Question for NH-D14 users

[BarbaricSoul]

I'm thinking about replacing my H60. The pump is starting to make a noise. I'm thinking about getting a NH-D14, but I'm worried about clearance for my RAM. This is my motherboard- http://us.msi.com/product/mb/Z68A-GD80--G3-.html and this is my RAM- http://www.corsair.com/en/memory-by...hannel-ddr3-memory-kit-cmz8gx3m2a1600c9b.html

Will a NH-D14 heat sink fit on my board with my current RAM?

 

[qubit]

I've got one of those coolers and I had to do one of two things:

1 get RAM with fins and raise one of the fans to accommodate the modules. Works ok, but looks crap. This is what I did initially, not realizing the problem until...

2 get low profile RAM. Problem sorted.

Also, it looks like it may snag on the little heatsinks on the mobo. You need to find out their height, as this could be a show stopper.

 

[HTC]

According to this, the cooler is compatible with your board but, according to this, if the RAM modules are higher then 44mm, they won't fit.

 

[Raw]

Or consider buying the NOCTURA NH-C14 which is horizontal and don't use a fan underneath. Just use one on the top. You could do as I did, buy the ram you want and trim off the fins of the RAM that interfere with the cooler. This is such an easy fix and works.
They are such awesome coolers you probably wont see much temp difference, if any.

 

[TeamChinaHero]

I use it~it's good air cooler

 

[TeamChinaHero]

and you can see it:http://www.chinadiy.com.cn/html/15/n-8715-6.html

 

[TissueBox]

The NH-D14 will not fit with that memory; I had to replace my Corsair Vengeance kit with low profile ones in order to fit it with a Maximus IV Extreme and the NH-D14.

 

[Norton]

You could do what this member did with his:
* being a little cleaner with the cut naturally
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/small-air-cpu-coolers.195138/#post-3026168

imho a little bit taken from some of the lower fins shouldn't hurt performance. If it did, it might be 1-2C... maybe

 

[sneekypeet]

I had to take a Dremmel to mine. Took a fair bit from the bottom three fins, to be honest, I never saw any performance hit from it.

As for it clearing, I was using Ripjaws then, and they had shorter spreaders than the Vengeance!

 

[Raw]

The NH-D14 will not fit with that memory; I had to replace my Corsair Vengeance kit with low profile ones in order to fit it with a Maximus IV Extreme and the NH-D14.

I have pictures if you want to see the trimmed ram in my system. So easy to do.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Would the RAM fit if I shifted them to the 2nd and 4th slots?

 

[HTC]

Would the RAM fit if I shifted them to the 2nd and 4th slots?

Probably not.

In their compatibility page, they even mention corsair memory (near the top of the page):

Caution:
The NH-D14 is a big cooler that extends over the first RAM slots on most mainboards. The cooler offers sufficient clearance for all standard size memory modules, but you won’t be able to use memory modules higher than 44mm. Corsair Dominator DDR3 modules can be used if the top heatspreader is removed as shown here.

For further information regarding the compatibility of specific RAM please visit our RAM compatibility list.

 

[erixx]

i have had 4 units of RAM, all same specs but 2 with high profile fins clicked into the outside ram slots, and 2 standard (not "low profile" as some say) into the slots closest to the cooler.
alternative is to mount cooler and up the fan 1 cm, not much, and only aesthetic problem.
now I have 2 high profilers again but installed in the outer slots, the ripjaws x, these you can remove the fins if needed!

BTW, heat is a non RAM issue unless you overclock them (quite useless imho). all these fins are more for the looks of the higher end ram. many brands have same spec memory with or without fins, so just buy standard models.... and never look back at galactic spaceship looking ram modules.

 

[ne6togadno]

Would the RAM fit if I shifted them to the 2nd and 4th slots?

it will.

at your mb fins will cover almost fully first slot but 2nd should be clear. though you will need fan setup different from pictured

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Ok, that's twice someone has mentioned moving a fan on the heatsink a little. Something I don't understand though, my RAM slots are opposite my CPU socket from the direction I would want to have the fans turned. I mean, I'd want to fans turned to the back of the case near the IO panel so that they pull cool air coming into the case from the back 120mm intake fan. How is moving a fan on the heatsink going to help, when the fan is on the opposite side of the heatsink from my RAM slots.

That's what I'm talking about ne6togadno, if I bought the heatsink, when I installed it, it would be spun 180' so the fans are on the other side of the heatsink


I would really prefer not to have to replace my RAM. I've had zero issues with it so far, and I've already spent about $900 on my computer in the past 2 weeks between buying a SSD from Xazax and a new GTX 780ti. But I do need a new heatsink that can handle my OC'ed CPU's heat 24/7 full load crunching. I would also be open to other suggestions for a replacement heatsink.

 

[ne6togadno]

Ok, that's twice someone has mentioned moving a fan on the heatsink a little. Something I don't understand though, my RAM slots are opposite my CPU socket from the direction I would want to have the fans turned. I mean, I'd want to fans turned to the back of the case near the IO panel so that they pull cool air coming into the case from the back 120mm intake fan. How is moving a fan on the heatsink going to help, when the fan is on the opposite side of the heatsink from my RAM slots.

That's what I'm talking about ne6togadno, if I bought the heatsink, when I installed it, it would be spun 180' so the fans are on the other side of the heatsink

uhm
that is what i have meaning by different fan setup. and i dont think you will need to rotate heatsink it self. fan brackets come separated from sink and you attach em to the side you like so fans rotated at 180deg from photo isnt problem

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Ok, well I'm going to order a heatsink today when I get home from work, approximately 8-9 hours from the time of this posting. Unless someone can suggest a heatsink with near NH-D14 performance levels and is either less expensive or it's installation is easier, I'll be ordering the NH-D14.

One last question, someone suggest a good set of fans to replace those butt-ugly tan Noctua fans (why Noctua uses those colors is beyond me)

 

[erixx]

back intake fan? of course that is possible, but just not usual.
in the scenario that you have an case rear intake fan, plus the CPU fans blowing in the same direction (towards front of case). Where does all the hot air go to? Holes in case top?

But every case is a whole world of its own : )

Edit: why not try Noctua C-14, I prefer it.
Noctua fans are ugly but very good and silent.
Ah, and one good silent fan may be enough for you, depending of level of overclocking. I am using since a year one fan on the noctua C-14. (1 noctua 15cm fan...)

 

[BarbaricSoul]

back intake fan? of course that is possible, but just not usual.
in the scenario that you have an case rear intake fan, plus the CPU fans blowing in the same direction (towards front of case). Where does all the hot air go to?

Buy every case is a whole world of its own : )

Edit: why not try Noctua C-14, I prefer it.
Noctua fans are ugly but very good and silent.
Ah, and one good silent fan may be enough for you, depending of level of overclocking. I am using since a year one fan on the noctua C-14. (1 noctua 15cm fan...)

see the top right fan, I'll have that set as an exhaust fan, pulling air out of the upper half of the case, where the hot air rises to.



I'll look at the C-14, thx

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Looked at the C-14, it's almost $50 more expensive then the D-14.

 

[HTC]

Looked at the C-14, it's almost $50 more expensive then the D-14.

That's very odd: it's 2.1€ more over here.

I'm actually surprised @ the size of the difference in the price: it's more expensive over there then here and it's usually the other way around. Have you tried looking @ other e-stores?

I'm using the C-12 myself but i have an APU system ...

 

[erixx]

Here in Spain it is 68 € (D14) and 70 € (C14).
The D14 is a little older.

 

[ne6togadno]

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/noctua-nh-d14.193009/#post-3023576

 

[Norton]

IF you haven't ordered yet....

I use these on my s1366 rigs and they are pretty darn good:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709019

Here's the rest of their stuff:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008000 50060115&IsNodeId=1
Many more color choices than beige/tan & brown and the D-14 like one is pretty comparable to it

 

[BarbaricSoul]

IF you haven't ordered yet....

I use these on my s1366 rigs and they are pretty darn good:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709019

Here's the rest of their stuff:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008000 50060115&IsNodeId=1
Many more color choices than beige/tan & brown and the D-14 like one is pretty comparable to it

I just bought the NH-D14 in ne6togadno's link for $55