Heatpipe question

[iviv]

I've got an antec 900 case, and just bought a 120mm fan to stick on the side, to blow air onto the CPU and GPU. But I was a little silly and didn't check for clearance. Fan arrives, and while it does fit, one of the heatpipes from my CPU is poking into it, which will prevent the fan from turning, which is obviously bad.

The end of the pipe seems to be fairly thin, almost ending in a point, but would it be a bad idea to set about it with a file or something? Because I read that some of them can be hollow/have liquid in to allow better heatflow, would this be the case with the Thermalright IFX-14?

 

[iviv]

Thanks, Moo. Figures that it would be that way XD

I did consider somehow hanging it outside the case, the only real issue would be the cable for the fan, though I may just drill through the mesh to poke it through, and then lots of cable ties to keep it there. The PCs well away from me, so I don't forsee a problem with sticking my fingers in there, about the only issue would be when I take the case to LANs, but the box I take it in would provide lots of room for it anyway. That may be for the best.