Noctua D14S Cooler

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networkn

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#243136 28-Nov-2018 12:05

Hi.

I got this installed in my computer which was assembled last year. I want to add more memory but this thing is right over the top of all the memory banks.

I am being lazy, but is there an easy way to remove it temporarily so I can fit the extra 2 dimms, or does the entire thing have to come apart including removing the MB?

SpartanVXL

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#2135884 28-Nov-2018 12:12

DDR4? You can get low-profile memory without heat spreaders on.

Does your case have a backplate section for the motherboard? Most modern cases do, it provides access to the back of the motherboard right on where the cooler is mounted.

If you do then you won't have to remove the motherboard, just the cooler. You'll only have to clean and repaste the thermal paste on the cpu....well not really if you don't mind a sloppy contact.

networkn

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#2135886 28-Nov-2018 12:13

Ugh, that's a pain. Unfortunately even with LP memory, there is no way to install it without the cooler out of the way.

wratterus

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#2135929 28-Nov-2018 12:33

Common issue with large air coolers unfortunately. I have a similar cooler, and am currently only running one fan in a 'pull' config, as I can't fit all the RAM in otherwise.

Could you possibly pop the right hand fan off, would that give you enough room?

timmmay

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#2135932 28-Nov-2018 12:42

I like the Noctua coolers, but they're massive. Mine blocks expansion slots.

networkn

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#2135972 28-Nov-2018 13:59

wratterus:

Common issue with large air coolers unfortunately. I have a similar cooler, and am currently only running one fan in a 'pull' config, as I can't fit all the RAM in otherwise.

Could you possibly pop the right hand fan off, would that give you enough room?

Might be. Is that going to be easy to do? I think there are brackets at the top and bottom, right?

SpartanVXL

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#2135974 28-Nov-2018 14:04

If I remember correctly with Noctua, the fans are usually clipped on with metal wire clips through the fins. There should be a part of the clip, in the middle, shaped like a pull tab that you can un-clip the fans with.

lagbort

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#2135997 28-Nov-2018 14:50

you dont need to remove the motherboard from the case, but you may need to take the heatsink off, thankfully Noctua makes this pretty easy.

Remove the fans from the heatsink (held on with wire clips, you just pull the wires outwards and they pop off.)
Look down through the heatsink towards the motherboard and you should see 2 philips head screws
unscrew these 2 evenly (i.e. do a couple of turns at a time, alternating between each one) until the heatsink comes off its mounts
Install your new RAM
clean the bottom of the heatsink and the top of the CPU with iso alcohol to remove old thermal paste
apply a large rice grain sized blob of thermal paste to the center of the CPU
push the heat sink back down onto the cpu, lining up the screws with the posts on the mounts
screw the heatsink back down evenly
re-attach fans

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networkn

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#2136000 28-Nov-2018 14:53

Thanks for that, I don't think I have any thermal paste.

May just take it into the local assemblers, they may only charge a few dollars and given how busy I am right now, it's probably a reasonable trade off!

SpartanVXL

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#2136012 28-Nov-2018 15:07

networkn:
Thanks for that, I don't think I have any thermal paste.

May just take it into the local assemblers, they may only charge a few dollars and given how busy I am right now, it's probably a reasonable trade off!

Is it just the fan in the way? Or the heatsink itself? If it's just the fans then its an easy un-clip to get it off, pop the ram in and re-clip.

I doubt it'd be a few dollars. I'd think anywhere in the $40-60 range. Or maybe i'm just too cynical with pc fix shop rates.

networkn

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#2136014 28-Nov-2018 15:09

SpartanVXL:
networkn:

Thanks for that, I don't think I have any thermal paste.

May just take it into the local assemblers, they may only charge a few dollars and given how busy I am right now, it's probably a reasonable trade off!

Is it just the fan in the way? Or the heatsink itself? If it's just the fans then its an easy un-clip to get it off, pop the ram in and re-clip. I doubt it'd be a few dollars. I'd think anywhere in the $40-60 range. Or maybe i'm just too cynical with pc fix shop rates.

I can't quite recall, I am almost certain it may be both since there are 4 slots and 1 are populated in each set. I'll check tonight.