CPU Cooler touching case

[Bayleef]

Hello,

Yesterday I purchased a new CPU cooler, since the stock cooler definitely didn't give me the right temperatures while gaming. The cooler I purchased is the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO. I just opened my case and removed the old one, and since the Cooler Master seemed a bit big, I checked if it would fit in my case. It does fit in my case, but four of the copper(?) parts of the cooler touch the side of the case, pics related. The side of the case does still fit on the case, I'm just scared that something is wrong if it touches it.

Can I just install the cooler, or should I get another cooler that is smaller and doesnt touch the case at all? I could always just drill some holes in the case if that would fix it?

 

[Ubrales]

It will be OK as-is. However, if you want to drill clearance holes and deburr them, that will be fine too. No problem if the copper cooling pipes touch the case. I have the same heatsink; great heatsink!

 

[Ubrales]

Drilling clearance holes in this location (with other holes) will be a huge problem and I do not advise that approach. A Dremel tool might work.

 

[dantethedemonkiller]

Its OK it'll not bother u they r just nuts joining pipes and vent if u want then OK drill or case

 

[Bayleef]

Thanks a lot, I will avoid drilling holes in that case. Another question (sorry): Should I apply the paste on the heatsink or the CPU itsself, or doesn't it really matter? I have read different opinions about it, and I'm not sure where to apply it.

 

[dantethedemonkiller]

Like ubrales even I don't also advice for drilling but if u want to so do it

 

[dantethedemonkiller]

Like ubrales even I don't also advice for drilling but if u want to so do it

 

[Ubrales]

Thanks a lot, I will avoid drilling holes in that case. Another question (sorry): Should I apply the paste on the heatsink or the CPU itsself, or doesn't it really matter? I have read different opinions about it, and I'm not sure where to apply it.

Apply a very thin and even coating of good thermal compound (Arctic Silver 5 or equal) to both the CPU heat spreader as well as the heatsink base. Then assemble them together.

 

[USAFRet]

How much touching is 'touching'?

0.5mm either way makes the difference. If it is putting any pressure on the heat pipes, as you slide that side panel off, the existing holes will drag across those tips. Putting pressure on the mount and CPU.

If it 'just barely' touching, it will probably be fine.
Me? I'd probably Dremel out some space for those.

 

[gmkos]

How much touching is 'touching'?

0.5mm either way makes the difference. If it is putting any pressure on the heat pipes, as you slide that side panel off, the existing holes will drag across those tips. Putting pressure on the mount and CPU.

If it 'just barely' touching, it will probably be fine.
Me? I'd probably Dremel out some space for those.

Agree with this. If its only touching, I wouldn't worry about it, though it couldnt hurt to put the holes in the case if you have the equipment and/or effort to do so.

I don't think this has been mentioned in this thread yet, so I just wanted to throw it out there:
Whatever you do, don't try to trim or sand down the copper heat pipes on the cooler. They're hollow, and the cooler is essentially destroyed if you open them up.

 

[dantethedemonkiller]

Put thermal paste on CPU and it's necessary

 

[Bayleef]

@USAFret: It does touch them, but it doesn't really put any pressure on it. I just read the manual, and it seems that I have to take the motherboard out of the case and mount pic related under the motherboard. Will this elevate my botherboard, because in that case it will probably drag across the tips.

@Ubrales: I don't have Arctic Silver 5, I have the Cooler Master paste that came with the cooler, and I also have 'Super Thermal Grease (ZM-STG2)' from Zalman. Good enough?

http://i.imgur.com/X6A0mgJ.jpg > The thing that I have to mount under the motherboard.

 

[plaintuts]

instead of using power tools. you can use pieces of electrical tape or rubber pads then stick them to your side panel, basically just the areas that the cpu cooler is touching.

 

[USAFRet]

@USAFret: It does touch them, but it doesn't really put any pressure on it. I just read the manual, and it seems that I have to take the motherboard out of the case and mount pic related under the motherboard. Will this elevate my botherboard, because in that case it will probably drag across the tips.

@Ubrales: I don't have Arctic Silver 5, I have the Cooler Master paste that came with the cooler, and I also have 'Super Thermal Grease (ZM-STG2)' from Zalman. Good enough?

http://i.imgur.com/X6A0mgJ.jpg > The thing that I have to mount under the motherboard.

How did you mount the cooler without that?

The CM paste that comes with it is fine.

 

[Bayleef]

@USAFret: I didn't mount the CPU cooler yet, just put it on the CPU to see if it would fit in the case (without screws etc).

 

[USAFRet]

What case is it?

 

[Bayleef]

It's the Cooler Master Elite 310.

 

[USAFRet]

It's the Cooler Master Elite 310.

From CM: "CPU cooler height: 155mm / 6.1 inch"

That cooler is 158mm.

I've found the case specs to usually be a little conservative. But for me, I'd have to see it and touch it before I'd say a definite yea or nay.

 

[Bayleef]

Thanks a lot for all the help USAFRet, I placed the cooler in my case and it works so far. The only problem that I have encountered is that my screen starts acting up and my AMD Graphic drivers fail. After about a minute my screen freezes and I am unable to do anything after that, but I don't think it has anything with the cooler haha.

Thanks everyone for answering my queston in this thread!