The best air coolers that do not obstruct memory slots?

[Aristotelian]

So, delay after delay in getting my build together and I took the time to watch a video review of a number of heatsinks.

I was looking at the Noctua NH-C14 or D14, but both appear to obstruct memory slots if you're using any memory that has a non-standard height. For those of you who:

a) Use air cooling for your cpu, and
b) Overclock your cpu, and
c) Use RAM such as Corsair's Vengeance series,

What cpu cooler did you end up going with? I plan on using a 2x4GB kit to start, and will add more if necessary, however I like knowing that I could add more memory if needed without having to get a different heatsink.

 

[Krynj]

Noctua has memory compatibility charts right on their website.

http://noctua.at/main.php?show=compatibility_ram_gen&products_id=34&lng=en

 

[Aristotelian]

Noctua has memory compatibility charts right on their website.

http://noctua.at/main.php?show=compatibility_ram_gen&products_id=34&lng=en

Yeah I had seen that already, but thanks for posting it for others. If I was debating which ram to get that link would be useful but it's rather about the heatsink at this stage in my search.

 

[Yellowbeard]

I know you specified AIR coolers but, this is one reason our H50 and H70 are both selling so well. They don't obtsruct any slots.

 

[Krynj]

What are you going with for RAM? Don't sacrifice an excellent CPU cooler in exchange for RAM with slightly taller heatsinks. The tall heatsinks look slick in a machine, and just have a certain cool factor about them, but in most cases, they're just not worth the amount of space they take up.

For my build (that I'm doing tonight! eeeeeee!) I'm using 16GB of Corsair XMS3 with a Noctua NH-D14. Just get RAM that will fit. An extremely great CPU cooler is far more worth it than tall heatsinks.

 

[Aristotelian]

I know you specified AIR coolers but, this is one reason our H50 and H70 are both selling so well. They don't obtsruct any slots.

That is an option. Though the radiator itself is rather bulky it does free up space around the cpu itself. I'll check some benchmarks again.

What are you going with for RAM? Don't sacrifice an excellent CPU cooler in exchange for RAM with slightly taller heatsinks. The tall heatsinks look slick in a machine, and just have a certain cool factor about them, but in most cases, they're just not worth the amount of space they take up.

For my build (that I'm doing tonight! eeeeeee!) I'm using 16GB of Corsair XMS3 with a Noctua NH-D14. Just get RAM that will fit. An extremely great CPU cooler is far more worth it than tall heatsinks.

I was thinking Corsair Vengeance C8 1600 2x4GB, and grab another if I find that I'm limited in my tasks by the amount of memory I have. I'm envious re: your build timing, as I have been looking at 2 superclocked 580s, an haf-x, a seasonic x850 and a dell u2711 for what feels like an eternity now waiting for my other parts to get in (2600K, gigabyte p67a-ud7 etc). May I ask which of these you are getting? http://www.corsair.com/memory/xms-classic.html

 

[Krynj]

Snagged 2 of these kits on Newegg last week, during their RAM special. Got 15% off 2 kits, and saved about $27.

http://www.corsair.com/memory/xms-classic/xms3-ddr3-memory/cmx8gx3m2a1333c9.html

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145315

 

[irse]

So, delay after delay in getting my build together and I took the time to watch a video review of a number of heatsinks.

I was looking at the Noctua NH-C14 or D14, but both appear to obstruct memory slots if you're using any memory that has a non-standard height. For those of you who:

a) Use air cooling for your cpu, and
b) Overclock your cpu, and
c) Use RAM such as Corsair's Vengeance series,

What cpu cooler did you end up going with? I plan on using a 2x4GB kit to start, and will add more if necessary, however I like knowing that I could add more memory if needed without having to get a different heatsink.

Could you use the NH-C14 in high clearance mode?

 

[BoomerD]

I used Corsair XMS RAM in my 1156 build along with a Noctua NH-U12P SE2 cooler. One fan covers the slot closest to the CPU, and I had to remove the fan to put the DIMM in the slot...but once it's in place, there's on interference.
I agree that while the RAM with tall heatsinks LOOK cool, they really don't do that much for most folks. Unless you're overclocking the hell out of your memory, (and with Sandy Bridge, why bother?) they're more of a waste than a real benefit.

 

[Petey!]

The Archon is suppose to be a beast, although expensive. Shouldn't obstruct ram slots either.

 

[Hogan773]

I have a Hyper 212+ and Ripjaws. I ended up using slots 2 and 4 rather than 1 and 3 just because it was a little hard to get the memory in with the fan there. I had already installed the 212+ first.

I know on the 212+ you CAN just clip the fan up a little higher (you can clip it on the metal cooler wherever you like) - I realize this might mean that the airflow is slightly different but I'd think it would still be fine. Since I am only using 2 RAM slots, I just used the 2 that were out of the way. If I ever add more RAM then I'll have to deal with it, but pretty unlikely that 8gb won't be adequate for me in near term.

 

[Aristotelian]

The Archon is suppose to be a beast, although expensive. Shouldn't obstruct ram slots either.

Thanks for the heads up, I hadn't heard of this at all.

Reviews:
[H]: http://www.hardocp.com/article/2010/12/08/thermalright_archon_cpu_air_cooler_review/1

Xbitlabs: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/thermalright-archon.html

Definitely an option for those looking for unobstructed RAM slots.

Could you use the NH-C14 in high clearance mode?

I've seen (in reviews) that in high clearance mode the cooling ability is rather impaired. I would like to push for a decent overclock on the cpu, and essentially am on the hunt for the best cpu cooler that doesn't obstruct any of the slots.

It seems that the Noctua NH-d14's second fan will be above the memory slots, but 'standard' size memory isn't a problem. I've read that one can remove the heatspreaders from memory that has it - have any of you done that for the sake of using a slot with a cooler that would otherwise make the memory unusable?

 

[Patrick Wolf]

The HR-02 plus TY-140 fan should clear all the slots.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/thermalright-hr02_3.html#sect0

I've read that one can remove the heatspreaders from memory that has it - have any of you done that for the sake of using a slot with a cooler that would otherwise make the memory unusable?

This sounds pretty ridiculous. If that's something you'd be willing to do, why bother getting memory with heatspreaders at all. Honestly with the other great options available I'd just forget about the D14 since it's likely to block slots.

 

[Rifter]

Im using a NH-D14 on a Asus P6X58D-E and i only have normal height XMS ram but there is enough clearance that ripjaws or even dominators would fit fine, the NH-D14 has alot of clearance for a huge ass cooler.

 

[mv2devnull]

The HR-02 plus TY-140 fan should clear all the slots.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/thermalright-hr02_3.html#sect0

Maybe. I do have HR-02 on Asus P8P67 Pro in the recommended orientation. (Its mounting bracket touches the blue heatsinks of that motherboard.) A TR 140 mm Silent-X fan on it touches the memory module on the first slot (G.Skill EDO, so no high HS on RAM). I will soon swap the fan for a TR TY-140, which is actually thicker than standard 25 mm. Expecting no room for error.


OP has not mentioned the case chosen for the build. Archon is taller than regular Joe.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

Noctua block if your ram go high heatsinks so get a pair of G-skill

---------------- Now playing: Chuckie - Let the Bass Kick ( Djmc RMX 2010 Benny Benassi ) via FoxyTunes

 

[Aristotelian]

Maybe. I do have HR-02 on Asus P8P67 Pro in the recommended orientation. (Its mounting bracket touches the blue heatsinks of that motherboard.) A TR 140 mm Silent-X fan on it touches the memory module on the first slot (G.Skill EDO, so no high HS on RAM). I will soon swap the fan for a TR TY-140, which is actually thicker than standard 25 mm. Expecting no room for error.


OP has not mentioned the case chosen for the build. Archon is taller than regular Joe.

The case is an HAF-X, and the motherboard will be a Gigabyte p67a-UD7, when I can get my hands on one. I've watched video reviews of the Noctua NH-D14 on that board, and he uses Mushkin memory that is the standard size (TimeToLiveCustoms is the reviewer I'm talking about). The clearance on the first memory slot appears to be scant millimetres above the memory itself (under the first fan).