Noctua NH-U12A with Acer Predator PO5-650 the best solution to just get a new CPU cooler?

predpet
predpet Member Posts: 14

Tinkerer

edited September 2023 in Predator Desktops

Hi!

New Acer Predator PO-650 owner and I noticed that while gaming the CPU temperature gets as high as 90-95c and I was wondering is the best solution to just get a new CPU cooler? I was looking for Noctua NH-U12A but I'm not sure how it would fit and is there some other installation problems with that cooler?

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title and add issue detail]

Best Answer

  • chugzilla
    chugzilla Member Posts: 727 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    Answer ✓

    it will fit just fine a lot of us here have that cooler including me. it's amazing and my temps dropped 20-25C on average in gaming mode. installation is simple just read the instructions because it comes with intel and amd parts. you do not need to remove the MB unless you want too. but you will need 4x3mm-10mm screws to attach the brackets to the MB. if you have any more questions just ask away, I'm always here checking in. this is my PO5-640. i have done extensive upgrades like removing the GPU bracket and HDD cage they both block airflow from the front fans i put the stock cooler fan on the top rack and bought a 2nd for exhaust then replaced the stock Noctua fans with higher rpm cooler master mobius argb hv fans for better air flow. i also run an open-air design now by leaving off all panels when i game and if you keep your tower off the ground, you only get minimal dust i only have to clean once a month this alone dropped my temps 10-12C on average. but ambient rooms temperatures matter more than most realize i am also in a climate-controlled basement heh.

Answers

  • chugzilla
    chugzilla Member Posts: 727 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    Answer ✓

    it will fit just fine a lot of us here have that cooler including me. it's amazing and my temps dropped 20-25C on average in gaming mode. installation is simple just read the instructions because it comes with intel and amd parts. you do not need to remove the MB unless you want too. but you will need 4x3mm-10mm screws to attach the brackets to the MB. if you have any more questions just ask away, I'm always here checking in. this is my PO5-640. i have done extensive upgrades like removing the GPU bracket and HDD cage they both block airflow from the front fans i put the stock cooler fan on the top rack and bought a 2nd for exhaust then replaced the stock Noctua fans with higher rpm cooler master mobius argb hv fans for better air flow. i also run an open-air design now by leaving off all panels when i game and if you keep your tower off the ground, you only get minimal dust i only have to clean once a month this alone dropped my temps 10-12C on average. but ambient rooms temperatures matter more than most realize i am also in a climate-controlled basement heh.

  • chugzilla
    chugzilla Member Posts: 727 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
  • predpet
    predpet Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    CPU Cooler (Noctua NH-U12A) and case fan installations done. I changed all the case fans (2xfront intake140mm Noctua NF-A14 PWM, 1xback exhaust 120mm Noctua NF-S12A PWM, 2x top exhaust 120mm 1xNF-S12A and 1xNFP12).

    I tried gaming with Baldus Gate 3 with ultra settings and temperatures are down from ~90c before to around 65c-70c now. Noise levels are way down also so that is a big plus also.

    Here is the pictures how it looks like now from inside.

  • chugzilla
    chugzilla Member Posts: 727 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon

    that's awesome and looks great good job !!@!!

  • leo56leo
    leo56leo Member Posts: 3 New User

    Just a quick question! How did you manage to remove the HDD bracket? I opened up my computer and saw that the HDD bracket wasnt screwed in with screws but rather some rivets, did you drill through them or something?

    Cool optimizing on the pc build by the way!

    Ive just come across the same overheating problem so ive ordered a liquid cooler which I hope will help me!

  • chugzilla
    chugzilla Member Posts: 727 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon

    yes, if you're talking to me, you just drill them out. it's really easy to do. and ty.

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer

    I have a pair of 8TB drives in mine, so no bracket removal here. :)

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • coolerupdater
    coolerupdater Member Posts: 4 New User
    edited July 1

    Hi all!, first of all, thank you all of you, I was in a hurry, my PO-650 i7 13700F and rtx4070 was reaching 100ª when my children play fortnite!!!!!!

    so, after reading your threads about po-630, po-640 and this one bought this noctua nh-12a. So I did the following changes:

    Starting point

    I removed cooler (well cooler is still connected and will be to use it in top exhaust), fan and clened paste (get in my picture rectangles in red, cpu one and green (system fan 1, probably for water coolers)

    In this point, as I am a little bit lazy, I didn't remove original cpu connector for rgb, becasuse I will keep original noctua fans. And, to save time, I only changed its power supply to system fan 1 and used 4 m.3 10 cm to fit this fun to top (you can reuse original ones, much more easier solution, but I have no nuts for them, so I did that screws replace fixin only the hole near to top case holes).

    In this case, thanks to chugzilla, i didn't remove MB to use noctua bacplate I reused original one, with m.3 10 mm screws and blue intel noctua elements (read noctua instructions to use the right ones, number one in blue in my picture, i only showed 2, but used 4). The green number two is for other noctua element you should use

    I boutgth screws in google

    After that I fitted second metal element, and connected Y wire from noctua, as I wanted to use the original CPU connector. Maybe exists a better option to connect them, but i wanted to do faster with what I had.

    then I applied thermal paste as noctua recommend and started to screw the cooler and fixed fans (you should do without fans and add them later

    Finally I started my computer to test if everything works well

    Extra images from top view with and without extra original decorator

    Again, thanks to chugzilla and other mates writing here!!!!

    Iddle before 60ª, after 37º

    Playing before 100º, after 74º

    Maybe it is a too hot cpu, but now is really aceptable for me

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer

    74ºC is better than fine for gaming. Typical designs revolve around the low to middle 80s and ramp up fan speed when you pass those numbers. You are doing great!

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • coolerupdater
    coolerupdater Member Posts: 4 New User
    edited July 1

    Thank you!, and due to better airflow (i guess...) 4070Ti is now 49° and before was 64°

  • chugzilla
    chugzilla Member Posts: 727 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    edited July 8

    you have the fans on the cooler wrong!!@!!

    the front fan on the cooler is backwards….i can't see the back fan but the back fan on the cooler should look like the front fan.

    then the front fan on the cooler should look like the 2x140mm on the front of the pc.

    fix that and the temps will go even lower.

    make sure the splitter is plugged into the same spot as the original cooler was.

    did you not read the instructions lol?

    i have a 13700K under my Noctua NH-U12A now and i get lower temps than you so change those fans around.

  • coolerupdater
    coolerupdater Member Posts: 4 New User

    Ouch, you are right I swear I checked It before adding fans... i have just tested changing them and temps are the same. Probably after some time playing, with this good configuration It should be better.

    Today i have not enough time but Tomorrow i will pass Aida tests

  • coolerupdater
    coolerupdater Member Posts: 4 New User

    Checking predpet pictures... He managed to set cooler reversed. With that configuration, fans, in my case, were on top of ram, so i did the same config you did chugzilla. I want to test more games, fortnite is a big CPU consumer

  • chugzilla
    chugzilla Member Posts: 727 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon

    yeah, the best test is the cinebench r23 and for monitoring temps use hwinfo64, both free programs and highly recommended….. i have a 13700K under my NH-U12A and on the CBr23 30-minute test it never goes over 87C fans at max rpms.