I recently upgraded some parts of my PC while keeping the same ATX case, fans, PSU, and drives. My new components include an Asrock B650M Micro ATX motherboard, a Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT GPU, a Noctua NH-D15 G2 CPU heatsink, and an AMD Ryzen 9 9900X processor. Unfortunately, the CPU heatsink is too large, preventing the GPU from fitting into the primary PCIe slot, and it's also causing the side panel to not close completely by about 3-4mm. While everything else fits well, I'm concerned if switching to a smaller heatsink will fix this issue, or if there are specific models I should consider. I also wonder if using a micro motherboard impacts the placement of the PCIe slot near the CPU. Any advice would be appreciated!
4 Answers
The issue might be that your cooler could be rotated 180 degrees, which could help with space. Just remember to adjust the fans and apply new thermal paste if you do that. It could make enough room for your GPU to fit! Check out this clearance drawing for more info: https://cdn.noctua.at/media/NH-D15_G2_Measurements_Clearance-1.png
Honestly, if you're considering going back, I’d recommend getting an AIO cooler instead. It’ll save you trouble with size and should work great with your build.
If you're thinking of changing up the cooler, you might want to check out the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120. It works well with Ryzen processors, and you won’t need to mess with an AIO cooler because they don’t run that hot anyway.
It looks like the Noctua NH-D15 is just too big for your setup. Most coolers usually come with 120mm fans, so it’s understandable that the size slipped under your radar. You might want to look into getting a more compact cooler, especially if you’re planning on upgrading your case in the future.
Thanks for the heads up, I didn't realize how massive it was either!
I’ll definitely check that out! Getting an extra 25mm might be just what I need. Is there a chance the GPU being so close to the heatsink could cause issues?