Question about Zalman 7000 and RAM clearance

[superfly27]

I just discovered that by clicking on the photo of the K8N4-E Deluxe on the Asus web site and click to change size to 200% (in the Opera browser), I get pretty much a life size picture of that motherboard. I measured the size of the RAM slot for example and I'd say it's the same. I have a socket 754 CPU I also put in front of the photo that matches the size of the CPU slot.

So, looking at the Zalman 7000 alcu, it says 109 mm. By putting a transparent ruler on my screen, I see that the Zalman heatsink would end exactly where the blue part of the first RAM slot begins. So, I figure there might be about 2 mm seperating the heatsink and the RAM. Since it's round, that means there's only a very small part of it that would be close to the RAM.

But, both generate a certain amount of heat. So, my question is, would this be too close?

The odd thing is, since it's a socket 754, I looked at the manual online and it says if you put 2 double sided sticks of RAM in slots 2 and 3, they slow down to 200 MHz. If I want to put 2x1 GB, I'd have to put it in slot 1 and 2 for them to operate at 400 MHz.

Imagine that. Heh.

 

[Aenslead]

So just place them on slots 2 and 3.

Since you're not using slot 1, then your Zalman will be more than happy.

The motherboard reffers to the fact that IF you use THREE slots at the same time, you will have to lower your memory divider to avoide signal problems. if you use 2 slots, then DDR400 is at the order and you're problem free.

Try it.

 

[danklumpp]

It should work, the Zalman site says so.

 

[superfly27]

Originally posted by: Aenslead
So just place them on slots 2 and 3.

Since you're not using slot 1, then your Zalman will be more than happy.

The motherboard reffers to the fact that IF you use THREE slots at the same time, you will have to lower your memory divider to avoide signal problems. if you use 2 slots, then DDR400 is at the order and you're problem free.

Try it.

No, no! The manual I downloaded for the K8N4-E Deluxe shows like a grid that shows you what speed RAM will work in which slots depending on whether it's single sided or double sided.

In other words, I'm in a bad situation if I cannot use the first slot.

However, I did think of a type of "solution". I can use the RAM from my other mobo to test if RAM will go in the first slot.

What I'm still wondering is... is 2 mm or 1 mm enough clearance?

Originally posted by: danklumpp
It should work, the Zalman site says so.

My question is the same since it says the mobo is compatible. It doesn't say if the first RAM slot is blocked or not.

 

[Aenslead]

Dude... beleive me, there is so much more to motherboards than what the booklet says. Try RAM on slot 2 and 3, and see how it doesn't affect memory bandwith/performance at all.

What booklets state are "extremely fail-proof" settings that consider you are using *really* cheap RAM.

Been there. Done that.

 

[superfly27]

Well, maybe if I get one, I'll take a photo if it.

Now I'm not sure about getting the Zalman at all. They say if you move, you should take it off and re-install it later.
If it's that big and heavy, I might get a cheaper Gigabyte hsf. After all, some people here are saying they ruined hardware with overclocking.

If I would get the Zalman, I would take a picture to show everyone though. It seems tight on paper to me. I was just wondering if the heat would be an issue.