Need a recommendation

[SmoothMEOW]

Hi all, I read these forums alot but have not posted until now. I'm putting together a system with a Phenom 9850be, Asus Crosshair II Formula, and Corsair Dominator ram. Basically, I'm having trouble finding an aftermarket heatsink that will fit this setup. I have a Thermaltake Armor case, the one without the side fan. The Dominator ram is between 2-2.09'' when measured not in the slot. That's not including the optional fan system for that ram. I've been told the Zalman 9700 will physically fit, but the ram will block some airflow unless I mount it turned 90 degrees. I'm really looking for a cooler that blows towards the back of the case. I also looked into Thermalright, I've used their stuff in the past, but most of their AM2+ coolers can't be rotated. They offered some older coolers that could be rotated using an S type clip, but I'm not really interested in them. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks!

 

[Zepper]

What about the OCZ Vendetta? Good cooling, reasonable cost.

.bh.

 

[SmoothMEOW]

Can the Vendetta 2 be rotated so the fan blows towards the back on an AM2+ system?

 

[Zepper]

From the simple design of the base of the Vend2, there is no reason the mount couldn't be designed to allow the fan to blow in any direction, you'll have to do some research to find out whether it can or not - I couldn't find the installation guide available for DL on the OCZ site - pretty stupid, IMO...
. I suppose you could find out what you need to know from the OCZ forums - it may be already there or you could post the question yourself if it's not.

.bh.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I've only tested the Vendetta 2 at idle, viewing the CPU temperature through the BIOS.

My mobo has different BIOS versions that return erroneous readings. To be absolutely sure with one BIOS version that this had nothing to do with the mounting, I pulled the Vend 2 off the processor last week. I've found a better heatpipe cooler that scores better than either the Vend 2 or the TRUE -- Noctua NH-U12P -- arriving today UPS. The Anandtech review is "reliable." Whether the latest BIOS fix resolves the "high" temperature readings, I won't know for sure until it has been installed.

I HATE the pushpin approach to cooler mounts. I can EXPECT something like pushpins with the stock cooler, but OCZ just replicated the same approach. It is a PAIN to get the cooler onto the board.

Further, the moans and groans about removing the motherboard to install coolers with backplates is overblown and exaggerated. Depending on the height of mobo standoffs, once the backplate has been installed initially under the mobo, you can usually remove and replace the cooler without removing the mobo -- the backplate may just remain in place awaiting the screw-on fittings for the component-side of the board.

Also, I believe backplates apply rigidity to the assembly which might reduce motherboard warpage.

 

[SmoothMEOW]

Well, the tech on the OCZ support forums said I could rotate it, but I've read several places that you can't on an AM2+ system due to the retention bracket.