No problem, I can run the tests without the CPU cooler.
No problem, I can run the tests without the CPU cooler.
I'm working with an older ASUS X99-A board that's been causing some RAM issues. It used to be my main PC but has been stored in an anti-static bag for months since the upgrade. I'm planning to bring it back and upgrade my server with it (the timeline has been slow). I've installed some RAM sticks—mixed types but similar speeds and capacity. My thought was they'd all be limited to the lowest speed, which is acceptable. All of them are 8GB sticks, and I currently have six in total, but only one is showing up and working. Originally I had three, and now two of those aren't appearing either. Should I try testing the slots/sticks without a CPU cooler? The cooler is resting over half of them, and applying thermal paste for each slot or stick feels risky.
You can't operate a CPU without a cooler connected to it. But in my view, applying thermal paste isn't required for this setup. Mounting the cooler directly to the CPU should be enough. For reference, I tested a Core i3 3240 without thermal paste on an Intel stock cooler during P95 loads, and it performed within limits. It got a bit warm, but still met specifications. In your situation, thermal paste isn't essential for basic testing like this.
Typically, avoid running desktop CPUs without coolers; they’ll heat up instantly, leading to failure or sudden shutdown. Still, you can apply thermal paste multiple times for testing purposes.
It should work well to install a CPU cooler just for a quick BIOS check, unless you have an i9 processor.
I'd still be amazed if this cooler couldn't manage an i9 without thermal paste, especially when just entering the BIOS. Clearly, the cooler plays a role, and using an i9 without thermal paste might be about as different from running it under stress with paste as using it normally.
they didn't reference their cooler in this update, yet maybe I wouldn't rely on an i9 without thermal paste even for checking if the system is still running
They were mistaken. The cooler appears capable of managing CPU heat even at high loads when thermal paste is applied—especially if it was the primary PC, which suggests I’d expect that. Removing the paste would limit its heat removal ability, reducing the margin for power consumption, so you’d likely need to run it at lower loads. Temperatures would still stay within acceptable ranges. This analysis applies only under light load and during basic testing (BIOS setup, POST checks), as OP is doing. No further claims are made.