Which CPU cooler?

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SolidSnakeUS

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Currently I'm using a Corsair A70 cooler for my CPU, but the thing is, is that the one 120mm fan does cover over one or two of the DIMMs very closely (I would have to have low profile memory, like the HyperX Blu that I currently have). But what I'm thinking is, how good is the performance of even an older Zalman 9500 LED for the socket (possibly for the upcoming IB CPU). If I used the Zalman, I can use any memory without a problem of height, but possibly use an inferior cooler. But I know the current Corsair A70 works very well. I ask this because I might think of going for the Mushkin DDR3-1600 16GB (4x4GB) Enhanced Blackline memory (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226272), which I have been told the support for Mushkin is amazing. Or go for something a little more low profile in the G.Skill Ares set (16GB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231547), which should definitely fit with the A70.

So two questions.

One: Which is the better cooler (also, the Zalman just had its fan replaced, so it's a brand new fan)?

Two: Which would you trust more for service, performance and reliability, G.Skill or Mushkin?

Just trying to go through every option in my head on what to do.
 
Both memory options have lifetime warranty, and the heatspreader on the mushkin isn't very tall. I guess it depends if you like the Mushkin enough to spend extra on it, because it's not really different aside from looks.
 
Corsair X 2.

Look at Corsair Vengence LowProfile memory if you are worried.

I have Vengence in my X79 computer and it has been as solid as any Corsair product.
 
I'll just say that even my current memory (HyperX Blu) is very close to the bottom of the 120mm fan of the CPU heatsink. Even that little extra headroom on the Mushkin is a bit alarming. Also, I'm trying to keep my memory cost between 90 and 95 bucks (no job, so I have to be stingy).

Go from this height of the heatsink: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104262&Tpk=kingston blu 1600 8gb
To this height: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226272

This is what it looked like in my old case: http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e244/SolidSnakeUS/1226000903.jpg

If you can tell, the one hinge of the DIMM slot is visible on the bottom side of the fan in the picture, so it completely goes over a DIMM, but high enough to fit the HyperX Blu memory. See where I'm getting at? Sorry if I'm making this harder than it should be lol.
 
No suggestions? Go A70 and use low profile or go with the Zalman 9500 and use any memory modules? I own both of these coolers.
 
I can see that those are very good and even techPowerUp loved them, but they are a buck more for 16 gigs of it (compared to the Mushkin), but I have no idea if it supports overclocking in the warranty.
 
I thought I saw those Samsung sticks on clearance at Microcenter...
 
That Samsung stuff is amazing.

I actually bought that Mushkin 4x4GB on sale for $79 locally, the Samsung would have cost me about $105 shipped (in Canada) so I figured the 33% price premium wasn't worth it, but there's no question it's the best deal going these days, you can easily overclock it to 2133 at ~1.5V, or at least lots of people are having success, plus it's super low profile.
 
Why not just remove the fan that's causing problems? It's not like that cooler requires two fans to work.

How are the fans attached to the hs? Can you not move the troubled fan up a little higher to give your RAM more room?
 
Basically it works on a clamp system around the edge of the cooler, and then it has rubber grommets you push through the fan holes, something like that. I did have a thought of using a slim 120mm fan to replace it, but I have no idea if they are worth it or not.

These pics should help on this link to show the kind of size that it has, how it hooks on and so on.

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2010/10/21/corsair_a70_highperformance_cpu_cooler_review/2
 
Well if you get a different fan, you'll want to get two of them since it's not recommended to mix/match FANs on a push/pull setup. Slim fans will get the job done.
 
I'm just trying not to spend more than I need to. I think even if I turned it the other way (blowing upwards instead of out the back), I think the heatsink itself will overlap the first DIMM still. But still, I think first and foremost on which cooler is actually THE BETTER cooler.

And from what a few say, it would be the A70?
 
As you see repeated over and over again all over the internet, I still say a CM Hyper 212+ for $20 is unbeatable(not sure if its still on sale for that price but it has been on multiple sites many times).

If you have the Corsair A70 already, id keep that. I think those are good. And just so you know, most coolers on current gen mobos have clearance issues with the first dimm slot..... I have the same issue with my CM Hyper 212+. I only use 8gb and dont use the first dimm slot so its a moot point in my case.
 
Ok ok. Then I'll just go with the G.Skill Ares ones. Thanks for all this and sorry for all the repetition, I just double check on everything and just have to make sure of all my options and all the opinions. Thanks again.
 
Get these instead at least they'll work. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104288 I'm done with Gskill, 2 out of 4 sticks were doa in their 2400MHz kit. Kingston's have a low heat sink that fits under my Archon blowing upwards & will fit under an NH-D14 either way you mount it. The Gskills hit the outer heatpipes on the Archon. Archon has to go upwards or it blocks pcie1 slot, at least on my Asus RF4 mobo.
 
Dantrax said:
Get these instead at least they'll work. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104288 I'm done with Gskill, 2 out of 4 sticks were doa in their 2400MHz kit. Kingston's have a low heat sink that fits under my Archon blowing upwards & will fit under an NH-D14 either way you mount it. The Gskills hit the outer heatpipes on the Archon. Archon has to go upwards or it blocks pcie1 slot, at least on my Asus RF4 mobo.
Click to expand...

Not gonna go that high with the price or the speed. The new Z77 and IB CPUs support DDR3-1600 natively (instead of 1333) so I don't need something that radical.

How about these instead of the G.Skill ones: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220629

Is Patriot reliable and do they have good service?

By the way, with the promo code, they are $81 for 16GB of DDR3-1600.
 
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Glad you got to use the promo, I maxed out my board (it only has 4 ram slots) two days before the promo. Those rottrn eggsters got me. ;)
 
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Actually, I got to use the 15% off promo that was going to expire after yesterday, so it was $76.49 instead of $81. So woot.
 
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