CPU fan is too large for case and shorting MOBO. Can I file down heat sinks?

tooquick · May 3, 2014

I just finished a build using a micro ATX case. I used this cpu cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118099

AS you can see it has large heat sinks and they are touching the side of the case. I bent them down and put some electrical tape on the case hoping that would allow me to use the cooler, but I felt a little shock when i touched a screw on the case and the cpu won't boot if the panel is on.

Any ideas? The problem is the bronze heat sinks on the end of the cooler. I tried bending them, but they still touch. What if I cut them off?

i7Baby · May 3, 2014

You need to find out the size of the cooler that will fit in your case. That Zalman cooler is 152mm high

Bolting it up so it presses against the side of your case can bust the cpu out of the motherboard socket!

What case have you got?

cdburner5911 · May 3, 2014

You shouldn't cut them!
they are filled with fluid/gas and if its released it will become effectively useless
best bet is to find a smaller heat sink, or modify case

also, if you are being shocked they you have other serous issues!
So if the top panel isn't on, the computer works perfectly?
Did the case come with a power supply? Because, computers run off 12v, and that shouldn't be enough to feel a shock, so either somehow you are getting AC (120v) leaking, or something is making static buildup

did you make sure that no part of the mobo is touching the case that shouldn't be? no stray wires?

tooquick · May 3, 2014

My case is the fractal design core 1000 USB 3.0
http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/core-series/core-1000-usb-30

The cooler is too large for the case, and the bronze heatsinks touch the side panel.

bryonhowley · May 3, 2014

Either get a cooler that will fit such a small case or get a case big enough to properly hold your hardware. I would go for big case personally as I have never found any use what so ever in micro ATX hardware at all. But if you must then get a cooler that fits with a super small case because the cooler you have is NOT it.

tooquick · May 3, 2014

cdburner5911 :

The case didn't come with a PSU i bought a corsair cx430. I actually bent the bronze heatsnks. When I first put the side panel on it casused them to bend a little, so I got some pliars and bent them more. This caused one of them to actually crack. I didn't notice any fluid though. Yes it runs without the side panel, but when i put it on it causes the error

esco_sid · May 3, 2014

since you already bent your heat-sink id just get a new heat-sink that isn't as tall.

i7Baby · May 3, 2014

The case - http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=25_1055&products_id=27421

can take a cooler up to 148mm high. And the Zalman is 152mm. You've probably already damaged the cooler so you won't be able to return it. But yu need to look at getting a new not so high cooler. Something like this - http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=207_23&products_id=12956 (114mm high)

Search

CPU fan is too large for case and shorting MOBO. Can I file down heat sinks?

tooquick

Honorable

i7Baby

i7Baby

Titan

cdburner5911

Distinguished

tooquick

Honorable

bryonhowley

Splendid

tooquick

Honorable

esco_sid

Splendid

i7Baby

Titan

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page