Memory touches Zalman HSF - problem?

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Philly

I'm putting together an A8N32-SLI Deluxe with 2GB of Corsair 3500LL
Pro memory, and I purchased a 92mm Zalman CNPS7000B-Cu heat sink/fan
to cool my X2 3800+ cpu.

However, I've noticed that with the 3500LL's in DIMM_A1 and DIMM_B1,
several of the Zalman's cooling fins touch a portion of the upper part
of the memory in DIMM_A1.

I'm curious if this is a fairly common occurence. I bought the 92mm
HSF instead of a 120mm to ensure that it would fit, yet here I am with
a worry that the 92mm HSF is too big.

Is a little contact between HSF and RAM OK? In other words, is the
amount of heat transfer likely to be be insignificant?

Philly
 
Philly said:
I'm putting together an A8N32-SLI Deluxe with 2GB of Corsair 3500LL
Pro memory, and I purchased a 92mm Zalman CNPS7000B-Cu heat sink/fan
to cool my X2 3800+ cpu.

However, I've noticed that with the 3500LL's in DIMM_A1 and DIMM_B1,
several of the Zalman's cooling fins touch a portion of the upper part
of the memory in DIMM_A1.

I'm curious if this is a fairly common occurence. I bought the 92mm
HSF instead of a 120mm to ensure that it would fit, yet here I am with
a worry that the 92mm HSF is too big.

Is a little contact between HSF and RAM OK? In other words, is the
amount of heat transfer likely to be be insignificant?

Philly
Click to expand...

Just make sure the metal fins of the heatsink do not come into contact with
the metal pins of the memory module, else a short may result. Alternatively,
you might try bending the fins to avoid the contact, but it shouldn't be
nesecary.
 
Using DIMM_A2 and B2 would eliminate the HSF touching the memory
problem. The reason I didn't consider this was that the Asus A8N32-SLI
Deluxe's manual says, "When using two DDR DIMM modules, install into
DIMM_A1 and DIMM_B1 slots only."

Is it OK to use memory slots A2 and B2 when the Asus manual says to
use only A1 and B1 for two DIMMs?

Philly
 
Just make sure the metal fins of the heatsink do not come into contact with
the metal pins of the memory module, else a short may result. Alternatively,
you might try bending the fins to avoid the contact, but it shouldn't be
nesecary.
Click to expand...

The Zalman 7000 HSF only touches a small part of the outer covering of
the Corsair 3500LL Pro memory near the top. I suppose the covering
could be metal, but it feels more like a thick hard plastic. (BTW, the
memory is extra tall because it has LED activity lights).

The metal contacts at the base of the DIMM are safe. I was thinking
more of the possible heat transfer. I don't know how hot a HSF gets,
how hot a DIMM gets, and if there is contact if the memory could
absorb too much heat.

My guess is that it would be OK, but it would be a real pain to have
to replace the Zalman after the mobo is mounted in the case, plus the
memory alone cost over $300, so your feedback and anyone else's is
much appreciated.

Philly
 
Philly said:
Using DIMM_A2 and B2 would eliminate the HSF touching the memory
problem. The reason I didn't consider this was that the Asus A8N32-SLI
Deluxe's manual says, "When using two DDR DIMM modules, install into
DIMM_A1 and DIMM_B1 slots only."

Is it OK to use memory slots A2 and B2 when the Asus manual says to
use only A1 and B1 for two DIMMs?

Philly
Click to expand...

It works fine on my A8N-E to use only A2 and B2 even though the A8N-E manual
said the same thing about using A1 and B1 with only 2 DIMMs. Actually the
manual was contradictory, since in another section it said that A2 and B2
were OK.
 
It works fine on my A8N-E to use only A2 and B2 even though the A8N-E manual
said the same thing about using A1 and B1 with only 2 DIMMs. Actually the
manual was contradictory, since in another section it said that A2 and B2
were OK.
Click to expand...

I see what you mean about the Asus manual being contradictory. On one
page it says only use slots A1 and B1 for two DIMMs. But on the
Qualified Vendors List on the next page, for all the listed memory
brands (including my Corsair 3500LL Pro) it says, "Supports one pair
of modules inserted into either the yellow slots or the black slots as
one pair of Dual-channel memory configuration".

Setting aside the fact that the slots on the A8N32-SLI Deluxe are blue
and black, not yellow and black, this would seem to indicate that I
*can* use slots A2 and B2 for two DIMMs.

Maybe I'll try that first, so long as it can do no harm.

Philly
 
The Zalman 7000 HSF only touches a small part of the outer covering of
the Corsair 3500LL Pro memory near the top. I suppose the covering
could be metal, but it feels more like a thick hard plastic. (BTW, the
memory is extra tall because it has LED activity lights).

The metal contacts at the base of the DIMM are safe. I was thinking
more of the possible heat transfer. I don't know how hot a HSF gets,
how hot a DIMM gets, and if there is contact if the memory could
absorb too much heat.

My guess is that it would be OK, but it would be a real pain to have
to replace the Zalman after the mobo is mounted in the case, plus the
memory alone cost over $300, so your feedback and anyone else's is
much appreciated.

Philly
Click to expand...

If you don't want to buy the non pro version of the Corsair memory. I would
replace the Zalman with a Thermalright XP90 or XP120. I used the XP90 which
cools better than my Zalman 7000 did. The 7000 hit my memory also.
 
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