NoFan CR-80EH and Coffee Lake MATX motherboard with full height graphics card - will they work together?

markalroberts · Apr 9, 2018

Hi -

I've just ordered an Asus PRIME-B360M-A matx motherboard and the CR-80EH passive cooler....

the cooler claims to allow for VGA card, but I notice that the new motherboards (and it seems to be the same of all makes, not just ASUS) seem to have moved the PCIe x16 slot up where the old PCIe used to be.

My graphics card not a low profile - in fact it's quite tall as it's also passive cooled.

I can't find anything on the net about this not working, but I wonder if this in now an incompatible combination.

Has anyone tried this combination yet that can give me some confidence?

Thanks!

electro_neanderthal · Apr 9, 2018

You have a cooler designed for a 7th gen CPU and a motherboard for an 8th gen CPU... what is your processor?

Looking at the reviews, the cooler has trouble fitting the boards it's designed to fit (this board is not one of them). And does your case have enough ventilation and/or case fans for the cooler?

As for fit, it will be tight, according to this: https://overclock3d.net/reviews/cases_cooling/nofan_cr-80eh_passive_heat_sink_review/4
If your graphics card has a backplate, then I'll say it won't fit.

What do you plan on doing with this PC?

Sources:
http://www.nofancomputer.com/eng/products/CR-80EH.php
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/PRIME-B360M-A/specifications/
https://www.eteknix.com/nofan-cr-80eh-fanless-copper-cpu-cooler-review/

James Mason · Apr 9, 2018

Hmm I think it's only MATX boards that moved the PCIE x16 slot up, full ATX boards still have that PCIE X4 above it.
Still, that cooler is pretty tall, and not super wide, so it should fit fine.
You may want to choose a different mobo though if you want the PCIE x16 lane in a different spot

@electro, 7th gen cooler mounting is the same as 8th gen, and has been the same since like 4th/3rd gen.
That compatibility list is more likely because the heat generated by 4th gen was hotter than 3rd and future gens.

markalroberts · Apr 9, 2018

electro_neanderthal :

You have a cooler designed for a 7th gen CPU and a motherboard for an 8th gen CPU... what is your processor?

My CPU is an i5 8400

Looking at the reviews, the cooler has trouble fitting the boards it's designed to fit (this board is not one of them). And does your case have enough ventilation and/or case fans for the cooler?

Yep enough ventilation - two large (and quiet!) case fans. A good case too.

As for fit, it will be tight, according to this: https://overclock3d.net/reviews/cases_cooling/nofan_cr-80eh_passive_heat_sink_review/4
If your graphics card has a backplate, then I'll say it won't fit.

No backplate - Palit 1050ti Kalm X passive GPU

What do you plan on doing with this PC?

Everything! I'm a software developer and gamer and photo editor... but I like it *quiet*

Sources:
http://www.nofancomputer.com/eng/products/CR-80EH.php
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/PRIME-B360M-A/specifications/
https://www.eteknix.com/nofan-cr-80eh-fanless-copper-cpu-cooler-review/

markalroberts · Apr 9, 2018

James Mason :

Hi - thanks for replying - I can't find a single MATX 8th gen mb that hasn't moved the PCIE slots up... Cooler is 15.5 cm diameter and looking at images of it in the case, it looks like it may well block off the first slot (previously mostly seems to be the smaller PCIE slot)

James Mason · Apr 9, 2018

markalroberts :

James Mason :

Hi - thanks for replying - I can't find a single MATX 8th gen mb that hasn't moved the PCIE slots up... Cooler is 15.5 cm diameter and looking at images of it in the case, it looks like it may well block off the first slot (previously mostly seems to be the smaller PCIE slot)

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/TsfmP6/msi-b350m-gaming-pro-micro-atx-am4-motherboard-b350m-gaming-pro

markalroberts · Apr 9, 2018

James Mason :

markalroberts :

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/TsfmP6/msi-b350m-gaming-pro-micro-atx-am4-motherboard-b350m-gaming-pro

But that's for AMD no? I'm looking for 8th compatible intel chipset (Z370/B360 etc)

James Mason · Apr 9, 2018

markalroberts :

But that's for AMD no? I'm looking for 8th compatible intel chipset (Z370/B360 etc)
[/quotemsg]

You're right, i saw B3xx and just clicked it.
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/X2bwrH/asrock-b360m-hdv-micro-atx-lga1151-motherboard-b360m-hdv
But that one is what i'm talking about.

markalroberts · Apr 9, 2018

James Mason :

You're right, i saw B3xx and just clicked it.
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/X2bwrH/asrock-b360m-hdv-micro-atx-lga1151-motherboard-b360m-hdv
But that one is what i'm talking about.[/quotemsg]

Man, you're right! Thanks. I think that's a better option!

....edit! Just remembered why I'd discounted this one: Only two slots for ram... I kinda wanted 4 for future upgrades :/

electro_neanderthal · Apr 9, 2018

James Mason :

This may be true, but as I mentioned, it was having trouble fitting the boards it was designed to fit. And if heat is the reason it isn't on the compatibility list from the maker, then that's an even better reason not to get that cooler. Especially since the OP uses it for more intensive tasks.

geofelt · Apr 9, 2018

Here is a review of the cooler.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1440-page4.html
Looking at page 4, it would appear that you will have a problem with a tall graphics card in slot 1.
If you have a sli capable motherboard with a second pcie x16 slot, that could work.

What will be your case?
Nothing with moving parts can be truly silent.
But, it can be very quiet.
If you have 160mm available in your case, the scythe kotetsu could do the job.
Here is a review:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1391-page1.html

James Mason · Apr 9, 2018

markalroberts :

With a passive system, it's never gonna be powerful enough for a full 64/128gbs of ram anyways. 32GBs should still be more than enough.

markalroberts · Apr 9, 2018

geofelt :

Thanks! I've got a bad feeling you're right - I either need to get a mb with a slot 2 gpu (which there is one mentioned above by James - but sadly only with space for 2 ram)... or I need to return the cooler.

Been looking at this as an alternative: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ARCTIC-Freezer-12-Compact-Recommended/dp/B06VTGPL74/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1523306199&sr=1-2&keywords=cpu%2Bpassive&th=1

I think this will fit and is "partially" passive... anyone got any opinion?

markalroberts · Apr 9, 2018

James Mason :

Yes agreed.... however I was thinking of adding another 8 to my 16 at some point... it's a lot cheaper that way than selling the 16 for a fresh 32.

James Mason · Apr 9, 2018

Any cooler can be Semi Passive, just turn the fans off, or have the minimum fan curve be 0% up to a certain temp.

geofelt · Apr 9, 2018

"partially passive" sounds like marketing to me.
If the 92mm fan is ever used, it will be a lot noisier than a larger 120mm fan.

If your case permits 160mm, look at the noctua NH-D15s.

https://noctua.at/en/nh-d15s/specification

The cooler is large with a slow moving 140mm fan.
The package includes low noise adapters which will make it virtually silent.
The s variant has been redesigned with an offset to clear graphics cards mounted in the first pcie x16 slot.

markalroberts · Apr 9, 2018

James Mason :

Sure, but I'm after one that's going to do a good job at keeping the CPU at a sensible temp whilst making minimal noise.... I have a much cheaper arctic fan on my existing setup and it's so much noisier than the big old fans on my case - I used to have a zalman years ago and that was ok. Was hoping to go completely passive

Also, recently went to a Palit Kalm 1050ti which has made a *huge* difference over by previous EVGA 750ti

markalroberts · Apr 9, 2018

geofelt :

Wow! That's quite a heat sink! Maybe a bit more money than I wanted to spend, but I'm going to bear it in mind

electro_neanderthal · Apr 9, 2018

https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

This is a CPU cooler that is silent (in my experience). We've used it for 3+ years and still can't tell if the PC is on by sound. Even with the fan on all the time. It's also only 127mm high, so it will fit in smaller cases.

toshibitsu · Apr 9, 2018

If that fan will fit inside an EVGA Hadron Air case, I'd love to have it.

geofelt · Apr 9, 2018

If you really think you might want 32gb in the future, buy it up front, or plan on selling/replacing your 16gb.
Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
The internal workings are designed for the capacity of the kit.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards, can be very sensitive to this.
This is more difficult when more sticks are involved.
That is why ram vendors will NOT support ram that is not bought in one kit.

electro_neanderthal · Apr 9, 2018

toshibitsu :

The case (This one, right? https://www.evga.com/products/product.aspx?pn=110-MA-1001-K1) is 169mm wide. That leaves 42mm... should be plenty.

toshibitsu · Apr 9, 2018

I should have clarified that I was referring to the CR-80EH. thanks!

markalroberts · Apr 9, 2018

Am thinking about getting this: https://www.scan.co.uk/products/cooler-master-hyper-612-v2-silent-cpu-cooler-for-intel-2011-3-2011-1366-1156-115x-775-plus-amd-fm2pl?v=c

Seems like it can get away with being passive (or at least very quiet), has large fan and is going to fit (or be it tightly) with gpu in slot 1
http://egmr.net/2015/04/cooler-master-hyper-612-ver-2-review-believe-the-hype/

geofelt · Apr 9, 2018

The hadron is an ITX case, a M-ATX motherboard will not fit.

NoFan CR-80EH and Coffee Lake MATX motherboard with full height graphics card - will they work together?

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