HeatSinks for chips on A31/P

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proaudioguy · #1 Post by **proaudioguy** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:47 am

I have been thinking about this for a long time. I'd like your input. I'd like to put heatsinks on all the little chips on the system board and somehow connect the GPU to the CPU heatsink. Any ideas?

#2 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:50 am

The A31P ATI GPU is under the fan, and there is very little room under there. Direct cooling is pretty effective. I'm wondering if a heatsink might even interfere with it.

basketb · #3 Post by **basketb** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:23 pm

Does any chip other than the CPU and GPU produce any significant heat to make this worthwhile?

#4 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:30 pm

The Northbridge is the usual other heat producer. I believe it is on the bottom of the board in an A31. So you'd have to remove the board to get at it..quite a job for what return ? Don't know ...

proaudioguy · #5 Post by **proaudioguy** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:23 pm

There is an old post by a31pguy that did this. I've had the computers apart many times and replaced several system boards for the infamous graphics chip issues. I plan to swap the 2 boards I have right now from one machine to the other so I figured while I had them apart it would be a good time to add the heat sinks. One of our regulars here recently said he doesn't shut his machine off due to the heating cooling cycle causing this issue with the GPU. I don't know what causes it, I just want to prevent it while getting the most out of the computer. These computers are old enough to be a bit slow on newer apps, but with a 2.4GHz processor, 7200RPM drive and the ram maxed out they work pretty well. I also keep the OS tweaked pretty tight and the HD is defragged with perfect disc.

I'm also considering adding fans to one of the drive bays, but I'd really like to have all 3 spindles,...that's one of the reasons I like the machine so much.

I would also like to hot rod the CPU fan to clear out the hot air from inside the machine more effectively. There is no reason to have the fan variable. The noise is not an issue for me. These machines have a flawed GPU mounting (BGA). I plan to use electronics grade epoxy to hold the GPU around the edge. Jamifar suggested this would fix the issue.

Any more thoughts?

ajkula66 · #6 Post by **ajkula66** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:25 pm

If you use TPFC (I run version 0.33 on my A31p) you'll likely be in 40-50 C range most of the time running normal applications. This is with a 2.0 CPU. If you decide to have the fan running all the time at highest speed, you probably won't go past 42 C. Even if you add 20% for 2.4CPU, that is still quite cool by P4M standards.

Epoxy helps. James (jamiphar) has done it on several boards for me, including one A31p, and all of these are holding well, knock wood, and most of them survived a trip to Europe...

I don't know about heatsinks, though...wouldn't go that far, with all due respect for a31pguy and his knowledge...

Hope this helps.

proaudioguy · #7 Post by **proaudioguy** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:35 pm

OK what do you guys think about using this stuff 3M™ Thermally Conductive Adhesive TC-2810

to POT the GPU and surrounding area and put a large few square inches plate of thick aluminum glued to the top of the GPU at the same time? yea, it's extreme. Just wondering if it would work to both keep the GPU area from flexing enough to pop, and also pull enough heat away from the chips so that it can run all out continuously.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potting_(electronics)
http://www.pottingsolutions.com/my%20si ... C%20boards

Admin edit: Shortened URL to prevent horizontal scrolling

proaudioguy · #8 Post by **proaudioguy** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:14 pm

OK what about the heat pads that are under the GPU? I have some extras. I could put one on top of the GPU. Any benefit?

I'm just trying to learn how these things work.

HeatSinks for chips on A31/P

HeatSinks for chips on A31/P

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