RAM heat spreaders

1st post, hi all

I just started building a computers again since a few years ago and I've noticed alot of the ram I buy with heat spreaders on them now have the spreaders attached with foam tape whereas I recall them having more direct contact with the chips themselves. This seems really counterproductive to me and was wondering if someone could shed some light.

It's not a big issue because I normally build for friends/neighbors/family that won't be OCing and I keep adequate airflow in the cases.

They actually use a thermal tape, which is designed to help pull the heat away from the chips and into the heat spreaders. It works in a way similar to the thermal pads found on some of the older OEM HSF's.

Metal having direct contact with chips should yeild better heat transfer , but alot of those heat spreaders fell of during installation effectively voiding the warranty attaching the heat spreaders with thermal sticky pads is sort of a security feature , because alot of people complained .

So the tape that resembles and feels like foam tape in every way is actually a thermal sticky pad tape?

yea I do remember the older spreaders looked like they might come right off in imperfect conditions

In reality, ram heat spreaders have not proven much value according to the test reviews I have read. I think they add more value cosmetically than they do from a heat dissapation standpoint.