Z97 Extreme6 CPU Cooler and RAM--Enough Clearance for RAM Heat Spreaders?

[kephafan]

Hello,
I am going to be purchasing the Z97 Extreme6 mobo.
I'm not sure if this can be answered without actually seeing the items together.
My system will use an Intel Core i5-4690K with a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 120 mm PWM Fan and i chose CORSAIR Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin 1866 DDR3. (The ram has not been purchased yet either.)
I would like to find out if there will be enough clearance between this cooler and the ram?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
kephafan

[parsec]

Re: Z97 Extreme6 CPU Cooler and RAM--Enough Clearance for RAM Heat Spreaders?

That's very tall RAM as you know. Using two 8GB DIMMs means you should use them in the two black slots. I have this board and other ASRock boards, and two DIMMs are best used according to the manual in slots A2 and B2, the black slots. That has always worked fine for me when using two DIMMs. So you would have some extra space for a 212 EVO since the blue slot nearest the CPU will be empty.

It's also possible to mount a 212 EVO so the long part of the cooler goes up and down, rather than left and right. With the longer part up and down, its fan would be pushing air towards the fan vent at the top - rear of the case, instead of up. This way does not cause any problems with tall RAM. That configuration would also pull the warm air from the cooler right out of the case, with a fan mounted in that top - rear fan vent.

Your Corsair memory seems to be a CMY... model, is that right? I only see one Corsair CMY model listed in the memory compatibility list, and it's a 4GB per DIMM kit. If you have memory problems with your model, that may be why.

[kephafan]

Re: Z97 Extreme6 CPU Cooler and RAM--Enough Clearance for RAM Heat Spreaders?

Parsec,
Thank you for the response and I did see the A2/B2 slots listed as the #1 set up in the manual pdf but I wasn't sure if I understood it correctly. That would help to alleviate any spacing problem as with your suggestion about repositioning the cooler. You're also correct about my chosen CMY memory not being in the compatibility list from ASRock.
What would be the difference on what is acceptable or not? I thought as long as it is 240-pin DDR3 1066-3200 and correct voltage, it works?
Noob question: does the memory HAVE to be in the ASRock list to work?
I will have to look up other memory so I don't cause a problem. (Another website where I picked all of my parts listed my chosen memory as compatible with this mobo.)

[parsec]

Re: Z97 Extreme6 CPU Cooler and RAM--Enough Clearance for RAM Heat Spreaders?

Parsec,
Thank you for the response and I did see the A2/B2 slots listed as the #1 set up in the manual pdf but I wasn't sure if I understood it correctly. That would help to alleviate any spacing problem as with your suggestion about repositioning the cooler. You're also correct about my chosen CMY memory not being in the compatibility list from ASRock.
What would be the difference on what is acceptable or not? I thought as long as it is 240-pin DDR3 1066-3200 and correct voltage, it works?
Noob question: does the memory HAVE to be in the ASRock list to work?
I will have to look up other memory so I don't cause a problem. (Another website where I picked all of my parts listed my chosen memory as compatible with this mobo.)

It's not a given that any DDR3 memory in the speed range and voltage will work with any mother board that can use DDR3 memory. The memory controller on the CPU has certain specs that must be matched or the memory won't work. That involves the type of memory chips used and also their layout on the PCB board of the DIMMs.

DDR2 memory and boards with the memory controller on the chipset were much more flexible about memory, I used to mix two different manufactures memory on a board like that and it worked fine.

I can't believe Corsair would design that memory and not allow it to work on Haswell processors.

[kephafan]

Re: Z97 Extreme6 CPU Cooler and RAM--Enough Clearance for RAM Heat Spreaders?

Update: I did get a response from the other website and I was told (paraphrasing) that there are hundreds or even thousands of memory cards that
could work with the Extreme6 motherboard that are not listed on their site. He assured me that my original Corsair Vengeance Pro pick would work.

[AbsoluteJoe]

Re: Z97 Extreme6 CPU Cooler and RAM--Enough Clearance for RAM Heat Spreaders?

I'd suggest getting very low profile DDR3L such as the Crucial Ballistix Tactical LP 16gb (2X8GB) kits.
Like most DDR3L memory, they run at 1.35 or 1.50v, and meet Haswell and Z97 requirements.
There won't be any problems with heatsink clearance using this memory.
Although I don't recommend over-clocking any memory beyond the XMP profiles, some folks report great OC results.


In fact, I just got a pair at Microcenter to replace some failing memory in my Asrock Extreme-4M X79 w/3820.
The 3.20 bios correctly auto selected the lower power XMP 1.35v profile. They passed all the memory tests and benchmarks without any issues.

[profJim]

Re: Z97 Extreme6 CPU Cooler and RAM--Enough Clearance for RAM Heat Spreaders?

from the Cooler Master: Hyper 212 EVO web page:



Standard memory height is 30mm.

Update: I did get a response from the other website and I was told (paraphrasing) that there are hundreds or even thousands of memory cards that could work with the Extreme6 motherboard that are not listed on their site.

The key word is could (or might).

The best approach is to buy a memory kit that is listed in the motherboard's QVL list or if the memory manufacturer says that they have tested the exact memory kit model number with your motherboard model. I would never buy a memory kit where the memory manufacturer states "Designed to work with all Haswell or Z97 systems."

[kephafan]

Re: Z97 Extreme6 CPU Cooler and RAM--Enough Clearance for RAM Heat Spreaders?

I finally received a response from Corsair. My chosen memory will work with the mobo.