Northbridge heatsink came off!

[cvrefugee]

Today I received a new HSF for my CPU. When I was installing it, I accidentally knocked off my Northbridge heatsink. I was really surprised because a) I used thermal epoxy to mount it and b) I hit it with little force.

Upon scraping off the dried epoxy with my fingernail, I noticed a piece of the core came off. Am I screwed? Or is this just part of the heat shield covering the core? I need to buy some more thermal epoxy to remount the heatsink, but I have a feeling I might need a new motherboard

Any thoughts would be helpful!

[poptya]

It probably fell off because you had just been using your computer and the epoxy had gotten warm. technically that IS the core, but the only way to tell if you b0rked it is to just finish installing the CPU heatsink, remount the NB HS, and test it. Shouldn't you have just done that before posting?

[TechZ]

Northbridge heatsinks are the worst, especially Gigabyte boards. They tend to fail and/or just start making a really annoying sound.

[niccce]

i reckon it's allright, the chip itself is about half a square centimeter big, and you'd know youre properly screwed if you saw it.

[the Interceptor]

But there's a whole chunk missing! The only way is to glue the heatsink back on and try it, but I predict you are screwed. Sorry man!

[Viper007Bond]

Glue isn't a conductor of heat.

[the Interceptor]

Glue isn't a conductor of heat.

No, but thermal epoxy is.

[FATMOUSE]

So, put it back on and find out if it boots.

[cvrefugee]

It probably fell off because you had just been using your computer and the epoxy had gotten warm. technically that IS the core, but the only way to tell if you b0rked it is to just finish installing the CPU heatsink, remount the NB HS, and test it. Shouldn't you have just done that before posting?

I don't have any more thermal epoxy therefore I cannot mount it again. I need to buy some more (or order it online). Do you know where I can buy some? Fry's maybe?

[Kip_6666]

No mounting holes for another one either? Might as well do it right this time.

[leomax]

Use something like these
http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_s...l_adhesive.htm

[cvrefugee]

No mounting holes for another one either? Might as well do it right this time.

I found this - http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/...x=200&code=014

I'll get that and see what happens. If I killed my Northbridge chip, I have an extra S754 board so maybe I'll get a Sempron and overclock the snot out of it.

[chaos386]

I found this - http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/...x=200&code=014

I'll get that and see what happens. If I killed my Northbridge chip, I have an extra S754 board so maybe I'll get a Sempron and overclock the snot out of it.

There's no need to stoop to a Sempron when you can get a Venice-cored 2.2 GHz A64 for $55 at Newegg.

[poptya]

well if you are going to buy epoxy get arctic silver epoxy, and the cheapest place for ALL computer related junk is www.newegg.com

If you really want to test it, you could always just lay the computer sideways with the door off and hold it against the board. This is by no means a long term solution but just to do a boot up test it should be fine. That way you know if you have to waste 15 bucks on epoxy in the first place.....

Just make sure you use a fair bit of pressure to assure good contact and that you dont brush your finger along the motherboard.

[cvrefugee]

There's no need to stoop to a Sempron when you can get a Venice-cored 2.2 GHz A64 for $55 at Newegg.

Whoa, nice deal!

well if you are going to buy epoxy get arctic silver epoxy, and the cheapest place for ALL computer related junk is www.newegg.com

If you really want to test it, you could always just lay the computer sideways with the door off and hold it against the board. This is by no means a long term solution but just to do a boot up test it should be fine. That way you know if you have to waste 15 bucks on epoxy in the first place.....

Just make sure you use a fair bit of pressure to assure good contact and that you dont brush your finger along the motherboard.

I'm already bought a new NB heatsink. If it doesn't work, I can still use it on another machine.

[cvrefugee]

UPDATE:

I tried booting it up without a heatsink just for the hell of it. Well, IT WORKS! Now I'm just waiting for my new heatsink to come in. The new HSF for my CPU is awesome too, it dropped my idle temps from 50C to 40C (and the fan is on silent mode).

[cvrefugee]

My Zalman came in. It was a b*tch to install but at least my computer is finally up and running.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

That's pretty sexy for an Nbridge heatsink!