Ram Heat Spreader?

loc chuong · Jul 22, 2013

Well I'm going to buy this ram stick, but then people said on my other thread that the heat spreader on the ram stick might cause issues with clearance. What do they mean by issue with clearance?

Other Thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1742945/ram-compatible-mobo-cooler.html#11207786

Should i get a ram stick without a heat spreader so it will fit?

geofelt · Jul 22, 2013

Heat spreaders are mostly marketing, and usually come with a price premium.
Only if you are overclocking your ram to record levels might fancy heat spreaders be a good thing.
Yes, tall heat spreaders can interfere with many aftermarket cpu coolers.
The ares series will work just as well, and cost a bit less too:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231560

USAFRet · Jul 22, 2013

DDR3, the fins are not needed. With earlier version (DDR2) it may have been an issue due to heat dissipation.

The problem is, with 4 sticks, a lot of the large aftermarket coolers/fans hang over Slot one.

That depends a lot on the motherboard and the cooler.

For instance, my Gigabyte z77x-D3H, Hyper 212+, Corsair Vengeance low profile...I could not use finned RAM in slot one. There is ~3/16" clearance between the top of the slot 1 ram stick and the cooler fan. Yes...measured it just the other day. RAM with 'cooling' fins would cause conflict with the fan. And moving the fan results in lower performance.

Those fins do little but look neat, and I'd rather get performance rather than cool looking RAM fins.

JackNaylorPE · Jul 22, 2013

Heat spreaders are a remnant of DDR2 days when RAM actually needed cooling. Nowadays, the only cooling purpose the serve is to "look cool". Use a low profile RAM to avoid interference issues.

These are faster , cheaper and no silly toothy heat sinks. Here's a OLD article on the subject before Corsair released their low profile Vengeance series.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=773&Itemid=67&limit=1&limitstart=1

At more than 2" tall in certain areas the Corsair Vengeance could pose a problem for users like me who use large coolers such as the Scythe Mugen 2. I was able to use the Corsair Vengeance only after I mounted the fan on my cooler on the backside. Size is definitely a concern with heat spreaders of this size and therefore I encourage users to check that they will have enough space under their heatsinks before purchasing the Corsair Vengeance kit.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=773&Itemid=67&limit=1&limitstart=6

The problem I have with the Corsair Vengeance is the same I have with many kits of RAM on the market. Companies insist on putting large coolers on their RAM and it limits the choice in CPU heatsinks that can be used within users system. DDR3 does not require these elaborate coolers with its lower voltages which translate to lower temperatures then RAM saw during the DDR, and DDR2 era. Corsair is correcting this with low profile versions of its Vengeance ......

Tradesman1 · Jul 22, 2013

If you ar using a third party heatsink on the CPU many are oversize and extend over the sticks of DRAM...in many cases the heatsinks on lower end DRAM are not really required (1333-1600 CL9), but heat dissipation is suggested with high performance and higher freq DRAM like 1600/CL7 1866/CL8 and above freqs. Some coolers like the 212+ (mentioned above and it's newer 212 EVO have adjustable fans that allow you to raise the the fan, and No there's no performance loss, by doing so, I've used well over 100 of these with both LP sticks and the even the tallest ones like the GSkill Tridents with no difference in their cooling abilities

loc chuong · Jul 22, 2013

Tradesman1 :

CPU Cooler:

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128594

CPU: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i5-4670K-Quad-Core-Desktop-Processor/dp/B00CO8TBOW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1374097902&sr=1-1&keywords=intel+core+i5-4670k

Case: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006I2H084?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B006I2H084&linkCode=xm2&tag=wwwcareyholzm-20

Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231615

Will these be compatible with each other? I think they will fit since i only have 2 ram sticks instead of 4

loc chuong · Jul 22, 2013

JackNaylorPE :

They say in the comments that this is a low profile ram stick

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231615

If those dont fit maybe these will

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=20-231-560&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=100&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=%28keywords%29&Page=1#scrollFullInfo

Anyone wanna tell me if they do?

Tradesman1 · Jul 22, 2013

Yes no problem - You'll be fine, the case is nice and wide with room for most any heatsink out there that I know of

loc chuong · Jul 22, 2013

Tradesman1 :

So that G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series ram will work right?

Because they look epic....

USAFRet · Jul 22, 2013

loc chuong :

6 months or a year from now, when you want to add another 2 sticks......identical RAM will not work.

Why limit your choices from the start?

USAFRet · Jul 22, 2013

loc chuong :

That is the only purpose of those fins. To look cool.
They perform exactly the same function as the fins on your grandads '59 Cadillac. They look cool.

loc chuong · Jul 22, 2013

USAFRet :

loc chuong :

6 months or a year from now, when you want to add another 2 sticks......identical RAM will not work.

Why limit your choices from the start?

I will never need more than 16 gb ram lol
Plus.. i plan on using this pc for a long time the way it is

Not crazy rich to constantly get the newest of the new parts

geofelt · Jul 22, 2013

There is no way to tell what will fit without knowing what cooler you will use, and possibly the motherboard.
Looking back at your other post, I see that you will be using a Noctua NH-U14S
That is a fine cooler, and not very deep. You should have no problem. If necessary, the fan can be pushed up higher, or mounted in a pull configuration.

And... since you have budget limitations, 1600 speed will perform within 1-2% of 1866 in real app performance or fps.

USAFRet · Jul 22, 2013

loc chuong :

Famous last words.

loc chuong · Jul 22, 2013

USAFRet :

From where o.o

Tradesman1 · Jul 22, 2013

I myself think you are taking the sensible approach, you've obviously done some research, so you'll have to go with what YOU want, their will always be those telling you that you are doing the wrong thing, or you should buy what they tell you, Since it's your choice, suggest just taking things in as suggestions then if more explanation need ask.

loc chuong · Jul 22, 2013

geofelt :

Well, i wouldn't mind spending another hundred since it total which every single thing i need to use the pc it only costs about 1200-1300. the PC itself only costs 1000-1100. Actually planned to buy windows 7 disc which would add another 200 but i decided to buy the oem which costs 100 less. So yea i could spend another 100 no prob

loc chuong · Jul 22, 2013

Tradesman1 :

I've actually have done quiet alot of research on Pcs the last week. Actually the whole week I've haven't played a single game and been researching lol. Need to know what your buying before you buy it

Tradesman1 · Jul 22, 2013

Got that right! and then when the rig is up, you'll be gaming to your hearts content

loc chuong · Jul 22, 2013

Tradesman1 :

Haha no kiddin

USAFRet · Jul 22, 2013

Tradesman1 :

This post is talking about a CPU cooler in relation to case width, not the original question about RAM fin clearance.

Tradesman1 · Jul 22, 2013

Yes it was in response to the question about the case

loc chuong · Jul 22, 2013

USAFRet :

Just wanted to make sure the CPU Cooler fits in the case and it didnt touch my ram is all
Can't exactly choose more than one subject

Tradesman1 · Jul 22, 2013

This is what we call multi-tasking - keeping up with everything at once

USAFRet · Jul 22, 2013

loc chuong :

The cooler fitting the case and the cooler clearing the RAM are two different things.
My Hyper 212+ fits the case, but would not clear 4 of those RAM fins/

Ram Heat Spreader?

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