I'm building a system with a Nitro+ 9070 XT, a TRYX Turris 620 air cooler, and a B650M Project Zero motherboard. I didn't realize how tight the clearance would be, and the GPU and CPU cooler are touching. The graphics card also prevents the motherboard's top cover from being installed, leaving part of the GPU area exposed to the cooler. Is this safe, or should I change the cooler or another component?
2 Answers
If everything fits naturally and there is no pressure on the GPU, it may only result in some cosmetic scratches. Don’t force the components into place, though. If the cooler is pushing on the card, the motherboard, or the PCIe slot, use a different cooler or a compatible mounting arrangement. Also make sure the GPU is fully seated and properly supported before powering on the system.
Are the parts just making light contact, or is the cooler pressing against the graphics card? If the card can be installed without force and nothing is being bent, the contact itself usually won’t cause a problem. However, the missing top cover and exposed area may still be worth addressing for protection and airflow.
They seem to be mostly touching rather than being forced together, but the graphics card blocks the top cover, so that area is exposed and sits underneath the cooler.