Resolved Northbridge chipset heat sink runs very hot

The NORTHBRIDGE CHIPSET heat sink gets very hot on my (newly purchased) GA-G41MT-S2P motherboard. Not sure if this because I have overclocked the RAM from 1066 (the default) to 1333 (the rated speed of the ram AND also the m/b states it supports ram 1333(OC).

Is it normal for the Northbridge heat sink to become hot? The CPU (Core 2 Duo at 3.0Ghz) and heatsink remain quite cool.

Regardless of this is it possible to purchase a cooling fan to attach to the heatsink, are they available and should I do this?

I have seen other m/b's which have fans attached (as standard) on other m/b's

 

Yes there are many Northbridge Cooler available.
One of many here:

http://www.coolpc.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=444

 

Thanks Arie.
It is interesting that the chipset can run to 102C. Hate to think what would happen to my CPU if it got that hot (usual temperature is 30C-40C)

 

Then take it back to stock speeds and find out! That said, as noted, the NB can run pretty warm. What are your temps? If you don't know and are not constantly monitoring them (at least CPU and System temps), then you should not be overclocking.

Are you using the stock OEM CPU heatsink fan (HSF) assembly? This can be important because motherboard designers deliberately cluster heat sensitive/generating devices around the CPU socket so they can take advantage of the turbulence created by the "expected" OEM HSF assembly. Aftermarket coolers are typically more of a "universal" design and often compromise here and there to "fit" more applications. So besides violating the terms of the CPU warranties (for CPUs that come "boxed" with supplied OEM HSF assemblies), they may not provide sufficient cooling for the surrounding components.

Note too it is the case's responsibility to provide enough front-to-back cool air flow through the case.

As noted in my sig, heat is the bane of all electronics - this is even more so when stressed by overclocking.

 

I have stopped overclocking the ram yet the Northbridge still runs very hot.
I don't know just how hot. Does the BIOS 'PC health' show that (temperature).
I am usi8ng the stock INTEL Core 2 Duo heatsink and fan.
I have an old small fan which could have come from the chipset on on old discarded motherboard (I have noticed that some m/b's have a small fan on the chipset) and so am considering attaching it (with screws) to the heatsink as the ***** holes line up perfectly with gaps in the heatsink fans. Either that or buy an 'aftermarket' (larger) heatsink (Zalman NB47J) although I'm not sure how easy it is to remove the standard one after reading some reports after googling.
Maybe I will check out the temperature of the Northbridge on my other PC which also has a G41 chipset.

 

I have to disagree with Bill regarding to stock HSF and after market HSF.
If you ever read through any Overclocker Forums, then you would be aware of the fact that no serious Overclocker will use stock HSF's.
I personally run 4 PC's and none has a stock HSF.
No Offence Bill, but I think that you are wrong on that one.

Merry Christmas to all of you.
hawk22

 

No offense taken but please read what I said first before disagreeing with me. I said absolutely NOTHING concerning the relationship between stock fans and overclocking. So I don't know what you are disagreeing with or what it is you think I am wrong about. Everything I said was based on facts, not my opinion (except my comment to don't OC if you are not monitoring your temps - that is my opinion but I would hope you agree with that).

It is a fact that motherboard designers design motherboards and component placement with the OEM HSF assembly in mind. They have no choice but to use the OEM HSF because they have no clue what aftermarket fan might be used, what it will look like, how the fan is oriented, direction or force of flow, composition of the heatsink materials, or anything else. All they know for certain is which CPUs their board supports and with that information they know the OEM HSF specs. So they use that to design their boards and for component placement to take advantage of that expected flow.

And again, it is still the case's responsibility to provide adequate cool air and flow through the case. And we certainly cannot assume all aftermarket coolers are as good as OEM coolers. In fact, if you note, most aftermarket coolers are warrantied for just 1 year while both AMD and Intel OEM coolers are warrantied for 3.

On top of that, "serious overclockers" are a separate (and tiny!) category of user and therefore cannot, and must not be used to compare against all others. "Serious overclockers" are enthusiasts who pay attention to system temps, they don't care about voiding their warranties with aftermarket coolers or "abnormal" voltages. We, as providers/helpers, cannot assume all posters feel the same way.

 

Seems that I have started some differences of opinion - well it is all good information which I have 'taken onboard'. I agree that most people do not overclock - and I have now decided NOT to overclock the fsb to the ram (even though the ram is capable of it and the manual states that it can be done). I believe that faster ram will (usually?) only speed up data written to ram and how often does that happen unless you are doing some really 'heavy' work (so I am thinking most users would only notice the increased speed at bootup time and also when starting a new program - am I correct or not?).

Does anyone know how easy (or difficult) it is to remove the standard heatsink from the Northbridge? I have read some reports that they sometimes get 'glued' together with the heatsink grease. Also how do the retaining pins work and how are they removed? They don't seem to have an arrow on them like the CPU heatsink pins do to show which direction to turn for removal?

Maybe the addition of a small fan (Arie doesn't like them because of noise) might be easier. AND/OR a larger case fan.

(OR maybe '**** it and see' as it appears that the G41 Northbridge usually runs hot)

The m/b manual does NOT state that there are any other temperature monitors other that the CPU one. Does that mean that it is impossible to 'see' Northbridge temperature?

 

If there are retaining clips, they should not have used "adhesive" TIM (thermal interface material). Adhesive TIM is for when there is no "clamping mechanism" (clips) to hold the HS in place.

If adhesive TIM was used, you can usually twist it back and forth and break the bond. This is best done after you have let it run a bit to get warm. Be careful to only apply a twisting force and not a pushing or pulling force. And in any case, you must hold your tongue right and cross your other fingers. If you think you are applying too much force and it still will not come free, you probably are.

If it does have push pins, they are typically in two parts. The pin and an outer sleeve. When the pin is pushed all the way in, it pushes out on the sleeve which then locks the unit in place. You pull on the pin to relax the outer pressure, then remove the pin and sleeve together.

Do you have good front to back air flow through the case. I like at least two large (120mm or larger fans). One pulling cool air in and at least one, not counting any PSU fan, drawing hot air out.

 

Thanks Bill
The Northbridge has pins. I think what I read about the heat sink being 'glued' was the original heatsink 'grease' having dried out and become hard and acted like a glue.
I have one extra case fan at the back pulling air outside. I will look to see if I can add a fan t the front to draw air in and then have 'cross ventilation' The PC is upstairs in my house and the room gets very warm/hot during summer.
Thanks again
John

 

Bill I did read what you said, otherwise I would not have replied.
I was referring to this comment.

Aftermarket coolers are typically more of a "universal" design and often [/B]compromise here and there to "fit" more applications. So besides violating the terms of the CPU warranties (for CPUs that come "boxed" with supplied OEM HSF assemblies), they may not provide sufficient cooling for the surrounding components.

In my opinion Bill, they provide more cooling for the surrounding components.

I fully agree with the case playing a major role in cooling process.








__________________

 

The problem with your comment is it is a blanket statement. And like almost all blanket statements, they are typically false because there are exceptions. And in this case, there are notable exceptions.

Some aftermarket coolers have fans that point sideways, not down. The motherboard designers cannot account for that! Some heat sinks are made out of aluminum, some use copper, some use both. Some use other alloys. Some have big blocks, some small. Some use 60mm fans some use 120mm.

How is this Zalman 9700 cooler going to cool components off to the sides?

How is this Corsair H70 going to cool ANYTHING, but the CPU?

Therefore, because neither you, me, nor the motherboard designers know how an aftermarket cooler is oriented or how it behaves, to say "aftermarket coolers provide better cooling for surrounding components" is simply an invalid statement. Some aftermarket coolers, on some motherboards undoubtedly do provide better cooling all around. I am not denying that. But for a blanket statement? No! That is invalid, not correct and most importantly, must not be assumed.

AMD and Intel provide excellent coolers for one reason and one reason alone - they have too. Only OEM coolers are guarantied to cool their respective CPUs for the entire warranty period of the CPUs. If the OEM fans fail and in the remote chance the CPU then overheats and fails before shutting down, Intel and AMD will replace both. If the Zalman cooler fails, no way are they going to replace the CPU too.

So I say again and stand by my statements,

***

@jparnold - I agree with Arie - I suspect you are fine. While many motherboards do not include NB or chipset sensors, many do. These are often referred to as the System temps. For your Gigabyte board, you can use EasyTune from your utilities disk, or download it from Gigabyte. Or SpeedFan should work too.

 

Thanks Arie and Bill,
I have EastyTune6 but thought that it was only for overclocking and thought that Speedfan only displayed data such as temperatures and speed of cpu and case fans.

Regarding the 40C temp recorded by Arie. I don't have a temperature probe and the chip doesn't seem to have a temperature monitor built in. All I know is that my G41 Northbridge runs so hot that when I touch the heatsink with my finger (after power down) it feel almost too uncomfortable to leave my finger in contact with the heatsink - surely the temperature is greater than 45C but maybe it is around 45C!

I didn't know what Tcase meant so after goggling found the following -
That means that the maximum allowable temperature for long-term operation without affecting the CPU life measured at the heat spreader at the top of the CPU case. Generally, the cores are allowed to get about 10C hotter than this (again, for long-term safe operation with full expected life).
Arie says that the Tcase for the Northbridge is 100C (or was it 105C?) and so it would seem that mine is below that.

Anyway it is a brand new m/b and so should have a 12 month warranty and should the Northbridge die the m/b will be replaced.

 

I don't either and why I said above,

So while there is no sensor integrated into the NB/Chipset IC itself, there may be one under it or in the socket on the motherboard.

Another option is to get a laser thermometer. These are great! Besides being able to check your CPU, GPU, RAM, and NP, you can check your frying pan, deep fat oil, and grill temperatures too. Or you can check an ice cube, your coffee, the dog's nose or your kid's forehead (avoiding the eyes, of course).

A good stocking stuffer idea too!

 

I think I will get one. Could come in handy for lots of other things too.
BTW I have determined how to remove the N/B using an old dead M/B. There are plastic/nylon pins which go through the M/B and then expands. Just need a small pair of pliers (and a steady hand) to squeeze the plastic/nylon together (on the reverse side of M/B) and the retaining pin can be withdrawn. BUT knowing what I know now I think that I will leave it alone - "If it ain't broke don't fix it" - but then again "a stitch in time saved nine ". I think I will do the former!