Absolutely what I thought, too, Patanjali.
I was watercooling for years, but couldn’t manage to get my loop stable so I switched to air this time. What I’m considering now is a Corsair H100i, but I need a different case for this one, and I really have to find out what I want first, before I start this “project”.
On a sidenote: I’m running 4.0 GHz now, stable, with my “custom built” burn in test for Cubase (Diva + Aether orgy). Stable, not more than 71°C. I like it.
Why Intel doesn’t put the stock clock higher puzzles me. May be “ignorant user” issues (those guys who think that stock coolers are any good) or a question of yield.
When it comes to me all I can say is: 4.0 GHz at stock voltage seem to be fine. A solid 17.6% overclock. Perfectly reflected in Passmark as well.
Interestingly, the guy at the computer shop, who sold me the Scythe Mugen 4 I use as a temporay solution told me that customer built watercooling has falling out of favor and the closed systems you mentioned are the way to go nowadays.