Ongoing Heatsink touching top of case = bad for CPU? (1 Viewer)

[damaster]

HI,

I'm building my first HTPC and need some help. My case is an Nmedia 200BA and I'm using a Scythe Mini Ninja fanless heatsink/cooler for my CPU: an AMD X2 6400+. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that my heatsink which is 5" tall might not fit inside my case, which is only 5.25" tall. Now, I tried test fitting my CPU on my motherboard and the heatsink on top of the CPU. I put the top of the case on and it's touching the top of the heatsink and putting pressure down on the motherboard.

Is this safe or too dangerous for the CPU? I haven't powered anything on yet, and won't do so until I'm sure it's ok for me to use this tall heatsink.

Also, there are these "fake" aluminum bolts at the top of the Sythe Mini Ninja heatsink which I removed. I have exposed the top of the copper pipes now, but it fits better. However, the top of the case still puts pressure down on the CPU/motherboard. Can I cut off the top of those copper pipes? Will the heatsink still be as effective?

I've attached a picture of the top of the Mini Ninja heatsink.

 

[wishywashy]

Do no cut the copper pipes! Those are part of the heat pipes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_pipe

Personally, I wouldn't run it that way. However, I would suspect that if you already put the side of the case on, then any damage would already be done.

 

[damaster]

Ok, so I read elsewhere as well and realized that I should not cut the heat pipes.

Now, back to the first question: is it safe to put the top of the case on even if it's pushing down on the heatsink/CPU? And why would damage already be done if I never turned anything on? I was only test fitting.

 

[geov]

Sounds very risky to me...I would also worry about causing damage if I was you...

 

[damaster]

Thanks for the replies. I'm gonna build the HTPC with the top of the case off and order a lower profile heatsink. This sucks because I really wanted to use the Scythe Mini Ninja as it is an excellent heat sink!

 

[James]

You could try one of these without a fan: https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/silent_cooling-t30727.html

It is not as tall as the Ninja.

 

[Efros]

Cut a hole

You could dremel a hole out above the scythe and fit a fancy looking fan guard.

 

[damaster]

You could try one of these without a fan: https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/silent_cooling-t30727.html

It is not as tall as the Ninja.

Ya, I've considered the GeminII but it's too long and the back of my optical drive will touch the heatsink...

You could dremel a hole out above the scythe and fit a fancy looking fan guard.

Thanks for the suggestion. I wonder how well I could dremel without destroying the look of my case... also, what kind of fan guard do you have in mind?

 

[James]

You could try one of these without a fan: https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/silent_cooling-t30727.html

It is not as tall as the Ninja.

Ya, I've considered the GeminII but it's too long and the back of my optical drive will touch the heatsink...

If you look at the pictures in my case. My backup plan if it came into contact with the DVD drive would have been to turn it around and have it sicking out the back of the case a bit (by cutting into those fan openings).

Also some DVD drives are shorter than others. So Maybe you can find a drive that wil fit.

 

[Efros]

You could try one of these without a fan: https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/silent_cooling-t30727.html

It is not as tall as the Ninja.

Ya, I've considered the GeminII but it's too long and the back of my optical drive will touch the heatsink...

You could dremel a hole out above the scythe and fit a fancy looking fan guard.

Thanks for the suggestion. I wonder how well I could dremel without destroying the look of my case... also, what kind of fan guard do you have in mind?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800888011

That one looks nice