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Graphics card heatsink touching RAM

Tags:
  • Homebuilt
  • RAM
  • Graphics Cards
  • Heatsinks
  • Systems
  • Product
Last response: in Systems
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February 2, 2009 9:59:26 PM

Components:

- GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
- HIS Hightech H465P512P Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
- G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

Problem:

The graphics card is fanless. There is a small fan on the front connected via heatpipes to a larger heatsink on the back of the card. Unfortunately, one of the fins of the back heatsink just barely touches the heatsink of the RAM modules installed in the front bank. I need to use both banks. [Click for images: 1, 2]

Question:

Does it matter? If the RAM runs hotter than the graphics card I could imagine that the large heatsink of the graphics card could actually help cool the RAM. On the other hand, if the graphics card runs a lot hotter than the RAM, I would be seriously worried about frying my memory. Potential fix could be clipping the offensive fin off the heatsink or bending it out of the way. Is this advisable? I could still return the motherboard, but I looked around and the placement of the PCI slot relative to the RAM seems pretty invariant. I couldn't find a motherboard in this price class where they are farther apart.

Also, the offensive fin is at the very end of one of the heatpipes. I assume that is where the pipe is coolest?

Any help/opinion is much appreciated!

More about : graphics card heatsink touching ram

a b B Homebuilt system
a b U Graphics card
February 2, 2009 11:06:12 PM

It shouldn't cause an issue. The heatsinks don't carry any voltage and I doubt that the end of the video card heatsink can become hot enough to fry the RAM. If it gets that hot, the video card will fry. Let it run at load for a few minutes and touch it. If you can keep your fingers on it, then it's fine.
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