I'm trying to figure out if a tower CPU cooler will block my RAM. Do I need to take any measurements, or is there a simpler way to know? Here are my specs for reference: Motherboard: A520M-H, CPU: 5700X3D, GPU: 6650xt. I'm considering either the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black or the DeepCool AK400, so I'd also love to know which one performs better since they're both the same price for me.
3 Answers
Here's a quick rundown: 1. The Hyper 212 and the AK400 are single towers - no issues here! 2. With dual towers, you’d have to be careful, but even then, often they'll sit above the RAM. In some setups, it might slightly overlap, but it shouldn't cause any problems. Worst case, if it doesn't fit, you can always return the cooler or motherboard.
Both the Cooler Master Hyper 212 and the DeepCool AK400 are single tower coolers, which means they shouldn't block your RAM. Typically, it's the dual tower coolers that have issues with clearance. Since they are similar in design and performance, just go with the one you find cheaper or prefer the look of.
If you're using 4 RAM sticks, the first slot near the CPU could be under the cooler fan. But if you use the 2nd and 4th slots for just 2 sticks, you should be fine. Right now, I have a 120mm cooler with 4 sticks of RAM, and it barely clears—so it’s definitely possible! Check out my setup for a visual: [link to imgur]
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