Heatsink Question

[LeCynthia]

We were moving some computers to get them ready for donations and heard rattling in one. The small heat sink on the motherboard (NOT the CPU) had come off and the loop that the springy wire thingy hooks to had pulled off the motherboard completely so I have no way of hooking the heat sink back on. How hot does this chip get? I won't donate it knowing it's going to fry soon. Since we moved it first without noticing anything I'm assuming it was on up to the time that the computer was taken out of service and it came off in transit so I don't know if I should even fire it up this way.

This is in a HP D310 and the motherboard says MS-6541 Ver 2.1 on it and is the only identifier I see on it. It's basically just an Intel chip motherboard. I think it's a 1.something Ghz, not sure what else is pertinent.

Thanks.

[ShowMe]

This is in a HP D310 and the motherboard says MS-6541 Ver 2.1 on it and is the only identifier I see on it. It's basically just an Intel chip motherboard. I think it's a 1.something Ghz, not sure what else is pertinent. Thanks.

1.8 GHz, probably. It's a motherboard that has given a lot of people fits. Finding drivers for it seems to be a real pain.

In answer to your questions chances are real good that the chip will have a drastically shortened life without the heat sink. Even a small piece like that, when run over thousands of systems can cost a company a good chunk of dosh. They don't put them in unless they're needed.

Your concerns about it frying out are well-founded.

[Nick Bogaerts]

Northbridge heatsink, presumably. You can buy a new one, it doesn't cost all that much--I would suggest a passive heatsink from Zalman. It is a bit fiddly since you need to clean it up and apply new thermal paste, but it isn't terribly difficult. I wouldn't advise not having a Northbridge heatsink on a modern machine.

[Hagrok]

It probably won't even boot up now; my desktop DELL had the same problem. The motherboard checks for the heatsink when it turns on and won't start the operating system if it's not there.

A circuit is closed by those two springy arms and the loops holding them to the board; this is how the computer checks to see if the heatsink is installed.

That being said, you can kinda bend the little springy arms and place the little metal loops back in their sockets, thus completing the circuit required for the heatsink test. Mine's kind of resting on top of the processor at the moment...

[LeCynthia]

The heatsink isn't the problem, I have that. The problem is there is no way to attach it to the motherboard. There is a little ring on each side and a springy wire that holds the heat sink against the chip and one of these rings pulled out of the motherboard. So getting a new heatsink is not the problem, there is no way to hold it against the chip.

I tried a pressing the ring back in but the wire has a LOT of spring to it so the tension is really, really high. I may have to pull the mother board out and run something through the holes and tie it off on the other side if there is no tracings or anything in the way. Even then, I'll just keep it as I'd hate to donate this to a needy family with that kind of fix in it.

Also, again, it's not the processor, it's the little chip on the motherboard. The processor is fine with a big sink and fan and everything. This is just a little passive heat sink in the middle of the board.

Thanks.

[Hagrok]

You know, you're probably right; my board has the same kind of heatsink but it doesn't look like it's the actual processor. My wild-a$$-guess would be it's the built-in video card. Whatever it is, it's far too hot to touch while the computer is running, and the computer won't boot while it's not in place.

You can actually warp the spring arms by bending them with your fingers so that they don't pull up on the circular piece. Then, by setting the PC on its side, the heatsink just rests on top of the chip it's supposed to be stuck to.

It's an extremely crappy design, IMO; I bet they're seeing failures in these stupid things all over the place.

[Rob Lister]

The heatsink isn't the problem, I have that. The problem is there is no way to attach it to the motherboard. There is a little ring on each side and a springy wire that holds the heat sink against the chip and one of these rings pulled out of the motherboard. So getting a new heatsink is not the problem, there is no way to hold it against the chip.

I tried a pressing the ring back in but the wire has a LOT of spring to it so the tension is really, really high. I may have to pull the mother board out and run something through the holes and tie it off on the other side if there is no tracings or anything in the way. Even then, I'll just keep it as I'd hate to donate this to a needy family with that kind of fix in it.

Also, again, it's not the processor, it's the little chip on the motherboard. The processor is fine with a big sink and fan and everything. This is just a little passive heat sink in the middle of the board.

Thanks.

Your solution is Arctic Silver epoxy. It is specifically made for afixing heatsinks to chips. Its heat transfer is probably adaquate for your application.

[stormer]

Your solution is Arctic Silver epoxy. It is specifically made for afixing heatsinks to chips. Its heat transfer is probably adaquate for your application.

Agree with Rob Lister. This compound is an epoxy that will "glue" the heatsink to the chip on the mainboard, no springs required after that.

Clean the old gunk off the heatsink and the chip surface, and use the thermal epoxy as directed.

Once attached properly, you will not be able to remove the heatsink anymore.

[Grimoire]

Agree with Rob Lister. This compound is an epoxy that will "glue" the heatsink to the chip on the mainboard, no springs required after that.

Clean the old gunk off the heatsink and the chip surface, and use the thermal epoxy as directed.

Once attached properly, you will not be able to remove the heatsink anymore.

You can also get thermal tape, which is easier to use than thermal epoxy, somewhat less permanent, and not quite as good at thermal transfer. Basically, it is two sided sticky tape that can transfer heat. Both solutions should be acceptable for a North Bridge chip.

[LeCynthia]

Agree with Rob Lister. This compound is an epoxy that will "glue" the heatsink to the chip on the mainboard, no springs required after that.

Clean the old gunk off the heatsink and the chip surface, and use the thermal epoxy as directed.

Once attached properly, you will not be able to remove the heatsink anymore.

This sound interesting. Is this available at Radio Shack or some other such outlet or will have to order it online somewhere?

Anyway, thanks.

[Rob Lister]

Order on line is your best bet. But I must warn, it is expensive. You'll probably spend 20-30 bucks for a very small, yet adaquate quantity. It's made of...well, silver!. I doubt you can find a roll of double-sided transfer tape cheaper but your local computer fix-em store may hook you up with a 1-inch cut off their roll for free.