Memory heat spreaders

  • Thread starter Thread starter Daniel Prince
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Daniel Prince

If a computer user does not overclock his computer or memory, is
there any reason to use memory heat spreaders? Would they reduce
the chance of memory errors or make the memory last longer? Thank
you in advance for all replies.
 
Daniel said:
If a computer user does not overclock his computer or memory, is
there any reason to use memory heat spreaders? Would they reduce
the chance of memory errors or make the memory last longer? Thank
you in advance for all replies.
Click to expand...

Depends on the memory. If you are using something old and slow like DDR,
then no there is little point in putting heatspreaders on. If, on the
other hand you have some fast DDR2 or DDR3, then most of these come with
heatspreaders already factory applied. There is a gap in the middle
where it might be worth it, but in general its not worth the expense.

Rarius
 
Daniel said:
If a computer user does not overclock his computer or memory, is
there any reason to use memory heat spreaders? Would they reduce
the chance of memory errors or make the memory last longer? Thank
you in advance for all replies.
Click to expand...

How is the airflow in the case? If the CPU and GPU remain cool, it is
likely the RAM will also remain cool enough without fancy cooling
"solutions."

OTOH, if you run the CPU and/or GPU at full load for a significant part
of the day, good heat sinks/spreaders on the RAM would be good
insurance.

I put OCZ Reaper RAM in my computers, since the CPUs and GPUs are
running at full load 24/7 with the Folding @Home distributed computing
apps (see http://folding.stanford.edu for info if you want to get
involved in the scientific research).
 
Depends on the memory. If you are using something old and slow like DDR,
then no there is little point in putting heatspreaders on. If, on the
other hand you have some fast DDR2 or DDR3, then most of these come with
heatspreaders already factory applied. There is a gap in the middle
where it might be worth it, but in general its not worth the expense.
Click to expand...

I am currently considering this memory:

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT2KIT25672AA800

Specs: DDR2 PC2-6400 • CL=6 • Unbuffered • ECC • DDR2-800 • 1.8V •
256Meg x 72 •

It does not come with heat spreaders. Crucial does not sell heat
spreaders for it. There are eBay vendors in Hong Kong who sell heat
spreaders for $1.36 with free delivery.

If I find something else that seems to be a better value, I might
get it instead.
 
Daniel said:
I am currently considering this memory:

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT2KIT25672AA800

Specs: DDR2 PC2-6400 • CL=6 • Unbuffered • ECC • DDR2-800 • 1.8V •
256Meg x 72 •

It does not come with heat spreaders. Crucial does not sell heat
spreaders for it. There are eBay vendors in Hong Kong who sell heat
spreaders for $1.36 with free delivery.

If I find something else that seems to be a better value, I might
get it instead.
Click to expand...

That memory doesn't need a heat spreader, unless you're cranking
up Vdimm a lot or something. Why would Crucial ship a product in
such a way, as for it to burn up ? They know the power levels
involved, and know whether a heatsink is necessary.

I have a Kingston 4GB DDR2 kit, low profile modules, and they
don't come with spreaders either. The module power dissipation
is 2W, when running the industry standard cycle mix. That heat
is spread over the sixteen chips on the module. So each
chip dissipates 0.125 watts.

http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KVR800D2N5K2_4G.pdf

I wouldn't waste $1.36, when it is not needed.

What you can do, is buy the modules, run them, stick a
finger on the chips, and decide for yourself whether they're
too hot. Try an application like Prime95, or some other
kind of stress test, so you get some of the more power
hungry cycle types running during your test. If a stress
test won't heat them up, then you know they're fine
without spreaders.

Modules without spreaders, are also a good choice, when you're
using four sticks. Many motherboards place the memory slots
too close together. If a module has spreaders, sometimes the
spreaders are all touching, so there is no air flow over the
surface of the middle two modules. A module without heat
spreaders, may allow more airflow.

Paul
 
Daniel said:
If a computer user does not overclock his computer or memory, is
there any reason to use memory heat spreaders? Would they reduce
the chance of memory errors or make the memory last longer?
Click to expand...

Real chip manufacturers, like Samsung and Micron, apparently never put
heat spreaders on their industrial DDR and DDR2 modules, and only some
Samsung DDR3 modules have them:

http://tinyurl.com/mbw9w5

www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/products/dram/downloads/ddr3_product_guide_jun_09.pdf

Notice that every DDR2 module is rated to meet all specifications at
1.8V or less, while all DDR3 modules are rated to meet them at 1.5V.
IOW modules probably have higher voltage requirements only if they're
overclocked or their chips failed at standard voltage. Also notice
that every DRAM chip is rated to work perfectly at 85 Celcius, even
without heat spreaders.

Heat spreaders are mostly decorative and are probably as necessary as
spoilers on low speed pseudo sports cars. I don't like heat spreaders
because they don't let me see who made the chips underneath, and most
memory modules are now made with UTT chips -- UnTesTed chips, meaning
chips that actually were tested but failed and so were dumped onto the
junk market. That's not to say that every retail memory module's heat
spreader hides junk chips because I've seen branded chips underneath
them for Crucial, Corsair, and I think also OCZ modules, but there's
no way to be sure with the chips covered up. Also uncovered modules
are known to have unbranded chips in plain sight. The only way to get
branded chips is to either look at the modules in person or buy only
Crucial, which always has either Micron or Samsung chips.

If you absolutely must buy modules with chips not marked by a real
chip company, test them for at least 6-12 hours in a row before
putting your faith in them. Some diagnostics are a lot better than
others, and the favorites seem to be MemTest86 ver. 3.x and MemTest+
ver 2.x, but I also like Gold Memory versions 5.07 and 6.92. However
I've never found an error with MemTest+ or Gold Memory 6.92. Test
each module in each memory socket, and test each module alone and with
its twin. If possible, also test with other modules in the system at
the same time.
 
Daniel said:
I am currently considering this memory:

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT2KIT25672AA800

Specs: DDR2 PC2-6400 � CL=6 � Unbuffered � ECC � DDR2-800 � 1.8V �
256Meg x 72 �
Click to expand...

That's the best choice if your computer supports ECC, but ECC doesn't
work unless both the memory and the motherboard support ECC.
Otherwise you can save a few bucks by getting the non-ECC version:

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?imodule=CT2KIT25664AA800

I think it was $20, after rebate, last November or December at Fry's.

You may want to see what the local Staples, Office Max, and Office
Depot stores have. Normally you can do this through www.SalesCircular.com,
but it doesn't seem to be working for DRAM (lists only a 16GB flash
memory).
 
larry moe 'n curly said:
That's the best choice if your computer supports ECC, but ECC doesn't
work unless both the memory and the motherboard support ECC.
Otherwise you can save a few bucks by getting the non-ECC version:
Click to expand...

I have decided on the Asus M4A78 PRO motherboard. The Asus web site
says:

4 x DIMM, Max. 16 GB, DDR2 1200(O.C.)/1066*/800/667
ECC,Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory
Dual Channel memory architecture

http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=EbXqq06yxpJwlABf
 
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