SFF CPU cooler question...

[Barno]

Hey guys, so my AIO died and I needed a quick replacement. Grabbed a Noctua NH-L12S but in order for it to clear the ram I need to mount the fan directly below the PSU...

Obviously not ideal but is this going to have a big impact on temps and would it be worth me going for the smaller 92mm version where the fan sits below the heatsink? Trying to keep costs down atm.

 

[t2na]

Is it definitely not possible to mount the fan below the heatsink? I have the same L12s cooler and have Corsair LPX RAM, I can get the 120mm slim fan below the heatsink (it's TIGHT!) and it fits and works great.

I have also used the smaller 92mm fan as well (NF-B9? or the A9) and that's been fine as well - it didn't make a huge difference in temps but noise was definitely louder.

 

[Barno]

Unfortunately not, doesn't clear the ram in any configuration if its below.

 

[t2na]

Unfortunately not, doesn't clear the ram in any configuration if its below.

I'd give the smaller 92mm fan a go and put it below the heatsink, I think the NF-A9 is the newer version of that fan from Noctua.

I used that to cool an i7 8700k in an L12s in really small SFF case (Ghost S1) and it worked nicely.

 

[Barno]

Ok thanks, as I'm trying to do it on a budget I may return it for the Noctua NH-L9i - I guess I'm wondering if the current solution with it mounted directly below the PSU would still provide better cooling than a smaller CPU cooler?

 

[mickyflinn]

Flip the psu around so it's sucking air from inside if not already.

Why did you not get anothe aio ?

 

[Barno]

Last one pump failed and thought I'd go back to air - also wasn't sure there were any decent ones around the £60 mark.

 

[mickyflinn]

Last one pump failed and thought I'd go back to air - also wasn't sure there were any decent ones around the £60 mark.

Cooler Master MasterLiquid Lite 240 AIO​