CPU cooler prevents using all memory slots

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rioka68

New member
I received my PC yesterday. Everything is fine so far, expect I noticed one thing; the CPU cooler (PCS FrostFlow 100) is huge, and partially covers one the the memory slot (the one closer to the socket), so that it is unusable, at least using the same module I have now.
It's not an issue right now, as I have 32 GB, so using two slots only; but I had plan to upgrade sometime in the future, and was wondering what options do I have...

Summing up
- MOBO: ASUS PRIME B660-PLUS D4
- CPU: I7-12700
- Cooler: PCS FrostFlow 100
- Memory: Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz

I guess the simplest option would be to replace the cooler with a smaller one, but I'd like to know if there are other options.

Thanks
 
barlew

barlew

Godlike
rioka68 said:
I received my PC yesterday. Everything is fine so far, expect I noticed one thing; the CPU cooler (PCS FrostFlow 100) is huge, and partially covers one the the memory slot (the one closer to the socket), so that it is unusable, at least using the same module I have now.
It's not an issue right now, as I have 32 GB, so using two slots only; but I had plan to upgrade sometime in the future, and was wondering what options do I have...

Summing up
- MOBO: ASUS PRIME B660-PLUS D4
- CPU: I7-12700
- Cooler: PCS FrostFlow 100
- Memory: Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz

I guess the simplest option would be to replace the cooler with a smaller one, but I'd like to know if there are other options.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Can you post the full system specification from your order page please so people can see what they are dealing with.

You potentially could move the cooler to a different mounting dependant upon which case you have? Or potentially use different RAM, for example if the RAM you are using has a huge heat spreader.
 
steaky360

steaky360

Moderator
Moderator
I think that's the only option, there's no such thing (I don't think) as a RAM riser (there are GPU risers for example).

Unless you can shift it sufficiently (I'd not hold out any hopes... but @barlew might be right!).
 
D

DarTon

Well-known member
Assuming this is Vengeance LPX, which is only 34mm high, you are not going to find much RAM that is lower profile than that.

I think a change of cooler might be in order. I don't think a Frostflow 100 is appropriate for a 12700, even the non-K version. It's got a PL2 of 180W. I'd consider buying a Corsair H100i or similar.
 
R

rioka68

New member
Thanks for your suggestions

Here are relevant parts
FRACTAL FOCUS G BLACK GAMING CASE (Window)
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™ i7 12-Core Processor i7-12700 (2.1GHz) 25MB Cache
Motherboard ASUS® PRIME B660-PLUS D4 (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM) 32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card 1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GT 730 - DVI, HDMI, VGA
Power Supply CORSAIR 550W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET

and a few pictures

IMG_20220217_160536.jpg
IMG_20220217_171037.jpg
IMG_20220217_160520.jpg
 
B4zookaw

B4zookaw

VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Air coolers can be chunky alright, especially with more than one fan. You might be able to switch fan to the other side and orientate it so it pulls air through the fins, but that might lower cooling capabilities. It might have enough clearance for you to install low profile RAM modules under it, like your existing Corsair Vengeance LPX, but RGB modules would be a no no.
 
S

Salmon Fisher

Enthusiast
Yeah, that's a chonky boy. So chonky it may well work perfectly well as the above suggests and switch the fan round. Try it and monitor temps before and after. Worth a punt I reckon.
 
JUNI0R

JUNI0R

VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
rioka68 said:
Thanks for your suggestions

Here are relevant parts
FRACTAL FOCUS G BLACK GAMING CASE (Window)
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™ i7 12-Core Processor i7-12700 (2.1GHz) 25MB Cache
Motherboard ASUS® PRIME B660-PLUS D4 (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM) 32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card 1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GT 730 - DVI, HDMI, VGA
Power Supply CORSAIR 550W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET

and a few pictures

View attachment 32401View attachment 32402View attachment 32403
Click to expand...
It's taken a keen eye, but I think I might have worked it out. If you look at the image that PCS provides of the FF100, you can see that the fan lines up with the bottom of the heatsync cover (just above where I've underlined), but on the first image you've provided, it looks like the fan has been installed a few cooling fins down the tower meaning it's sitting lower than it's meant to be. Hopefully, moving the fan up to where it's supposed to be sitting gives enough clearance for RAM to be installed there? It should be a pretty simple process of just unclipping the fan clips, shifting the fan up then re-clipping the clips.

If not, as mentioned above, you could always have the fan on the left side of the cooler pulling air through- you lose some of the RGB but it means you can install RAM and it actually makes cleaning a bit easier too.

1645149742138.png
1645149871592.png



Just to add to this, the product page for the cooler that the PCS FF100 is based on (ID Cooling SE224XT) has the fan sitting in line with the top of the cooler and mentions RAM compatibility!

1645150207763.png
 
R

rioka68

New member
@JUNI0R
Yep I noticed that too.
Anyway it's annoying cooler + fan exceeds the area that should be reserved (based on INTEL specs).

I'll move it up a few fins and see if it sill be not too close to memory slots.

Thanks
 
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