top-down blowing design?

I have this motherboard with FD8370FRW8KHK
http://asrock.com/mb/AMD/Fatal1ty%20970%20Performance/index.us.asp?cat=CPU

The FAQ says:
>For cooling the CPU and its surrounding components, please install a CPU cooler with a top-down blowing design.

I have this cooler:
http://www.deepcool.com/product/cpucooler/2013-12/7_481.shtml

What is a top-down blowing design?

The best I've come across is the Noctua NH-C14S. However, it's not very good if you plan to heavily overclock your CPU, since it's only recommended for max 140W TDP. I think this might be a common problem with these type of coolers.

I read the FAQ after I bought it. :-(
The box should have said it has a limitation.
I think I am ok because I have an Antec One case which has a top case fan and my motherboard temps from th4e BIOS seem ok.

I'm trying to set up Linux to read the temperatures but I'm having problems.

I agree with wardog, the VRM temp should be fine with that. My VRM temp (or the temp I'm assuming is the VRM temp) actually went up after installing a top-down blowing CPU cooler. This is because both the CPU and the socket are now cooled more efficiently, meaning that the air that blows over the VRM section is warmer than before, and thus less efficient at keeping it cool. It's the socket temperature I'd worry about most in your case, bjlockie. That's what nearly caused me trouble with a tower cooler. You don't necessarily need to get a new CPU cooler, if you can use a spot fan to blow air on the socket.

OT:

"It is important when using an FX-8000 or FX-9000 series CPU."

Not really true for the latter. There's a reason AMD provides a stock liquid cooler with those CPUs; air cooling is just not enough for that CPU (at least not with something that fits in a normal case). The motherboard needs to be cooled using something else than a top-down blowing CPU cooler.

wardog wrote: PetrolHead wrote: I agree with wardog,  .... Yea. It doesn't look bad. But OP, keep a close watch at how hot the VRM sinks are. PetrolHead wrote: OT: "It is important when using an FX-8000 or FX-9000 series CPU." Not really true for the latter. There's a reason AMD provides a stock liquid cooler with those CPUs; air cooling is just not enough for that CPU (at least not with something that fits in a normal case). The motherboard needs to be cooled using something else than a top-down blowing CPU cooler. I think more to parsecs point is that an extra fan (jury)rigged to blow over the VRM section is practically a must. More so with boards that are 4+1 and even some cheaper 8+2 boards with no or even skimpy sinks covering them. Has anyone here ever read what the instruction that come with the included water coolers that come on the high end FX silicon? It'd be really interesting to see whether AMD themselves, like practically everyone else does, not mention additional or supplemental VRM cooling.

This, This, This!!

That is a huge contradiction! An AIO water cooler is needed (minimally) for these processors, which by the nature of their design is as far from a top-down blowing cooler as we can get.

So using an AIO cooler provides zero cooling for the VRM heatsink. Yet the warning note about using a top-down blowing CPU cooler suddenly becomes unnecessary with an AIO cooler?

Of course not! The illogical nature of this is obvious. Two issues exist, cooling the CPU and VRMs when using FX-8000 and FX-9000 series processors, but the AIO CPU cooler only addresses one of those issues.

Are the 990FX board's VRMs exempt from needing extra cooling? The top-down blowing cooler warning is not mentioned in the 990FX Extreme9 CPU support list, but is included in the 990FX Extreme6 CPU support list, along with the AIO cooler warning. The 990FX Extreme9 has a more robust VRM heatsink, but lesser boards don't.

So your point wardog is extremely important IMO. The 990FX Extreme9 cannot be the example for CPU and VRM cooling for other AMD boards when using the FX-8000 and FX-9000 series processors.