Removing Heatspreaders. Is it advisable?

Sanchez

Sanchez

Sanchez

Soldato
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I've some Crucial Ballistix in my HTPC but having just bought a Scythe Shuriken.....the heatspreaders obstruct the cooler and basically it won't fit. Removing the heatspreaders would solve the problem but is it advisable? To be honest I cant really see them being that effective, especially as it will be run at stock. Anyone done this before and how do you remove them? I assume they're just held on with some sticky pads?
 
Nothing wrong with taking them off as long as you can do it without damaging the memory. Heat spreaders on ram sticks don't do a lot. Using a hair dryer to melt the glue a bit can help.
 
Ha. I've already got the heatspreaders off. The hairdryer worked a treat and best all I didn't break anything, which is unusual for me.
 
heatspreaders are only used or needed if pre overclocked or going to be overclocked, this is why none branded chips / value chips don't have them, so for me it would depend on make and model and if your going to overclock them in the future etc

if it says stock then not pre clocked but some are pre clocked and may work better or be less stable without them, nothing is put on now days if not needed as it would add to cost.

also removing them may void the warranty
 
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Not quite true. Samsung green is the best overclocking memory you can get, and it comes without heat spreaders.

I do agree about it voiding your warranty though!
 
I have Corsair Blue Ram @1866 ( but have it at @1600 not sure it makes any difference running at full speed ? ) that came with big blue heat spreaders on all four sticks and i just pulled em all off....purely cos of the CPU Cooler i have...took me all of ten minutes :)
 
Blue160 said:
Not quite true. Samsung green is the best overclocking memory you can get, and it comes without heat spreaders.
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I imagine that is because they are sold at 1600MHz, if they were sold at 2400MHz im sure samsung would have fitted them with some sort of heatspreader
 
and if your running them at 2400MHz would love to know how long they would last without them as well :) unless you have some great cooling in the system
 
Plenty of people are running them heavily overclocked with no problems. Heat spreaders on RAM sticks are far more decorative than functional.
 
The RAM I've got is Ballistix Elite 1866Mhz stuff. Not overclocked in my system and so far have been okay without the spreaders. I've saved them though just in case as the came off undamaged.
 
I removed the heatspreaders on some Corsair Vengance RAM, its been over a year and I haven't noticed any problems, I doubt they even did anything to be honest.
 
Blue160 said:
Heat spreaders on RAM sticks are far more decorative than functional.
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This. It's purely marketing really and the only way a manufacturer can differentiate their pcb with a few chips on from another anonymous pcb with a few chips on is to whack a bit shiny branded lump of metal on it so you feel justified in spending that extra £20 for the 'Donkey Dong XXL' Sticks. There ain't much heat to spread from a stick of ram.

Saying that though, I often buy memory based on how nice the heat spreader looks so it obviously works :)
 
Seems to be purely a cosmetic thing. I have a 6gb triple channel ocz reaper kit in my x58 system. Looks the part yes, but the tall heatpipe and rather bulky heat spreaders can limit the choices for cpu coolers.
 
Never pry between the circuit board and the heatsinks, only between the heatsinks and tops of the chips. Try wedging single-edge razor blades in there, and doing several razors at once reduces the stress on the circuit board. Definitely use heat to soften the adhesive, and work slowly.
 
durbs said:
This. It's purely marketing really and the only way a manufacturer can differentiate their pcb with a few chips on from another anonymous pcb with a few chips on is to whack a bit shiny branded lump of metal on it so you feel justified in spending that extra £20 for the 'Donkey Dong XXL' Sticks. There ain't much heat to spread from a stick of ram.

Saying that though, I often buy memory based on how nice the heat spreader looks so it obviously works :)
Click to expand...

What a BRILLIANT post - I completely agree with it all :D
 
Good to see my removal attempt was not in vein. I would never have bought the vengeance if I knew how much hastle it was going to cause me. Low-Pro all the way.
 
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