Hot ram

[Synon25]

I have 4 case fans two intake two exhaust, and plenty of air is flowing through my case. The ambient temperature of my room is 65 degrees farenheit. Yet my ram is at around 135 degrees farenheit ( according to zone monitor ) and it is so hot that it almost burns my fingers when I touch it. My question is what would be causing my ram to run so hot? It is pc 3200 ddr 400 ram, and it is not overclocked. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[stevennoland]

135 degrees is hot, but not for RAM. Does your RAM have heat spreaders? If not, get some. And your temp monitor may not be too accurate. And lastly, don't touch your RAM! D'OH!

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: stevennoland
135 degrees is hot, but not for RAM. Does your RAM have heat spreaders? If not, get some. And your temp monitor may not be too accurate. And lastly, don't touch your RAM! D'OH!

I second the head-spreaders. It is not so expensive for a set of Al spreaders, they would help cool down those sticks and look nice to boot! And hopefully you learned your lesson about touching hot components... I made the same mistake testing a heatsink when the fan failed...

-spike

 

[gxshockwav]

heatspreaders don't have any significant effect on temperatures. If anything, it traps the heat.

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: gxshockwav
heatspreaders don't have any significant effect on temperatures. If anything, it traps the heat.

So thats why all the ultra-speed and super-low timings ram use spreaders... to trap the heat...

Seriously though, heat spreaders do reduce the temps a small amount, but the biggest gain is when you have spreaders and air flow over them (ie from a case fan). The spreaders move heat evenly over themselves so there is no concentration on any one place. Definitly helpful if you have them, and VERY helpful if you have fans directed at them.

-spike

 

[irwincur]

So thats why all the ultra-speed and super-low timings ram use spreaders... to trap the heat...

I suspect that they do it more to look 'cool' and to distinguish the product from more normal varients. It may help, but I doubt it would even be worth the time or the minimal risks of applying them.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: Spike

Originally posted by: gxshockwav
heatspreaders don't have any significant effect on temperatures. If anything, it traps the heat.

So thats why all the ultra-speed and super-low timings ram use spreaders... to trap the heat...

Seriously though, heat spreaders do reduce the temps a small amount, but the biggest gain is when you have spreaders and air flow over them (ie from a case fan). The spreaders move heat evenly over themselves so there is no concentration on any one place. Definitly helpful if you have them, and VERY helpful if you have fans directed at them.

-spike

If your RAM has paper labels on the chips and you remove them to get good contact with the heatspreaders you void your warranty. If you don't take the labels off then the heatspreaders probably will trap heat. I say if the PC is stable don't mess around with it.

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: MDE

If your RAM has paper labels on the chips and you remove them to get good contact with the heatspreaders you void your warranty. If you don't take the labels off then the heatspreaders probably will trap heat. I say if the PC is stable don't mess around with it.

That is probably true. My only experiences with heat spreaders is on factory installed spreaders vs the same stick without spreaders. There was a small difference which was greatly enhanced when I aimed a case fan at them. This was mostly for the sake of experimentation

 

[akira34]

I, generally, say if the memory has spreaders on it, leave them. If it doesn't then don't put them onto it. If you're concerned about the memory getting too hot, then position a fan to either blow onto the memory, or pull [hot] air away from it faster.

 

[Fern]

My question is what would be causing my ram to run so hot?

If the VDIMM was higher than spec it would cause additional heat to be generated.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: MDE
I say if the PC is stable don't mess around with it.

:thumbsup:

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: gxshockwav
heatspreaders don't have any significant effect on temperatures. If anything, it traps the heat.

They do not make a significant difference but since they are so cheap theres no real reason not to get them. And they look cool!

 

[Mik3y]

dont fix what's not broken.