Which way to mount CPU cooler

Jsmooth1992

Honorable
Jan 3, 2014
30
0
10,530
Hey guys!

I had a few questions concerning the installation of the coolermaster 412 slim. For those of you who don't know this cooler, think of it as a cm hyper 212 Evo with two fans. Anyways, I'm worried about the orientation of the cooler, especially how the heat pipes at the bottom will impact cooling.

If I'm not mistaken, on most Intel cpu's (mine is a i5-4670K), the "hot spot" of the die is actually in the middle of the CPU. If I run the heat sink with the heat pipes parallel to this hot spot strip, won't the outer best pipes not be in contact with the CPU die?

Another way is that you rotate the cooler 90 degrees so the heat pipes sit perpendicular (so they run across the CPU die at a right angle) to the CPU die. Has anyone done this with an evo or a 412 slim? Will this result in better cooling? Really appreciate any help I can get!

Thanks in advance for any advice. :)
 
Solution
I have no idea for the i5-4670K, in the end it will really probably only be a minor temp difference if any at all. Most coolers are designed to pull heat pretty well from the entire cooling block. Just ensure your fans are blowing the air out an exhaust port on the case or into or nearby an exhaust fan to keep the heat they exhaust from just recycling through the case.

Having more CFM coming into your case than out is always good practice as well for reducing temps on all your components.

killakallies

Honorable
Jan 22, 2014
215
0
10,760
Do you have an opening for the air to escape at the top and back of your case? Having the cooler blow into an unventilated area of the case will increase your temps as is. Orientation should not matter all that much but putting the heat pipes over a definitely known hotspot on the CPU is never a bad idea as long as you have proper ventilation for the exhaust for the cooler.

It would be an interesting test if the time permits for you to see what the results are in both configurations. Maybe give it a few weeks in one orientation and a few in the other just to see if there is any major improvement.
 

Jsmooth1992

Honorable
Jan 3, 2014
30
0
10,530


Hey Killa,

Thanks for the tips. i probably should have posted that my case is the NZXT Phantom 410. It's got both an exhaust at the back and the top, so no matter how I orientate the CPU cooler is should be able to pull air towards the case exhaust fan. Do you have any clue about where the hotspot is on an i5-4670K?
 

killakallies

Honorable
Jan 22, 2014
215
0
10,760
I have no idea for the i5-4670K, in the end it will really probably only be a minor temp difference if any at all. Most coolers are designed to pull heat pretty well from the entire cooling block. Just ensure your fans are blowing the air out an exhaust port on the case or into or nearby an exhaust fan to keep the heat they exhaust from just recycling through the case.

Having more CFM coming into your case than out is always good practice as well for reducing temps on all your components.
 
Solution