Graphic card cooling GPU but not MEM

[ericjmense]

I have noticed that lots of coolers for graphic cars only address the GPU.

Is it not as important to cool the memory on the card too?
What improves performance more a higher GPU clock or MEM clock?
If I remove stock cooler that does have some MEM cooling and put on new cooler that has no MEM cooling will I have to reduce my over clock on my MEM due to the lack of cooling?

[FunkZ]

Check out our review of the Thermalright V-1 (http://www.ocia.net/reviews/v1/page1.shtml).

A higher overclock was obtained after removing the stock HSF and without any cooling on the RAM chips! The stock HSF was having a negative effect in this case, due to the GPU sharing the heatsink with the GDDR3.

Even after repeated benchmark runs the chips were cool to the touch. It is my belief that you only need to worry with active or passive cooling on the memory if you have increased the voltage above the default.

The same goes for system memory as well. Heat spreaders are mostly just for show and a way for manufacturers to hide the chips they are using. When overclocking within 10% of default voltage, plain modules without spreaders are just as effective. If you're going above 3v though on DDR you want spreaders and some air blowing across them. RAMBUS modules also need the spreaders, even at default speed/voltage.