Memory Heat sinks

[Kofy]

Hi again gang, almost have the new box ready to build, but want to know if there is any advantage to putting heat spreaders on the memory I have purchased?

System to date:
Asus P5N-E SLI
Intel E6600 w/intel fan
2GB Kingston KVR800D2N5K2
Sapphire Radeon X1950GT
Ultra X-Connect 500W PS
1 500GB Seagate SATA
1 300GB Seagate SATA

I am not planning on overclocking the system but I do want it kept running cool. Should I purchase heat spreaders for the DDR2 chips or no? I realise they are cheap, but why spend money I dont need to spend? Any advice is welcome and I also thank you in advance for taking the time to answer.

 

[Sleepsalot]

If you have no plans to OC and have good cooling fans I wouldn't use them. But that is only my opinion.
Wayne

Life is a big Roleplaying adventure.

Wayne

 

[kmcferrin]

If the memory didn't come with them and you're not overclocking then there's little point (unless you just like the look). The reason that so many DDR2 modules come with heatsinks on them is because in order to get the modules to work at the lower latencies they require a higher voltage. Whereas 1.9v is the top end of the official DDR spec, there are a lot of modules being sold at 2.0v or even 2.1v, which allows higher speeds but creates more heat.

 

[wahnula]

To add, if the coolers are not designed to work with your particular modules you may actually DECREASE cooling by stifling circulation. kmcferrin is right...if they did not come with heat spreaders do not add them.

Now, put that $$$ towards a nifty front panel fan contoller/multi-display like the new Zalman ZM-MFC2:

http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=274&code=017

This baby looks like a winner. Shows power consumption too.

Tony

 

[Kofy]

Interesting, thanks for the info guys!! maybe I will save the money & put it towards that Zalman front panel.

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

I found a great Memory fan, it clips to the mount that the memory sits in and blows directly on the memory. I don't think it adversly affects the airflow through the box itself but I am water cooled now anyway. When I get home I will look at who makes it. It came with an ABIT board I bought about 2 years ago.

JohnThePhoneGuy

"If I can't fix it, it's not broke!

 

[Kofy]

Thanks John, appreciate all the advice I can gather together. the Video card comes today, so either tomorrow or Sunday is the actual build day. Have to make a run over to Frys for some ARTIC SILVER 5. I have some AS 3 left from a prior build but I've heard AS 5 is as far above 3 as 3 was above the other brands.

 

[Kofy]

Uh.. update to me immediately above comment about Artic silver 5. I searched other threads and discovered that they all agree that I should NOT mess with the heat spreader on the fan, and not use AS3, AS5 or AS bazillion etc... if it aint broke, dont try to "fix" it. Again, my thanks for all the input I've received on this build.

 

[SteveLord]

Yeah RAM heatspreaders do little to nothing. If you were really concerned, there are some great looking fan cooling methods out there that can show off your insides better.


IT Admin (PBX Newbie)
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[Kofy]

Ok guys Thanks for all the input. I decided not to bother with heat sinks... finished my system Sunday.... here's what Im running now.
Lian Li server case (brushed Aluminum)
Ultra 600w X connect SLI
Maxtor 80 IDE main drive
Maxtor 100 IDE secondary
Seagate 300 SATA 3rd
Seagate 500 SATA 4th
Plextor 716a CD/DVD burner
Sandisk Extreme Firewire CF reader (for my digital camera files)
multi-function box on front with following
CF, MD, SD, MMC, XD, SM, MS, MS Pro, USB 2.0 port, SATA 150 Port, Firewire 400 port
all hooked into :
ASUS P5N-E SLI mobo
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (2.4GHz)
2GB Kingston PC6400 Ram
all running on Windows Vista Ultimate.
Plus I bought myself a Dell 2007WFP 20" wide flat panel for my birthday...

It was bit higher than I planned to spend, but Im happy with the outcome.

 

[Kofy]

OOPs.. almost forgot... I've also added a new SAPPHIRE Radeon X1950GT w/512MB DDR3 to the system.

 

[paparazi]

Nice! but why the Maxtor 80gig IDE as boot drive?
I know it's only a few percent but surely one of the newer SataII's would have been faster.
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[Kofy]

Why? Had it laying around, and didnt want to leave it out..