News $25 active memory cooler reduces temperatures of 'naked' RAM by up to 41% — Corsair Vengeance Airflow cooler prevents 768GB DDR5-6400 of server RAM...

[Admin]

Phoronix benchmarked DDR5 RDIMM memory with active cooling, revealing the need for builders to beware of DDR5 server overheating problems even in server-focused chassis.

$25 active memory cooler reduces temperatures of 'naked' RAM by up to 41% — Corsair Vengeance Airflow cooler prevents 768GB DDR5-6400 of server RAM... : Read more

 

[ttquantia]

What is the best way of calculating the "percentage" of reduction of the temperature? By using the Celsius, Kelvin, or Fahrenheit grade?

 

[hotaru251]

likely C which is used by most of the world.

 

[thestryker]

Kelvin, but I think it's generally better to just avoid percentages with regards to temperatures.

As for the article DRAM cooling has been a known issue with DDR5 for a while now due to the increased frequency. It doesn't take a lot of cooling, but some direct airflow will definitely work. Most of the heat spreaders on DRAM don't do much of anything which undoubtedly isn't helping the situation. I'm somewhat surprised that there hasn't been much movement on convenient DRAM cooling solutions, but perhaps as the clocks continue to rise this will shift.

 

[JarredWaltonGPU]

likely C which is used by most of the world.

But he does have a point, in that calculating a percentage drop where the base (minimum) value is -273C would become problematic if you ever had a sub-zero solution. 😀

 

[JarredWaltonGPU]

Kelvin, but I think it's generally better to just avoid percentages with regards to temperatures.

As for the article DRAM cooling has been a known issue with DDR5 for a while now due to the increased frequency. It doesn't take a lot of cooling, but some direct airflow will definitely work. Most of the heat spreaders on DRAM don't do much of anything which undoubtedly isn't helping the situation. I'm somewhat surprised that there hasn't been much movement on convenient DRAM cooling solutions, but perhaps as the clocks continue to rise this will shift.

Since this is server RAM, I suspect part of the "issue" is that most servers have lots of airflow (and are extremely loud), so it's not really a problem. But like fast SSDs, if you run them in a zero airflow (or close to it) environment and then do a bunch of writes, they'll overheat. Even a little bit of airflow does wonders.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Since this is server RAM, I suspect part of the "issue" is that most servers have lots of airflow (and are extremely loud), so it's not really a problem. But like fast SSDs, if you run them in a zero airflow (or close to it) environment and then do a bunch of writes, they'll overheat. Even a little bit of airflow does wonders.

Even a basic HeatSpreader over the DIMM's would be nice, it doesn't have to be super fancy, but basic DIMMs w/o any RGB non-sense would also help as well.

No HeatSpreader with pointless Aesthetic Embellishments should be used.

Only basic HeatSpreaders that serve to get the job done.

 

[bit_user]

likely C which is used by most of the world.

Celsius has a bias, which messes up ratio computation. In some hypothetical scenarios, you could have an infinite reduction in temperature, if you managed to cool something down to 0 C. Or, even a negative ratio, if it went below C!

On the other hand, if you used Kelvin, the ratios would probably seem low, since most of us aren't used to dealing in K.

That's probably why most people tend to temperature deltas, and not temperature ratios.

 

[bit_user]

Since this is server RAM, I suspect part of the "issue" is that most servers have lots of airflow (and are extremely loud), so it's not really a problem. But like fast SSDs, if you run them in a zero airflow (or close to it) environment and then do a bunch of writes, they'll overheat. Even a little bit of airflow does wonders.

This.

The Phoronix article points out that he just used a generic 4U server case with 3x 120mm intake fans, 3x 80 mm exhaust fans, and no special ducting. My hands-on experience has been mostly with Dell servers, and they've always had airflow ducts for the RAM and CPU heatsinks, since at least 15 years ago.

In this particular build, he added a 360mm water cooler, which he put on the intake side of the motherboard, since that's the only place there's room for it. So, that pre-heated the air actually hitting the DRAM. I wonder how much better his baseline DRAM temperatures would've been, if he'd just propped up the AIO so that there was a gap underneath it, instead of above it.

https://www.phoronix.com/review/silverstone-epyc-sp5
​

Keep in mind that we're talking about as much as 500 W being dissipated upstream of the DRAM, since that's how much these server CPUs can burn. Also, he's specifically running stress tests that actually approach those limits, in some cases.

 

[thestryker]

Even a basic HeatSpreader over the DIMM's would be nice, it doesn't have to be super fancy, but basic DIMMs w/o any RGB non-sense would also help as well.

No HeatSpreader with pointless Aesthetic Embellishments should be used.

Only basic HeatSpreaders that serve to get the job done.

Current designs are actually mostly useless RGB/aesthetics or not though there are some good aftermarket heat spreaders. The only modules with good heat spreaders that I'm aware of on the market right now are Team Group Xtreem. I would love to see DRAM manufacturers get back to having useful heat spreader options since not only does the memory IC need cooling, but DDR5 added a PMIC (and CUDIMMs have a clock driver).

I don't think I'll ever forget Roman's (Der8auer) video featuring an old (2008) Thermaltake RamOrb DRAM cooler which had a heatpipe and fan installed on DDR5. It reminded me of when we had all sorts of random useful cooling products hitting the market (whether necessary or not) and over time we seem to have lost the useful aspect for shiny.

 

[Thunder64]

Percentages should only be used on an absolutes scale. Example, if it's 0 degrees today and will be twice warm tomorrow, what temperature would it be (silly example but makes the point). On a scale that starts at 0 would make sense. Since 0 K is not attainable you can always get an answer.

 

[BillyBuerger]

I built a custom server for some development work many years ago when fully buffered DIMMs were the thing. Those things ran hot and I had issues with them overheating. I used a very similar RAM fan from Vantec I think. It helped and kept them at reasonable temps.

But I agree that the bigger issue is just managing airflow. My 3U Antec rack mount case wasn't ideal and didn't have any ducting to ensure the existing airflow was pushed across the RAM. That would have provided the same results without the need for this kind of hack job.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Current designs are actually mostly useless RGB/aesthetics or not though there are some good aftermarket heat spreaders.

I know, it frustrates me to no end how so many things are designed based on the 'RGB Rainbow Puke Aesthetic', designed to wow over normies & children.

The only modules with good heat spreaders that I'm aware of on the market right now are Team Group Xtreem.

Only their "Non-RGB" models, but even then I don't like the excess height they include with their Heat Spreaders, that hurts compatibility.

I would love to see DRAM manufacturers get back to having useful heat spreader options since not only does the memory IC need cooling, but DDR5 added a PMIC (and CUDIMMs have a clock driver).

I 100% concur, some-how so many of the module makers seem to conform to Aesthetic Marketing design over what's practical, it really irks me that "Form has taken MASSIVE precedence over Function" in modern day Custom DIY PC hardware.

I don't think I'll ever forget Roman's (Der8auer) video featuring an old (2008) Thermaltake RamOrb DRAM cooler which had a heatpipe and fan installed on DDR5.

I loved those ThermalTake RAMorb DRAM coolers, but the way they were so tall & the proprietary fan nature makes it hard to like due to weird case compatibility. Also fan replacements are a pain because it was 100% proprietary.

It reminded me of when we had all sorts of random useful cooling products hitting the market (whether necessary or not) and over time we seem to have lost the useful aspect for shiny.

Exactly, we need a HEAVY course correction back to "Function Before Form" & "Function Over Form".

 

[P.Amini]

What is the best way of calculating the "percentage" of reduction of the temperature? By using the Celsius, Kelvin, or Fahrenheit grade?

None of them, the base should be room temperature. Room temperature can vary so in science when room temperature has not been specified then often 20 °C (sometimes 23 °C) is assumed.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

None of them, the base should be room temperature. Room temperature can vary so in science when room temperature has not been specified then often 20 °C (sometimes 23 °C) is assumed.

And this is why ∆ over Ambient Room Temperature is used generally.