Heatpipe dilemma

[Logger]

I am using Zalman CNPS10X Cpu Cooler on a Intel i5 750, Asus P7P55D Pro 1156 with the Azza Helios 910R ATX Mid Tower case. Running Stock Speeds.

The Helios case has a 230mm fan installed on the side door. The Zalman cooler has 5 U-shaped heatpipes with the heatpipes sticking out of the top of the cooler about 1/2 inch. Now one heatpipe interferes with the fan on the side panel. I want to keep the fan.

I need to cut off about 1/4 inch off the top of one of the heatpipes. Has any body done this?
Is this doable? Will the cut job mess up the cooling abilities of the Zalman cooler? Cpu will only run at stock.

[gingerbee]

there hollow you can't just cut the top off. and yes it will effect it's cooling properties

[Logger]

Thanks gingerbee, I kind of knew that, I was just hoping. I need a shorter 1156 cooler about 2 hours ago.

Logger

PS. How about I cut the end off of the heatpipe and then solder a plug back in? I think they call that Damp Dream

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by Logger

Thanks gingerbee, I kind of knew that, I was just hoping. I need a shorter 1156 cooler about 2 hours ago.

Logger

PS. How about I cut the end off of the heatpipe and then solder a plug back in? I think they call that Damp Dream

I doubt very much that it's standard "air" in those tubes... probably nitrogen or something similar.

Does the top of the heatpipe interfere with the blades of your fan or just the fan case? If it's just the case, how about shaving off 1/4" from that?

[gingerbee]

not going to work there normally filled with xeon gas/or some inert gas to help cooling (i think it's been awhile since) trying to find something that explains how a heat exchanger works using gases

[martin_metal_88]

Most likely it's thin copper hair with vapor or only copper and air. Depend on the cooler. How much do you need to cut for the cooler to fit. the Hyper 212+ is 158.5 mm, The noctua NH-U12P is 158mm. There is also a new coolermaster which is 135mm but I never saw result of this one ( I never really search ) NCIX.com - Buy Coolermaster RR-910-HTX3-GP Hyper TX Series Aluminum 3-HEATPIPE CPU Cooler S1156/775/AM3/AM2/939/940 - RR-910-HTX3-GP In Canada.

[Logger]

Originally Posted by sswilson

I doubt very much that it's standard "air" in those tubes... probably nitrogen or something similar.

Does the top of the heatpipe interfere with the blades of your fan or just the fan case? If it's just the case, how about shaving off 1/4" from that?

The tip of the Fan blades hit the heatpipe. I have some old 120mm fans to experiment with, I wonder if I could cut the tips off the fans blades. I think I will give that a shot.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Logger

[Jack Rabbit]

A typical heat pipe consists of a sealed pipe or tube made of a material with high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum at both hot and cold ends. A vacuum pump is used to remove all air from the empty heat pipe, and then the pipe is filled with a fraction of a percent by volume of working fluid (or coolant) chosen to match the operating temperature. .... The use of a vacuum eliminates the need for the working gas to diffuse through any other gas and so the bulk transfer of the vapor to the cold end of the heat pipe is at the speed of the moving molecules.

*

Cutting into it will ruin it.

Can you maybe bend the pipes enough to get that quarter inch of clearance? It would be be risky but might work.

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by Jack Rabbit

*

Cutting into it will ruin it.

Can you maybe bend the pipes enough to get that quarter inch of clearance? It would be be risky but might work.

++

If that's not possible, are the heatpipe ends finished (i.e. are they smooth and rounded), or are they crimped? If they're crimped you might be able to shave off just enough to get the clearance you need.

This stands a better chance of sucess than messing with the blade tips of your fan. Messing with those will probably make the fan howl like a banshee........ ;)

[Logger]

Well I ruined an old 120mm fan, I cut the tips off of the fan blades and A Banshee was set loose in the basement.

I am going to try bending the heatpipe tip. God hates a coward.

Logger