Air cooling for X38 NB chipset? NB Temp program?

[Rob94hawk]

Just out of curiosity, are the holes for the NB standard because I wanted to use this cooler:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/4058/vid-70/Thermalright_HR-05_North_Bridge_Chipset_Heatsink.html?tl=g40c16s50 0

And what program monitors NB temps? Also, does increasing vMCH increase NB temps? Thanx.

[Croak in BC]

It'll mount, because the bracket has a channel for the bolts/thumbscrews, not just a hole.

But it doesn't mount WELL. The base of the HR-05 is about 25% smaller than the IHS on an X38, so no matter how you mount it there is exposed IHS. To make matters worse, the contact area on the HR-05's base is 50% smaller than the X38 (it's stepped, higher in the center).

It's really designed to work on smaller, older, non-IHS chipsets.

And for the final straw, the little washers they supply to keep the bolt heads from contacting the back of the motherboard are soft rubber. So when you tighten the unit down enough to make secure (won't wiggle easily) contact with the IHS, the bolt heads pull through the rubber. You'll need to find your own harder non-conductive washers or make a backplate, otherwise there's a very real risk of shorting out the board.

Once installed with a 80mm fan, it drops NB temps about 10c over stock on my Asus Maximus Formula compared to the stock passive heatpipe cooling, so that part isn't horrible. Passive, it's about a 3c drop, which isn't great.

I really don't recommend it for X38 setups, it's just not made for them, and TR really needs to hire somebody to design proper mounting solutions for all their products.

I really wanted mine to work out, because I didn't want to go through the hassle of redoing my WC loop to add a NB block.

An alternative that I could suggest is the Noctua U-6...seems to test out better than the HR-05/IFX, has two heatpipes instead of one, but I can't say if the mounting solution is any better, or the baseplate is larger.

Speedfan and Everest can monitor NB temps, btw.

[Rob94hawk]

It'll mount, because the bracket has a channel for the bolts/thumbscrews, not just a hole.

But it doesn't mount WELL. The base of the HR-05 is about 25% smaller than the IHS on an X38, so no matter how you mount it there is exposed IHS. To make matters worse, the contact area on the HR-05's base is 50% smaller than the X38 (it's stepped, higher in the center).

It's really designed to work on smaller, older, non-IHS chipsets.

And for the final straw, the little washers they supply to keep the bolt heads from contacting the back of the motherboard are soft rubber. So when you tighten the unit down enough to make secure (won't wiggle easily) contact with the IHS, the bolt heads pull through the rubber. You'll need to find your own harder non-conductive washers or make a backplate, otherwise there's a very real risk of shorting out the board.

Once installed with a 80mm fan, it drops NB temps about 10c over stock on my Asus Maximus Formula compared to the stock passive heatpipe cooling, so that part isn't horrible. Passive, it's about a 3c drop, which isn't great.

I really don't recommend it for X38 setups, it's just not made for them, and TR really needs to hire somebody to design proper mounting solutions for all their products.

I really wanted mine to work out, because I didn't want to go through the hassle of redoing my WC loop to add a NB block.

An alternative that I could suggest is the Noctua U-6...seems to test out better than the HR-05/IFX, has two heatpipes instead of one, but I can't say if the mounting solution is any better, or the baseplate is larger.

Speedfan and Everest can monitor NB temps, btw.

Thanx for the heads up. I would have to use the offset NB heatsink because the TRUE is just too big and in the way. I was looking at the Noctua but still not enough room.

[pvtdonuts]

Any other x38 coolers that might work well? I have been meaning to replace my stock Gigabyte piping but I would like something that takes up alittle less real estate, any experiences with the Thermaltake Extreme Spirit 2?

[zanzabar]

the tower on the dfi x38 works great at 1.55V my NB dosnt go over 40C

[Den Leiw]

the tower on the dfi x38 works great at 1.55V my NB dosnt go over 40C

passive or active cooled?

[zanzabar]

i have an aero cool 80mm on it and i think its 35cfm, i pulled it out of a case i had lying around so i dont know the exact specs on it

its 2.2-2.3K rpm and its quiet


edit --- so has any tested the hr-05 the x38 has the die in the center then the ihs glued to it so it shouldent have a problem since its covering the core of the NB


and to monitor the NB everest shows the motherboard as what the DFI smart guardian says in NB