Those darned Corsair heatspreaders!

[rockitman]

As you know, many motherboards place the DIMM slots fairly close to the CPU socket. As a result, many CPU coolers will have mounting issues when there are RAM sticks that have those protruding heat spreaders like Corsair Vengeance.

Sitting here at my desk, on Newegg, picking parts for a new rig, how does one know or find out prior to buying, whether their CPU cooler will have a problem?

I was all set to get a Prolimatech Megahalems but have found that for the motherboards I'm interested in, namely the ASUS P8P67 Deluxe or even the P8P67 WS Revolution, I will run into issues if the DIMM closest to the CPU socket is populated.

I then heard that Prolimatech's Armaggedon model might be the better way to go but I got word from Prolimatech themselves that these 2 MB's are not compatible with it.

So I'm back at square one. I'm going to get a Sandy Bridge 2600K and I've heard they run much cooler than their i7 predecessors, but, I still don't want to skimp and get a piece of crap just because it will fit with the Vengeance sticks.

Can somebody give me a short list of decent coolers that I won't have this problem with?

 

[Ubrales]

I agree with your comments!

I have the i7-920 CPU, and Corsair Dominator RAM with tall heat spreaders in all 6 slots. I now use a CM V8 heatsink (after I polished the base) and my temps are around 28 degrees idling. On prime95 the temps are below 66 degrees, and I am fine with that.

I am eying the Prolimatech Megahalems and will probably buy one and modify the fins closest to the RAM and shave off some material from the fan base in order to get it to fit. Probably a summer project.

In your case, I know that the CM V8 and the Hyper 212+ will fit.

 

[rockitman]

thanks for the recommendations.

I really wanted to go with the Megahelms, (heard so many good things), but I also don't want to void the warranty of my RAM by trimming the heat spreaders either!

 

[Ubrales]

thanks for the recommendations.

I really wanted to go with the Megahelms, (heard so many good things), but I also don't want to void the warranty of my RAM by trimming the heat spreaders either!

When I get my Megahalem, I will trim the fins. To heck with the warranty.

 

[XMSYellowbeard]

At the risk of sounding like a salesman, our Hydro series coolers are perfect in situations like this.

 

[4745454b]

Short ram? Certainly there must be some ram sticks out there that aren't that tall. Here are some that should be similar to the vengeance.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145324
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104173
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

Not positive the Corsairs in the first link will work, but the other two should work no matter the cooler. I'd rather get a great cooler with ram that works, then an ok cooler with ram that looks cool.