Is Intel CPU cooler size standardized in width and deep size - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Wilson__
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2025, 12:20:31 am
content: For fitting into current-model mainstream brand mother board (ASUS), is there industry standard on width and depth (area if viewing on top of motherboard) size?I know height differ widely and often mentioned on youtube video and need matching in buying the cooler. Do I need to match the width and depth size?

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2025, 01:47:53 am
content: Yes. Look up the socket type and you'll find the details.Example:https://ia801902.us.archive.org/33/items/manualsbase-id-76513/76513.pdf

author: Wilson__
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2025, 02:01:27 am
content: Many thanks. My heat pipe fins are 2mm overlapping with SSD heat sinkBend two rows of fin solved it.There are four rotated mount configuration. Choose one that has least interference. Intel 1700

author: Nominal Animal
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2025, 08:58:51 am
content: Sensible CPU cooler makers like Noctua maintainmotherboard and case compatibility tablesfor their coolers. That way, they don't need to fit in the volume allotted by Intel or AMD.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2025, 09:56:54 am
content: There is a default cooler space given by Intel and AMD (usually even marked on the mainboard) - however it is not forbidden to go beyond that area. I had several coolers reaching far out, beyond e.g. memory modules. Great for cooling, but annoying to install, as only standard sized modules could be installed or exchanged when the cooler was on. Modules with extra heat sinks needed to be installed *before* the CPU heat sink.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2025, 10:32:21 pm
content: That's a common issue, compatibiity is often hard to determine and can be a headache (or a waste of time and money). Yes, some vendors are better than others, but they can never handle the huge number of existing motherboards and configurations out there. Unfortunately, the minimal room around the CPU on a motherboard than is "required" is pretty small and is made to accomodate the CPU vendors' own coolers (which are usually entry-level, noisy crap, although I think that the more recent AMD ones are not too bad).That's why many people, including myself, had turned to watercooling for a good while. There's never any issue with that with waterblocks. But watercooling has other downsides. I eventually got tired of watercooling.I've switched to a AK620, has very good performance, is not too big and fits on a very wide range of motherboards (Noctua coolers are very good but the efficient ones can be pretty bulky).If compatibility is not directly shown on the vendor's site/documents, then usually they at least provide the dimensions on a drawing. Use that to figure out if it fits.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2025, 10:39:13 pm
content: Quote from: Wilson__ on January 29, 2025, 02:01:27 amVarious vendors publish compatibility lists between various things, but you have to treat them with some scepticism. For example, RAM modules vary in height, especially when they have a heat sink. SSDs basically follow the M.2 spec, but high consumption ones often have to take extra space for cooling. Big coolers often come into conflict with the variability of case designs. In the end you have to try the very specific combination of parts you are using.