Phanteks cooler is blocking 4 RAM slots...

benopeth

benopeth

benopeth

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I built my new rig this weekend and made an oversight with regards to the size of my CPU cooler.

I snapped up this one - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-001-PT&tool=3

And then proceeded to install it to the following motherboard - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-495-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=2174

I was hoping to fit my RAM (Corsair Dominator) in with no problems but as soon as I saw the true size of the cooler I knew that the heat spreaders would clash with it. So, I've got 16GB in the outer slots either side of the cooler so no channelling. Am I really going to lose that much performance wise with this set up?

I'd be happier to get some lower profile RAM but I've been using Dominator for years so I was hoping I might find some good recommendations on how to proceed with this one.

Thanks!
 
Ah, you've installed it the other way around to me. You look like you've got a little more space there though are you using lower profile memory there?
 
Don't the Dominators' have a removable cooling fins? If they do I think they are 43mm tall without fins.. And will fit as 14TC has 40-44mm clearance from top of CPU.. CPU is about 8mm above mobo so RAM should fit under cooler with fins removed. You may have to install RAM before you install cooler.. And bottom of fan will be about flush with bottom of radiator so unless you have a case with about 180mm CPU clearance 140mm fan won't fit on top of RAM.. Might need to run with one fan or get a 120mm front fan.
 
smogsy said:
do this?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/60227599/pc/IMG_2799.JPG
Click to expand...

Are their any comparison test results with having the push/pull exhausting to the top instead of to the rear, ive got a 200mm fan at the top compared with a 140mm fan at the rear, just wondering whether to test it the other way round and have it exhausting at the top on a push/pull rather than the rear. Hot air rises so it sounds a logical setup. i guess you could then have the rear exhaust blowing cool air into the case ?

It seems an interesting idea.
 
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The Matrix said:
Are their any comparison test results with having the push/pull exhausting to the top instead of to the rear, ive got a 200mm fan at the top compared with a 140mm fan at the rear, just wondering whether to test it the other way round and have it exhausting at the top on a push/pull rather than the rear. Hot air rises so it sounds a logical setup. i guess you could then have the rear exhaust blowing cool air into the case ?

It seems an interesting idea.
Click to expand...

with this setup i can have only 1 intake fan @ 1000rpm and my temp only reach 55c in prime overclocked its a old picture
 
The cooler performs the same both ways. The differences if any will be the temp of air going into cooler and how well the hot exhaust is removed from case. The cooler the cooler intake air is the cooler the CPU will be. If all of the heated exhaust air is removed from case than none of it can mix into the cooler intake air and heat it up.. I ran mine top exhaust for long time because it exhaust better.. 140mm vents directing inline with cooler versus venting out back with a 120mm vent set higher than cooler exhaust..

I vented out the top for half a year:
TY-143oncoolers.jpg


Until I finally removed rear vent grills and built a duct from cooler to rear vent.
0861994b-7802-4b77-a143-fdadd1423ac5_zps12efaa2a.jpg
 
Maybe a degree or two.. and it was silent before. Everything in my system is overkill. It idles at@660-700rpm and full load stress testing is 48c@1000rpm. It never gets hot or makes much noise. With top vents closed now you can't hear anything unless you get right up to it. Before at full load you could just hear the fans / airflow.. occasional harmonic of fans at certain rpm ranges. I found using middle fan as PWM master gave more harmonic noise than using front fan. Strange little things like that. Sound is subjective and I have no test equipment so it's just my and friends ears. Setting in room 2-3m away people can't tell if it's running or not if I cover the light ring around start button. If you are less than a meter away at full load you can hear a little airflow noise.. just enough to know it's running. ;)

I wish I had a sound meter to test with and compare room without it running to when it is.. from 50cm, 1m, 2m, 3m. I suspect up to 2m there is a couple dBA difference. But it takes at least 3dBA for human hear to hear a difference.

Even unplugging all the fans and stress testing it only reaches 75c.. and takes 35-40minutes to get that hot. It actually cooled better passive venting out the top.. because the fans and cooler formed a short chimney drawing air through and out top.
 
Ive turned my cooler the other way, ive managed to get 3 of the phanteks fans on the cooler, it was close to my 7970 gpu with the metal clips so ive put some rubber over the clips, the type you use to seal doors for draught where its sticky on the other side. Thats just a precaution as they wasn't touching the gpu, I'll see how it goes over the next few days.
 
I'll keep an eye on the temps to see how it goes over a couple of weeks, i'll also remove the bottom fan as well to see if that makes any difference. The bottom fan doesn't touch the GPU board, just for some added protection ive put some rubber strips near where the clips are.



 
doyll said:
Looks beautiful but please remove the bottom fan so the cooler can get some air and run quieter too. ;)
Click to expand...

Didn't think of that, was thinking that the bottom cooling vents would be better having a fan underneath blowing the warm air up, do the bottom fins not do much ?

Ive got the rear fan blowing cool air in, do you think that will be ok for positive pressure with the above setup ?
 
The area of cooler / fan needs space between fan and flat surface to get free airflow . A cooler is blocked on bottom of airflow is sides and top. (2 x 160mm + 140mm) x 35mm = 161cm sq 140mm fan is 153cm sq.

Back fan blowing in sound be okay. Are front and top fans same size and speed?.. both moving same cfm?
 
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