Are RAM heatsinks simply about aesthetics?

ubercake · Jul 25, 2014

I was thinking about how all RAM manufacturers have a value line with just the green PCB and chips versus the performance lines with elaborate heatsinks of various design.
If you're not overclocking your RAM, is the heatsink even necessary or can it be removed without issue? Has anyone tried this?

Karsten75 · Jul 25, 2014

Yes, you can remove it. It does have a function to remove the heat, but it should work fine if you don't overclock your RAM.

legend001523 · Jul 25, 2014

It does sometimes help with spreading the heat but mainly it's for aesthetics cause if they were all plain then they wouldn't look very good would they?

Eduello · Jul 25, 2014

Mostly for looks (1333 MHz Ripjaws are a good example of this), they're only useful for extreme overclocking.

legend001523 · Jul 25, 2014

Corsair dominator are also good examples of good looking RAM, but people do buy it to OC

pm4 · Jul 25, 2014

Heatsinks lately added to new aspect in PC building and that is design. Lot of heatsinks are more about how fancy they look than how it improve performance. At higher speeds or when you overclock it may matter and help with heat management but if you use classic 1600mhz rams or close to it no real need for heatsink. But careful with removing of heatsinks to not damage your ram also if you dont have reason you probably should keep it on.

Novuake · Jul 25, 2014

Hey Ubercake, odd to see a mod ask questions.

Let me try it tonight just to confirm, but pretty sure its not worth anything unless you do some serious overclocking.

ubercake · Jul 25, 2014

Novuake :

I was asking because a lot of times people try to pair large CPU heatsinks on a system with tall RAM heatsinks. If push comes to shove and people have problems with the install of the CPU heatsink because the RAM heatsink is too tall, it would be nice to offer the 'just remove the RAM heatsink' advice as an option if someone is already to that point in building their PC.

Do you have the means to measure the temperature of the RAM to see if gets any hotter without the heatsink? And what if you run XMP-type overclocking? It's all for science, but just something I've been pondering.

Novuake · Jul 25, 2014

Unfortunately I have no way of physically testing the temps. (Onus was sending me a IR thermometer since they are impossible to get in South Africa, but thanks to insane import cost, it never arrived).

But I will think of some way to test it.

Maybe OC it a bit to the limit and see if it crashes lower than it usually does. Dono yet, ideas welcome.

By the way, just a thought, these heatspreaders are pretty snug to the PCB, so not sure if everyone will be capable of removing them safely.

ubercake · Jul 25, 2014

Novuake :

That's what I was thinking. There's some kind of adhesive on some modules holding the heatspreader on.

techgeek · Jul 25, 2014

I know the RAM I have from GSkill has instructions on how to remove the heatspreader. The kit I have is the TridentX 2400 2X8GB.

For the most part DDR3 doesn't get hot. Unless you push higher VDIMM at them while overclocking.

I'm sure you've seen plenty of aftermarket GPU cooler reviews that have shown that putting the RAM heatsinks on or leaving them off made no difference in temperature or overclocking.

Novuake · Jul 25, 2014

ubercake :

I know for a fact that Kingston Blu and some of their other versions with Heatspreaders are simple to remove(no adhesive or anything like that), not sure about Corsair or G.Skill though. I will check my Corsair's at least.

Karsten75 · Jul 25, 2014

Novuake :

I don't think there's anything in a mod's job description about being all-knowing.

Karsten75 · Jul 25, 2014

Novuake :

I think removing a heatspreader like that is almost the same territory as delidding your CPU - only do it if you don't care about the warranty and if you can afford to replace the component if things don't work out well.

Novuake · Jul 25, 2014

Karsten75 :

I agree with you, only remove them if you are willing to void the warranty. Does not bother me though, since RAM is relatively cheap.

ubercake · Jul 25, 2014

Karsten75 :

Novuake :

I think removing a heatspreader like that is almost the same territory as delidding your CPU - only do it if you don't care about the warranty and if you can afford to replace the component if things don't work out well.

The thing is RAM is/was sold without heat spreaders. Not until the last 5-10 years was it a common thing to see a heatspreader on the modules.

Tradesman1 · Jul 25, 2014

The heat spreaders do dissipate heat and yes can check with a IR themometer...Above is mentioned the Tridents - the instructions they give on those is simply for the upper fin (a small screw on either side of the fin and it slides off (the fin is only good for a degree or so), but yes removing the heatsink generally voids the warranty and they do help though normally in the higher performance sets 1866 and up or lower freqs with tight timings

Novuake · Jul 26, 2014

Right so removed one of my chips, there is definitely some sort of clear adhesive that leaves very little residue.
Was quite a mission to remove it actually.

Ended up loosening the heatspreader by wiggling it outwards(more pressure than I was comfortable with to be honest) from the chip until it seemed to be free on both sides, I then slid the heatspreader along the chip length.

I will do some tests on the chip today.

Novuake · Jul 28, 2014

Hmmm ok could not get anything LESS out of it, but to be fair its not a very scientific test.

Trying to get a thermometer, will report back if I manage to get one.

Are RAM heatsinks simply about aesthetics?

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