heatpipe RAM cooling

[sbohdan]

do you guys think, there is a need for a RAM cooler like this or good airflow is enough. of course my question implies RAM that's been overvolted and OC'd

ThermalRight* HR-07

[pc_guy]

I personally would never buy something like this, looks way over the top, there are others that will get one.

I don't think there is temp monitoring on RAM, so there is no way of comparing normal temps. and how much this thing actually reduces them, or if there is really a need to reduce temps in the first place. If simple heatsink type cooling can be used on video card RAM, don't see why you would need a heat pipe with huge fins for RAM.

Unless someone could do a comparison/test of this on OC'ed RAM and see if it prevents crashed, I don't personally see a point of using the HR-07

[Quakindude]

Here's my opinion on it. From my experiences, putting money into exotic cooling for overclocking your Ram vs. a CPU overclock is almost pointless unless you have cutting edge hardware. A CPU, assuming the overclock is stable, is an increasing performance return for your overclocking efforts. Meanwhile, say you have DDR2-800 ram. I may be able to overclock that ram to 900Mhz, however, there's a point of reaching diminishing returns at 890Mhz. This is the ram I currently have installed. So while I may be able to push the ram higher, the ram will drop off in its performance ability past a certain spot. A CPU will, as long as you keep the temps under control, continue to give better performance the higher you push it.

I would focus more on the mobo chipset, CPU and Video Card cooling than I would the ram. As long as your case has good airflow, and the ram has heatsinks installed as most of them do now, you can overclock your ram as is.

[sbohdan]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

As long as your case has good airflow, and the ram has heatsinks installed as most of them do now, you can overclock your ram as is.

actually hardcore overclockers remove standard heatspreaders, since they actually are worse for cooling the ram chips compared to bare chips exposed to airflow ...they just LOOK better with the heatspreaders on them.
I myself am sceptical of this heatpipe cooling. I would rather install copper fins on the chips themselves and put a fan blowing directly on them

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by sbohdan

do you guys think, there is a need for a RAM cooler like this or good airflow is enough.

A need, no. A want, maybe. Products like these are targeted toward select groups of individuals, including the enthusiast level overclocker, and those that chase performance dividends (cooling or otherwise) regardless of the bang/buck factor.

The linked product is not something that we, as HardwareLogic, would recommend for 99% of our readers, but I also don't view in the same worthless category as the Killer NIC and Aegia PhysX processor.

[Quakindude]

Originally Posted by sbohdan

actually hardcore overclockers remove standard heatspreaders, since they actually are worse for cooling the ram chips compared to bare chips exposed to airflow ...they just LOOK better with the heatspreaders on them.

I'm not absolutely sure that is an all encompassing rule of thumb. When it comes to OCZ and Corsair ram heat spreaders, I've achieved higher, more stable overclocks with them installed than with them removed. You would probably have better overclocks if you have the space to remove the standard heat spreaders and install a heat spreader on each chip, like the Zalman ones you get with the VF-900 video card cooler. Outside of water cooling the ram, I don't see too many things making that big of a difference unless those last 5 Mhz really mean something to you.

Now, if you have something like PC2-8500 ram, and you're trying to get the absolute maximum out of them, thus my high end hardware remark above, then those things might be worth a look. But if I were going that high end in my hardware selections, I'd be water cooling everything in my rig.

Of course, that's just MHO. I'm not an expert by any means.

[gvblake22]

I would put something like the HR-07 in with high-end passive chipset coolers.
I can see replacing a tiny actively cooled chipset with something like the HR-05 to achieve better cooling as well as silent operation with passive cooling, but RAM does not have active coolers on it (even more of a reason not to worry too much about RAM cooling). Like chipset coolers, it is debatable whether advanced aftermarket cooling will improve the overclock potential of the product.

I have felt my DDR-600 RAM get quite hot at full speed and voltage, but I don't think it was hot enough to hold back my overclock. I maybe justify using something like the HR-07 on memory with extremely high voltage and speed, but those are going to be isolated crazy people who just have to push something until it breaks. Like Paul said, 99% of the typical HardwareLogic reader type person (they don't have to read HardwareLogic to be included into the category of "computer hardware geek") will not benefit from the HR-07.

[Tyreal]

As Paul said, there is no need for this because RAM doesn't generate enough heat to warrant it. A fan or good airflow will solve the problem.

On the other hand, if I were making the "ultimate" rig I would get a couple of these for my ram just because.

[RangerXLT8]

This is for people who use Hipros DDR MAximizer to pump 3v through DDR2 or those who volt mod:)

Memory can take ALOT of heat with stock heat spreaders.

EDIT: The problem I for see is- most heat spreaders are attached with some form of adhesive and you run the risk of pulling off a IC removing them.

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by RangerXLT8

EDIT: The problem I for see is- most heat spreaders are attached with some form of adhesive and you run the risk of pulling off a IC removing them.

Not to mention the fact that removing the heatspreaders on your RAM usually voids the warranty! But something tells me that if you need the HR-07 you are feeding your RAM insane voltages and don't care too much about the warranty anyway...