm AIO liquid cooler. While such a cooling solution is overkill for this particular CPU, it would have been nice to have highlighted this feature at the very least. However, I love the editorial from your last issue bemoaning the current state of GPU pricing. Not only is Nvidia’s 4060 Ti woefully overpriced in either VRAM configuration, but AMD is also so apprehensive, it decided to lower the MSRP of the Radeon RX 7600 by $40 mere hours ahead of launch, according to some outlets. We’re in an interesting time right now in the hardware space, in which previous gen GPU models remain compelling options given the lack of good low and midrange options under $700.
– S. Porter
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GUY COCKER, RESPONDS: Thanks for your feedback on the build. Sam did say in the component section of the feature that the case would take up to a 360mm radiator, but as you say, he elected to use an Intel stock air cooler in this particular build. We usually tend to do that on budget builds where every component needs to offer high value, or builds where the CPU can’t be overclocked or is of a lower performance. In the real world, I’d personally do like you suggested and add an AIO in there, but each to their own, and you can always add one at a later stage if you require.