Mod Fathers post an opinion on RAM heatsinks

[bigben2k]

Here:
http://www.themodfathers.com/articles/heatspreader.php

Most temp differences are <= 0.3 deg C, with an exception at 1.6 deg C. Temp diff acknowledged as within margin of measurement error.

Concluded as "pretty", but that's all.

[jaydee]

If you look at the spreaders there is nothing to assist in dissipating the heat. They need fins if they are going to be of any real use.

[Boli]

But then you can't have pretty pctures over them. Akido will have to find a new home ;P.

[cybrsamurai]

heat spreaders are just that, heat spreaders. They were originally designed for use with early RDRAM where they would turn off alternating banks of memory in order to reduce heat. The spreaders were usefull in spreading heat from active banks to inactive banks of memory increasing the overall efficiency of the module. Now they look pretty and are a sign of "high end" memory.

[Blackeagle]

I think JayDee has made a good point. They spread the heat, but to dissipate it would require finned sinks.

The author didn't say what his temps were with the RAM overclocked to 370. I wish he had. But going by the highest temp he did find of 35C I wonder if finned sinks were added with a 120mm case side blower what the temp change would be.

Would be interesting to see a test of the CoolerMaster RAM sinks or Tweakmonster ones just coming out for system RAM.

In a highly overclocked system they would, if combined with a good case side blower fan, have a real chance to offer real cooling instead of just looks.

But the question then would be, would 5 or even 10C differance in RAM temps matter enough to increase the O/C?

[TerraMex]

I'm a fan the Cadbury Cooling Solution (http://www.dansdata.com/fastram.htm) ... :D

[bigben2k]

Mmmm... Chocolate!:drool:

[cybrsamurai]

reminds me of a page i saw somewhere where they were testing alternative thermal pastes. They used everything from petrolium jelly to whip cream. Very funny stuff.

[airspirit]

That was at rabid hardware. You should see the silent computing article they have.

[TerraMex]

Something like this (http://www.dansdata.com/goop.htm) ? (yes, yes, i'm a big fan of Dan)

That reminded me of an old dilema. How to properly attach heatspreaders on a single sided ram module. I tried that once, just looked weird , and twisted.