I'm just getting started on a new build. I don't think I'll OC, this is just a development machine for me. Relevant details below.
I have two intial questions and then will come back when I can't post and want to end it all.
1./ I got the Zalman 7700. I haven't started in earnest but I just seated a stick of ram in the first and second slots nearest to the cpu and then approximated where the sink is going to sit.
If I'm in the ballyard, it's going to be like maybe < 5 mm of clearance between the fan and the dimm. It seems like that could be an issue as far as interference or heat transfer, should I worry? I can always drop back to the Zalman 7000 or something even smaller--I just want this thing to be pretty quiet.
2./ From reading this thread and other reviews, I ordered the Zalman northbridge sink to replace the stock fan. I just lined that up with the vid card. Another super tight fit. If I don't seat the new sink fully centered (say I line it up flush on the upper right corner nearest the vid card, and then with additional overhang on the other three corners) it will clear fine, but, again, it's like 5-10mm of clearance and that seems sketchy.
It doesn't seem like the sink would need to be centered, the nb core would still be fully covered. I'm not an expert though, so please tell me if that's not how it swings. I'm also pretty worried about just the proximity. The stock fan is also going to be close, so maybe all these things are so self-contained that I'm imaging probs. My main motive again is to keep it quiet.
Any and all advice welcomed. Thx.
AMD64 Toledo +4400
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum
Antec NeoPower 480W PSU
Zalman CNPS7700-CU sink/fan
Zalman ZM-NB47J Northbridge sink
OCZ DDR Dual Channel Platinum (2 x 1GB)
MSI RX800XL 256MB