CPU Cooler Fit
To test the amount of space surrounding the CPU socket, we mounted a Noctua NH-D15 cooler to the CPU socket. Both a overly large CPU air coolers, sporting a dual fan construction and two huge vertical cooling towers.
Noctua NH-D15
When running the unit blowing air towards the rear panel, there is more than enough clearance along the front and back sides to accommodate the cooler and any installed peripherals. The heat pipes do come close to contacting the power upright, but clear it without affecting the cooler seating to the board. The SupremeFX Impact II and Combo IV add-on cards are small enough to not conflict with the cooler or seated PCIe video card as well.
The side views illustrate that CPU socket is designed to accommodate even the largest CPU coolers, as long as the cooler is designed to adhere to the Intel design spec. There is sufficient room to the front of the board for larger memory modules and in the back of the board so that the CMOS battery and fan headers in the CoolHub module remain accessible.
Noctua SecureFirm2 mounting system
Noctua's SecureFirm2 mounting system is a good method to quickly determine how well the CPU socket laid out to accommodate a larger cooler. The layout of the VRM heat sink and memory modules around the socket does not impede the mounting cage in any way with more than adequate room on all sides to accommodate the hold down mechanism. Both the chipset cooler and on-board capacitors are low enough to fit underneath the cross brackets.
With the Noctua X-style mounting bracket, there are minimal conflicts and risk of damage to the underside components. However, if you used a mount that surrounding the CPU plate rather than sat on top of it, you could run the risk of crushing the components sitting in close proximity to the socket plate or in-line with the mounting holes.
First I heard about the Intel
First I heard about the Intel NiC using up CPU threads for networking… Did you use the driver from the DVD or Intel’s site or the first version of the drivers?
Driver from the DVD was used
Driver from the DVD was used for testing…
The cooler is too big. It’s
The cooler is too big. It’s bigger than the board….
Well, after watching the
Well, after watching the latest podcast#328 mentioning this review, I had too see it for myself. Holy Boulder Dam.. that cooler!!! HAHAHAHA Priceless – Sorry, but I can’t help myself. Good review. Tis a really nice board. And yeah, I really enjoy the podcasts guys!
Hmm, i got this motherboard
Hmm, i got this motherboard in a bundle deal.
One thing they have cheaped out on is the fan control. The z97i plus gets pwm controllers and this is stuck with DC chassis fan controllers, albeit one more, which so far seem to be forcing a case fan to run at 100%…
the ai suite is confusing and has dll exceptions.
I had some issue installing a cooler, if you have an itx case which allows tower coolers it’s ideal but for performance low profile coolers you will struggle. Just about got the silverstone aro06 installed.
So, are you supposed to
So, are you supposed to replace the screws on the CPU Power Daughter card heat sinks with longer screws to mount it to a case? Or do you only need to use the two free mounting holes?