MSI 790FX-GD70 Cooler/memory physical issue!

Philip_ashby · 18 Oct 2009 at 06:46

I have just bought:

MSI 790FX-GD70
AMD Phenom II 720 X3 BE
4GB (2x2GB) CorsairTwinX XMS3 large heat sinks
Thermalright Ultra-120

Couple of questions: the Thermalright blocks the first 2 DIMMS (the fan spring partially blocks DIMM3 but can be modified!) because of it's orientation. In the manual it says for a successful system boot up you must have memory in DIMM1 slot... but I have seen photos on a review of the motherboard with 'oversized' memory in DIMM3-4.

If this isn't a problem which way should I orientated the cooler? Cool air in from the top of the case and hot air down towards the GFX? or the other way round? The northbridge heatsink doesn't get and nice air whoosing over it apart from the air being sucked out the back.

The other option I have was to get the Corsair H50-1 and avoid any problems. The only problem is that the Lian Li X1000 (yes I have more money than sense...but it's soooo lovely

) has 140mm fans on the back and no way to fit the radiator. I have seen 140-120 convertors but that's normally to upgrade from 120 to 140 not the other way round. I am worried about the strength of the fixings versus the weight of the radiator!

Any help/opinions would be appreciated. Anyone got a better idea about which CPU cooler would fit?

As an aside, I'm really annoyed that in designing the AM2/3 socket, which hosts AMDs flagship CPUs, they didn't take into account the fact that many people will want to run overclocking machines with large heatsinked memory.

blaineoliver · 18 Oct 2009 at 12:15

I have a true, and luckily evern though its orientated stupidly, it doesnt affect the ram, for big heatsinks, you do need ram that isnt too tall. I would go for the true myself as should be okay, i can check the clearance on my own true if you need for ram height.

Philip_ashby · 18 Oct 2009 at 12:44

blaineoliver said:
I have a true, and luckily evern though its orientated stupidly, it doesnt affect the ram, for big heatsinks, you do need ram that isnt too tall. I would go for the true myself as should be okay, i can check the clearance on my own true if you need for ram height.

Which cooler is that then? Thermalright or Cocage?

blaineoliver · 18 Oct 2009 at 15:31

Thermalright ultra 120, thats what i have. Do you want me to check its height for you?

Philip_ashby · 18 Oct 2009 at 17:05

blaineoliver said:
Thermalright ultra 120, thats what i have. Do you want me to check its height for you?

Have bought it but was wondering if someone with the motherboard alos has this problem with tall memory and whether the system works with the memory in DIMM3-4.

Mr Doovde · 21 Oct 2009 at 18:44

I do not own the board, but user reviews on a competitor's site state that they have experienced the same problem with large heatsinks, but that their boards work with the memory in DIMM 3-4. Hope that helps a bit.

adwol48 · 21 Oct 2009 at 19:17

my sunbeam core contact freezer 120mm blocks the first two dimm slots for me since i'm using Corsair dominator ram, these have cooling fins on top so it's impossible to fit them under the fan. i've havent experienced any problems by using dimm 3 and 4, here is a quick pic of what i mean.